Don’t Buy a Motorcycle Before Reading This Article

As we all go through this phase in our daily lives- grow in life by making mistakes, 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 take your next purchase decision wisely. 

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

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 when I experienced 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 several difficulties on different terrains, but later, they turned out to be “user-friendly.”

So, don’t buy a motorcycle before reading this article! 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, as well. 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. Upon enabling this feature, the bike will automatically put proportionate gears, as per the situation.

Now this feature is useful for enthusiastic riders, but do you actually need this one? Well, if you are able to afford a bike with this feature, then it’s definitely worth it. 

ABS: ABS stands for anti-lock braking system. This braking system works differently than your normal braking system; 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 compromise on the next ride.

Liquid-cooling or air-cooling: Nowadays, there are two-wheelers that can either be had with an 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 the latest and also 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 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 there are bikes that also allow you to adjust seat height as per your comfort and height, so that you can have a comfortable riding experience. 

Safety features should be your first priority and we will post a very helpful article that will comprise the safety offerings.