BSA recently launched the Scrambler 650 in India, and its prices begin from Rs 3,24,950 and go up to Rs 3,40,950, both ex-showroom. That’s actually quite competitive pricing, for the Scrambler doesn’t cost a whole lot more than its sibling, the BSA Gold Star. That said, it’s still possible that you might’ve not liked its price and there’s a chance that you’d want to look at alternatives in the same price bracket.
So for you, here we have 5 other options from 5 other motorcycle genres, all priced in the BSA Scrambler 650’s ballpark. Go through the list and see which one catches your fancy:
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Rs 3.05 lakh onwards
The least expensive bike on this list is actually also the most versatile one. For starters, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a big, tall and substantial bike with a lot of road presence. Be it filtering through traffic or it being parked in a parking lot, it grabs attention. With its size also comes a lot more space than usual and if you’re looking to tour and munch miles on your bike, the Himalayan 450 could make for a better tourer with its big tank and sheer space on offer.
And then there’s the Himalayan’s suspension. It soaks up our bad roads like they never existed. The sophistication in the suspension is frankly incredible and very few suspensions in the market are so India-ready as the Himalayan 450. So if you want a capable tourer, excellent tourer and a reasonably capable off-roader at a lower price, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a bike you can’t ignore.
KTM RC 390
Rs 3.22 lakh
But let’s say you want to chuck aside off-roading entirely and want something more exciting, something that’ll make each ride fun and something you can take to the twisties each weekend or maybe even to the race track. Enter the KTM RC 390. The RC 390 has always been sharp and focused, making it an excellent track bike.
But in its latest iteration, the bike is a lot easier and less taxing to ride in our environment and on our roads, making it a lot more of an all-rounder than before. In fact, you can now even take it touring and have a reasonably good ride. So if fun and excitement is what you’re after, the RC 390 is a lot of both.
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
Rs 3.35 lakh onwards
With an extra cylinder, gorgeous looks and the old-school charm of a Royal Enfield bike for just slightly more money, the Interceptor 650 sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it? While a twin cylinder engine isn’t always better than a single cylinder engine, the Royal Enfield 650cc engine is a lovely engine that we still enjoy riding, despite it not being updated pretty much ever since it was first launched.
And now that the Interceptor 650 is available with alloy wheels (no more tube tyres), the deal is that much sweeter. If you’re fine giving up on the Scrambler 650’s off-roading capabilities for something that’s even more retro-looking and has a lovely vibe out on the road, you might like the Interceptor over the Scrambler.
KTM 390 Duke R
Rs 3.39 lakh
We talked about fun with the RC 390, but that’s still a sportbike, meaning it’s still not quite comfortable. Enter, the KTM 390 Duke R. With the 399cc engine, the performance is actually better than the RC 390’s older 373cc engine. And that means the 390 Duke R is easier to ride while being a lot more comfortable than the RC 390.
The 390 Duke has long been the best bike in its segment and even after all these years, it still is exactly that. So if you want excitement in this budget while being reasonably comfortable, it doesn’t get much better than the KTM 390 Duke R.
KTM 390 Enduro
Rs 3.39 lakh
We talked about ditching the Scrambler’s off-roading capabilities quite a lot, but now we’ll go the other way. How about turning those very off-roading capabilities up several notches and getting yourself a bike that’s made to go very fast off the road. The KTM 390 Enduro impressed us with its offroad capabilities immensely and we ran out of skill before the bike even hit anywhere close to its limits.
And apart from that, the Enduro is also a fantastic all-rounder. It can commute well, hold high speeds out on the highway and is light enough for you to take it anywhere without worrying too much. If you can adjust with its tiny fuel tank, the bike will make for a formidable tourer as well.
