Best Bikes For Long Rides

The Mahindra Mojo XT300 had undergone extensive research and testing before the motorcycle was launched. The Mojo XT300 is offered with a 21-litre fuel tank that suits its touring purpose, along with upside down front forks, disc brakes at both ends, and a host of accessories to spec up the Mojo. The Mojo is Mahindra’s flagship offering and is powered by a 295cc, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that makes 26.4bhp and 30Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed gearbox.

The Bajaj Dominar 400 is one of the latest motorcycles to have been launched and is the Pune-based manufacturer’s flagship. The Dominar’s engine is based on the same platform as the Duke 390, but is tuned for touring instead of out right performance. The Bajaj Dominar is powered by a 373cc, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that develops 34.5bhp and 35Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The Bajaj Dominar 400 weighs 182kg and Bajaj claims a top speed of 148km/h.

The KTM 390 Duke managed to raise the performance and value for money bar high up, and has maintained it. The KTM 390 Duke offers performance that put most four-cylinder bikes in this category to shame, and holds the crown as the fastest street bike in India. The KTM 390 Duke is powered by a 373cc, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that makes 44bhp and 35Nm of torque, with the help of a 6-speed gearbox. The Duke 390 is the perfect motorcycle to be ridden in the city for daily commute and on long highway trips.

The Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 is the ‘bullet’ in its ultimate touring setup. The Thunderbird 500 features forward slung foot pegs, wider, taller handlebar for a relaxed riding posture, and other top-of-the-line bits like LED tail lamps, projector headlights, and disc brakes at both ends. The Thunderbird 500 shares its engine with the Classic 500 range, which is a fuel injected, 499cc, single-cylinder air-cooled engine that makes 27bhp and 41Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

The Honda CBR 250R was recently made its comeback in the country. The CBR 250R is a fully faired sports tourer suitable for long-distance touring. Despite being a faired bike, the comfortable seat and handlebar position makes it an ideal bike for touring. The smooth and refined engine also makes it easy to ride on highways. The Honda CBR 250R draws power from a 249.6cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 26.1bhp and 22.9Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The bike can easily cruise on triple-digit speeds on highways.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is the company’s first take on an adventure-tourer model, with long travel suspension, and other essentials that would allow the bike to be ridden on and off the road. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is built on an all-new platform and gets a new engine as well. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is powered by a new 411cc, single-cylinder oil and air-cooled engine that makes 24.5bhp and 32Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The Himalayan also features disc brakes at both ends, along with a 21-inch front wheel, and a 17-inch rear tyre.

The Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220 is one of the updated Avenger models that was launched in India. The Cruise is built for those who want a classic tourer, with a tall windshield and low-slung seat. The motorcycle features new body colours, a redesigned exhaust and handlebar, wider seats, and a semi-digital instrument cluster. Powering the Cruise 220 is the tried and tested engine from the Pulsar 200F. The engine is a 220cc, single-cylinder air and oil-cooled DTS-i engine that produces 19bhp and 17.5Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired to a 5-speed gearbox and returns a mileage of 53km/l.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 is the Japanese manufacturer’s entry-level touring motorcycle, which features similar design language as its bigger sibling, the Versys 1000. The Kawasaki Versys 650 is based on the same platform as the Ninja 650 and shares the engine too. Powering the Kawasaki Versys 650 is a 649cc, liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine that makes 67bhp and 64Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed gearbox. Other features include long travel front suspension, tall touring visor, and a 21-litre fuel tank.

The Triumph Bonneville is a retro-styled motorcycle with styling straight out of the 70s. The T100 is the smaller of the two Bonnevilles on stage, the other being the T120. The flat seat, twin shock absorbers, twin exhausts and spoked wheels complete the retro styling of the Bonneville T100. A 900cc twin-cylinder engine with a maximum power output of 54bhp and a peak torque of 80Nm. The engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox.

CBR650F is a mid-weight motorcycle which is intended for sport touring. It is powered by an inline-4, 648cc motorcycle with a power output of 85.28bhp and a peak torque output of 62.9Nm. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox and rivals the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and Benelli TNT 600i around its segment. The motorcycle is capable of touching a top speed of 222km/h. The CBR650F has undergone a 2017 year face-lift and would soon be updated in India.