Touring bikes sell like hotcakes in India. For Indians, touring has now become a hobby. For the uninitiated, touring is a biking subculture where riders take their bikes on long road trips. Touring bikes are designed to conquer tough terrains, return high mileage, offer more performance and keep the rider comfortable.
Bike brands in India took the soaring demand for touring bikes in India seriously. Leading bike brands like KTM and Bajaj Auto offers quite a few options. 5 of the best touring motorcycles from the Austrian and Indian bike brands are mentioned below.
KTM Adventure 250 and Adventure 390
KTM is an Austrian motorcycle brand that offers street, compact sports and touring/all-terrain bikes in India. The Adventure 250 is an on-road off-road bike that is offered in one trim and two colours. The ex-showroom price of the bike is Rs. 2, 87,945. The engine of the bike is a 248 CC, BS6-compliant unit. The peak power and torque outputs of the engine are 29.5 bhp and 24 Nm respectively. KTM offers the bike with dual disc brakes and dual-channel ABS.
The KTM Duke 390 on the other hand, is a street bike that can also work well as a touring bike. The reason is simple. The aggressive price of Rs. 3, 47,817 helps. Furthermore, the powerful 373.27 CC BS6 engine works really well on long rides! The peak power and torque outputs of the engine are 42.9 bhp and 37 Nm respectively. The bike has been equipped by KTM with front and rear disc brakes. KTM also offers the bike with dual-channel ABS as OEM standard fitment. The bike has a dry weight of 171 KGs. The fuel tank on the bike can hold 13.4 litres of petrol.
Bajaj Dominar 400 and Dominar 250
Bajaj never had a true-bred touring bike range. That changed with the brand introducing the Dominar range. The Dominar range consists of the Dominar 400 and Dominar 250.
The D 400 is offered with the ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 2, 73,949. The mean-looking bike has a butch road presence and the design of a streetfighter. The bike is offered in a single trim and two colours. However, compared to other street bikes, the wheelbase of the D400 is longer. This meant that the D400 offers more space for riders and luggage when one is on a bike trip. The engine is derived from the motor that powers the 390 RC, 390 Adventure and 390 Duke of KTM. The 373.3 CC, BS6-compliant engine delivers the peak power and peak torque of 39.42 bhp and 35 Nm respectively. The bike is offered with dual disc brakes and dual-channel ABS.
The Dominar 250 is the same as the D400. The only difference is the engine displacement and the price. The bike entails the ex-showroom price of Rs. 2, 10,389. The bike is offered in a single trim and two colour options. The engine is a 248.8 CC, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, BS6-compliant unit. The peak power and torque outputs of the engine are 26.63 bhp and 23.5 Nm respectively. Dual disc brakes + dual-channel ABS are part of the OEM standard package.
Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220
The Avenger Cruise 220 is meant for touring. It is a low-riding highway cruiser that keeps the rider and their companion comfortable for long hours. This motorcycle is undoubtedly one of the best bikes for long rides. The reason is simple. The bike has a powerful engine that is designed for endurance. The bike’s low-slung seat, forward-swept footrests and rear-swept handlebar keep one away from fatigue.
The bike has a reasonable ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 1, 72,556. Bajaj offers the bike in a single trim and two colour options. The engine has a single-cylinder. Instead of a carburettor, the engine is paired with an electronic fuel injection system. The engine is also BS6-compliant and liquid-cooled.
The peak power and torque outputs of the engine are 18.4 bhp and 17.55 Nm respectively. The bike is offered with front disc and rear drum brakes. The front brake is paired with ABS. The rear brake is paired with Bajaj’s patented anti-skid system.
Choosing the best touring bike from the ones mentioned above is easy when one test rides the bikes. Visit the nearest KTM or Bajaj Auto dealership today for the best results.
