I am considering buying a new bike primarily for touring, with occasional city usage. I am 5'4" tall and have already ridden about 40,000 km. I currently use an Avenger 150 Street and have done 400–500 km days on it, though I do feel some fatigue towards the end of the day, and its limitations are noticeable in ghat sections. I do not plan any serious off-roading, but I may do coastal rides, ghat sections, and village rides with dirt roads. My shortlist includes the Himalayan 450 (low seat with tubeless spokes) and the Triumph Speed 400, or the Scrambler 400X if I can get the seat lowered. My test ride of the Himalayan (with the regular seat) was good, and I did not feel any weight-related issues except while parking, which I can manage. However, I am concerned about reviews mentioning service issues, delays, and what seems like general Royal Enfield apathy. Most of these reviews are from 2024–25. Could you please let me know if this is still a realistic problem in 2026 and whether it should be a dealbreaker? If not, I am open to considering Royal Enfield. Could you also suggest whether there is a clear benefit in choosing Triumph over Royal Enfield? If you have any other recommendations, they are welcome, but I am trying to avoid very tall bikes due to my height and would prefer a seat height of up to 825–830 mm. Thank you.

Autocar India

•3d

The Jawa 42 FJ is a good option to consider in the neo-retro space. While the earlier Jawa bikes had some issues, the latest models have ironed them out to a large extent. The 42 FJ also comes with a 4-year / 50,000km warranty, which should give you added peace of mind. Do bear in mind that while the bikes have come a long way, Classic Legends (the parent company of Jawa, Yezdi and BSA) still has a fairly hit/miss reputation when it comes to service. So we'd recommend getting in touch with your nearest authorised dealership and finding out more for yourself. If you reconsider your decision to go with the Jawa, then the Triumph Speed T4 is a great alternative. It has a smooth and torquey engine, good build quality and similiar overall performance as the 42 FJ. It would also be wise to take a test ride of both before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•4d

The Triumph Scrambler 400 X that you have shortlisted is a good one bike to do it all. If you have your heart set on it, you should indeed hurry up and get one soon before the 350cc replacement is launched in the coming months. While its slightly smaller successor will be identical in most ways, the smaller engine with likely reduced performance could affect performance at highway speeds. So it's better to go for the 400cc model while you can. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is another great all-rounder, and if you are ready to deal with its size and weight, then you should absolutely consider it. Do bear in mind that for someone of your stature, the RTX could prove to be a little much inside the city at slower speeds. So we would recommend a thorough test ride before you make a decision. Another option worth considering is the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. It has a very approachable 780mm seat height, which will be helpful for you and has good performance and comfort for both city and highway usage. Since all the bikes you're considering are quite different, take a test ride of each before making a decision.

Autocar India

•3h

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has a very manageable 765mm seat height, which should suit your stature. But if you want the lowest 350cc Royal Enfield bike, then it would be the Goan Classic. The Goan has an even lower 750mm perch, which will be even easier to flatfoot.Do bear in mind that the Goan Classic's handlebars are taller than usual, and this is something you should pay attention to on a test ride. We'd advise taking test rides of both the Meteor and Goan and pick whichever one suits you best and the one you prefer the look of more.