Best Sportbikes Under Rs 2 Lakh

Most of us Indians love full-faired sport bikes. Even though our daily driver might be a utilitarian 100cc commuter, we can’t help but dream of getting our hands on a full-faired machine and look as cool as John Abraham riding a Hayabusa in Dhoom. But let’s face it, bikes like the ‘Busa are out of budget for most of us. That doesn’t mean though that we can’t feed our full-faired fetish at an acceptable budget. And for just this, we’ve compiled a list of the best sportbikes available in India at the moment which can be had for under Rs 2.0 lakh (ex-showroom of course).

1. Yamaha R15 v4

The R15 was the genesis of the small-capacity sport bike concept in India. Just like the original, this v4 offers fantastic, intuitive handling and dials it up a notch with top spec components such as an upside down fork and a cast aluminium swingarm. There are a tonne of feature updates too, such as an optional quickshifter, traction control and Bluetooth in the all-digital instrument cluster. And thanks to VVA (variable valve actuation), the R15 makes more power and is more usable at city speeds as well. It really is the best sportbike for beginners and even for some enthusiasts who prefer lightness and agility over outright power.

Price: Rs 1.77 to 1.88 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

2. Bajaj Pulsar RS200

The NS/RS200 family might be getting a little long in the tooth these days. But there’s no denying that they’re still very capable machines. And the RS200 can still turn heads like the best of them. Quirky and eye-catching design apart, the RS200 has some solid underpinnings - a 199cc liquid cooled motor that’s derived from the KTM 200 Duke that makes a decent amount of power and is quite frugal for its size too. And unlike dedicated sportbikes like the Yamaha R15, the Pulsar RS200 offers very comfortable riding ergonomics as well, making it a great everyday bike too.

Price: Rs 1.68 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

3. Suzuki Gixxer 250

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The Gixxer SF250 is a very interesting little motorcycle. It’s based on the naked Gixxer 250, but really has its own unique personality. Its ergonomics are a little sportier than its naked sibling’s, but not so hardcore that you can’t use it comfortably during your urban commute. And the platform itself is quite capable. It’s one of the most powerful 250cc single-cylinder bikes in the country and it manages such performance levels using purely oil-cooling (not air or liquid). Plus it’s got neutral and predictable handle, which will welcome riders of pretty much all skill levels.

Price: Rs 1.90 to Rs 1.91 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

4. KTM RC125

Even with lower capacity and power, the KTM RC125 is the only true nemesis to the Yamaha R15 v4 in India. Just like the R15, this KTM offers top spec underpinnings such as a trellis frame, upside down fork, and even a radial front brake caliper. Compared to the last gen RC125, this current one gets a new design that’s more in line with KTM’s MotoGP bikes. Even the ergonomics have been made a little more comfortable thanks to raised clip-ons. And it also sees small, but significant improvements such as a larger airbox for better bottom end response and lighter wheels and brakes to make its handling even sharper.

Price: Rs 1.86 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

5. Hero Xtreme 200S

Hero Motocorp is generally known for their 100cc commuter motorcycles. But in recent years, they’ve ventured into some sporty models as well, starting with the Xtreme 200R, which turned out to be capable, if a little underwhelming. But when Hero Motocorp slapped a full fairing on it and called it the Xtreme 200S, it turned out to be actually more fun than anyone could have imagined. The slight extra weight the fairing adds on the front gives it a little more front end feel when throwing it round corners, and allows you to extract more out of the Xtreme’s capable chassis. And then just look at it… with its Robocop-face, it looks straight out of an 80s sportbike catalogue. To top it off, it’s the most affordable bike in this list… by a margin too!

Price: Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)