Looking for a comfortable city bike for my daily runabouts

The Honda Activa did pop into mind, but I don't fancy a scooter and am particularly looking for a motorcycle.

BHPian BleueNinja recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am currently looking for a city bike and I am in a dilemma as to which bike to go for.

The thought of getting a bike for city usage came up with rising fuel prices which makes taking my car out for minor errands a costly affair. I currently own a Ninja but I am not sure if it would be a great idea to take it to my workplace on daily basis or for other city errands that I need to run by.

The bike should be:

• Equipped with Dual-channel ABS
• Easy to navigate through traffic

Shortlisted bikes are:

• Royal Enfield Classic 350: Always wanted one but stars never aligned to get one. With my current build, I think it would suit me the best. I am biased towards it
• Suzuki Gixxer 250 SF: I like the way it looks but has heard mixed reviews regarding after-sales service and parts availability.
• TVS Apache RTR 200: Being a naked streetfighter I am sure it would be easy to navigate traffic with this one and also it would return a decent fuel economy.

A few other bikes were considered but not sure about them:

• KTM Duke 250: I like KTMs but never thought of owning one. Last time I was close to buying one I ended up buying my beloved ninja.
• Royal Enfield Himalayan: I love its stance and looks but again not sure if I really need it. I use my Kawasaki for highway rides. How feasible is it for daily city usage?
• Bajaj Pulsar: I didn't like the new ones and the lack of dual-channel abs on older models isn't appealing to me.
• Bajaj Dominar 250: The power to weight ratio doesn't seem good to me. Should I consider the Dominar 400?

I didn't consider R15 and I don't think it will fulfil my requirements.

Here's what BHPian AtheK had to say on the matter:

You can maybe look at the Hero Xpulse also, a dual-purpose bike. In Bangalore, it serves a single purpose though, as riding on roads here is as good as offroading.

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

A city bike should be light IMO and understand your dual-channel ABS requirement but that's not very common in the commuter segment.

• Classic: heavy, Not intended as a city bike but if you're looking at the Dominar 250 might as well get the Classic so at least your dream is realised since none of those are really city bikes at 180+kgs
• Gixxer SF 250: Not intended as a commuter but can work
• RTR 200: the best fit for the role from your listed options, how does it fit you is your call. It is compact in dimensions and light.

If you want a city-specific bike for errands and office duty would suggest looking at the 160s like the RTR 160 4V and the Xtreme 160R but they don't have dual-channel ABS. A better FE number is expected though with reasonably good performance.

Here's what BHPian DrCar had to say on the matter:

I would suggest you try test riding the Bajaj Avenger once. Whichever engine option you choose, it would be sufficient for city usage.

Pros:

• Reliable engine.
• Good soft suspension and riding position.
• Spare parts won't be an issue as the bike is around for many years.
• Can occasionally take touring if your Ninja is in the service centre.

Cons:

• Few quality issues still persist.
• Clunky gearbox and engine's NVH isn't good.
• If you are tall, then the sitting position will be uncomfortable.
• Back seat comfort is poor, though won't matter much in occasional city rides.
• No dual-channel ABS. And the bike absolutely needs one as the rear brakes are poor.

The second option is to try Suzuki Intruder once. You might need to accept the polarising look of the bike if you intend to get one.

Another option that you can try is the recently launched Yamaha FZ-X. You will get all the advantages of FZ15 with the added benefit of a comfortable riding posture.

Here's what BHPian Ironhide had to say on the matter:

You already have a Ninja which is just the fun tool to go WOT on weekends. For the city runabout, I suggest you look at an electric scooter. A capable machine like the Ola electric scooter or Ather would fulfil the role nicely and would-be future proof to boot.

In case you are specifically looking for petrol machines, do consider a Yamaha Aerox or maybe even a TVS NTorq. They tick all the right boxes in terms of power, comfort and styling with a fair amount of practicality thrown in.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.