Autocar India
PR

Praveen

6w

I have owned a used Meteor 350 for the past two years, but it lacks power for my daily office commute of around 60 km in the city. I aspire to start touring as well. I am 6'2" tall and weigh 120 kg. I have tested the KTM Adventure series, but the vibrations were not appealing. The Himalayan feels smooth and comfortable, but its weight is a concern. I might get used to it, but I’m unsure about getting used to it in daily traffic for 60 km. I couldn’t get a test ride of the Apache RTX. I tested the Xpulse 210, but it runs hot in the city. I also tested the Triumph Scrambler, but it feels small for my stature and my wrists hurt due to the riding posture. I am quite confused about what to buy for daily commuting and occasional touring with good power.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5w

You've test ridden many 300-400cc machines and have a good understanding of what you like or dislike in each machine, so that's a good place to start. We still believe that the Himalayan 450 is your best bet because aside from its weight (which you will learn to work around, over time) there are no significant drawbacks here. And this is not a case of settling for a machine with an innate flaw. Instead, riding the Himalayan 450 day in and day out, will automatically make you more cognizant of its weight and you'll start to manage your starts and stops better as well as improve your slow speed balance on the bike, given some time and a little bit of practice.

We would also recommend you look at the Scram 440 because while this bike weighs as much as the Himalayan, it is a much shorter machine so its weight doesn't feel top heavy like the Himalayan. It has good highway legs up to 100-110kph and with long travel suspension and neutral ergonomics, it will be a good city commuter and highway mile muncher.

Take a test ride of the Himalayan again and see if looking past its weight, is doable for you. Also spend some seat time aboard the Scram before you make a decision. 

Royal Enfield Himalayan

Royal Enfield Himalayan

MS

Mayank s

4w

Not fully convinced

More questions on similar bikes

KJ

Kaustubh Jirapure

4d

I own a Hunter 350 Dapper White for over two years. Lately, the suspension has started to bother me, and I am considering upgrading to an adventure bike. Which model would you recommend within a budget of Rs. 7 lakh? If there is an upcoming motorcycle that is worth waiting for, I am also considering upgrading the suspension on my Hunter 350 in the meantime. I was particularly interested in the Honda NX500, but the latest version seems significantly more expensive. What would you suggest?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
3d

Since you're innately familiar with Royal Enfield ownership, upgrading to the Himalayan 450 seems like a safe bet. The Himalayan's suspension can iron out pretty much any road imperfection you encounter and its performance will be a big step up over the Hunter you own too. The only caveat with going for the Himalayan is that it is a tall and heavy bike, and these attributes will make their presence felt at slower speeds inside the city. If you want slightly higher performance levels on a lighter machine, then the KTM 390 Adventure models (whether you opt for 350cc or 399cc iterations is up to the budget you have) are worth considering. The KTM bikes have great handling, punchy top-end performance and come with features like adjustable suspension, traction control and a bidirectional quick shifter - depending on the variant. In your Rs. 7 lakh budget, you can also get the BMW F 450 GS, although depending on your city's taxation structure, you may need to stretch your budget a little if you are eyeing the top Trophy variant. The new entry-level GS is a competent machine and will be a step up in refinement from the single-cylinder machines mentioned above and it is also lighter than them. You will, however, need to be prepared for higher running and maintenance costs expected of a machine wearing the BMW badge. Take test rides of these machines to decide which one works best for you before you make your next purchase. If none of these options seem enticing, you could also retrofit the latest-gen Hunter's suspension to your older model which will bring some much needed relief in terms of ride quality. Do bear in mind that this swap will likely void your warranty and we'd recommend reaching out to your nearest dealership for more clarity on the same.

KTM 390 Adventure
Royal Enfield Himalayan
Royal Enfield Hunter 350
BMW Bikes F 450 GS

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Posted on: 5 May 2026