Speed is not one of the major criteria when buying a bike in India. People generally look out for bikes which are comfortable, cheap and gives good mileage. When it comes to youth things change and there is growing demands for bikes which meets above criteria as well as are fast on roads. Bike manufacturers are aware of this and we already have 5 bikes in the list which could go past 115km/hr, gives mileage of 40+kmpl and costs less than 1 lakh. However, these are miles behind the sports bike like Honda CBR1000RR which has a top speed of 286kmph but costs close to Rs. 14.6 lakhs.
Let us have a look at 2016 top 5 fastest bikes with their prices, acceleration and fuel efficiency:
SL. No. | Bikes | Top Speed | 0-60kmph | Mileage | Price(Ex-Mumbai) |
1 | Bajaj Pulsar AS 200 | 138 | 4.9 | 38 | 93,610 |
2 | Bajaj Avenger 220 | 135 | 4.5 | 48 | 82,327 |
3 | Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-i | 134 | 4.5 | 40 | 88,610 |
4 | Hero Karizma R | 126 | 4.7 | 41 | 86,725 |
5 | Apache RTR 180 | 121.4 | 4.5 | 45 | 85,830 |
6 | Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS | 119 | 4.33 | 35 | 93,610 |
1. Bajaj Pulsar AS 200 – 138kmph
The adventure sports 200cc bike from Bajaj might not be that adventurous to ride but does it job wonderfully well. The bike is fitted with triple spark four-valve DTS-i engine that produces a peak power of 23.5PS at 9500rpm and 18.3Nm of peak torque at 8000rpm. The top speed for the bike is 138kmph which makes it fastest bike under 1 lakh price range. The bike is calm and vibration free at nearly all range of revs and one could easily go for 100kmph on highways for long distances. The bike has enough torque and could be pushed hard when required like overtaking vehicles on highways. With 12 litre fuel tank and mileage of nearly 43kmpl(highway), the bike could go up to 500+ kms on full tank. AS 200 could take up corners easily, thanks to the pressed steel frame that makes the bike very stable. AS 200 has all the features of a touring motorcycle and one could easily use it for shorter tours of 250-300 kms range. It fulfills all the features of a touring bike i.e. it is fast, Its 12 litre tank is good enough for 500kms ride and It is very comfortable towards the end of the journey due to its vibration free and calm ride.
2. Bajaj Avenger 220 – 135kmph
Bajaj Avenger 220 was introduced after the initial success of the popular cruiser Avenger 200. There is big similarity between the two bikes and it is not very clear why the company had to launch 2 bikes in such close range. Overall the bike looks a bit bulky with kerb weight of around 154.5kgs. The low hand styling and unique fuel tank gives it a distinct look. It is the most affordable cruiser available in India with Ex. showroom price for Mumbai stands at Rs. 82,327.
Avenger 220 is powered by twin spark, oil cooled, 220cc DTS-i engine that gives maximum power of 19.03PS at 8400rpm and peak torque of 17.7Nm at 7000rpm. It is fitted with 5-speed gearbox which gives enough power at all spreads. The refined engine in this cruiser gives good pickup reaching 0-60kmph in just around 4.5sec which is equivalent to all other bikes in this price range.
It has telescopic fork in front and twin shock absorber in the rear which is well integrated to the frame which works well and absorbs or minimizes most of the road imperfections. 260mm front disc and 130mm rear drum brakes works well and gives good stop ability to the bike. When it comes to mileage, Avenger 220 gives an average of 40kmpl on city roads and 55kmpl on highways.
3. Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-i – 134kmph
The high speed for this bike is primarily due to the use of patented technology with Bajaj – Digital Twin Spark Ignition (DTSi). It gives better combustion and is very efficient. In conventional bikes one spark plug is used in the combustion chamber which is located at one end due to which the fuel at the other end takes some time to burn. With Twin Spark Plugs which are located at the 2 ends helps in burning the mixture of air and fuel faster.
ExhausTEC or Exhaust Torque Expansion Chamber is another patented technology used in this bike. It helps to improve the torque of the bike in low and mid ranges.
220 DTS-i is fitted with 220cc engine that gives a peak power of 21.4PS at 8500rpm and a peak torque of 19.2Nm at 7000rpm. Dual hydraulic disc brakes in both front and back wheels ensure that bike comes to halt from 60-0kmph in just 20.1sec due to its large diameter which is impressive. Bajaj claims the mileage of the bike to be 54.2kmpl but in actual conditions one could expect an average of 38kmpl on city roads and 48kmpl on highways which is quite impressive.
