Touring is the most desired activity for motorcycle lovers. Choosing the wrong bike can turn a good trip into a bad one. Choosing the best 150cc bikes for touring and long rides can be a tricky task sometimes.
There are some of the best bikes available in the market for touring. Always choose a premium bike for your trip. Well, in the case of 150cc engines, there are not exactly touring bikes available in the Indian market. But not everyone has the kind of budget to purchase a premium bike. Dreams must not be set aside due to budget problems.
How to choose the best 150cc bike for touring or a long drive?
Before purchasing a bike, you should be aware of one thing. Rider position and engine cooling are the two main factors that will determine the quality of your journey. For a stress- and exertion-free ride, the bike should have a pleasant riding stance and exert less stress on the engine.
Well, I have done most of the long bike rides on the Bajaj Platina. So, I think 150cc bikes can also very much do the job. In the 150cc category, most of the bikes are either sport bikes or naked bikes. There are some bikes in India that you can use to quench your thirst for long bike rides. So, here is the list of the best 150cc bikes for touring.
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Best 150cc bikes for touring
1. Bajaj Pulsar NS 160
Pulsar is not a new name among sports bike lovers and this bike has evolved and has come very far since its first launch. Pulsar NS 160 is a naked sportbike that is built for adventure and touring. This bike has everything you need for your touring. Pulsar NS 160 uses the DTSi-Fi engine which produces 17.2 PS of power and 14.6 Nm of torque. The power and torque are the best among 150cc segment bikes. The most important thing about this bike is that it also has an oil cooling system which makes it one of the best bikes in the 150cc segment.
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Key Specs
- Engine 160.3 cc Oil Cooled DTSi-FI
- Max Power 17.2 PS @ 9000 rpm
- Max Torque 14.6@ 7250rpm
- Ground Clearance 177 mm
- Weight 151 kg
- Price INR 1.23 Lakh
2. TVS Apache RTR 160 4V
Apache RTR 160 4v is the second most powerful bike in the segment. It also uses an oil cooling system. This bike has GTT- Glide Through Technology which makes riding through heavy traffic easy. Apache RTR 160 4V has dual disc brakes and single-channel ABS for better control.
Key Specs
- Engine 159.7 cc Oil Cooled
- Max Power 16.02 PS @ 9000 rpm
- Max Torque 14.12 Nm@ 7250rpm
- Ground Clearance 180 mm
- Weight 149 kg
- Price INR 1.08 Lakh
3. Suzuki Gixxer
Suzuki Gixxer is the third most powerful bike on this list. The only reason Gixxer is placed in the third position in this list is that it is missing the oil cooling system. Otherwise, it is the perfect 150cc bike for long rides. Gixxer is based on Suzuki’s superbike GSX-R. The aggressive yet comfortable riding position makes this bike a good option for long rides and this bike will easily sail through any terrain, thanks to its widest rear tyre in the segment.
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Key Specs
- Engine 155 cc Air Cooled
- Max Power 13.6 PS @ 8000 rpm
- Max Torque 13.8 Nm @ 6000 rpm
- Ground Clearance 160 mm
- Weight 141 kg
- Price INR 1.14 Lakh
4. Yamaha FZS-FI
Yamaha FZS-FI is the most famous Yamaha bike in India. The Japanese bike manufacturer is well known for its faster acceleration. FZS-FI offers a good riding position with rear 7-step adjustable Monocross suspension. It is also the lightest vehicle in the segment. FZS-FI has a less powerful engine in this segment.
Key Specs
- Engine 149 cc Air Cooled
- Max Power 12.4 PS @ 7250rpm
- Max Torque 13.6@ 5500 rpm
- Ground Clearance 165 mm
- Weight 137kg
- Price INR 1.18 Lakh
5. Yamaha MT-15
Yamaha MT-15 is based on Yamaha‘s super naked sportbike MT-09 and MT-10. This 150cc naked bike is a good option for long touring, especially in hilly regions. It provides a max torque of 13.9Nm which is more than FZS-FI. High torque bikes save you in hilly regions from the pain of continuous changing of gears. You don’t need to bring your bike into 1st and 2nd gear for the elevated road. If you have a high torque bike, you can easily ride your bike in 3rd and 4th gears for most of the elevations. Its liquid-cooled engine makes this bike a nice choice for long rides. It delivers a maximum power of 18.23HP. The 10litres tank capacity and 45kmpl mileage, reported by the owners, give this bike a maximum riding range of 450kms.
