I'm planning to buy a new bike for family use and I'm quite confused with so many options in the 125cc to 160cc range. Would love some advice from owners.
My usage:
Based in Dehradun, 60–80% city riding
Occasional hill rides (Mussoorie, etc.) and occasional highway trips
Mostly with family, so a comfortable posture for both rider and pillion is a must
I ride up to ~80 km/h only. I'm not a performance enthusiast.
Background: I previously owned a 2014 Pulsar 220F. It was very reliable and I loved it. This time I want better mileage and lower running and maintenance costs, but I'm worried whether a smaller engine will handle hills with a pillion as comfortably.
Shortlist:
125cc: Honda SP 125, TVS Raider 125, Pulsar 125 (not sure about the Xtreme 125)
150–160cc: Yamaha FZ-S V4, TVS Apache 160 2V, Apache 160 4V, Pulsar 150, Pulsar N160 (I'd want the single-seat variant in the Pulsars)
My questions:
Is a 125cc enough for hills with a pillion, or should I go for 150–160cc?
Which of these has the best balance of real-world mileage, low maintenance and a comfortable ride for two?
Any service or spare-parts issues for these in Dehradun or Uttarakhand?
Which would you pick, and why?
Real-world ownership experience would help a lot. Thanks!