Q. I am 41 years old, 107kg 5ft7in. I need a bike for city rides and occasional intra city rides. A big priority is bike should be good in handling and braking. My priority is also for a family bike with rear seat comfortable for ladies sitting. My earlier bike was a Yamaha FZ-25, which is an overkill for my purpose. I don't need a sports bike, but a good handler and a torquey bike, since I weigh 107kg. Another priority is least maintenance and good service. My eyes are on (1)Apache 1604v or 180cc BS6(2) Royal Enfield Classic 350 (used)(3) Honda Hornet BS6Is there any better choice for me? I don't really want Royal Enfield. But the comfort and ability to take family on that motorcycle in slow speeds makes it interesting. I had owned Bullet Electra 4S in the past and am afraid of maintenance and reliability issues of RE. I plan to buy in few months and need a safe bike with good handling and braking. (I had a bad accident with FZ25 - I will say, the main reason is that bike has a cruising speed above 90kmph and you shouldn't really ride in that speed, especially in the city.) That's why I'm looking down to Apache's which seemingly have good handling and cruising speed may be 50-80kmph). Please help.

@ Zigwheels | The best bike as per your requirements will be Royal Enfield Classic 350. It delivers decent power and offers great comfort for both pillion and rider. And now, it is available with the option of Dual Channel ABS to. However, it attracts a bit more maintenance cost as compared to other options. Apart from it, you may look for Hero Xtreme 160R and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. Talk about getting it right. The hero has managed to tune the brakes on the Xtreme to near perfection. It offers adequate brake bite and feedback through its levers and allows you to slam on the brakes and bring the bike to a dead stop a couple of meters before the RTR 160 4V. The difference in braking distances could be attributed to the RTR’s extra heft. Moreover, its brakes are known to lack progression and feel spongy which doesn’t inspire confidence. Even the ABS calibration on the Xtreme works better than the RTR. Pillion riders will find the Xtreme’s raked seat a little harder to get onto compared to the RTR’s flatter single-piece unit. It’s also shorter which ends up feeling a bit cramped. Moreover, reaching out to the bike’s grab handles, which are positioned under the rear quarter panel, feels a bit unnatural and takes some time getting used to. The RTR’s seat is long enough to easily accommodate the rider and pillion without throwing a fit. It isn’t as sharply inclined as the Xtreme either which makes it a lot more comfortable. The grab handles are positioned more conventionally and have more surface area for better grip. So ultimately selecting one boils down on your priorities. You may compare all these bikes accordingly. Do take a test ride in order to get better clarity. Check out authorised dealership details.