Classification

These are also recommended for people in their 60s and above, who do not travel more than 2-3 kms per trip. These are light in weight (@55kg), have a cruising speed of 40-45 kph, easy to ride and have no gears. All bikes in this category have step-thru’ frame and ladies wearing saris or long dresses can also ride them comfortably.

2. Step thru’s

- Bikes such as Hero Honda Street, Kinetic K-4 100, Bajaj M 80, Hero Puch etc. Bikes in this category range in price from Rs. 15,000 upward to Rs. 40,000 and more. though the bikes in this category are essentially intended for city-riding, one can if necessary, go on longer out of city trips provided the roads are good and the rider is physically fit. As to the fuel average, the Bajaj M-80 gives 55 km per litre, in normal city riding. All these bikes give excellent value for money, except that none of them have a lockable dicky for carrying things.

3. Scooterettes or mini

- Scooters such as TVS Scooty, Hero Winner, Bajaj Sunny Zip and Bajaj SPIRIT, and LML scooterettes fall in this category. All the bikes in this category are powered by two stroke engines of size between 60 and 70 cc, give around 55 kms perlitre and have a top speed of 65 kph. All these bikes also have excellent, large, invisible, lockable dicky spaceunder the seat, except Bajaj Sunny Zip.

4. Scooters

- Regular scooters such as Bajaj Classic SL and other models and Kinetic Hondas Kiho and Marvel models. All these scooters have two stroke engines. While Bajjaj and LML models have gears and engines of 150 cc, Kinetic Honda of both models have automatic transmission (no gears at all) and a 100 cc engine. All these scooters can do speeds up to 80 kph and are equally suitable for city traffic and long rides. Fuel average is in the 40-45 kms per litre range and prices vary from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000.

5. Regular Motorcycles

- Such as the 100 cc Indo Japanese two strokers like the Bajaj KB, TVS Shaolin, and Shogun and other models, Yamaha RX models and Escorts Rajdoot (175-cc) model. There are also regular 100 cc Indo Japanese four-stroke models such as Hero Hondas, Splendour and other models, Bajaj’s 4S /Champion and Caliber models and the Enfield BULLET (350cc-500 cc). All these have large wheels and foot operated gears. Prices vary from about 35,000 - upwards of 75,000.

6. Enfields Diesel Bullet

- Which is the only diesel powered bike made in India (other than backyard assemblers). Costing in the region of Rs. 65,000, this is the most reliable and rugged bike made in India. It is also the cheapest to run, giving at least 66 kms per litre of diesel, no matter how hard you ride it. It has a top speed of 80 kph and has the brightest headlight (55 watts) headlight among all two wheelers in India. Suspension is hard, and it needs a tough man to ride it.