I am 58 years old and 5′5″ tall, and I have been riding motorcycles for the last 35 years, all of which were 100–125 cc. I want to continue riding just for the fun of it. Which bike should I select? I am looking for something in the 350 cc range.

Autocar India

•1d

Since you've said you prefer cruisers and commute in heavy traffic, of the three bikes you've shortlisted, the Honda CB350 will fit your usage the best. With its low seat, light clutch action and surefooted yet easy handling demeanour, the CB350 makes for a wonderful city companion. Its engine is smooth and torquey, and when ridden sensibly, it returns very impressive fuel economy for a 350cc machine. Plus, seating comfort for both rider and pillion is also quite nice, although if you carry a pillion frequently, it would be prudent to invest in a backrest - it should be a relatively inexpensive option to purchase.The Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 is a beautiful motorcycle, but to achieve its gorgeous form, there are some functional compromises. It is by no means a horribly uncomfortable machine, but in comparison to its more conventional siblings - Classic and Bullet 350 - it is surely a step down. Pillion accommodations, too, are mediocre at best, and the main draw here is its unique design. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is the odd one out here and will feel very different to the other bikes you've shortlisted. It has a modern, liquid-cooled engine making substantially more peak output and a 6-speed gearbox. Outright comfort will be another strong point on the RTX, and this is likely to be the most comfortable machine of the lot, owing to its form factor. We'd recommend a test ride of all these bikes before you make a decision, and you should also decide what sort of bike you want before you do so.

Autocar India

•1h

In the electric scooter segment, the TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak models are hard to go wrong with, and no matter which one you choose, you're likely to end up with a safe purchase which will safely last you many years. Coming to issues with using the iQube during the monsoon, you're unlikely to have any - this is a scooter that has proven its mettle over the past 6 years that it has been on sale. The base 3.5 variant of the iQube in your shortlist, has a 650W charger as standard and it should be sufficiently quick for most daily needs. Its a similar story with the Bajaj Chetak. Any unfortunate battery issues you face will be covered under warranty and even so, these instances are few and far between, not widespread occurrences. The Chetak 3503 also has pretty quick charging times, with the Bajaj website stating a 3hr25min duration for a 0-80 percent top-up, which should be more than enough for your daily needs. Hero's Vida VX2 has come onto the scene relatively later but judging by the fact that these have started to become a fairly commonplace sighting on our roads, the market seems to have given it a good response. We'd recommend a visit to each scooter's authorized dealership and take thorough test rides to ensure you cover every aspect before you make your decision.

Autocar India

•3h

Since you have a comfortable budget, our recommendation would be the TVS iQube S 4.7 / ST 5.3 variants, because they have big batteries which should comfortably help you cover multiple days' worth of riding on a single charge. The iQube is a proven, no-nonsense product from a big, reputed brand and TVS also has a widespread service network among EV scooters, which will matter more than spec-sheet numbers and feel-good farkles when you’ll use it every day. While the iQube's performance won't blow you away, its comfort, practicality and stress-free nature are sure to compensate for that.If performance is your number one priority and you can live with less comfort, the Ather 450S/450X are exciting options. However, given your long daily commutes, do bear in mind, it will demand serious commitment day after day, especially over bad roads. If you must have an electric motorcycle form at this budget, the Revolt RV400 is the most settled option, but neither its performance nor its range are attributes to write home about. The e-bike space is still very nascent and our recommendation today is to buy an electric scooter over them.