Latest questions
Asked by: Mani Rathinam I am planning to buy a new 160cc bike. My options are the Apache RTR 160 4V TFT, Pulsar N160, and Xtreme 160 4V. Most of my riding will be in the city at speeds of 60-70 kmph, with occasional long rides. My priorities are mileage, looks, low maintenance, good customer service, resale value, fewer complaints, comfort, performance, and easy availability of spare parts. Please suggest one good option. All three options you have shortlisted are great in their own ways, and we'd advise you to choose between the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and the Apache RTR 160 4V TFT from our previous experience with them. If you are taller than 5'9, then the TVS bike will feel a little cramped, so we'd recommend the Bajaj if you're above that threshold.You should also take a look at the Honda Unicorn / SP160 as these bikes also meet your requirements, although they will have slightly lower performance compared to the aforementioned TVS and Bajaj bikes.Take a test ride of all the bikes you're considering before you go ahead with your purchase. Asked by: John de Almeida I want to upgrade from my current motorcycle to a mid-size bike, mainly for weekend rides and occasional city use in Mumbai. Please help me decide between the Triumph Daytona 660 and the Honda CBR650R. Both the Triumph Daytona 660 and Honda CBR650R are great options to have for a weekend fun spin, and make good sense as your first multi-cylinder bike, too. The Daytona 660 has the punchier performance and is more affordable than the Honda bike, but you need to bear in mind that Triumph's ownership costs for the big bikes have risen sharply since Bajaj took over the British company's Indian operations. And in Mumbai, there are only 2 service centres for Triumph - Andheri and Thane - which usually have quite a bit of waiting when it comes to servicing these days because of the sales the new 400cc models are generating.Coming to the Honda CBR650R, this is a proven package which has been around in India for more than a decade and now with its E-Clutch technology, it will be very easy to ride in city traffic. Honda big bikes are well regarded for reliability, manageable ownership costs, and effective heat management in Indian conditions. All of this said, we would steer you toward the Honda more than the Triumph bike.However, we would encourage you to take a test ride and visit authorized dealers for both brands to make a more informed decision. Asked by: Joshua Rajkumar I am currently using an Ntorq 125 and planning to upgrade to a bike. My height is 168 cm. My preferences include the Bullet 350, Guerrilla 450, CB300F, and Apache RTR 310. Daily usage will be in the city, with occasional long rides. Please guide me in choosing my first bike. Considering this is going to be your first bike, we would recommend you start with something approachable and friendly like the Honda CB300F or the TVS Apache RTR 310. The Honda bike’s USPs are its affordable price tag, low ownership costs and light weight paired with a low seat height. Meanwhile, the TVS bike will have more exciting performance, sharper handling, as well as a smorgasbord of features.Considering its near 200kg kerb weight, we'd recommend you steer clear of the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 and instead look at the Hunter 350, which has the same engine but is much lighter and more manageable. With its 40hp/40Nm output figures, the Guerrilla packs in very engaging performance and will be the most fun and exciting for a first-time buyer, but it can also feel overwhelming at times for a newer rider.Take an exhaustive test ride of all the options you shortlist to see which one fits you and your usage best. Asked by: Dilip Rajadhyaks My car delivers very poor fuel efficiency in the city, around 6 kmpl. With steady driving on the highway, it gives about 12 to 13 kmpl. Is this typical of turbo-petrol engines? My car has a CVT transmission. Yes, turbo petrol engines, especially when paired with an automatic transmission, tend to be quite thirsty in city driving. This is because the turbocharger frequently spools up to provide boost, which increases fuel consumption. Turbo petrols are also very throttle-sensitive.With gentle driving, your MG Hector can return reasonable mileage, but slightly enthusiastic inputs can quickly pull the figures down. If fuel efficiency is a concern, you could consider a naturally aspirated petrol engine, which is generally more efficient and consistent in everyday driving conditions. Asked by: VINAYAK SANKPAL Which is the best vehicle