Tubeless tyres, 12 V DC battery for better illumination and starting, anti-friction bush in front suspensions, Nitrox shock absorber at rear are some of the other features in this bike that makes it best in the segment.
4. Hero Motocorp Karizma R – 126kmph
The bike is fitted with 223cc engine which gives a peak power of 19.5PS @ 7,500rpm and a peak torque of 19.3Nm @ 6,000rpm. The 2014 Karizma model has a slight advantage of power and torque than its older counterpart but at the cost of slight vibration at higher speeds. The acceleration is not great like the rival Bajaj’s bike but with by a small margin for its higher mileage. However this mileage is just few extra km for a litre of petrol.
The bike is great for city driving but once you go to highway, the driving might not be very pleasurable. It gives a good power at lower speeds, the clutch is very soft and could cruise past the signals without any hitch thus it could easily win hearts for its easy city driving capabilities.
It is nowhere near to the efficient 21.4PS powered engine from 220 DTS-i. However due to the brand power and resale value, there are lot of buyers for this machine in India.
5. TVS Apache RTR 180 – 121.4kmph
The 3rd fastest bike under 100,000 is fitted with 177.4cc engine that gives 17.3PS of peak power and 15.5Nm of peak torque at 6500rpm. The top speed of the bike is close to 122kmph and is fitted with 5-speed gearbox. The handling of the bike is super and the 2 disc brakes are well calibrated for safety of the riders. When it comes to fuel efficiency, the speedster gives a mileage close to 45kmpl which is in comparison to other competitors in the segment is best.
The riding position for the bike is however a problem as one could feel it on long rides. The engine too could get slightly rough on highways but in city drives it might not be visible. The acceleration is great and could reach a speed of 60kmph from 0 in just under 4.5s.
6. Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS – 119kmph
Not in the top 5 list but worth a mention. This bike has the lowest mileage but comes with superior acceleration. At the signals, 200 NS would be the 1st to take lead as it could reach from 0 to 60kmph in just 4.33 secs and 0 – 100kmph in just under 9.8 seconds which is even better than Pulsar 220. It lacks in top stable speed as it could go up to only 119kmph. Wider shape gives 200 NS bulkier and muscular looks. Despite being a large bike, its thick handlebar gives complete control. The upright position of sitting is comfortable for city rides but could pose bit of problems on long highways. The seat is firm but could be uncomfortable when riding for long distances. For touring AS 200 might be better option than 200NS.
The bike is fitted with 6-speed gearbox and the SOHC Liquid Cooled, single cylinder engine gives out a peak power of 23.52PS of power at 9500 rpm with 18.3Nm of torque at 8000 rpm.
Honorable Mention
Hero Motocorp Xtreme – 115kmph
The Hero commuter bike might not be very powerful with its 149.2cc engine that gives out a peak power of 14.4PS and maximum torque of 12.8NM at 6500rpm but sure needs a mention in the list. With top speed of about 112kmph, this bike is far less strained than the others in this segment. At high speeds too it is very smooth and calm. But things change when it comes to acceleration where it takes around 5.7 seconds to reach from 0-60kmph. The rear disc version of Xtreme is bit heavier due to which it feels milder while driving and when comes to performance. One area where it excels is the mileage as it gives an overall fuel efficiency of 58km/l.
Others
Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTS-i – 115kmph
One of the best selling bikes from Bajaj since it was launched in 2001. This bike made Bajaj as one of the preferred brand especially with the youth as they got something new other than Hero Honda fuel efficient slower bikes. The 179cc engine is well calibrated to give out a power of 17PS with a peak torque of 14.7Nm. The gas charged shocks ensures a smooth ride even on rough Indian roads at higher speeds. When it comes to performance, this is the best power bike in India under 1 lakh. The mileage of 48kmpl is also the best in the segment.
6 Comments
Bro my avenger goes around 140-147 kmph its really fast
One speedy storm is missing here ….yamaha R15
I am sorry to say that sir , That you have provided wrong information regarding Bajaj Pulsar 200ns as its top speed claimed by company itself is 138 km/hr and being a owner i have reached around 135 km/hr as per speedo (which is in perfect state ) ..I would request you to change the information
I don’t know from where did you get these stats? I had Pulsar 220 dts-i for over 4 years. I clocked 149 kmph on it and achieving 145 kmph was like cake walk..
I think 200 ns should be first with top speed of 145 kmph
all the above information are wrong . PUlsar 200NS have the top speed of above 150. Pulsar 180 will go above 125. Pulsar 220 will be 140-145.