Jhunjhunu

•38w

Hi Autocar India Team, I’m upgrading from an XPulse 200 and planning to buy a 400cc ADV bike in the next 1–2 months. I am confused between the KTM Adventure 390 and the upcoming BMW F 450 GS. Is it worth waiting for the BMW, or is the KTM the smarter choice right now? Regards, Prasad Shetty.

•32w

The KTM 390 Adventure is a thoroughly competent machine, and if you are satisfied with its riding experience, it will make for a good adventure bike in the class. Plus, all Bajaj-made KTM 390s and Triumph 400s will be downsized to 350cc to better comply with the new GST norms, so now is a good time to buy the 390 Adventure while you can still get one.

Coming to the BMW F 450 GS, it will be considerably more expensive to purchase and maintain than the KTM, owing to its twin-cylinder engine and the Bavarian brand's reputation for rather high ownership costs. We would also urge you to wait until media reviews and customer feedback of the F 450 GS emerge, which will take some time.

Another option to look at in this class is the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Its strong points are its magic-carpet-like ride, punchy performance and a widespread sales & service network. Its heavy kerb weight and oddball styling are some reasons to not get one.

A test ride of the KTM and the RE will help you make up your mind if you want to buy a bike right away.

Explore bikes mentioned

KTM

390 Adventure

from ₹3.42 Lakh

BMW Bikes

F 450 GS

from ₹5.69 Lakh

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•1d

I’m a first-time car buyer. My usage will be around 40% city driving and 60% on state highways, with a monthly running of approximately 800-1,000 km. The roads are somewhat okay, with some bad stretches but mostly good roads. I’m looking for an automatic transmission. Hatchbacks, compact sedans, and compact SUVs are all fine. My budget is flexible, between Rs. 12 lakh and Rs. 14 lakh. I have shortlisted 3-4 vehicles, namely: 1. Honda Amaze ZX CVT 2. Maruti Brezza ZXi Automatic 3. Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 Automatic Any other car recommendations are also welcome. I am currently posted in Varanasi, if that helps.

•1d

With 40 percent city and 60 percent highway use, the 3XO is the better fit among your three choices. Its turbo petrol engine has considerably stronger low- and mid-range performance than the Brezza and Amaze, which will be useful on state highways, particularly when carrying passengers and luggage. It also has a well-judged ride that copes well with broken roads.The Brezza ZXi AT would be the choice for easier ownership. Its petrol engine is smoother, and Maruti's service network is a significant advantage, while its ride quality is very good on poor roads. It is also the more relaxed choice if outright performance is not important.The Amaze ZX CVT is worth considering if you prefer a sedan. Its CVT is smooth, and the suspension is comfortable over rough city roads, while the large boot is useful for highway trips. However, its engine lacks the punch of the 3XO, particularly with a full load, and the cabin is narrower.The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI AT is also worth adding to the shortlist if driving enjoyment is important. It has a well sorted chassis and a conventional automatic, making it particularly appealing for your highway heavy usage.

I have been riding an Activa 110 for all these years. I'm soon going to be 50 and I'm 5'9" tall. I'm planning to buy a motorcycle. I like CB350 or Bonneville 400. As this will be my first bike that I plan to ride for at least 8 years, will these two bike be a little heavy for me? Will I be able to ride any of these easily? Or should I settle with a Ronin? Please advise.

•4d

Since you seem like a mature rider and will be getting a motorcycle after a long wait, we'd recommend splurging a little and getting a more premium machine like the Honda CB350RS or the upcoming Triumph Bonneville 400. These bikes will not only perform better than the TVS Ronin, they will also deliver a sense of occassion and premiumness which the TVS simply won't be able to match. Coming to the bikes themselves, the CB350 is a known quantity and delivers a comfortable and laidback riding experience with trademark Japanese reliability to boot. The Bonneville 400 hasn't been launched yet (although it seems like its not that far away either) but going by our previous experience with other Bajaj-built Triumphs, we expect it to be a competent machine although we'll reserve our full judgement until we ride the baby Bonnie. We'd recommend you wait a couple of months until we can ride the Bonneville and once reviews are out you can choose between it and the CB350. Do bear in mind that with every all-new model, there are almost certain to be some teething niggles at the start so waiting 6-8 months until the manufacturer sorts them out would be prudent. And before you go ahead with your purchase, taking a test ride of whatever is on your shortlist should be done too.

