The Best touring bikes in India below 5 lakhs.
India has plenty of places to explore on two wheels. From the mighty Himalayas to the vast salt lands of Kutch, India is full of breathtaking views.
A person who loves to tour on motorcycles will find India fascinating.
It is amusing how cultures, languages, and terrains change in India as the kilometers pass by.
Vaishali Bhagat, a biker and mother told us her interview that she loves the freedom that comes from on a motorcycle tour.
Adventure is a done deal when you’re touring in India. But for that, you need a touring motorcycle that doesn’t suck.
You need a motorcycle that permits adventure, speed, and comfort. But at the same time, it doesn’t have to come at the cost of a house. Isn’t it?
So, in this article, I’ll tell you about the best touring bikes you can buy below 5 lakhs.
1. KTM 390 ADVENTURE »»»
In 2020, we finally have the KTM 390 adventure in India, standing tall in our nearby KTM showrooms.
And I must say this out loud – The KTM 390 adventure has lived up to my expectations and the long wait seems more justified now.
I feel that the KTM 390 adventure is worth every penny you spend on it. At 2.99 lakh ex-showroom, it’s the best motorcycle an adventure “touring” lover could buy in India under 5 lakhs.
“More adventure awaits you”
That’s the philosophy of KTM behind the 390, adventure and looking at the bike, I can say that it is definitely built for taking you on adventures.
Highlights.
43.5 bhp @ 9000 rpm
Traction Control
Cornering ABS
Broad Seats
Price.
The KTM 390 adventure is priced at 2.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi)
2. BMW GS 310 GS »»»
Auto journalists from all over the world have given a mixed reaction on the BMW GS 310. Some feel that the motorcycle is a spot on touring motorcycle for India.
And some feel that it could’ve been better.
What’s my take on the GS 310? Well, it’s a capable touring bike for India, but it is fairly overpriced.
At 3.49 lakhs ex-showroom, the BMW GS 310 doesn’t even come with spoke wheels. On the other hand, equipment and finishing on the GS are top-notch and feels premium.
If you don’t mind spending a little extra cash, you should consider buying the BMW GS 310 for touring.
GS 310 a modern tourer, just like this Carbando Backpack I reviewed is a modern backpack for bikers (with a USB/AUX port)
Highlights.
34 bhp @ 9500 rpm
1800 mm suspension travel
19-inch front and 17 inch rear wheel
Premium Equipment
Dual-channel ABS
Upright ergonomic
Price.
The BMW 310 GS is priced at 3.49 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi)
3. Royal Enfield Interceptor »»»
Image by Zigwheels.
If I could give an award to the hottest bike launch of the year 2018, I’d give it to the Interceptor 650. It is one motorcycle that drew all my attention, simply because of the value, it offers.
Interceptor 650 is an excellent option for people looking for a classic-styled touring bike.
The Interceptor can be heavily customized with riding accessories to making it better for touring. It is powered by a 648 cc twin which produces 47 bhp of power.
“Easy Come, Easy Go”
That’s the tagline of the 650 twins on Royal Enfield’s website.
And the tagline perfectly sums up the rider-friendly nature of their new engine. If it’s simplicity & touring capabilities are not enough to make you smile.
The price definitely would.
Highlights.
648 cc twin cylinder engine
Upright ergonomics
Dual-channel ABS
Spoke Wheels
Price.
Interceptor comes at 2,50,000 (ex-showroom)
4. Bajaj Dominar 400 »»»
Folks here some good news. Bajaj has updated their Dominar for 2019 and the changes are significant.
The new Dominar 2019 gets an updated 373.2 cc engine which produces 40 ps of power. Five horses more than the older version.
The exhaust is new and it looks and sounds better than the older one. Also, the instrument cluster and the suspension gets an upgrade too.
Bajaj is pitching the Dominar as the undisputed king of budget touring bikes. And it seems legit. After the launch of Royal Enfield 650 twins, Bajaj really has some tough competition.
That being said, Bajaj Dominar is widely for touring in India. It has sufficient power for highway cruising, optimum comfort and the safety net of ABS.
Preetam Bora, the editor at NDTV Car and Bike wrote in his review of Bajaj Dominar that:
“Dominar will satisfy the touring crowd because of it’s decent highway speeds, stability, and sorted ride”
You can also customize the Dominar according to your touring needs, so it’s a go-to touring bike for a great price.
Highlights.
39 bhp @ 8650 rpm
Dual Channel ABS.
Slipper clutch.
Powerful LED headlight setup.
Six-Speed Gearbox.
Price.
Bajaj Dominar 2019 comes at 1,97,000 (On road price)
5. Royal Enfield Himalayan »»»
After the Bullet got hit among the touring enthusiasts, they asked for more from Royal Enfield. And Royal Enfield didn’t turn a deaf ear, they built the Himalayan.
A touring bike built for pure adventure and off roads. If you want to ride a big ADV in the future, like the Multistrada or the BMW GS, the Himalayan will be a great learning experience for you.
