BHPian that_sedate_guy recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Alright so my 2016 Bullet 350 is touching 10 years next year. I might keep it for another five, maybe six years (although that’s unlikely since I don’t really want to run around with the FC stuff). I got it as a gift from my dad. Over the years, the bike has served me quite well for around 47K kilometres and I’ve really thrown it around like a dirt bike rather than a 200 Kg hunk of steel. Not saying that I ride rash (I never do & never will) but I don’t ride it like a beginner on a bicycle either. I’ve done a lot of DIY on it. Whatever I want, I just weld on to it. I love the bike on that aspect but the reliability of course has been a gamble at times. Random stalls in traffic, clunky gearshifts and very adamant cold start tantrums have always been a part of my routines with this bike but nothing to complain otherwise. Comfort-wise, I easily do 120 kilometres at a stretch but can’t say the same for the pillion and that’s important because my wife has very little experience on motorcycles but has taken a new-found interest in the panaromic views and the wind-in-your-hair(ahem helmet) experience especially after I fitted up a nice backrest for her last year which completely cracked and fractured though (RIP backrest, courtesy Bangalore potholes) Anyway, I want her to experience the best a motorcycle lifestyle can offer. I want to move up the displacement category for my next motorcycle. Twin it is. I don’t want a four-cyl whatsoever. The purchase is NOT immediate. It will be at the minimum, after four years. I want to get the general idea now. The following are absolutely non-negotiable dealbreakers.Pillion comfort. My bum is non-existent and provides zero cushioning but I can handle potholes. However, I don’t want my wife’s body taking shock loads from potholes. And she needs to be able to sit comfortably for long (really long) distances.Reliability is without question, very important. I hate service centres with a passion. I don’t want something that would make me run pillar to post at the mercy of SVC guys.Popularity. I don’t want something less established with limited knowledge among the mechanics. I understand big bikes are an emerging trend in India but I don’t want to be stuck somewhere with a bike no one wants to fix a puncture on.Cost. My budget is capped to around the 10L mark on the road. I will really hesitate to go any further than that because it’s serious money. And no, I won’t be taking a loan either. I’m saving 10K every month plus whatever money wifey gifts me on festive occasions in a deposit account for this and plan to make the purchase entirely with saved money.I’ve taken a list of certain motorcycles that tickled my fancy. I’ve laid them down in this table and penned down my thoughts from personal experiences, reviews, videos and an unhealthy amount of reading on TBHP. Please let me know of your thoughts as well. I know four years is a long time and I’m sure I’ll come back asking for a final round of suggestions as well but I want to start looking in the right direction. Also, please enlighten me on the annual maintenance and insurance costs of these machines because online sources aren’t really reliable. Thanks in advance everyone! Here’s whatBHPian navpreet318had to say on the matter:I read somewhere recently. “Buy a bike which you can buy twice over.” Because then you won’t have to care for it like a piece of jewelry and it won’t hurt you if there is an occasional fall etc. Now regarding your purchase, you mentioned a gap of 4 years in your purchase plan. Frankly there will be a lot more bikes than listed here. Also it seems that your list is made up of other people’s reviews and internet reading. Well frankly I’ll give you a pointer. For ourselves, we can develop a view point for a bike and get pretty close to what is written online about it but when it comes to our wife’s actual feedback it is totally different. My suggestion is go out there with your wife and start test riding bikes. You have a long time to purchase right. So test ride them. Start taking down notes. On some bikes in which your wife isn’t sure, take a second longer test ride. But nothing can beat a practical real test. Probably next year the Himalayan 750 is being launched. You should look forward to it. Since your budget cap is 10L you should also consider an option to customise your bike. For instance all the RE 650 bikes have aftermarket suspensions available in UK and can be imported and they make the bikes really comfortable. Seat options are also available. So buy a bike after thorough test rides with your wife. Buy it for around half your budget. Invest in good aftermarket solutions to make it even more comfy. And have a good time.Here’s whatBHPian Cyborghad to say on the matter:As you say the purchase will be after four years minimum, so it could be even later than that I suppose. There is no point in checking anything right now. The way things are in the motorcycle market with changes and launches, four years is a lifetime. Another most important factor – your preferences – what you think right now will not necessarily be what you will feel after four years. You may not think this will happen but it could. It would be best for you to get into this exercise three to six months before your purchase. Budget for your new bike (may also change after four years or more), researching, shortlisting on paper and taking test rides to arrive at the one. Three to six months is more than enough to leisurely complete this and things will be current. Please do not think I am discouraging you, just putting across a practical perspective to your query. CheersRead BHPian comments for more insights and information.
