Autocar India
N

N

20w

I am planning to buy my first bike with a budget of 2-2.5 lakh. I test rode the CB350RS, Meteor and Guerrilla 450. I didn’t find the CB350RS comfortable, the Meteor felt good but lacked highway power, and the Guerrilla 450 is over budget. I want a bike with a non-aggressive riding position and good comfort on highways and potholes. Please suggest suitable options.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
19w

Since this is your first bike, starting small and approachable would be the smart way to go about it. In that same vein, we would recommend the new Yamaha XSR155 because it is a light, comfortable, fuel-efficient machine that's also reasonably exciting to use. 

If you want a larger machine, then bikes like the Honda CB300F, Bajaj Pulsar N250 and Suzuki Gixxer 250 would be good options. 

Take a test ride of everything you shortlist before you decide. 

Honda CB300F

Honda CB300F

More questions on similar bikes

GR

Gowtham Ram

1d

I am a 36-year-old, 6-foot-tall individual, planning to buy a new bike. I currently own a 2012 Honda Unicorn. I am looking for a fun-to-ride, high-performance bike. My primary usage will be in the city, with occasional highway rides. I test-rode the RE Guerrilla Apex and really liked its power and performance. Is it a suitable bike for my age? I am planning to keep the bike for the next 15 years; will it be reliable in the long run? Also, I am confused between choosing the Apex and the regular variant. Which one would you suggest?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
10h

If you were satisfied with the performance of RE Guerrilla 450 Apex during the test ride, then it is a good buy for you. The Guerrilla is a relatively new bike (as it was launched only 3 years ago) but even then, this Royal Enfield bike has proven to be a largely straightforward and fuss-free machine to own. Choosing between the Apex and the standard Guerrilla will boil down to the riding position you prefer and the tyres on offer. In our experience, the Vredestein Centauro tyres of Guerrilla Apex have proven to have better grip and feedback in almost all conditions than the CEAT dual-purpose tyres of standard Guerrilla. The CEATs are not bad tyres, but overall, the Vredesteins set a much higher baseline. The Apex also has a more committed riding position but if you don't find that to be a dealbreaker, you should go for it rather than the standard variant. To be sure, take a test ride of the standard Guerrilla as well before you make a decision.

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450
RE

REJOY

6d

Hi, I am considering buying the Royal Enfield Classic 650. Is it the right choice? Are there any plans to introduce more colour options? Also, will tubeless tyres be offered anytime soon?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
4d

Whether or not any motorcycle is the right choice for you is something we cannot decide for you. You should take a comprehensive test ride and weigh its pros and cons as well as see its fitness for purpose before you make your decision.Royal Enfield, like other manufacturers, periodically introduces new colours for its offerings, and it could do so for the Classic 650, although a timeline for this isn't known. Lastly, the tubeless spoke wheels for the Classic 650 have been a major ask from both the mainstream media as well as paying customers. Royal Enfield usually listens and acts proactively on this feedback, but as of now, the company hasn't officially commented on when these wheels will be fitted to the bigger Classic.

Royal Enfield Classic 650
TA

Tanvir

6d

Hi, I am looking for some advice on my next bike purchase. I have owned a Honda CBR 250R followed by a Classic 350. I now want to move into the 650cc segment. My usage will be mostly limited to city rides. Please share your thoughts on bikes from Kawasaki and Triumph, as I have not owned bikes from these brands before.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5d

In the 650cc segment, both Kawasaki and Triumph offer multiple options which cater to different use cases so before you start looking at a particular bike, its important to figure out which one suits you best. In the Kawasaki bike lineup you have the Z650, Z650RS, Ninja 650, Vulcan S and Versys 650. If you're mainly going to be riding in the city, any of them - except the Versys - will be a good tool for the job. Pick the one you like the styling and rider's position of the most. From Triumph bike lineup, you have the 660cc Trident, Daytona and Tiger Sport. Since you'll be using the bike mainly in the city, the Trident and Daytona make more sense and we’d advise choosing the one you prefer in terms of looks and seating position. The Daytona is a fair deal more powerful than the Trident so that's something to bear in mind. Another point to keep in mind that these imported motorcycles are generally more complicated and expensive to own and maintain.

