Team ZigWheels’ Favourite Two-Wheelers of 2024

We witnessed many impressive new bikes, scooters, and electric two-wheeler launches in 2024 and got a chance to ride those bikes. From the TVS Apache RR 310, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 and Triumph Speed T4 to Bajaj Pulsar N125, Ather Rizta and more! But, now is the time to pick our favourite ones among these bikes and scooters, and below is the list of team ZigWheels' favourite two-wheelers of 2024:

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 - Priyadarshan Bawikar

I’ve always been a huge fan of the Classic 350 - its chilled out vibe is the perfect palette cleanser after I’ve had my fill with mad, fast motorcycles. I’ve also been a fan of bobbers, especially the Harley-Davidson Street Bob, with its tall ape hanger handlebar and easy going nature. While I was unsure of what to make of the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 when it was first announced, riding the bike through the narrow bylanes of Goa made me realise that this was a perfect combination of the two aforementioned motorcycles.

The Goan feels even more relaxed than the Classic, and cruising around at 60kmph around Goa was an absolutely Zen-like experience. Yes, the Goan can go much faster… 90-100kmph is vibration-free. But the way you’re sitting, with your arms outstretched, feet slightly forward, with your bottom snuggled in the single-piece seat (just like the H-D Street Bob), it’s almost like the bike wants you to relax your pace and take in the scenery. The additional benefits of the Goan’s chilled out manners is that onlookers have the benefit of taking in the gorgeous details of this bike, and you, as a rider can soak in all the attention you’ll be getting. See everything around you, and be seen by everyone around you - now that’s a winning combination in my book!

Ducati Monster SP - Azaman Chothia

I've been lucky to ride many crazy motorcycles this year, which is what makes this decision all the more difficult. But if it came down to picking a favourite, I would have to say that my time spent with the Ducati Monster SP was just pure insanity. It lives up to its name and is a motorcycle which demands respect and precision from a rider. It ain’t happy doing slow speeds and just wants to pounce at every given opportunity. A combination of its lightweight and the way it revs out delivers one of the most brutal acceleration experiences ever. 

Switch off the electronics and you have a Monster that wants to fly but remember that it is a beast that needs to be tamed. Then there's the fact that it looks and feels as compact as a 400cc motorcycle, making it tip into corners sharp and quick. It is that proper weekend bike to have, waiting to be taken to some twisties and make full use of all that aggressiveness. In the end, it's always these exotic machines which are the most desirable ones. Ya sure, it is crazy expensive but can you really put a price on such a wild and exciting experience?

Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally - Nishaad Joshi

A 170PS, 238kg adventure bike with an explosive V4 engine and a big 21-inch front wheel isn’t supposed to be easy to ride, that’s just not how it works. But here I was, riding the V4 Rally and getting down with a ‘hmmm that was…doable!’ feeling. And that feeling was no thanks to my skills, mind you. The most powerful bike I had ridden up until then was the KTM 390 Duke. And jumping from that onto a near 1200cc bike would be termed as ‘stupid’ by most, and rightfully so. Yet, the V4 Rally somehow just made it work. The V4 feels nice and docile under about 6000rpm and it has enough torque to just potter around town in the third gear all day long. It’s a surprisingly easy-to-ride engine. 

And yet…don’t let this fool you into thinking that this nature means the Multistrada has lost its edge in this Rally avatar. Oh no! Find an open stretch of road and it turns into an animal. It’s a ludicrously fast motorcycle and the very same engine that felt friendly properly comes alive. There are mind-numbing levels of acceleration on offer and even with the electronics on offer, keeping the front wheel down can be a struggle. And it does all this while simultaneously making angry music from that big Granturismo engine. The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally was 100% my favourite bike of the year. Makes me wonder what our penal code says about stealing Rs 35 lakh from a bank…

Yamaha Aerox 155 S - Soham Mayekar

The Yamaha Aerox breaks the scooter stereotype in India, and gives us a taste of proper performance-oriented scooters. In the latest update, Yamaha gave the Aerox a slightly softer suspension; which is still stiffer by conventional standards. However, that now makes the Aerox more bearable on an everyday basis.

The maxi-scooter is oriented towards buyers who really want to have fun on a scooter – almost bike-like fun. It’s kinda like a life hack for the young riders whose parents won’t let them have a bike, but are okay with a scooter. And since the Aerox is also sold internationally, there’s a whole segment of quality aftermarket parts available to personalise the scooter – from suspension and wheels to bigger fuel tanks to engine performance mods. This should allow the scooter to evolve as your riding style and skills evolve. Which is why it’s one of my favourite two-wheelers of 2024. 

