I think the Dominar 250 would tick the maximum boxes for you. Also the classic 350 is more like a commuter, at least I felt that way when I rode it. Go test ride it.
Also check out the Pulsar 150 and all. Would be a lot cheaper for the 150 cc engine it has.

TD all of them one by one and decide.
I drive a Dominar 250. Don't find it great for city handling and parking in tight spots.

Hi, probably it is not good idea but I would like to have Honda CBR 600 as my first bike

As you are a newbie, there are several contradicting points in your post.

- passion for leaning on curves.
I guess you only dream or wish to do it, I am pretty sure you have no clue how to lean with counter steering.

I am saying that because you dissed R15 by saying "you have a lower back". For a sports riding posture, you need to put full body weight on your back muscles, no weight on the wrists and HUG the tank fully with the thighs. Now the hands are free to use the handlebar as a steering, wrists just floating on the handlebar, NOT RESTING on it!

After learning to do as above, you need to learn "counter steering" from youtube tutorials. Theoretically it's too easy, but practice takes a few months, especially because we need to condition ourselves when NOT TO counter steer at lower speeds.

Once you learn those 2 steps, you will find out that R15 has the best riding position. I am telling you all this because you specifically mentioned "passion for leaning".
If you were like other ordinary guys who don't wish to lean and just use a motorcycle like a commuter, I wouldn't have said anything.



DOMINAR:

I have a Dominar 400 (2019) and believe me, it's as nimble and agile as a Duke! Those reviewers who say it's heavy have no idea about tank hugging and counter steering. They sit as if they are on a splendor, fully relaxed back and upright seating, full weight on the wrists! They have NO RIGHT to talk about motorcycle balance, seating, comfort and weight because they are illiterate idiots!

I will assure you, I always zigzag on my D400 as if I am riding a Duke 250 or R15, no heaviness whatsoever. And ALL SPORTS BIKES even 600c and 1000cc ones feel heavy at speeds of 10 kmph because of solid heavy forks and super-wide tyres and contact patch. If you call a motorcycle HEAVY because it feels heavy at 10 kmph then you should never buy anything above 200cc, period!

Dominar 250 is PERFECT FOR YOU. Because it is a perfect blend of sports and comfort. Its pillion seat is totally flat, perfect for a pillion. None of those other options have got such a perfect blend of power, comfort and pillion position.

Else go for Apache 200 4V, it's not so cramped. Try test riding it with proper tank hugging and counter steering, you will find it better in handling and comfort.

If you didn't want pillion comfort, then I would have suggested Gixxer 250 (faired or naked depends on you). It's slightly better refined than Dominar 250 and is more responsive at higher rpm's since it has got a simple air cooled engine. But its rear seat is too high and uncomfortable for pillions.

Most of the motorcycles in your list are underpowered like R15, Mt15, fazer25. There are lots of FAKE Youtube videos about Fz25 doing 0-100 in short time, but in reality it doesn't feel faster than a gixxer 160! My cousin had Fz 16 then upgraded to Fz25, I need to (don't wish to) ride it often due to some personal reasons, and I utterly hate it, it feels like a regular fz16 with maybe 1-2 additional bhp!

This is honestly the support I was looking for. Someone to guide me in what's correct (while understanding my noob background). So firstly, thanks a lot!

Now getting down to business,

The reason I mentioned "leaning on curves" is because I am those "Chapri Nibbas" who use the rear pegs of the scooter to feel like I am riding a bike and purposely test the scooter tire limits by leaning (as much a possible) - Just being honest.

Now I am planning to upgrade from that life of mine and the D250 is indeed something that excites me. However, the reviews made by well known YouTube channels (PD, Zig, MBeam, etc.) have all said that the tires are skinny and lack grip in wet surfaces. My question then being, if they are the same tires used on the NS200 and the RS200, why are they not up to performance on the D250? Will I have to invest in D400 tires additionally, cuz those are essentially KTM spec tires (asuuming they are good).

Please advise.

Hey, by that definition I am a chapri nibba too!
But seriously though, I don't think you and I can truly be called chapri nibba, that's a special nickname for illiterate selfish jerks who ride like hell in busy traffic while creating dangerous conditions for others. Whereas when you and I ride a little faster while leaning on empty corners and zigzagging safely through traffic (without bothering others) then we don't fall in that category.

These Youtube reviews are often sponsored. They have a pre-planned agenda to list lots of advantages then list a few disadvantages/cons too. They often end up mentioning silly non-existent issues just for the sake of listing a pro/con. They will rate all vehicles equally, won't give 10/10 to any one and won't give 1/10 too (numbers just for example).

If we start rejecting motorcycles based on the "wet grip" then 90% of motorcycles will fall in that category! When these reviewers talk about "wet grip" they are talking about full knee touching leaning angles and sharp braking in heavy rains, which is an impractical thing to judge.

I learned to ride on a Yamaha RX135 two decades back, it used to slip on dry roads as if we are riding on ice! Now that was truly pathetic grip, and compared to that, all of the modern 150cc+ motorcycles have exceptional grip, both dry and wet.

If you use common sense in wet conditions like slower speeds, no harsh braking, slowing in advance for turns then most of the modern tyres are good enough for wet conditions.

Even though Dominar 250 is an exceptionally good motorcycle, the problem is that everyone (even I) starts comparing it with D400 in terms of tyres, power, suspension and then start bickering that D250 is not that great as D400. Well obviously D250 will fade in comparison to D400, it's unfair to compare two motorcycles of different category.


Still I would suggest you to have a Test Drive of Gixxer 250 (faired or naked as per your wish). I had totally decided to buy it, but had to reject it for 2 reasons: 1) I sold my modified Karizma ZMR (big bore kit) which had around 22 bhp so the extra 4-5 bhp in gixxer 250 wasn't worth upgrading. 2) Both the Gixxer 250 versions are so tiny and short in length that I was looking like a GIANT on it, imagine a tall man sitting on a kid's tricycle.

What I liked in Gixxer 250:
Thrilling throttle response, quick revving engine with sweet grunty sound.
Engine is totally comfortable at high rpm's.
No liquid cooling so light-weight and easier to maintain.
Tyres are wide and grippy.
Gixxer SF (faired) has got bright and WIDE beam of LED headlight, wider than my D400.

Dislikes in gixxer 250:
Suspension too soft for racing purpose.
Brakes lack bite, needed a lot of force to slow down quickly.
Pillion seat is tiny and uncomfortable, useless for ladies who wear saree.