Honda Bikes CB350RS

TVS Ronin

•6d

I’m stuck between the CB350RS and Scram 440 and would love to hear from people who have ridden either or both. I’m primarily looking for a daily city bike, with occasional long rides and weekend tours. I commute around 26km every day through peak Bangalore traffic, and the roads aren’t exactly great either, with plenty of potholes, broken stretches and stop-and-go traffic. I had initially shortlisted the CB350RS because I really liked its character, relaxed nature, thump, refinement and mileage. It feels like a bike I’d genuinely enjoy riding every day. However, I felt it was slightly lacking when I needed to make quick overtakes or manoeuvre through gaps in traffic. It isn’t necessarily slow, but it doesn’t feel particularly eager when you need that extra shove. Then I rode the Scram 440, and that’s where the dilemma started. I absolutely loved its character and the way it delivers power. It felt much easier to make quick overtakes and manoeuvre through traffic. The seating position and suspension also felt significantly better suited to Bangalore’s terrible roads. On the other hand, I’m still drawn to the CB350RS because I really like its overall feel and calmer, more relaxed character. So, which one would you pick for this kind of usage? I’d especially appreciate feedback from anyone who has owned or ridden both.

•5d

From what you've told us, it seems like you're leaning more towards the Royal Enfield Scram 440, so we'd suggest you go with that bike. The Scram can be a relaxed and mellow machine when you want to just cruise, but if you need the added power to make an overtake, it fares better than the Honda CB350RS. An added bonus is that the Scram is more comfortable over bad roads because of its ADV lineage.

Royal Enfield Scram 440

Honda Bikes CB350RS

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•6d

I am going to buy my first car. I am a new learner and my daily commute is around 40km in village area road with occasional long trip that are around100-150 km during weekend. So, suggest me a 4m car with decent mileage and safety rating. My monthly running is between 1000 and 1300 km. I prefer automatic. Also what will be the budget range. I am currently earning 10 lpa in a government job and I stay at home.

•6d

For a first car and a Rs. 10 lakh annual salary, a sensible target would be around Rs. 9-11 lakh on road. Since you stay at home and have relatively low fixed expenses, you can stretch a little if required, but there is no need to spend Rs. 13-14 lakh simply because the budget allows it.The Exter suits your usage well. It is compact and easy for a new driver to place on the road, has good visibility and ground clearance for village roads, and the AMT makes a 40km daily commute much easier. Your 1,000-1,300km monthly running also makes a petrol automatic perfectly reasonable.The Maruti Suzuki Fronx AMT is worth considering if highway performance and mileage are more important, while the Tata Punch AMT is another option if safety and rough-road ability are higher priorities. The Exter, however, offers a good balance of ease of driving, comfort and ownership costs.

I currently own a Hunter 350 and am considering buying a new bike. I ride around 25 to 30 km a day, mostly in the city with moderate traffic. I find the Hunter 350 a little underpowered for my liking, so I’m looking for something with better performance. My budget is around Rs 3 lakh, but I can stretch it to Rs 5 lakh if a twin-cylinder bike is worth considering.

•5d

Since you already have a Hunter 350 and want more power for your daily commutes, stepping up to the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 would be the logical move. The Guerrilla has a punchy engine with a strong mid-range which makes for a brisk yet effortless commuting partner. While the Guerrilla has engaging handling, its suspension is also reasonably pliant to tackle the daily grind. Given that you have experience dealing with the Royal Enfield sales and service network, your ownership of the Guerrilla should also be fairly straightforward and trouble-free. If you want a twin-cylinder experience, then the Aprilia Tuono 457 special edition should be on your radar. The Tuono has sublime handling, a characterful engine that belts out a lovely soundtrack and its also a fairly uncommon sight on our roads, giving you an air of exclusivity. Do bear in mind that the Aprilia dealer network is quite small and service will likely be pricier than its single-cylinder rivals.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450

Aprilia Tuono 457 Special Edition

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