Wearing swanky jackets, shiny gloves, customized helmets and boots while riding the ‘beast’ down an open road – all biking enthusiasts share the same dreams! And certainly, you can do all of this if you own a bike or can rent one. Be it a second-hand bike or a new one, everyone at some point in life wishes to own a ‘mean machine’. But, which bike should you buy? With the number of brands and variety of bikes available in the market, which bike to buy poses a dilemma for bike enthusiasts, young and old. Trust us, the decision isn’t an easy one to make, so we’re here to help you out. Here are some of the factors to consider before buying a new bike in India.
1. Purpose
Every bike is meant for two things – a road and a biker. It depends on which of these two reasons you want to purchase the bike for. Is it because you want to make your commute to work easy? Is it that you want to ride off to the hilly parts of the country where your biking skills are put to the test? Or is it just to get that feel-good feeling of owning your own bike? Knowing your reason to purchase a bike is the first step to answering this question.
If it is to make your commute easy, then you must gauge the road quality of your surrounding streets and the routes that you’ll be traveling through every day. A bike that functions well on city roads may not be as great as you expect it to be when navigating rocky roads in the mountains. For biking enthusiasts who wish to go off on trips very often, you have an array of powerful bikes to choose from. By understanding the purpose, you will definitely get a fair idea of what kind of bike is a good fit for your needs.
2. Mileage
Mileage is one of the most important factors to consider before buying a new bike in India. Once you know why you are buying a bike, it becomes a lot easier to decide how much mileage you want your two-wheeler to give. Of course, a bike that delivers high mileage is always a preferred choice as it goes easy on the pocket. Paying attention to fuel efficiency is of the utmost importance especially for those who plan on going for long trips often.
3. Servicing Cost
You may have bought the best-looking bike in the showroom, but what if you have to shell out a hefty amount from your pocket every month just to service the bike? Doesn’t sound great, does it? It is a given that any vehicle, new or old, will need regular servicing and maintenance from time to time. While making a decision about buying a bike, do consider the servicing and maintenance cost that you will have to dedicate for your bike upkeep. Do also ensure that there’s easily available spare parts of your purchased bike, without which you’ll be in hot water.
4. Comfort
The point of purchasing a bike is to make your life easy and fun-filled. It defeats this purpose if it gives you pain! When looking at factors to consider before buying a new bike in India, pay attention to the features and body structure of the bike. Not all roads are straight roads in India, and not all roads are in impeccable condition. Considering the condition of the roads that you are likely to travel through is advisable. For long-distance travelers, one needs to decide on what style of bike is most comfortable. Whether you need a cruiser which comes with relaxed seating or an adventure tourer which is also known as a ‘tall machine’, the choice is all yours. Just make sure you choose a bike well and wisely.
5. Budget
Everything boils down to budget. As mentioned, there are a number of options available to choose from, and it is up to you how much you want to spend on a bike. A scooter may cost a little less than a bike, and a used bike will cost less than a new one, but it is important to pick a bike that fits your budget. In India, or anywhere else for that matter, it is advisable for a beginner to opt for a less expensive bike. This keeps you safe from the heartache that follows if your new bike that cost a bomb is damaged in the process of learning how to ride it.
Another factor that one must keep in mind is the time-frame. For how long do you wish to ride the bike? Are you buying a bike to meet a long-term goal, or to serve a short-term purpose? Your budget can be allotted accordingly, and the bike chosen to fit the budget.
6. Resale Value
At some point in time, there will be a moment when you feel like you need a new bike. No matter how much you love your ‘mean machine’, you’ll feel the need to upgrade yourself to something new and better. With an ever-changing automotive industry, there will always be something new in the market which you would like to own. But then, what happens to the old one? Sale, sale, sale!
This is one of those factors to consider before buying a new bike in India. In India, the resale market is huge, and it is upon you to choose a bike that will have a lower or higher resale value when you sell it off to someone else. It is advisable that you purchase a bike that is and will remain in manufacturing for a long time so that you do not have to compromise on the resale value.
Conclusion
The factors to consider before buying a new bike in India are many, but this is only the first step to actually making the purchase. Make sure you also know all about the process to get a two-wheeler loan and calculate things like your bike loan EMI so that you can get started on owning your very own bike.
