Delhi

Krushna Gavhane

•3w

I want to purchase a new bike below ₹3.5 lakh. My back is very sensitive, and I am 5'11" tall. I would really love a bike that soaks up speed bumps and potholes well when travelling in the city or on uneven gravel roads. I tried the Royal Enfield Himalayan, but it is not suitable for traffic. I liked the Scrambler 400X and felt good on it (8/10) as it soaked up around 75-80% of the bumps. I could not ride the RTX 300 - is it better than the Scrambler 400X? Should I book it now since the waiting time is very long? Or is there any other bike that shines in this case?

Autocar India

•2w

Of the three bikes you've shortlisted, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X will be the best all-rounder and will also be very easy to ride inside city traffic with its tractable engine and short gearing.

While the RTX 300 has slightly better suspension travel and composure, it is still a new product, and it would be advisable to wait some months before buying an all-new machine like this, so if there are any teething issues, they can be ironed out.

If you are open to having a retro riding experience, then the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 are worth looking at. These are very comfortable machines, although their performance won't be anywhere close to as sprightly as the other bikes you're looking at.

On the plus side, the Bullet/Classic are much more affordable to purchase.

We'd recommend a test ride of the RE 350s before you make a decision.

Explore bikes mentioned

Triumph

Scrambler 400 X

from ₹3.02 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Bullet 350

from ₹1.78 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Classic 350

from ₹2.00 Lakh

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More questions on similar bikes

NKC

•5d

Should I buy the Royal Enfield Scrambler 400X now, or wait for a 350cc version to launch? If I wait, is there a possibility that cost cutting with a smaller engine might reduce the overall 400X experience? Please advise.

Autocar India

•3d

When Bajaj launches the downsized 350cc Triumph single-cylinder models, there are expected to be minimal or no changes to the chassis. Also, the feature-set and the quality of parts and materials used throughout. It is unlikely that Bajaj will reduce the quality of components used on the 350cc Triumphs, as they are aspirational and premium motorcycles from a fabled British brand. However, if you have your heart set on buying a Triumph Scrambler 400 X, we'd advise you to hurry. Because it has been reported that the 350cc Triumphs aren't a long way away, and this will be your only opportunity to own one.

Triumph Scrambler 400 X

Tanmay Srinath

•2w

I’m a 25-year-old rider from Bangalore (6 ft, 95 kg) currently using a 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V (non-ABS). After a few close calls, I want to upgrade to a comfortable supersport or naked bike. My budget is flexible up to ₹10 lakh. I’m open to superbikes if they look great, but spares availability, service practicality, ground clearance, and E20 compatibility are important for Indian roads. I have tested multiple bikes: TVS RR 310: Loved the package. Best posture, great suspension for potholes, features, and comfort. My only worry is the engine refinement stories I’ve heard. I'm also worried that TVS might phase it out, and I'd be left searching for parts. Aprilia RS 457: Found the posture torturous and honestly didn’t get the hype around it. Hurt my fingers when doing a full turn with the handle. KTM Adventure 390: Felt unsafe due to excessive vibrations. I also don't like how adventure bikes look. Too bulky for my tastes. I'm 25 - should be able to enjoy my life! Kawasaki Ninja 300: Felt very outdated, and the engine character didn't impress me. The Kawasaki dealership experience was also quite poor. Aprilia Tuono 457: Posture was okay, but the engine didn't feel special enough to justify the high purchase price and service costs. Looks didn't impress me one bit. Suzuki GSX-8R: Comfortable and fast, but 11 lakhs feels unjustified given the high maintenance concerns. I loved Rishaad's review on it (great reviewer and presenter - send him my love!), but I didn't really understand what's so special about it. I could barely use 20% of its power :) I mostly ride in the city with occasional highway trips. Since I know decent TVS service folks, after-sales for the RR 310 isn't an issue. My main questions are: How bad is the refinement on the RR 310 really? Have the recent updates fixed the vibration issues? Is the 310 platform being phased out anytime soon, or is it safe to buy now? Should I wait for the 450 RR? Given my requirement for a comfortable posture and E20 compatibility, is it worth waiting for an updated Yamaha R3 or another 2026 twin, or should I just go ahead with the RR 310? I'm looking to purchase something in the March-April timeframe, but happy to wait longer if there's anything better coming up :)

Autocar India

•1w

TVS has been giving the Apache RR 310 an update almost every year since it came out, improving small areas like refinement, features and adding more colours too. Today's Apache RR 310 is a feature-loaded machine which has significantly improved NVH levels, although it's still a single-cylinder machine. So, you will have to deal with some vibrations in certain bands of the rev range. Since you seem to prefer a twin-cylinder sportbike experience over a single and have the budget to go for it, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a bike we'd recommend you seriously consider. It has reasonably comfortable ergonomics and decently compliant suspension for daily usage. Its 451cc, twin-cylinder engine has a healthy spread of mid-range grunt, and it will also be fun to chase the redline, given some open tarmac. Yes, Kawasaki bikes are expensive to maintain, but that's something you will have to make peace with if you want a twin-cylinder sportbike today. You can also rest easy about E20 compatibility because all new bikes and scooters sold in India are compatible with our fuel. If you don't think the Ninja 500 justifies its high price tag, then move up to the little more expensive but quite a bit more capable Ninja 650. It is one of the few big bikes on sale in India that can genuinely be used on a day-to-day basis. As long as you're mindful of the low ground clearance and expensive rims. Coming to the TVS/BMW 450cc sportbike, an official launch is unlikely to happen anytime soon, considering we have only just spotted a heavily camouflaged test mule for the first time. Thank you for your kind words about Rishaad. We'll be sure to pass them on!

Chetan

I own a Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi (2006). It has been perfectly maintained and is doing well, but I feel the need to upgrade to a bigger bike. I’m looking for a bike for my daily commute to office (30 km) and fairly frequent long weekend rides. My budget is close to ₹3.5 lakh. Kindly suggest options I should consider. P.S. - I have a tendency to ride relatively fast.

Autocar India

•1w

Since you are looking for a bike that is good for daily commuting as well as long rides, and are presently a Pulsar owner, a good upgrade option would be the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z. The NS400Z is a sporty machine that isn't too aggressive and will also be usable on a day-to-day basis, while entertaining you on longer journeys. It also has an excellent price tag, which means you will come in well under your budget. If you want to look elsewhere, options like the KTM 250 / 390 Duke, TVS Apache RTR 310 and Triumph Speed 400 are what we would recommend. The Speed 400 will be the best option inside city limits, but at high speeds, its engine feels a little strained. The Apache and Duke models are good all-rounders with genuine sporting intent and come with a host of techy and feel-good features. Take a test ride of the bikes mentioned above to make an informed decision about your next purchase.

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