Planning to purchase a new motorcycle? The best one in the segment? Is there any motorcycle that can be called the best? In this article, we clear up your purchasing dilemmas.
The butterfly feeling—that is what we all get when we think of investing our hard-earned money in a brand new motorcycle. It does not matter whether we are purchasing a motorcycle worth INR 80,000 or INR 80 lakh. A motorcycle is a motorcycle, and the thought of purchasing it keeps us alive at night.
Before we zero in on one, we spend hours on YouTube, surfing through reviews of experts to gain knowledge about all the motorcycles in a particular segment, ranging from cubic centimetres (CCs) to the genre of motorcycle. Even during our office hours, we take the risk of watching reviews.
Still, at the end of the day, most people fail to narrow down on one motorcycle because every day they are trying to get their hands on the best! The best motorcycle. The question is: What is the best motorcycle? Is it about the high power, more speed, or more mileage?
Allow us the liberty to give you a reality check here. There is nothing called the best motorcycle. Yes, YouTubers throwing and comparing spec sheets will get you convinced about a motorcycle, but there is a broader perspective at play that people need to understand.
For those of us who are in our late 20s or early 30s, remember 2012, when the KTM Duke 200 was launched? We all thought it was the best motorcycle in the 200cc naked streetfighter segment. To some extent, it was, and over the years, the Duke 200 has undergone significant updates to stay in line with the recent motorcycling trends. However, today, we do not feel the same about the Duke 200.
Why? Because we have grown! The motorcycle that we thought was the best ten years ago does not suit us anymore. Back then, for the majority of us, it was all about the massive horsepower and zipping through city traffic or pulling off an insane three-digit speed on the highway.
That attitude of ours has changed. Today, we do not drool over top speed or higher horsepower numbers. We have matured, and so have you, and therefore, what we considered best yesterday makes no sense to us today.
Humans are a curious species. One moment, we get our hands on a new toy; the next moment, we want something else. The same applies to motorcycles, and therefore, the “best factor” goes out of the window the moment we purchase a new motorcycle. After all, if you do not fall into the price-sensitive consumer category, you want a new motorcycle within six months or a year of purchasing one.
Not to forget, given how motorcycles are evolving at a rapid pace, it is obvious to get bored. Today, you purchase a new motorcycle, and tomorrow, there is a better motorcycle on the market in the same price range and category.
This is the only question we need to ask ourselves before purchasing a motorcycle. Today, there are motorcycle categories such as commuter, cruiser, naked street fighter, fully-faired sports, and adventure-tourer. The question is: What do you need?
If you are a daily commuter, you simply need to settle for any 150cc commuter motorcycle, such as the Honda Unicorn or Bajaj Pulsar 150. If you want a little thrill during your daily commute, you can opt for any 200cc motorcycle.
On the other hand, if you want to commute daily along with occasional highway tours, you can opt for motorcycles such as the Gixxer 250, KTM ADV 250, Suzuki V Strom SX, etc. In case you are into off-roading, you can pick up the KTM ADV 390, Royal Enfield Himalayan, and other off-roading machines.
If you are into bigger motorcycles, you can pick any motorcycle from any segment for long, high tours. However, note that bigger motorcycles are a pain in city traffic and should only be purchased if you have enough moolah in your wallet to afford the cost of rising gasoline and the maintenance expenditure.
So, you see, there is nothing called the best motorcycle. Any motorcycle could be the best if you know what you want from your vehicle, and once you purchase it, you need to learn how to live with it at least for three years. That is the commitment a vehicle requires from you.
What makes any vehicle great is the after-sales service experience the brand offers. For example, the Xpulse from Hero MotoCorp is one of the finest hardcore off-roaders in India. However, seldom have we heard about complaints from the company’s after-sales service.
From mechanics unable to identify problems in the motorcycle to the lack of parts, is it an experience you wish to live for three years or more? The call is yours. You can obviously go the extra mile and get your motorcycle serviced from a local garage, but the call is yours.
Last but not least, we never try to convince a person about one particular motorcycle. We always say to go ahead, get a test ride, ask all sorts of questions to the showroom manager, and then decide. A motorcycle talks to its rider; therefore, choose the motorcycle you can feel and go with your gut feeling. If it feels right, the motorcycle is you, and you are the motorcycle.
Purchasing a 100cc motorcycle and thinking of going on a long highway tour? Indeed, you can, because you just need to learn how to live with it and take care of it. Any motorcycle will get the job done for you if you know how to, and that is your best motorcycle.