Key Specs
- Engine 155 cc liquid Cooled
- Max Power 18.23 PS @ 10000rpm
- Max Torque 13.9Nm@ 8500rpm
- Ground Clearance 170 mm
- Weight 138kg
- Price INR 1.47 Lakh
6. Bajaj Avenger Street
Bajaj Avenger Street has the best comfort and riding position for long rides. As the name suggests, the styling does remind one of the Harley-Davidson Street 750 with alloy wheels and full black styling. The instrument cluster on this cruiser is a simple unit with a speedometer and an LCD unit for the odometer and single trip meter. Powering the Avenger Street is the same 2-valve engine that does duty on the Pulsar 150, producing 14.5 PS and 12.5 Nm. The motor is refined with good NVH and has been tweaked for improved torque spread resulting in good low and mid-range performance. In this list of best 150cc bikes for touring, it is the most affordable bike which comes at an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.07 lakh.
Key specs
- Engine 160 cc Air Cooled
- Max Power 14.79HP @ 8500rpm
- Max Torque 13.7Nm@ 7000rpm
- Ground Clearance 169 mm
- Weight 156kg
- Price INR 1.07 Lakh
7. Suzuki Intruder
This cruiser from Suzuki has got its styling from Intruder M1800R. It sports the dual exhaust as its big brother does. Powering the intruder is the same engine that also does duty on the Gixxer which churns out 13.4hp of max power and 13.8Nm of torque. The Gixxer motor is a fantastic engine. It has very good low-end and mid-range punch and this motorcycle is no different so in terms of cruiser duty, it’s quite responsive. This bike is ideal for long rides in the category of 150cc bikes for long rides.
Key Specs
- Engine 155 cc liquid Cooled
- Max Power 13.4HP @8000rpm
- Max Torque 13.8Nm @6000rpm
- Ground Clearance 170 mm
- Weight 152kg
- Price INR 1.07 Lakh
Bonus Bike – Bajaj CT 110X
It is very much odd to put a 100cc segment bike on this list. But there are some reasons for doing so and these reasons come from my personal experiences.
The newly launched Bajaj CT 110X is the BS6 version of the most popular commuter bike CT 100 from Bajaj. This bike has always been known for its tough body and mileage.
CT 110X is equipped with a 115cc DTS-i engine which delivers 8.5hp of max power and 9.81Nm of torque. It provides the riding position best suited for long rides. A very tough frame that can handle your touring luggage. The retro design comes fitted with carriers to load luggage at the rear and sides. If you are very much short on the budget, you should give a try to this bike and believe me you will not be disappointed.
Key Specs
- Engine 115 cc liquid Cooled
- Max Power 8.5hp @7000rpm
- Max Torque 9.81Nm @5000rpm
- Ground Clearance 170 mm
- Weight 127kg
- Price INR 66,298/-
Which one is the best 150cc bike for touring?
Choosing the best 150cc bike for touring is not simple. Well, everyone has a different taste in the bike. But before picking a bike you must know about the facts which should be considered while selecting the bike for touring. Our choice for the best 150cc bike for touring is Pulsar NS 160. The bike is well priced, delivers max power in the segment, and has an oil cooling system.
Bajaj Avenger 160 and Suzuki Intruder may be good options for touring bikes in the 150cc segment. These bikes provide the best seating position and comfort for long rides but Avenger 160 and Intruder may not be suited for off-road.
List of Best 150cc bikes for touring
- Bajaj Pulsar NS 160: 17.02 PS Rs 1.16 Lakh
- TVS Apache RTR 160 4V: 16.02 PS Rs 1.12 Lakh
- Suzuki Gixxer: 13.6 PS Rs 1.24 Lakh
- Yamaha FZS-FI: 13.6 PS Rs 1.18 Lakh
- Yamaha MT-15: 18.23 PS Rs 1.47 Lakh
- Bajaj Avenger Street 160: Rs 1.07 Lakh
- Suzuki Intruder: 13.4 PS Rs 1.28 Lakh
- Baja CT 110X: 8.5hp Rs. 66,298.
These are our picks for the best 150cc bikes for touring available in the Indian market. You must also check our list for the best sports tourer bikes in India under 3 Lakh.
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Yes, 150cc bikes can be used for long drives. The question is not about the cc or the size of the engine. Any bike can be used for long drives. You have to just maintain the oil level in the engine. Of course, with bigger bikes, there are certain advantages but the small engine bikes can also be used for long rides. Even there are YouTubers like Gaurav Deswal who have done many long rides on a 100cc Bajaj Platina.
