Top 10 value for money motorcycles in India under Rs 70,000

For the majority of prospective entry-level two-wheeler buyers, the two things that matter the most while making a final decision are - cost and fuel economy. Yes, it does matter how the motorcycle looks, how good it is to ride and how comfortable the seat and ride quality is. But in the end, everyone wants to a make a value for money purchase which will deliver a good blend of cost, quality and utility. With multiple options from different brands available, choosing the most 'paisa vasool' option can get confusing. To make your buying decision easier, we have compiled the top 10 value for money motorcycles which offer an irresistible combination of affordable price and efficiency.

Hero HF Dawn

The Hero HF Dawn is powered by a 97.2cc single cylinder air cooled engine which makes 8.36PS of power at 8,000rpm and 8.05Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. On paper, it makes more power than its direct rivals, the Bajaj Platina 100ES and the TVS Sport. Also, it's ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 88.6kmpl is slightly higher than the 87.7kmpl rating of the TVS Sport. However, during our efficiency tests it returned an overall mileage of 67.5kmpl.

It returned 65kmpl in the city and 75kmpl on the highway. It is priced at Rs 39,470 (ex-showroom, Delhi) which makes it Rs 2,590 cheaper than the TVS Sport. In terms of features, it gets an adjustable rear suspension and a side stand indicator which warns the rider if the stand has not been put up properly.

Mahindra Centuro NXT

The Mahindra Centuro NXT is priced at Rs 51,350 (ex-showroom, Delhi). During our fuel efficiency tests, it delivered 65.4kmpl in the city and 78.6kmpl on the highway. With an overall fuel economy of 68.7kmpl and a 12.7 litre fuel tank, the Centuro will cover over 872.5 kilometres before needing a refill.

It is powered by a 106.7cc single cylinder engine which makes 8.5PS of power at 7,500rpm and 8.5Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. The engine is mated to a 4-speed gearbox. It comes equipped with unique features like an anti-theft alarm and follow-me-home headlamp. Compared to the Honda Dream Neo, the Centuro has a plusher ride and feels more planted.

Hero Passion Pro

The Hero Passion Pro is powered by a 97.2cc air cooled 4-stroke single cylinder carbureted engine which makes 8.36PS at 8000rpm and 8.05Nm at 5000rpm.  The engine is mated to a 4-speed constant mesh gearbox.  It returns a fuel efficiency of 68kmpl in the city and 73kmpl on the highway.

With an overall mileage of 69.3kmpl, it is one of the most fuel efficient motorcycles on sale in India. Also, it is the highest selling motorcycle in the entry-level segment. The 12.5-litre tank gives it a range of 866.25 kilometres. It is available in five versions and the basic one with kick start and spoke wheel costs Rs 48,075 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Honda Dream Yuga

Launched in 2013, the Dream Yuga was the first offering from Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India under the Dream series. The Dream Neo and CD 110 Dream were introduced a year later and get a slightly different styling. All three motorcycles are powered by a 109.19cc single cylinder air cooled engine which delivers 8.25PS at 7,500rpm and 8.63Nm at 5,500rpm. The engine is mated to a 4-speed gearbox and Honda claims a top speed of 86kmph for all three bikes.  Also, all three get a diamond frame. The Dream Yuga has a kerb weight of 108kg while the other two are a kilo lighter.

The similarities doesn't end there as all three motorcycles are equally efficient. During our efficiency tests, all three delivered 69.6kmpl in the city and 76.7kmpl on the highway. What makes the difference in terms of the value they offer is the pricing factor. With the highest asking price of Rs 51,499, the Dream Yuga loses out to the Dream Neo and the CD 110 Dream.

Honda Dream Neo

Honda launched the Dream Neo in 2014 with an aim to attack Hero's dominance on the 110cc motorcycle category. Compared to the Dream Yuga, it gets slightly different styling. It gets the same engine which makes an identical 8.25PS and 8.63Nm.  It delivers similar economy with 69.6kmpl in the city and the 76.7kmpl on the highway. However, like the Dream Yuga, it too gets an eight litre fuel tank which gives it a range of 571.2kmpl. It is priced at Rs 49,602 (ex-showroom, Delhi) which makes it Rs 1,897 cheaper than the Dream Yuga. So, it offers slightly more value.

