Top 5 Bikes And Scooters For College Students Under Rs 1.5 Lakh

It’s that time of the year when many school students move to college and along with it, they also become eligible for a driving licence. Choosing the right bike or scooter for daily commutes is essential for college students, especially while balancing affordability, style, running costs and mileage.

That’s why, we have compiled a list of the top 5 bikes and scooters for college students under Rs 1.5 lakh (ex-showroom). From reliable premium commuters to powerful and sporty bikes and scooters, here’s what you can get:

1. Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Rs 1,49,900 (ex-showroom)

Engine: 349cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder J-series engine

Power: 20.2PS at 6100rpm & 27Nm at 4000rpm

Tested Mileage: 40.19kmpl in the city & 35.98kmpl on the highway

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is the manufacturer’s most affordable and lightweight bike. The neo-retro roadster has the same 349cc engine as the Royal Enfield Classic 350. With a peppy engine and decent mileage, the Hunter 350 is one of the best bikes to consider under Rs 1.5 lakh. The bike is available in two variants: Retro and Metro.

Featurewise, the Hunter 350 gets a semi-digital instrument console. The Retro variant has an analogue speedometer pod and a digital inset that displays the odometer, trip metre and fuel gauge. The Metro variant on the other hand also features an analogue speedometer. However, the digital inset on the Metro variant shows an odometer, two trip metres, a fuel gauge, a gear position indicator, a reserve metre and a clock. It gets a halogen headlight and indicators whereas the tail light is LED.

Both variants get an optional Tripper Navigation Pod with turn-by-turn navigation. Moreover, the Retro variant gets single-channel ABS and the Metro variant is equipped with a dual-channel ABS. However, its rear suspension is a little on the firmer side.

2. Hero XPulse 200 4V: Rs 1,47,391 (ex-showroom)

Engine: 199.6cc, air/oil-cooled, 4-valve, single-cylinder engine

Power: 19.1PS at 8500rpm & 17.35Nm at 6500rpm

Tested Mileage: 51.59kmpl in the city & 42.28kmpl on the highway.

The only ADV on this list, Hero XPulse 200 4V is a great choice to take on those bad and broken roads. The bike effortlessly rides over bumps and potholes and is a fun-to-ride bike which will keep you engaged. The XPulse 200 4V handles city commutes very well and is great for exploring the off-road trails on weekends. However, it may sometimes feel underpowered on the highways.

Key features on the Hero Xpulse 200 4V include a fully digital LCD instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. The display includes a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, trip-meter readings, real-time mileage, gear position indicator, Eco mode and other basic telltale lights. The bike comes with a LED headlamp accompanied with LED DRLs (daytime running lights), whereas the indicators and tail light is bulb-type. The bike also has a USB charging port, fibre knuckle guards and single-channel ABS.

3. Bajaj Pulsar N250: Rs 1,51,341 (ex-showroom)

Engine: 249.07cc, oil-cooled, single-cylinder engine

Power: 24.5PS at 8750rpm & 21.5Nm at 6500rpm

Tested Mileage: 43.60kmpl in the city & 42.23kmpl on the highway

The Bajaj Pulsar N250 is the most expensive and most powerful bike on this list. It comes with a stylish and sporty design, has good performance and is equipped with a host of features and rider aids, making it a safer bike. It is an all-rounder that can do city commutes, highway runs and weekend rides effortlessly.

The Bajaj Pulsar N250 comes with a fully LED lighting setup and features an LCD instrument console with smartphone connectivity providing call and SMS alerts and turn-by-turn navigation. The LCD also shows a speedometer, odometer, tachometer fuel levels, real-time mileage, trip meter, gear position indicator and other essential info. The bike has recently been updated with rider aids including traction control, and dual-channel ABS with 3 ABS modes (Rain, Road and On/Off-Road). It also gets a tank-mounted USB charging port and a new button on the left-side switchgear to navigate through the display.

4. Yamaha Aerox 155: Rs 1,47,600 (ex-showroom)

Engine: 155cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine

Power: 15PS at 8000rpm & 13.9Nm at 6500rpm

Tested Mileage: 48.62kmpl in the city &  42.26kmpl on the highway

The Yamaha Aerox 155 is a sporty and powerful scooter that will make you stand out from the crowd. It shares its 155cc engine with the Yamaha R15 and also has the VVA (Variable Valve Actuation). The Aerox 155 being a powerful scooter can do city and highway runs effortlessly, it has a smooth engine, provides decent mileage figures and comes with a single-channel ABS as standard but has a firm suspension setup, which can be harsh on bad roads.

The Yamaha Aerox comes with an LCD instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth. Along with basic information like a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, trip metre, digital clock and other telltale lights, the Aerox 155 also provides Call and SMS alerts, phone battery status, last parking location and service reminders. The scooter gets a silent starter, a USB charging port and a side-stand cut-off feature as well. 

The slightly more expensive Aerox S variant comes with a fob key and has keyless operation such as proximity unlock, an answer back feature to locate the scooter with flashing blinkers and a buzzer, and an immobiliser that locks the scooter when the key is out of range.

5. Ather 450X (2.9kWh): Rs 1,40,599 (ex-showroom)

Motor: A mid-mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor

Power: 6.4kW & 

Battery: 2.9kWh battery pack

Certified Range: 111km

The only electric scooter on this list, the Ather 450X is one of our favourite electric scooters, because of how engaging and fun to ride it is. The Ather 450X being an electric scooter has one of the cheapest running costs as well. No fuel costs might sound like heaven for a lot of collegegoers! With a top speed of around 90kmph, the electric scooter has enough power for everyday commutes. The 450X impresses with its sharp handling and takes on the corners very well. It is a great option if you are looking for a sporty and thrilling e-scooter.

The Ather 450X features a 7-inch instrument console, driven by a quad-core Snapdragon processor. It provides all the basic information including speed, odometer, range, battery clock and other telltale lights. However, the Pro Pack, available as an add-on, enhances the scooter's capabilities with features like adaptive brightness, 4G LTE connectivity, Bluetooth for call/SMS alerts and music controls, and Google Maps-powered navigation. The scooter also comes with regenerative braking as standard. The display also offers various customisation options including multiple themes and a night mode

The Ather 450X also comes with practical features such as auto-off turn indicators, Guide-me-home lights, document storage, location tracking, a trip planner, fast charging support, OTA software updates, an Auto-Hold feature and a reverse mode. It comes with 5 riding modes: Eco, SmartEco, Ride, Sport, and Warp.