First bike under ₹2.5 lakh in India: V-Strom SX, Ronin or Unicorn for city use and pillion comfort?

A first-bike decision for city riding and pillion comfort

First-bike buyers who expect mostly city riding but regular pillion trips are balancing three very different approaches: the Suzuki V-Strom SX, TVS Ronin and Honda Unicorn. The practical choice is not simply the largest engine or the lowest entry price; it depends on riding position, low-speed ease, pillion space, road conditions, local service access and the real on-road budget.

• Suzuki V-Strom SX: a current 250cc adventure-style option for buyers who also expect highway use. Its listed Delhi ex-showroom price is ₹1,98,018; local on-road pricing varies.
• TVS Ronin: a current 225cc roadster-style option for a city-first mix. Confirm the latest local price and stock with the dealer.
• Honda Unicorn: a current commuter-oriented option for buyers prioritising routine use and service reach. Confirm the latest local price and stock with the dealer.

Recent community questions repeatedly surface the same trade-off: city traffic, pillion comfort, reliability and occasional highway use. Before deciding, take a pillion test ride, compare the final on-road cost and insurance, and check local service reach and parts lead times.

Which matters most for your first bike: purchase and running cost, pillion comfort, city manoeuvrability, highway ability, or nearby service support? Share your budget, city and expected city/highway split.