Kawasaki Ninja 500 - Irfan Kabeer

The Kawasaki Ninja 500 blew me away with its blend of everyday practicality and exciting performance on tap. The 451cc engine has great mid-range torque and is tractable enough for daily usage in the city. And once it sees an open stretch of road, the motor’s rev-happy nature makes it a very fun bike to ride. It leans into corners very quickly and is easily flickable from one side to another. Also, the suspension offers a plush ride quality and the sports tourer-like riding position ups the comfort quotient of the bike. Overall, it felt exciting to ride the bike and would have been part of the shortlist for my next purchase if the price tag was not that high.

Royal Enfield Bear 650 - Sahil Siddiqui

While coming back from India Bike Week 2024 to Pune, I was assigned the Royal Enfield Bear 650. But, I was a little sceptical about how I would ride such a heavy bike around the tight corners and hairpin bends of Anuskura ghat. This was because I was the lightest guy in the team with a weight of around 50kg and I was given the Bear 650 which weighs 216kg (kerb).

However, my preconceived notions were broken as soon as I started riding the Bear 650. It felt super refined and planted on the highway. The bike felt very balanced and had enough power and torque for high-speed overtakes. But, where it surprised me the most was when I was riding it around the ghats at relatively high speeds. The Bear 650 felt very composed while taking tight corners around the ghats and even hairpin bends weren’t an issue, as the Bear took it effortlessly. All these things also inspired a lot of confidence in me and I enjoyed the ride to the fullest. Another bike that impressed me a lot this year and is worth mentioning, was the TVS Apache RR 310. It has been my childhood crush and when I rode it this time, it felt very refined and improved in many ways.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 - Govind Menon

When I first rode the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, it was not love at first ride. The bike felt really heavy and hard to manage compared to the previous generation Himalayan 411. During my brief time riding the bike inside the city, I was almost convinced that this bike wasn’t for me. When India Bike Week was just around the corner, I was assigned the Himalayan 450 for the ride to Goa. Well, truth be told I wasn’t thrilled about it. But all of that changed once the journey started. I can honestly say, I was completely blown away by the bike and what it had to offer. 

The Himalayan’s 452cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder sherpa engine managed to offer really good power and performance. Cruising at highway speeds was effortless and the motor still had enough torque to execute high speed overtakes. Now, the engine’s power and performance, although impressive, wasn't what made me fall in love with the bike. It was the incredible handling it offered. What was so far a heavy and cumbersome bike in my mind turned out to be the best handling machines I have ridden this year. During the ride through Anouskura Ghat, the Himalayan was tipping into corners effortlessly. The agile nature of the bike came off as a big surprise to me, and really shattered all expectations. Before this ride I was not a big ADV guy, but after seeing what the Himalayan was truly capable of, now I am reconsidering that preference.

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 - Amey Deolalikar

When the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 was launched earlier this year, I had some concerns regarding the Sherpa 450 engine which it shares with the Himalayan 450 as to how it will perform in the city. But I was surprised to say the least! The Sherpa 450 on the Guerrilla 450 is more refined than the Himalayan 450 and provides better low and mid range performance which makes the Guerrilla 450 a hoot to ride in the cities and provides an enjoyable experience in the twisties. 

On top of the performance, the riding posture is quite comfortable and the suspension does the job really well of soaking in the undulations. The funky colour schemes did really catch my eye and always made me look behind to admire whenever I parked the motorcycle. The only real downside are the tyres it comes with. They do not inspire confidence but that is something which can be improved by swapping in for better tyres. The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a great motorcycle whether you want to cruise in the city or hit the canyons for the twisties. It has a good amount of performance which is not too aggressive as the KTM 390 Duke and not as mellow as the Triumph Speed 400, sitting right in between at the sweet spot. This makes the Guerrilla a great motorcycle to upgrade to if you are someone who is coming from a smaller capacity motorcycle.  

BSA Gold Star 650 - Tanmay Kulkarni

The BSA Gold Star 650 is my favourite launch of 2024, it manages to blend nostalgic charm along with surprising performance. Weighing 213kg fully fueled, its weight is noticeable, but the Goldstar remains nimble and well-balanced, especially at low speeds. The handling is sharp, and despite its hefty appearance, it attacks corners with agility and holds its line impressively. The big 652cc single-cylinder engine delivers waves of accessible torque, making it fast and easy to ride, with zero vibrations across the rev range. It may not have the sound of a twin-cylinder bike, but it still does sound better than any other single on the market.

The Goldstar's simplicity makes it a joy to ride, it grows on you over time, with a feel-good appeal that makes it stand out from the others. While all these bikes are impressive to ride and are very much capable of doing what they are meant for. But there were a few which really stood out for each of us and appealed directly to our hearts. But we loved riding all of them and all of us are eagerly looking forward to see what the year 2025 has in store for us.