It’s a tough call picking a bike that has the right mix for everyday use. If you want power as well as fuel efficiency, it’s best to look at bikes with an engine capacity of about 150cc. These bikes have a good mix of performance and mileage.
They also come in different body styles. While some are regular commuter bikes or fared sports bikes, others have a naked, muscular look. Prices for these bikes range from about Rs 60,000 to nearly Rs 1.3 lakh. Here’s a look at the popular bikes in the 150cc segment that might just be what you’re looking for.
Bajaj Pulsar 150
Price: Rs 76,000 | Fuel efficiency: 65 kmpl
Bajaj Pulsar has got to be the most popular bike brand around. It is sporty, has good handling, and feels peppy. Since most of the bikes in the Pulsar range have similar styling, the Pulsar 150 evokes strong passion. It’s 149cc, twin-spark engine puts out 15 bhp of power and 12 Nm of torque. What makes this bike popular is the ease of navigating through city traffic. Since it also has the best fuel-efficiency in the segment, it is probably the most popular sporty commuter.
Why pick: Fuel efficiency and handling
Why ignore: Very common bike, blends in with the rest
Honda CB Unicorn 150
Price: Rs 70,500 | Fuel efficiency: 60 kmpl
The Honda CB Unicorn 150 pulled a Jon Snow and was brought back from the dead. Honda had replaced it with the Unicorn 160 in 2015, but since it did not sell as much, the company was forced to relaunch the 150. And voilà, the sales numbers magically climbed up again. The bike sports a mono-shock rear suspension and a sculpted fuel tank for a sporty look, but with an upright riding stance. It puts out 13 bhp of power and 13 Nm of torque with a five-speed transmission. Buyers have strangely found the 150 to be more reliable than the 160.
Why pick: Reliable commuter
Why ignore: Not too fast
Bajaj V15
Price: Rs 63,000 | Fuel efficiency: 57 kmpl
Every Bajaj V15 has a piece of the INS Vikrant battleship in it. At least that has been Bajaj’s premise for selling this retro-styled commuter bike. The bike is a good blend of fuel efficiency, retro styling and decent performance. It shares its 150cc twin-spark motor with Bajaj Avenger. It puts out 12 bhp of power and 13 Nm of torque with a five-speed gearbox. The V15 evokes a patriotic passion and is a competent commuter motorcycle for daily use.
Why pick: For its retro-classic styling
Why ignore: Average performance
Suzuki Gixxer
Price: Rs 77,500 | Fuel efficiency: 54 kmpl
The Suzuki Gixxer is a bike that has an attractive design, and for those who want a little more oomph, you even get a fared version of the bike. The Gixxer is a 155cc bike, but we’ll add it in this list as it is a pretty popular sporty commuter. It has a comprehensive digital instrument console and even offers ABS as an option. The bike puts out 14.6 bhp of power and 14 Nm of torque with a five-speed transmission.
Why pick: Good all-rounder
Why ignore: Service reach
Yamaha FZ-S V 2.0
Price: Rs 84,000 | Fuel efficiency: 45 kmpl
The Yamaha FZ-S V2.0 is a muscular commuter bike. It stands out with its looks. It has recently got a technical upgrade as well, with its new fuel-injected 149 cc engine, which puts out 13.1 bhp of power and 12.8 Nm of torque, with a slight bump up in fuel efficiency. It has a stiff suspension and a pretty nimble handle, allowing the bike to easily sweep through traffic.
Why pick: Nimble handling, muscular styling
Why ignore: Styling too radical for some
Hero Achiever 150
Price: Rs 64,000 | Fuel efficiency: 50 kmpl
The Hero Achiever got a fresh lease of life towards the end of 2016, with an updated engine and some minor cosmetic additions. It has a149cc engine 13.4 bhp of power and 12.8 Nm of torque. It comes with a start-stop system that Hero calls i3S. This switches off the bike and restarts it automatically whenever it is stationary in traffic, thereby helping to save fuel.
Why pick: Reliable commuter
Why ignore: Dated styling
Yamaha YZF R15
Price: Rs 1,19,000 | Fuel efficiency: 42 kmpl
The Yamaha YZF R15 is one of the sportiest commuters around. It looks like a scaled down version of the Yamaha R1 and does turn a lot of heads. It has a pretty aggressive riding position and a large fairing with twin headlamps. The liquid-cooled, fuel-injected single cylinder 150cc engine puts out 17 bhp of power and 15 Nm of torque. It is a nimble handler and great for high-speed runs, but is a bit cumbersome in traffic.
Why pick: Sporty looks and performance
Why ignore: Could be a handful in tight parking spots
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)