Kawasaki Z650
Kawasaki Z650RS
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Kawasaki Versys 650
Triumph Daytona 660
Triumph Tiger Sport 660
Triumph Trident 660

Popular discussions right now

KW

kaushik waghmode

6d

I am very confused about which scooter to buy: Honda Activa 110 or TVS Ntorq 125/150. Kindly guide me so that I can make a decision. My usage includes both city riding and long highway rides.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5d

Since your usage includes both city riding and highway runs, we would strongly recommend you go with the TVS Ntorq 150. The bigger Ntorq's engine can sustain 70-90kph easily on the highway, it is a stable and comfortable machine even at higher speeds, and most importantly, comes with the safety net of single-channel ABS, which will protect you in case you encounter a situation where you need to jam on the brakes.Be aware that since the Ntorq 150 has a large engine, its fuel economy is likely to be much lower than the 110-125cc options in the mainstream market. Although in isolation, when ridden sensibly, it does return good fuel efficiency.If budget is a constraint and you still want a scooter with ABS and one that returns good fuel economy, look no further than the top 2 variants of the latest-gen Suzuki Access 125. The Access remains the only 125cc scooter to offer you single-channel ABS from a reputed and established brand in India. It is also a well-sorted, comfortable and fuel-efficient scooter which has carved out its reputation for being reliable, so realistically over a longer ownership period, you shouldn't face many surprises.Decide how much you need to spend on your next purchase and take a test ride of the Access and Ntorq before you make a decision.

TVS Ntorq 150
Suzuki Access
DM

Debartha Mandal

1w

I want to know whether it is better to buy a second-hand scooter or a new one from the showroom. What are the pros and cons of both?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6d

Buying a new or used vehicle depends mainly on two factors: your mindset regarding used vehicles, as well as the price and condition of the vehicle in question.If you plan to use the scooter every day for many years, a new one from the showroom is usually the safer bet. If your budget is tight or you only need it for a short period, a good pre-owned scooter can save money.A new scooter works well when you want zero hassle. You get full warranty, a few free services, and roadside help, so surprises are rare. The trade-off is the high on-road price, higher first-year insurance, and the biggest drop in value happens in the first couple of years.On the flip side, a used scooter makes sense when you find a clean one at a lower price. The catch is risk. You must deal with unknown wear and tear, and there’s also the chance that the vehicle might be out of warranty coverage.Simple rule: pick new if you ride daily, plan to keep it long, or are someone who wants worry-free ownership. Pick used only if you can verify service records, the scooter is fairly recent and in good shape, and the price difference is substantial.

VI

Vivek

5d

I’m planning to upgrade from my current 125cc bike and have test-ridden a few options, including the Honda CB350RS, Honda Hness CB350, Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, and the Harley-Davidson X440 (S and T variants). I found the riding posture of the CB350RS and Guerrilla 450 a bit too aggressive for my comfort. I really liked both the Hness CB350 and Meteor 350, but I am personally more inclined towards the X440 because of its handling and engine feel. However, I am confused between the S and T variants of the X440. The T variant offers ride-by-wire and has a cleaner look, but I am concerned about the bar-end mirrors and some plastic parts at the rear. In Indian parking conditions, bar-end mirrors seem prone to damage and could be expensive to replace, and I have been told there is no option to switch to conventional mirrors. Given that my usage will mostly be city riding (15–20 km daily) with occasional highway trips, does ride-by-wire make a significant difference in real-world usage over time? Is it worth choosing the T variant despite these concerns, or would the S variant be a more practical choice?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5d

If you don't mind the look of the Harley-Davidson X440 S, then you should go ahead and buy that bike. Conventional mirrors are easier to use and during lane filtering, they don't protrude as much as bar-end ones. The ride-by-wire throttle on the X440 T does not offer any significant real-world advantage over the S variant's cable throttle, nor does it bring in significant improvements in performance in this application. The only reason to consider the T variant would be its improved fit and finish, a more cohesive tail section design and slightly better controlled suspension damping.

Harley Davidson X440
Harley Davidson X440T

Posted on: 11 Dec 2025