Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

Query Approved

No bike is perfect, you need to make tradeoffs.

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

yeah i know

but which of the above will be the best.
its a tie between gixxer and hornet for me.

can anyone list the pros and cons of each

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

Honda any time better than Suzuki, in smaller capacity engines for sure. When you are buying something for your self you wont look so far like flopping etc...

TVS's most saleable bike is a moped XL, does this means it is the best from TVS??

Better take the test ride, and even after that you are confused do a toss....

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

Hey teamSpidey, I just booked Gixxer SF Z model after test-driving Honda Hornet, Pulsar AS150, Apache 160 and RTR .

Why I choose Suzuki Gixxer over others? :-

1) Hornet: has almost same performance but less pickup than Gixxer. Hornet's fuel tank is one-piece built and its huge too, but in case of minor dent/accidents if you want to replace it, you'll have to shed more $$$ for entire tank. Also, Hornet's fuel consumption is in range of 40-50kmpl as stated by users over the Internet. Honda's parts are expensive than Suzuki and Pulsar. Hornet's rear drum brake is more quick than Gixxer is the only good thing I found. Hornet looks really hunk thanks to its fuel tank and chiseled sharp looks. It's engine is well refined, but the 2nd-3rd gear change is bit hard, and everything else is just same as you expect from Honda bikes.

2) Pulsar: In 2003 I bought Pulsar it had problems regarding overheating of engine at 80kmph+, poor build quality, poor disk brakes. 13 years later, this month I ride AS150 and its upper variants and found out it still has more or less same deficiency. Moreover, we can't compare Japanese quality engines with Indian-made ones! Bajaj would need another 15 years to build smooth-refined engines, good gears/clutch and and premium build of their bikes.

3) TVS Apache: Again their 160 and RTR bike were good, I liked RTR and its handling felt superb! I fell in love with it at first ride! but I've read many many negative reviews regarding engine, plastic parts, handle, etc. Neither TVS tyers are better than MRF which Hornet and Gixxer has. Apache is good for racing/highway runs and don't expect a good fuel economy from it and it has major drawback of vibration when you move to 100kmph!

4) Gixxer: Suzuki has well established presence in India since Maruti-Suzuki and TVS-Suzuki time, the design is taken from its Hayabusa super-bike model and engine is also pure Japanese one which is the heart of your bike. Suzuki, has presence in India with its super-bike range rather than 150cc commuter bikes, but launch of Gixxer changed the game in favor of Suzuki and as per their Auto Expo and other official announcements they will be launching 150cc, 200 and 250cc bike to compete in respective category in 2016-17-18, So yes, Suzuki is there for a long-run in India just like Honda. Gixxer's engine performance at high torque at low RPM is an advantage over Hornet and Pulsar, the build quality is as same as Hornet, but Gixxer is better seats which are good if you are riding daily for 40kms+, while the mileage it gave as reported by users on the Internet ranges between 50-65kmpl on city/highways and combined its anytime better than Hornet and Pulsar and Apache or Fazer. The gear-shift is butter smooth, but the rear drum brake takes a bit to perform (You have an option to buy rear disk in their new variant from April 2016 onwards). I've inquired about Suzuki's parts and after-sales service, and its cheaper than Honda in terms of cost and not quality. Gixxer is a good commuter as well as a good highway-performer (read: not racer). You can drive around 90-100kmph without worrying! No absurd engine sounds, but yes, its a commuter-cum-highway bike, if you are thinking to use it for racing/tracks etc with the 200cc+ bikes, then better not buy Gixxer and look into 200cc bike category, but at 155cc, this bike fulfills your needs from performance to mileage and everything in between!

5) Avenger: I have ride my cousin's avenger. Again its from Bajaj so expect 'problems' in engine/performance in near-or-far future. But yes, its a good highway bike taken for long-rides in ghats and valleys. I went to Goa on it and it was superb. Since I'm not the owner I can't comment on its service/spare parts, etc. But the new avenger street looks nice!

P.S. Try Hero Extreme Sports, its also a good bike. Read lots of good reviews. I've not test ride it yet!

My suggestion: cut down your list to Hornet and Gixxer and choose between the two. Forget everything else.

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k



never owned a bajaj , but friends have pulsars.
Do you mean the build quality has not been improved with the new-gen pulsars or avengers.

also wanted to ask if the avengers have better build quality than pulsars??

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

In my own personal experience on both bikes, the avenger did not rattle at high speeds on highway, whereas, pulsar's cheap quality plastics started making sounds. Both bikes will have more or less similar build quality but avenger will be more sturdy bike. Avengers carry pulsar engines, with a different hp/Nm torque and engine tuning. Bajaj has improved a bit in these 13 years, but they are faw-way behind than their Japanese counterpart when it comes to engine refinements and engine metallurgy.

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

a friend of mine has the apache 160(old model) and it has the obvious vibration problems.

you test rode the new model. does the problem exist with the new model as well??

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

BTW May I know whether the info you mentioned on the availability of Gixxer rear disc from any official sources ?

Also congrats on the excellent selection.

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

The statement comes directly from Mr.Suresh babu, National Head Marketing of Suzuki (24th/25th March news published on various sites/blogs/newspaper sites) as well as re-confirmed from dealer. Though exact date is not announced they said.. anytime in next fiscal year starting 1st April, Gixxer will come in FI, rear disc in some of its variants like SF Z blue.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

I tested the new model in March,2016 of Apache 160 and other RTR variants which were manufactured in yr. 2015.
I did not test old/used Apache.
You can find out its reviews in respective threads of Apache owners

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

Gixxer is on the roads for a couple of years now, and is doing fairly well. I don't think there has been any serious problems with the bike.
Being a Suzuki, it will be reliable and will last long for sure.
Hornet on the other hand may end up as a flop, just like Dazzler. So Gixxer is your best bet.

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

that's the main reason I choose Gixxer over Hornet as its on the road for more than 2 years, and not a flop as Honda's dazzler/twister models. Who knows the future of Hornet?? It's new on the road and not yet picked up the sale. Might be Honda will again launch a new model somewhere in Diwali

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k


If you want a bike right now, Gixxer should be the choice. If you are planning to get the bike in near future, it would be Ok to wait. After all there is always something new just around the corner.

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

has suzuki done anything for the low ground clearance issue.for me this is the only concern as i will be having a pillion also sometimes.

are there any known issues with hornet??

gonna buy gixxer or hornet next week

Re: looking for best 150cc bike below 90k

Suzuki started offering a skid plate as an accessory for 1600 rupees which is meant to protect the bike and take scrapes on itself but it doesn't increase ground clearance.
Hornet doesn't have any major problems as of now ,only a few niggles like not so good headlamp throw (although as good as gixxer), no kill switch.
Both are good but if you have a pillion then hornet fares better than gixxer. in gear acceleration is good in gixxer but hornet is good in out right acceleration.