Himalayan is good on the roads, but better when there are no roads. So if you’re someone who likes daring adventures and dirt, Himalayan is the bike for you.
Being a popular adventure touring motorcycle, there are a lot of accessories available for Himalayan in the market.
Here are 14 upgrades you can make on the Himalayan and make it touring ready.
Highlights.
19-inch front tyre
220 mm of ground clearance
Spoked wheels
Now comes with an ABS too
Price.
1.81 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
6. Jawa Forty Two »»»
Jawa is back! And so is the smile on faces of retro motorcycle lovers. The company entered the market with two new bikes. First is the “Jawa” and the other one is “Forty Two”
In the past, Jawa was a renowned brand among people who loved touring bikes. Jawa served as a touring bike for a long period of time before it’s discontinuation.
The Jawa Forty Two will excite people who want to stick with retro-styled touring bikes. It also beats the Bullet 350 when it comes to power and built quality.
What’s Hot: Top 17 retro bikes in India (for old school lovers)
Highlights.
Spoked wheels
ABS
Spoked wheels
Price.
1.55 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
Price.
1.62 lakhs & 2.11 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
7. Hero Xpluse 200 »»»
Finally, the wait is over and Hero Motocorp has launched the Xpulse 200 in India. The elder sibling of Impulse 150, the Xpulse is the smallest affordable available in India. It’s powered by a 200 cc engine, has long suspensions, knobby tyres and a comfortable riding position.
The Xpulse will appeal to people who tour on small motorcycles. If you like going long distances on a budget, the Xpulse can take you.
According to Hero, the Xpulse 200 is meant to,
“Make New Tracks”
And I am sure the Xpulse 200 lives up to the line.
Sitting for long distances on a motorcycle can be painful, Isn’t it? Not anymore. Check out my review of this amazing air seat by Fego. It will genuinely make your long bike tours comfortable.
Highlights.
Single-channel ABS
Off-road tyres
Long Travel Suspension.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Price.
1.04 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
8. Benelli Leoncino 250 »»»
The smallest Benelli in India, the Leoncino can be used as a good touring machine. It has a 250 cc engine which produces 25 bhp at @ 9250 rpm. The Leoncino has an upright seating position and wide seats which will keep you comfortable in the journey.
I am pretty sure that Leoncino allows ample of modification to make it an even better touring bike.
Life-Saving: 12 tips to ride a motorcycle in rain (safely)
Highlights.
Upright Ergonomics
ABS
High Stability.
All Led Light Setup
Price.
2.50 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
9. Ninja 300 »»»
Wait, did I call Ninja 300 a touring motorcycle? Oh yes, I did. A lot of Ninja 300 owners use it for touring. And I haven’t heard them complaining about the bike anytime.
The stance of the Ninja 300 is not aggressive and there’s fairing for wind protection too. Which makes it a great faired sports tourer. If you want to reach your destination fast, and in style, then Ninja 300 is the one.
What’s even better is that Kawasaki India has slashed the price of Ninja 300. And recently, they’ve also slashed the price of their spare parts.
Interviews: Talking with Vaishali Bhagat, the queen of motorcycle touring.
Highlights.
39 bhp @ 11000 rpm
Dual-Channel ABS.
Six-Speed Gearbox.
Slipper Clutch
Price.
Kawasaki has revised the price of Ninja 300, and now it costs 2.98 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
10. Apache 310 RR »»»
Apache 310 is another fully-faired motorcycle that can fulfill your touring duties. It comes with the same engine as seen on the baby BMW GS costs a lot lesser.
The stance is neutral, not too committed, not too upright. If you can ride a Honda CBR 250 to Ladakh, you can probably ride an Apache 310 RR too.
Touring on sports bike gives you the added advantage of speed. But don’t forget to wear your riding gloves.
Need a new pair of riding gloves? Check out these affordable riding gloves I wrote about. They’re budget-friendly, available easily online and do the job well.
Highlights.
Dual Channel ABS.
Six Speed Gearbox.
Slipper Clutch
Fairing for reducing wind blast
Price.
Apache RR 31O is priced at 2.23 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
11. Benelli Leoncino 500 »»»
Leoncino 500 is the elder brother or Leoncino 250 which I mentioned earlier. If you like the Leoncino 250 but think it’s less powerful for touring then you can go with this one. The Leoncino 500 will be a great touring bike for Indian roads.
It produces 47.7ps of power which makes a lot more powerful than its younger brother.
Highlights.
Long Travel Suspension
Excellent Brakes
Great Sound
Price.
4.70 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
Worth Reading: 7 reasons to buy the Leoncino 500 in India (and 2 to skip it)
12. Yamaha Fazer 25 »»»
Fazer 25 is a faired brother of FZ25. With a 250 cc refined engine, wide seats, and fairing, the Fazer25 makes for a capable touring machine.
The Fazer 25 looks a little dated in terms of design, but trust me, you won’t find a better 250 cc touring bike in the market at such a low price.
Highlights.
LED lights
5 Speed Gearbox
20 bhp @ 8000 rpm
Price.
Yamaha Fazer 25 costs 1.29 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi)
