Top 5 New Bikes To Consider Buying This Diwali

Planning to buy a new bike during the upcoming festive season? You HAVE to check this out!

This year’s Diwali has to be a lot more special than last year’s, as the receding wave of the pandemic will no doubt allow celebrations to go on at full swing (with the necessary precautions, of course). Manufacturers have also been able to launch several interesting motorcycles, particularly in the second half of the year, so if you’re looking to put down your hard-earned money on a bike on this auspicious occasion, take a look at our top five picks:

2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350:

The updated Royal Enfield Classic 350 is leaps and bounds ahead of the previous-gen model with the UCE engine. This is because the new motorcycle is built on an all-new J-platform, and is the second offering after the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. 

While the new-generation Classic retains the iconic silhouette, its all-new mechanicals make cruising a lot more effortless. The motorcycle can not only sustain triple digit speeds fairly easily, but also feels more nimble to ride in traffic. The bike is priced from Rs 1,84,374, and you can read a more in-depth report on its real-world performance in our road test review here.

Updated KTM RC 200:

The new-gen KTM RC 200 comes with several updates both on the design and mechanical front. While the all-new fairing is designed to be more aerodynamic and more thermally efficient than its predecessor, the way the bike’s new fascia looks is a little polarising, to say the least. 

That said, KTM has made sure the new model is lighter and more agile down the race track - earning brownie points where it counts. At Rs 2.09 lakh, the new bike’s sharp handling, meaty mid-range performance, and more importantly, forgiving ergonomics have made it a lot more wholesome than before. You can read more on what we liked about this motorcycle and what we didn’t here. 

Yamaha R15 V4:

Another highly capable faired bike worth considering this Diwali is the new Yamaha R15 V4, priced at Rs 1,70,800. Compared to the Yamaha R15 V3, the updated iteration’s new design is more aerodynamic, thus offering a slightly higher top speed than its predecessor, despite a small drop in power output. 

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The new inverted front fork has also resulted in improved handling, and the overall quality has gone up too. It even gets a traction control system, a quickshifter for quick upshifts, and a lap timer to see how fast you are out on the track. All in all, if you’re a performance enthusiast who wants to learn the nuances of riding, the R15 is by far the most performance-packed faired bike in its segment. Check out our likes and dislikes about this motorcycle here.

TVS Raider:

Looking for something frugal yet stylish to commute on? Then the new TVS Raider is your best bet. It is priced at Rs 77,500 for the drum variant and Rs 85,469 for the disc version, and you can read more about the variants here. The motorcycle is loaded to the gills with features, including first-in-segment riding modes: Eco and Power, which can be swapped on the fly. And at 67kmpl, even the claimed mileage figure is pretty impressive for a motorcycle in its segment. 

The motorcycle also features a full-LED headlight and tail lamp, an info-packed fully digital instrument cluster with range indicator, and a silent starter. If you’re considering buying this motorcycle, do check out our likes and dislikes of the Raider. 

2021 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V:

The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V has always been a capable motorcycle, and for 2021, TVS has raised the stakes even further with the launch of the updated iteration. It features segment-first riding modes: (Rain, Urban, and Sport), adjustable front suspension, adjustable brake and clutch levers, and a bump in both power and torque. Even the brakes have been improved.

All these additions have made the bike a lot more versatile than before, and it is pegged at Rs 1,38,115 for the variant with dual-channel ABS. To sum up, the TVS Apache RTR 200 is a great motorcycle if you’re looking for a comfortable yet sporty naked that can do your daily office runs and the occasional weekend jaunts with ease. 

All prices ex-showroom, Delhi.