Looking for a do-it-all motorcycle in the 600-800cc category

The bike should be able to handle occasional bad roads, detours, and water crossings such as those on the Manali-Leh highway.

BHPian MandarMax recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am in the market for a 600 - 800 cc bike. I am relatively inexperienced when it comes to big bikes, so would appreciate your help.

Sharing some background for context, but feel free to skip to the next section:

• Currently, I don’t have a two-wheeler except for my wife’s 15-year-old Honda Dio which we use only for market/grocery rides nearby (1-2 km max)
• For long distances and commuting, we have been using only cars (Jetta & Eon)
• I have ridden big bikes ~500+ cc in the past, but that was abroad. I even had a full motorcycle license in Victoria, Australia. But for the past 18+ years, I have switched to cars and have not ridden bikes at all.
• I am a cyclist and my weekend rides are typically on my bicycle (Trek Domane SL5), typically in the 50-100 km range on weekends, occasionally longer than that. I have been averaging over 400+ km of rides per month and I am fairly consistent (rain or shine!)

My requirements are

Usage

• I want to start doing weekend rides 100 - 200 km roundtrip near Pune (once or twice a month).
• Occasional long rides, probably 2-3 times a year (e.g. Konkan, Goa or the Himalayas).
• Occasional city rides- I primarily use my car but I guess once I have a bike I am sure I will be tempted to take it to the office or to shopping given the roads and the traffic conditions in Pune.
• Most rides would be solo, with occasional pillion.

My expectations from the bike

• My primary usage would be on road, but the bike should be able to handle occasional bad roads, detours, and stream crossings such as those on the Manali-Leh highway.
• Should be able to cruise comfortably at 100-120 kph speed.
• Should be able to attach a bag or panniers.
• Should be reliable and usable for the long term (5-10 years).

Budget

Comfortable with spending around 5-6 lakhs, but can stretch further by a couple of lakhs if needed

Basically, I think I need an all-rounder bike - which can do it all, but I am not sure if such a bike exists and that's why I need your guidance.

I have recently started test rides and have ridden the following so far (listed in order of test rides):

• RE Meteor 350
• Honda CB350 / CB 350 RS
• Honda CBR300R
• RE Interceptor 650
• Kawasaki Versys 650
• Kawasaki z650rs
• Triumph Tiger Sport 660
• Ducati Scrambler
• Moto Morini Seiemmezzo and X-Scape

Note: When I started looking for bikes, I thought 350cc should be good enough, but after test riding more powerful bikes, I know I will not be satisfied with *just* 350cc. This is also one of the reasons I have not tried the KTM 390 bikes so far.

RE Meteor 350 - As I mentioned before, I was not looking for a cruiser bike, but the RE dealer in Kothrud didn't have any other bike available at that time, so to get the feel of the engine I did the test ride on the Meteor. The bike felt more refined than REs of the past, but it didn’t appeal much to me.

Honda CB350 / CB 350 RS - After my RE test ride experience, the Honda felt more refined and easier to ride in the city. I also tried the Honda CB300R and it felt like a nice, modern machine - smooth, refined and thoroughly enjoyable.

RE Interceptor 650 - This one felt noticeably powerful after the 350 cc ride experience. Definitely something I could use on highways and in the city. Looks good too and if I were in the market for a retro-looking bike, I would pick this. It is also much more VFM as compared to other 650 cc bikes available in India. My only two dislikes were the seat - I wish it was more wider and supportive, and the second thing is the riding position - it is definitely more comfort-oriented than the cafe racer Continental GT, but I am not sure how I would feel after 100+ kilometres with that seat and the riding position.

Kawasaki Versys 650 - It’s a big bike and is probably too big for my liking. Found the seat height to be a bit high (I am 5’8’’ if it helps). Still, actually riding one might have felt different, but they didn’t have anything for test rides. On my insistence, I was allowed a test ride in their parking lot but that obviously didn’t help change my opinion. It’s a fine bike, but I don’t think it’s a “do it all” kind of bike. Still, if serious touring was my objective, I would have definitely considered this.

Kawasaki Z650RS - small, nimble, and powerful, but for strict city or highway use only. Don’t think it can handle much in terms of rough roads. Also, I kinda have a love/hate relationship with that green colour and golden wheels. If at all I buy it, I will probably end up putting a different coloured wrap.

Triumph Tiger Sport 660 - I really liked this bike. I did a long test ride on the highway and city roads and I immediately fell in love with it. It’s just the right size for me, found it quite easy to handle in traffic and on the highway. The engine sound is sweet, the power is just right and it looks good. In 6th gear, you can easily do speeds of 40 - 140+. I have read a number of critical reviews, but for me, it checks most of the boxes (if not all) and it can be that do-it-all kind of bike that I have in my mind. The only two negatives are the price (around 10 lakhs OTR after considering some year-end discounts) and the engine heat. Engine heat is a common problem with most big bikes, so I hope it is manageable. Would like to hear your suggestions as well.

Ducati Scrambler - Lightweight, very easy to ride and can potentially handle some bad roads. I very much liked the riding position and the torquey motor. It’s very addictive. The main con is the price. The bike also looks a bit ordinary.

Moto Morini- X-Scape is big and I would rather prefer the Versys 650. But I liked the Seiemmezzo. It’s a fine-looking bike. Sounds good too. Good spec sheet, and good components, but long-term reliability and A.S.S. would be a gamble as of now. For this reason alone, I have decided to not consider these bikes.

As I said before, I am planning to test-ride the KTM 390 Adventure next. From what I have read, it’s a very competent bike, but I am not a fan of those headlights and for that reason alone, I have not visited KTM so far.

I would like to hear your thoughts on:

• Are there any good bikes that I have left out that I should be considering?
• Are there any upcoming bikes that are worth waiting for? I am ok to wait for 6 months.
• Is it worth stretching for Triumph Tiger 660? How about the long-term reliability and A.S.S. of Triumph?
• Should I be considering used bikes instead? I generally avoid used stuff, but for the bike, I am not averse to the idea. (Please DM me if you or your friends are planning to upgrade or share info about used bike dealers or online portals)

Thanks in advance.

Here's what BHPian WhiskeyTangoFox had to say about the matter:

My Initial Recommendation would have been the Tiger Sport 660, but Triumph's ASS, as enumerated by many members on the forum leaves much to be desired. The Honda CB500X may also float your boat, do check it out.

The 390 Adv is definitely a very good bike and you should give it a shot. You could also try out the BMW G310GS. If you are willing to wait for a while, the Himalayan 450 is around the corner, but then again, not too sure about how reliable a new product will be. Out of these, if speed is your primary goal, the 390 ADV is your best friend. But if long-term reliability and pretty decent service is also part of your agenda, the G310GS is probably better suited. Plus you could use the extra cash to accessorize the crap out of it.

Here's what BHPian SoumenD had to say about the matter:

I would strongly recommend Honda CB500X. I believe it is a do-it-all bike. Have been following it for a couple of years now and keep reading about people’s experiences. Have hardly seen anyone complaining ever across the world. You won’t have to stretch much to get one (6.8ish OTR pune IIRC).

Yes, you won’t find a lot of features like the adv 390 but the peach of an engine and overall honda reliability has been stellar.

P.S: I keep an eye on the used bike market to see if this pops up. Currently, it’s fairly new in India, so understandably not available in the used market yet.

Here's what BHPian MadTitan had to say about the matter:

I firmly believe the CB500X is all the bike one needs for India, and it fits your requirement perfectly. Have heard some rumours that Honda is getting this and the CB500F back in early 2023.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.