Cruising the highway of our country is no easy task. One encounters potholes, harsh weather, unexpected pedestrians and everything imaginable. Indian highway is the place where you need to be extra prepared for everything, ranging from flat tyres to ghosts (just kidding). So, we have compiled a list of top 5 motorcycles, which will propel you for countless miles with ease. We have taken in several factors like Top speed, Torque, Safety, Comfort etc. in order to declare these bikes as awesome highway tourers.Pulsar RS 200:
Wind protection, Super smooth engine, liquid cooling, this bike has it all. With an ex-showroom price tag of around Rs 1.46 Lakh, Pulsar RS 200 is a perfect choice for anyone who likes the long open stretch of the highway and loves putting his knee down just as much. It has a triple spark 199 cc engine which can take the bike to a top speed of 150 km/hr. but the best speed range to ride this bike is between 120 -130.The motor feels at ease in this range and can easily sustain it for a long time. The liquid cooling works really well and it is a boon for people who live in hot and humid areas. Windshield, at the front of the bike, also provides adequate wind protection while the raised clip-on provide your arms with a resting position. There is ample room for the rider and the pillion but not enough to install saddlebags. Pulsar RS 200 comes with an optional Single channel ABS and returns a fuel economy of 35-40 km/l.
Yamaha FZ-25:
Perhaps the most overlooked bike in the 200-400 segment is the Yamaha FZ-25. Although it has pretty decent equipment on board, its late arrival and lack of ABS kicked it out of the game. Still, the motorcycle is a pretty solid deal with its 250 CC Blue Core engine and super slick 5-speed gearbox. The engine is air + oil cooled so naturally its highway performance is better than the standard air-cooled engines. It produces 20 NM of torque and 20 PS of power and both of them are adequate for any type of use. There is always ample of torque available in every gear, which makes pulling this bike very easy. At the front, we have powerful LED headlamps which provide good illumination and a softly sprung monoshock suspension at the rear, for a comfortable ride. It also has a 14-litre fuel tank and a company certified mileage figure of 43 km/l, both of these features definitely adds up to the touring capability of this naked motorcycle. The only problem in this bike is the lack of ABS.
Bajaj Dominar 400:
It would be a crime to not include this motorcycle on this list. It is the best value for money highway cruiser which you can buy in India. Its big, its fast, and it looks really good. The bike can hold its own even at the speed of 160 km/h. Besides being big and fast, it is also a comfortable bike to sit on; the seat is nice and wide, for the rider as well as the pillion. Dominar has a powerful 375 cc triple spark engine which makes 35 BHP of power and 35 NM of torque. The bike also has 43 mm fat front forks and a monoshock suspension at the rear. The engine is Liquid cooled and Fuel injected which performs really well with minimal vibrations. Headlamp consists of powerful LEDs which can illuminate even the darkest of roads. The bike can ride at the speed of 130 km/h all day without even breaking a sweat as the liquid cooling is really effective. With an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.56 lakh, Dominar 400 is a very sensible purchase.
Royal Enfield Himalayan Fi:
The only offering from Royal Enfield which is powerful enough to ride on the highway is the Himalayan Fi. The newly re-launched motorcycle from Royal Enfield correct the mistakes of its former self by eliminating the cursed vibrations and improving the overall build quality of the bike. The Himalayan is a reliable and fun-to-ride motorcycle now. Its engine is a 410 cc LS single cylinder air+oil cooled engine, which performs really well. It produces a lot of torque to make every ride an exciting one. The Himalayan comes with features like long travel suspensions, Block tyres, and comfortable seats. The instrument cluster is fully loaded with a compass, low oil indicator, ambient temperature sensor etc. Despite having a ground clearance of 220 mm, the seating of the bike is pretty low at just 800 mm. Add all this, the off-road capabilities of this bike and you’ve got yourself a motorcycle which can perform awesomely on highway and dirt alike. Himalayan’s Ex-showroom price is Rs 1.68 lakhs, which makes it the most affordable adventure motorcycle in our country. The downside to this motorcycle is the lack of ABS and vibrations at the top end of rev-range.
TVS Apache RR310:
The latest offering from TVS is a beast to ride. It is light in weight but heavy on performance. The Apache RR310 is powered by a liquid cooled fuel injected engine which makes 35 HP and 27 NM of torque. Despite being a lightweight motorcycle, it feels planted at high speeds. The windshield does a phenomenal job of protecting the rider from wind blasts and keeps the motorcycle afloat no matter how fast it goes. TVS has worked their charm on the aerodynamics of this bike and it shows in the real world performance. The patented shark gills make this bike look menacing. These gills also function as heat deflectors. The overall design of the bike is streamlined to give it a highway stability which is comparable to the likes of Yamaha R6. The engine produces ample torque in every gear and males the bike capable of a top speed of 170km/h.
The instrument console is loaded with features, whose list is longer than this article. Despite being a sports bike, it has a comfortable seating position and is touring friendly. Apache RR310 comes with twin channel ABS as standard and comes with an ex-showroom price of Rs 2.10 lakh.
If we have excluded any bike from this list then please let us knows in the comments below. For everything related to motorcycles stay tuned to BikesMedia.
By: Yetnesh Dubey