Ravi Ved

'The RE Astral Ride was an experience like no other. Over 10 days, we met the warmest of souls in this bone-chillingly cold territory. The low oxygen passes truly took our breath away, and, at night, the skies looked like they were dotted with countless fireflies!' – Ravi Ved

Since we had experienced all the vehicles during the year, we had a general sense of those that were likely to make it to the top 10. And, to tell you the truth, the Ather 450X wasn’t one of them – it was, after all, competing against some very promising offerings...

The BMW 2 Series' ₹39.50 lakh – ₹41.90 lakh price range is not only insanely close to its larger brethren but also similar to some full-size SUVs. And while the 2 Series is meant to be an entry-point into the BMW brand, it’s far from being a good value for money proposition at such pricing.

From the Duster (when it first came in) to the smaller Kwid, Renault products have always offered phenomenal bang for your buck. And now, the Kiger is also continuing the trend – it’s available in an attractive price range of ₹5.64 lakh – ₹10.09 lakh.

Around the twisty section of the track, the Audi A4 felt poised and maintained a clean line for the most part. It does have a bit of vertical movement, but it doesn’t quite upset its composure. A little more feedback from the steering would have worked wonders in making it feel more confident though

If you believe in the popular adage, ‘size does matter’, you are sure to find the Aprilia SXR 160 intriguing. After all, it’s a considerably larger scooter – as it should be – than most conventional 100 – 125cc offerings.

The Ducati Multistrada 950 S in its 2021 iteration brings with it some substantial updates. Aside from the BS6 compliant engine, this refreshed version of the mid-size ADV also features Ducati’s semi-active Skyhook suspension – something that has considerably changed the way it rides.

Pushing out 86bhp and 57.5Nm, the 2021 Honda CB650R maintains a perfect equilibrium of performance and usability. It’s friendly enough for someone upgrading from a 300 – 400cc offering and, at the same time, potent enough for hooliganism.

Priced marginally higher than the naked CB, the CBR demands ₹8.89 lakh (ex-showroom). While it is by no means a value-for-money proposition, you do get some of your money’s worth, considering that it’s the only fully-faired inline-four motorcycle in the 650cc class.

The Raider marked TVS’ re-entry into the 125cc commuter space, and the interesting thing is that it’s unlike all motorcycles the brand has previously had on sale in this class. In fact, with its sporty demeanour, the Raider even stands out from its competitors.