Autocar India
•13w

Hi, I am planning to transition from a Honda Dio to a geared motorcycle. Although my dream bike is a Royal Enfield but I am a bit confused after looking at the Triumph Speed T4. My budget is around Rs. 2.5 lakh, although I can extend it to Rs. 2.75 lakh if required. I mostly ride within the city and currently have no plans for highway riding. I will also be riding with my mother and father occasionally. I am 5'5" tall, weigh 80 kg, and live in Chennai. I am trying to choose between the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, Royal Enfield Meteor 350, and Triumph Speed T4. I am also considering the Triumph Speed 400 if you feel extending my budget would be worthwhile.

Verified
•12w

Since this is going to be your first bike, should you want to play it safe, going with the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 will be our recommendation. It has a low seat, unintimidating power delivery, plush suspension and is easy to manage in the city. You also have an affinity to the brand so going with the characterful Hunter should be quite satisfying in the long run. 

However, on the flip side, since you have said you can extend your budget to Rs 2.75 lakh, you should definitely consider the 350cc Triumph Speed 400. The Speed is definitely a more capable and exciting machine than the Hunter and over time, will give you more headroom to grow as a rider. Do bear in mind that the Speed doesn't have as much character as the Hunter and feels more like an appliance in the long run - although depending on what your approach towards your motorcycle is, that may or may not be a bad thing. 

The best way to decide between these two would be to take a test ride before you make your decision. 

If you want to split the difference between the Hunter and Speed 400, the Speed T4 is an excellent option with middle-of-the-road performance between these two bikes. 

Triumph Speed T4

Triumph Speed T4

•12w•

@vaidheesh Go for Speed T4 because as this would be your first bike, so safety would be a priority, so weight would also play a major role.

•12w•

Id recommend the Honda CB350 series, more Royal Enfield feel but better, smoother & more efficient, T4 is also a great option, but I'd recommend test riding before making any choices as both motorcycles are very very different in terms of character & feel.

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•4d

Hi, I am 35 years old. I have a sitting job in IT. Could you please suggest most comfortable bike in suspension considering I suffer from back and neck pain at work that increases while riding in city as well as my height (169 cm) and weight (68 kg) on city roads in India. Please consider city potholes. I will have to travel 20km daily in weekdays till Friday and on weekends, it will be 200 km. Earlier, I had Yamaha FZ S FI but I no longer own it. Now I own my father's Hero Super Splendor XTEC only. I was checking out Royal Enfield Classic 350, Meteor 350, Honda CB350 H'ness, Triumph Speed 400, etc. I had taken the test drive of Royal Enfield Classic 350 BS6 (2024 Model), but for my weight, during road bumping, it directly transfers shock and and vibration to my back. Please suggest your valuable feedback.

Verified
•2d

In our experience, all of the bikes you have shortlisted (aside from the Meteor to some extent) have proven to be adept at shielding the rider from road imperfections. Since you have mentioned that the Classic isn't doing the trick for you, perhaps it could mean that for your physique a bike with a different riding position may be the solution. Take a test ride of the Hunter 350, which now has very absorptive suspension and a similar feel from the engine. You should also consider the Harley-Davidson X440 (splurge for the nicer looking T if you can) as that bike also has a comfortable suspension setup and seating posture.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350
Harley Davidson X440

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•3d

Hi Autocar India, I’m planning to buy my first proper motorcycle and I’d really like your recommendation based on my overall riding style rather than just a comparison between two bikes. I’m based in Hyderabad and my maximum budget is around Rs. 3-3.5 lakh on-road. My regular usage would be around 20-30 km a day in the city for roughly 20 days a month, but I also want to go for regular highway rides and occasional 300-600 km trips. I’m interested in doing longer rides such as Ladakh, although I’m not looking for hardcore off-roading. My priorities are strong acceleration and good pickup and therefore, I don’t want a bike that feels underpowered while overtaking or riding with a pillion/luggage. I want a bike that is comfortable for highway cruising at around 90-120 km/h with good stability and comfort for long-distance. The bike should offer reasonable mileage and manageable running costs. I am looking for bike that can handle both city riding and touring without being too tiring. Reliability and good service support are also important because I plan to keep the bike for several years. I’m okay with a heavier motorcycle if the weight is manageable while moving. I’m open to singles or twins and even 300-600cc if the bike genuinely suits my requirements. Styling is also important to me. I don’t particularly want the most common KTM/Duke-type motorcycle on the road. I like motorcycles with a distinctive, mature or premium character. I’m increasingly interested in cruisers and bobbers as well such as the Honda Rebel 300, Harley-Davidson X440, Dominar 400, etc. but I’m not fixed on a cruiser. I also like bikes such as the V-Strom and sport-tourers, so I’m genuinely open to different categories. I’ve considered bikes such as the Dominar 400, V-Strom 250, Himalayan 450, X440, Apache RR 310, Ninja 300, Rebel 300 and some KTM Adventure models. I’m finding it difficult because every bike has a different compromise. I’d therefore like your honest expert recommendation: if you were choosing one motorcycle for my exact usage, budget, riding style and long-term plans, which bikes would you shortlist and why? Please consider performance, highway cruising, comfort, touring ability, city usability, reliability, mileage, service/ownership costs and whether the bike will still feel satisfying after a few years. Also, if you think I’m approaching the purchase from the wrong category entirely, please tell me that and suggest what type of motorcycle I should actually be looking at. I’m not simply looking for the bike with the biggest engine or the highest specifications but I want the motorcycle that makes the most sense for the way I will actually ride.

Verified
•2d

You seem like someone who is going to use the bike for a variety of purposes, so getting a capable adventure bike like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 would be our first recommendation. The Himalayan is an effortless machine both on the highway and inside the city, so long as you are cognizant of and comfortable with its size and heft. If you want a similar alternative in the neo-retro world, the Harley-Davidson X440 is a good option to consider. Similarly, it would also be prudent to wait for the imminent arrival of the Honda CB500, as that has the makings of being a do-it-all and capable neo-retro machine. A test ride of these bikes will help you decide which one makes the most sense for you.

Royal Enfield Himalayan
Honda Bikes CB500
Harley Davidson X440

Posted on: 30 Jun 2026