type for a daily commute of around 100 km: EV, petrol, CNG, or diesel? We undertake long drives only once every six months. Please help me choose the right car. Given that your monthly running is quite high, we would recommend you consider an electric car. Most EVs on the market today will easily offer a range sufficient to cover your 100 km a day, and over the course of time, you will definitely save a lot in fuel bills.However, it is very important to note that you must have access to your own charging at home or your place of work. Relying on public chargers will be difficult, given that you will have to find one vacant and working and then spend your time there.We are unaware of your budget, but you can consider the Tata Punch EV or the Hyundai Creta Electric, both of which are good choices in their respective segments. Asked by: Gaurav Gupta I am planning to buy a BMW M340i for long-distance trips into wildlife reserves, as I have a strong interest in wildlife. I have two concerns, one is the E20 petrol. The M340i engine is a high-compression engine and needs high-octane fuel. With E20 petrol now available across the country, will this cause any issues for my engine? The other worry is the low tyre profile on bad roads, which may lead to punctures. Do give me your best advice. On E20 fuel, you don’t have to worry at all. In fact, you should be happy because the base octane rating for E20 fuel has jumped from 91 octane to a minimum of 95 octane or even higher. Hence, this suits the 11.0:1 compression ratio of the M340i’s B58 engine, and now, instead of hunting for high-octane fuel, you can use fuel anywhere, as you are now assured of 95 octane.A bigger concern are the low profile tyres, which are staggered with 225/40 R19 in front and an even lower 255/35 R19 at the back. This could be a problem on bad roads, where the tyres could be vulnerable to impact damage.One way to protect the tyres against punctures, but not guaranteed, is to pump up the tyre pressure by about 3-4PSI to make the sidewalls stiffer. This reduces the flex in the sidewalls and makes them more resistant to impact damage, but quite honestly, the BMW M340i is not a car we would take into the jungle! Asked by: Shekhar Kumar I am a 47-year-old male (5 ft 9 in, 85 kg) looking to buy a long-term, reliable, strong and powerful scooter. My daily city commute is about 15-20 km, and my budget is up to ₹1.5 lakh. I am currently considering the TVS Ntorq 150, TVS Jupiter 125, Suzuki Access 125 and Honda Activa 125. Are there any other scooters I should consider? Please advise. The TVS Ntorq 150 is the most powerful scooter in your shortlist, and it will also be the most fun to ride. It is also the most feature-packed, with a TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity, riding modes and a host of other features. The TVS Jupiter 125 is a more practical option, with plush ride quality and a huge 33-litre underseat storage space. The Suzuki Access 125 is a family scooter with peppy performance that should be very reliable and fuel-efficient, too. The Honda Activa 125 doesn't have any one standout feature, but is a proven package you can't really go wrong with.Take a test ride of all four so you can pick the one that best suits your needs. Asked by: Saravanan Mani I currently ride a 9-year-old Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and want to upgrade to a new bike for daily commuting. I’m 6 ft tall and weigh 100 kg, so comfort and good suspension for rough roads are priorities. I need a bike that returns at least 30 km/l and suits a 25 km daily commute. My budget is ₹2.5 lakh. Please suggest suitable options. Since your priorities are comfort, mileage and spacious ergonomics, here are some options you can consider. Given your long-standing relationship with the Thunderbird, something similar to it from the Royal Enfield stable would be the Meteor 350, which is a genuinely usable cruiser on our roads. However, its siblings - the Bullet 350 and Classic 350 - are more comfortable due to their upright riding positions, and those would be our recommendation. You can also look at any of the Honda CB350 models because all are comfortable, smooth and spacious bikes which will serve you well. Another option you can consider is the Hero Xpulse 210. It is going to be the most comfortable machine of all the ones recommended here. Although, do bear in mind it is only sold through the fledgling Hero Premia dealer network. Also, it has some engine reliability issues which have been cropping up of late. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
