I am planning to buy a motorcycle under Rs. 3 lakh. I am 5'10" tall and want a bike with an upright riding posture. My usage will mostly include highway rides and hilly terrain, along with a little bit of city riding. I am looking for a motorcycle with a smooth and refined engine that handles well. I currently have three options in mind: the Honda CB350RS, Honda NX200, and Triumph Scrambler 400 X. Which of these would suit my needs the best? Also, if you think there are better alternatives, please let me know.

autocar.india

•18h

Since you already have a RE Classic 350 at home, we'd recommend you remove the Meteor 350 and Harley-Davidson X440 from your shortlist because these bikes will feel quite similar to your Classic. The 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 will offer a more engaging riding experience with more performance and features on tap, and are the ones we'd advise you to choose between. Of the two, the Triumph bike has the more mellow nature, but it will still feel like a good step up from your Classic in terms of performance and handling. The Guerrilla, on the other hand, is quite excitable and of the two, this is definitely the more fun machine. Its suspension is a little taut, which enables it to have very engaging handling, but over bad roads, you will feel a little more of the road surface coming through to your back. The RE also has a crisper, more tech-laden TFT display, whereas the Triumph uses a simple digi-analogue unit.Take a test ride of both before you make your decision, since they are quite different to ride.

autocar.india

•6d

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a sporty roadster that is good fun daily, and it's reasonably practical and comfortable for commuting duties too. Whether this is the right choice for you is a question only you can answer, and the way we'd recommend you go about it is to take a test ride of the bike and see if it fits into your orbit. Some points to bear in mind in traffic: the Guerrilla's clutch is a little heavy, and its engine's bottom end is a little weak. But on the flip side, it has a punchy mid and top-end and its handling is very engaging and surefooted too. If you want to consider a more commuter-friendly alternative to the Guerrilla, try out the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, which doesn't have as much outright performance, but it's better suited to commute on and is also more comfortable. A test ride of these two should help you determine which is the better fit for you. Do write back if you think neither is a good fit, and we'll be happy to recommend different options!

autocar.india

•3d

While both the Harley-Davidson X440T and Honda CB350 H'ness have similiar engine architectures and cylinder counts, their riding experience is quite different. The CB350 is a textbook neo-retro roadster and its smaller engine will offer you better fuel economy but at the expense of outright performance. Its gearing is also quite tall which means you will have to make more frequent gear changes to keep the motor in its sweet spot. On the other hand, the H-D X440 T is quite a step up in terms of outright performance owing to its larger 440cc motor and it will definitely have better performance. It will return lower fuel economy but that's to be expected. Choose between the two based on your budget, brand preference and after taking a test ride of both to make an informed decision.