Best Bike For Rural Area in India
Around 70 % of the Indian population still lives in rural areas. In rural areas, the roads are not that great, and the inflow of cash is not so strengthened like the towns and cities. Thus, the most popular vehicle for commuting is two-wheelers.
If you are the one who is looking for the best bike for rural area in India, you must keep a few things in mind.
Table of Contents
Factors determining best bike for rural area
1.) Road conditions
Rural areas, in general, don’t have good roads. Although a lot of work has been done in improving the road network in the past decade, a lot more improvement is still needed. Thus, the bike must be capable of commuting in such road conditions.
Since you are very much familiar with the locality, you must be knowing about the road conditions of the areas where the bike will be used the most to travel and choose accordingly.
2.) Comfort
This is very much related to the above factor, i.e. road conditions. Before selecting a bike, one must look for comfort. For a comfortable ride, one should opt for the vehicle with better suspension and seats.
3.) Cost of the bike
Well, this is the most crucial factor while selecting a bike. Rural areas don’t have that much spending capacity because the earning sources are limited. Thus, before buying a motorcycle, one must know how much he/she can spend easily.
Opting for an expensive bike just for the societal showcase will harm in the long term. Taking a loan and paying the frequent EMI’s over the monthly budget is not easy. So, one must check their budget and spend accordingly.
4.) Mileage
The petrol prices are soaring to new highs. It has crossed Rs. 80 and the price hike doesn’t seem to slow if we consider the recent trends. Thus, the Mileage is going to be one of the most significant factors for opting for a bike rather than a car for small distances.
Even the premium bikes are not at all advisable for rural areas at all.
5.) Engine Displacement
It is very much related to the Power and Mileage of the vehicle. More the Engine capacity, more is the power driven from it.
In general, Engine Displacement ∝ Mileage Cost
The better the Engine Displacement, the more powerful the engine is, and lesser is the Mileage.
In remote areas ( in flat terrain ), one should go for bikes with 100 cc to 125 cc Engine Displacement.
Keeping all the above factors in mind, here are few recommendations for the best bikes for rural areas in India.
Top 5 Best Bike for Rural Area in India
1.) Hero Splendor Plus
Splendor has been a synonym with Rural Bike. Hero Splendor is considered as the most popular bike in the villages. This is because of the sturdiness and comfort splendor offers.
Features
- Engine Displacement – 97.2 cc
- Mileage –
On paper Hero Splendor Plus is quoted to offer a mileage of 80 km/l in ideal conditions. But in practical scenarios, the Mileage offered is somewhat near 60 km/l, which is very good.
It is undoubtedly the best value for money bikes in India.
- Power – 8.2 Bhp @ 8000 rpm.
- Engine Type – Single Cylinder Air Cooled Engine.
- Gearbox- 4 Speed Gearbox.
- Low maintenance.
- Sturdy and Durable.
Cost-
Hero Splendor starts from approx Rs. 60000 (showroom price) in Delhi.
2.) Bajaj Platina
Bajaj Platina is one of the most fuel economical bikes in the market, and that’s its USP. From the day of its launch, the sales figure has always been increasing for Platina.
With such a comfortable seat and SNS suspension, Bajaj Platina proves to be a good ride for the bumpy and uneven roads in the remote areas of India.
Features
- Engine Displacement – 102 cc
- Mileage –
Platina offers a mileage of 96.9 km/l on paper. But in ideal conditions, one can expect the Mileage to be somewhere near to 70 km/l based on traffic and road conditions. This extraordinary Mileage makes it a very economical and one of the most desirable bikes for rural India.
- Power – 7.70 bhp @ 7500 rpm
- Engine type- Single cylinder
- Gearbox – 4-speed gearbox
- Low maintenance and tough.
Cost
The cost of Bajaj Platina starts from approx.Rs. 52000 ( showroom price Delhi ).
3. TVS Victor
Gone are the days when TVS was seen second to HERO and BAJAJ. Because of the constant delivery of good products in the market, TVS has been able to match the standards of the other two market giants.
VICTOR has proved to be one of the most selling bikes of TVS. TVS Victor is somewhat middle ground between Splendor and Platina. It offers the sturdiness of Hero and a balanced ride like Platina because of its good suspension. This makes it an excellent option for remote areas.
Features
- Engine Displacement – 109.70 cc
- Mileage –
The Mileage of TVS VICTOR is 75 km/l approx. on papers. But in working conditions, one can expect the Mileage to be somewhere around 55 – 60 km/l.
- Power – 9.46 bhp @ 7500 rpm
- Engine Type – Single Cylinder
- Gearbox- 4-speed gearbox
- Cost-effective maintenance
Cost
The cost of TVS Victor starts from approx. Rs. 60000 ( showroom in Delhi ).
4. Hero Passion Pro i3
Hero Passion Pro i3 has proved it’s worth through continued growth in the sales in the market. The manly looks, comfortable ride and robustness are what makes it one of the best bikes for the rural areas.
Features
- Engine Displacement – 110 CC
- Mileage –
On paper, Hero Glamour is quoted to provide a mileage of 85 km/l. But in practical conditions, one can expect the Mileage to be around 65 km/l which indeed is pretty remarkable.
- Power – 9.02 bhp @ 7500 rpm
- Engine Type – Single Cylinder Air Cooled
- Gearbox – 4 Speed Gearbox
- Maintenance Cost is reasonable.
Cost
Hero Passion Pro i3 costs around Rs. 65000 ( Showrooms in Delhi )
5. Honda CB SHINE/ HONDA SHINE BS6
Honda has always been a very reliable brand in the vehicle manufacturing industry. Their engines have been exceptional and long-lasting. CB SHINE is one of the most selling Honda bikes. It looks very attractive and muscular.
Also, the ride quality is pretty comfortable and offers a decent value for money in terms of maintenance and regular commuting.
Features
- Engine Displacement – 124.7 CC
- Mileage
Honda CB Shine offers Mileage of 65 km/l in ideal conditions. But in practical scenarios, one can expect a mileage of 50 – 55 km/l approx.
- Power – 10.50 bhp @ 7500 rpm
- Engine Type- Single Cylinder Engine
- GearBox- 5 Speed Gearbox
- Decent maintenance expenditure
Cost –
Honda CB Shine costs around Rs 69000 approx. ( showrooms in Delhi ).
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Conclusion
While considering the best bike for rural area in India, one must consider the above factors. Since the rural areas in India are not well equipped with a robust road network, the bikes used in these areas must qualify a balanced price to performance ratio.
Also, one must look deep inside their pockets to know the exact expenditure limits. Yes, bikes like Royal Enfield Classic 350, Yamaha YZF R15 V3, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, KTM DUKE 200, Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS etc. are excellent bikes that can be apt for both cities and rural areas.
But frankly speaking, they are not at all cost-effective if we consider the limitations of income of the rural areas.
If you find this information helpful please share it with your friends, family and colleagues. Comment below and let us know which bike do you think suits the rural conditions the most in India.