Honda CD 110 Dream

With an asking price of Rs 44,525 for the kick start version (ex-showroom, Delhi), it is one of the most affordable motorcycles in India. Also, it is also the most affordable offering in Honda's Dream series of motorcycles. It costs Rs 5,000 less than the Honda Dream Neo and Rs 7,000 less than the Dream Yuga.

It gets the same 109cc engine from the Dream Neo, which generates an identical 8.25PS at 7,500rpm and 8.63Nm at 5,500rpm. Just like the Dream Neo, the Honda CD 110 Dream also has a claimed top speed of 86kmph. The similarities doesn't end there as during our efficiency tests, it returned an identical mileage.  Last month, Honda launched the CD 110 Dream Deluxe which gets an electric start and a new colour option.

Hero Glamour FI

Hero MotoCorp had introduced the updated Glamour in 2014 which received slight cosmetic upgrades. It is powered by a 124.8cc single cylinder air cooled engine which makes 9.1PS of power at 7000rpm and 10.35Nm of torque at 4000rpm. As, the name suggests the engine makes use of an electronic fuel injection system. It is the only motorcycle in this list which doesn't get a carburetor. An electronic fuel injection system can adjust the engine's air fuel mixture multiple times in one second. This allows the engine to burn fuel more cleanly which improves throttle response.

It is also one of the most fuel efficient motorcycles on sale in our country. During our efficiency runs, it delivered 73kmpl in the city and 80kmpl on the highway.  It is priced at Rs 65,850 which makes it the most expensive motorcycle in this list. However, it is available only on order and very few dealers have stocks.

Hero Super Splendor

Typically, one expects that only the 100cc and 110cc motorcycles will offer an irresistible combination of price and economy. However, the Hero Super Splendor proves that even a 125cc motorcycle can deliver similar bang for buck. It is powered by a 124.7cc single cylinder air-cooled engine which makes 9.12PS of power and 10.35Nm of peak torque. Hero claims a top speed of 90kmph. It also tips the scales at a slightly heavier 121kg compared to other motorcycles which have a kerb weight around 110 kilograms.

The Hero Super Splendor costs Rs 54,195 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is around Rs 3-4000 more expensive than the other motorcycles in this list. However, it is one of the most fuel efficient motorcycles in the country. During our tests, it delivered 73kmpl in the city and 80kmpl on the highway. Also, the 13 litre fuel tank and an overall mileage of 74.8kmpl gives it the longest range of 972.4kms. Just like the HF Dawn, it too gets a side stand indicator which warns the rider if the stand has not been put up properly. However, it will be replaced soon with a modern version which will have Hero's patented start-stop tech and always headlamp on function.

TVS Sport

The TVS Sport is powered by a 99.77cc single cylinder four stroke engine which makes 7.8PS of power at 7,500rpm and 7.8Nm at 5,500rpm. The engine is mated to a 4-speed gearbox. During our efficiency tests, it returned 72kmpl in the city and 87kmpl on the highway. This translates into an overall efficiency of 75.8kmpl which makes it the second highest fuel efficient motorcycle in the country. The 12 litre fuel tank gives it a range of 909.6kmpl. The TVS Sport kick start spoke wheel version costs just Rs 36,880 which makes it a super value for money buy.

Bajaj Platina 100ES

The Bajaj Platina 100ES is powered by a 102.2 single cylinder air cooled engine which makes 8.2PS of power at 7,500rpm and 8.6Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. Currently, the Bajaj Platina 100 ES is the most fuel efficient two-wheel one can buy in India. During our efficiency runs, it returned 86.6kmpl in the city and 91.8kmpl on the highway. Also, the 13-litre fuel tank and an overall mileage of 87.9kmpl gives it the longest range of 1,142 kilometres! When we hypermiled it for a feature story, it even returned an amazing 131kmpl.

That's not all! It impresses on the performance front too. It sprints from 0-60kmph in 8.28 seconds and attains a top speed of 87.1kmph. It costs Rs 44,653, which means it isn't the most affordable option in its segment. However, what makes it a great value proposition is the good combination of efficiency and performance that it delivers.