I’m nearing 50 and want to start riding two-wheelers again. I’ve heard about back pain issues with the Meteor 350, especially for city riding. Is that true? Alternatively, I’m considering the Hunter 350. What would you advise based on my age and city use?

With their feet forward and fists-in-the-wind riding position, cruisers tend to put a lot of weight on your back and over less-than-ideal roads, which can transmit a lot of the bumps through to the rider. If you stay in an area with less-than-perfect roads, we would recommend you look elsewhere. 

The Hunter, with its upright, neutral ergonomics and pliant suspension, will be able to handle bad roads much better. 

A test ride will help you decide whether the Meteor or the Hunter is the best bet for you. Other options you can also look at are the TVS Ronin and the Honda CB350 models.