Autocar India
JA

Jain

20w

I currently ride a Classic 500 and am considering upgrading to either the Bear 650 or the Moto Morini Seiemmezzo. I ride mostly on weekends, covering over 200 km and do a bit of city riding during the week. Which of these bikes is the better long-term choice for both city use and long rides?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
19w

Between the two bikes you're considering, we'd recommend you steer clear of the Moto Morini because of its minuscule dealer network and because this bike has yet to prove its reliability in our market. 

Coming to the Royal Enfield Bear 650 is a great bike in many ways, but its stiff rear suspension can be a dealbreaker over bad roads. Instead, we recommend you look at the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for highway usage. 

If you're open to the idea of a pre-loved machine, a good condition, used Kawasaki Versys 650 should be available around the Rs 5 lakh mark, which is a similar amount of money as the bikes you're considering anyway. 

Royal Enfield Bear 650

Royal Enfield Bear 650

More questions on similar bikes

SK

Sudhir Kumar Panigrahi

4d

I own a Royal Enfield Classic 350 (BS4) and am planning to upgrade to the Interceptor 650. My usage is mostly in the city with occasional highway rides, and my monthly running is up to 1,000 km. Should I go for the new Classic 350 (BS6) or upgrade to the Interceptor 650?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
3d

From a logical point of view, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 makes sense for your use case, which is primarily in the city. The Classic is a lighter machine and will be easier to manage in the city. In your case, it will also be a largely familiar machine since you're coming from an older Classic 350, and there won't be too much of a learning curve. Plus, in comparison to the Interceptor 650, you'll also get better fuel economy from the Classic.On the flip side, the Interceptor will be a far better machine for highway riding, and its twin-cylinder engine gives it a different character. If you're looking for a change of pace from your Classic, the Interceptor could be the perfect step up because, despite its added power and weight, it is still an approachable machine. The one thing you need to be mindful of on the Interceptor inside the city is its wide exhaust pipes, which will stick out in traffic.A test ride will reveal whether you should go for the Interceptor or the Classic.

Royal Enfield Classic 350
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
HA

Harsh

1d

Hi, I’m looking for a bike under ₹2 lakh. It should be fun to ride, mostly for city use, but also suitable for occasional touring. Comfort for the pillion is also important to me.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6h

Within your budget, depending on the type of bike you prefer, the Hero Xpulse 210, TVS Ronin, Royal Enfield Hunter 350, Bajaj Pulsar N250 and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V are good options to consider. If you want a good all-rounder street naked, then the Apache and Pulsar are the way to go. Expect good fuel efficiency and and handling but the pillion comfort will only be good for short distances. If you'd like a neo-retro machine, the TVS Ronin, Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and base variants of the Bullet 350 (with a rear drum brake and single-channel ABS) are available within your budget. Pillion comfort will be best on the Ronin and Bullet, and all three will happily go touring as long as you stay below 100kph. These bikes will be fun to ride but in a different way than a sporty machine, if that's your cup of tea, then you should proceed with these. Last but not least, the Xpulse 210 is a wonderful do-it-all motorcycle on a tight budget; although if you are of short stature, its tall seat will be something to consider. Take a test ride of all these machines before you make up your mind. And before you do that, evaluate which sort of bike is best suited for you.

TVS Ronin
Bajaj Pulsar N250
Royal Enfield Hunter 350
Hero MotoCorp Xpulse 210
TVS Apache RTR 200 4V
DE

Deepak

1d

I am a first-time bike buyer looking for a retro-style motorcycle for my daily commute of around 30–35 km in Mumbai. I have considered the Yamaha XSR155 and Yamaha FZ-X Hybrid — are there any other options you would recommend? I am looking for a bike that is easy to maintain and service. I am 5'8" tall, so please suggest accordingly. I also have a small child, so comfort and practicality are important factors for me.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
9h

While both the Yamaha options you have shortlisted have their own strong points, neither would be the best fit for your usage, in our opinion. Considering you have a pretty lengthy daily commute in Mumbai (where the road surface by and large ranges from subpar to non-existent), we would recommend you pick a comfortable machine like the TVS Ronin or Royal Enfield Hunter 350. Both have neutral ergonomics, neo-retro styling and plush suspension, which should make them well-suited for your use case. One area where both the smaller Yamaha machines will edge out the Ronin and Hunter is fuel efficiency, but aside from that, the TVS & Royal Enfield make for a better purchase. The Yamaha XSR155 is a lovely sporty neo-retro machine, but its suspension is too stiff over bad roads. The Yamaha FZ-X is a 149cc commuter, and its performance, handling, and overall feel won't be as premium as the other bikes mentioned here. Take a test ride of both the Ronin and Hunter to see which one suits you best. We also have multiple comparison reviews of the Hunter, XSR and Ronin on our channel as well as website, and we'd encourage you to take a look at them before you make your purchase.

TVS Ronin
Royal Enfield Hunter 350
Yamaha XSR155
Yamaha FZ-X

Popular discussions right now

KW

kaushik waghmode

1w

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
6d

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
VI

Vivek

6d

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
6d

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: 14 Dec 2025