Don't Buy Motorcycle Before Reading This Article

As we all go through this phase in our daily lives, we grow by making mistakes. That's not only limited to lifetime decisions, but also, our purchases (appreciating and depreciating assets). That being said, Hardwire wants you to become one of the informed buyers so that you make your next purchasing decision wisely. 

Before we jump to the main context, I would like to brief my personal experience with you. So, here it goes.

One fine day, I was crazy about my friend’s Royal Enfield Continental GT, thanks to its sporty and imposing looks, and the mind-boggling 648cc engine. Initially, everything seemed appealing (visually and on paper), but after experiencing the bike, I realized that I had better alternatives at a lower price and that too, with, similar features. 

However, at that time, I wasn't aware of any of the electronic features of this specific machine. As a result, I initially faced difficulties on different terrains, but later, they turned out to be “user-friendly.”

So, below are a few technical offerings that can be had in both premium and mass-market bikes:

Quick Shifter: This feature started with performance bikes but now it’s available across affordable bikes. It changes the overall riding experience. As you know, the conventional method to gain speed is to manually shift the gear while pressing the clutch, making it unlike the bikes with a Quick Shifter. The bike will automatically put proportionate gears upon enabling this feature, as per the situation.

This feature is useful for enthusiastic riders, but do you need this one? Well, if you can afford a bike with this feature, it’s worth it. 

ABS: ABS stands for anti-lock braking system. This is an added safety feature- it doesn’t lock wheels and prevents them from slipping and overturning on the road, making it one of the important safety features. Even the government has standardized the ABS safety feature in all 150cc or above bikes. Next time you buy any bike, make sure that it comes with the ABS feature.

Adjustable Suspension: You can find fixed suspension in some bikes, but some manufacturers offer adjustable suspensions to make rides more comfortable. You can set it to soft or hard based on your requirements (road conditions). It’s important for those who face problems on long rides because of back pain; if you are one of them, make sure you don’t make any compromises on the next ride.

Liquid-Cooling or Air-Cooling: Nowadays, some two-wheelers can either be had with air-cooling or liquid-cooling to maintain the engine’s temperature. The air-cooling is a relatively older and cost-effective cooling system (mostly found in mass-market products), while liquid-cooling is highly efficient but is a bit expensive.

E20 Badge: The government is trying to make bikes environmentally friendly, and manufacturers are following these rules sometimes happily and sometimes unhappily. E20 is also an initiative to make vehicles fuel efficient; ‘E’ stands for ethanol, and ‘20’ stands for ethanol quantity (in %). All the BS6 Phase 2 bikes come with the E20 badge. 

Traction Control System/Traction Control: Also referred to as TCS or TC increases the traction of a vehicle, preventing it from sliding or drifting. You can, however, manually enable and disable this feature (if the vehicle allows), but it is recommended that you leave it enabled, unless you want to thrill around the corners. (smirks)

Cruise control: Cruise control allows the rider/driver to manually adjust a particular speed of your vehicle so that you can cruise freely without using the throttle until required. This feature is useful on highways and long rides.

Seat Height: Bikes are usually offered with standard seat heights, but some bikes also allow you to adjust seat height as per your comfort and height, so that, you can have a comfortable riding experience. 

CONCLUSION

Safety features should always be your priority. Before buying any vehicle, you should think twice before compromising safety over mileage. If you are getting a vehicle that ticks all your preferences including safety, you should look nowhere else.