I want to buy a bike for my son. I prefer the Royal Enfield Bullet 350, while my son prefers the Honda CB350. My main concerns are comfort and safety. I have heard that the Bullet's chain tends to come off easily while riding. Mileage is not a concern. Please suggest a better 350cc bike within a budget of 2.5-3 lakh.

autocar.india

•16h

Moving up from a Pulsar 150, you should check out the 350cc Bajaj Dominar 400, which will feel more substantial and comfortable, not to mention head and shoulders above when it comes to performance. Since your ride has a lot of highway stretches, a machine that can cruise comfortably at higher speeds while keeping you comfortable will be a good bet.If you want to look at the adventure bike space, consider the Hero Xpulse 210 and TVS Apache RTX 300. The Xpulse is lighter, which will make it easier to manage at slower speeds, and its smaller engine will also be more fuel efficient. On the other hand, the RTX has a more powerful engine capable of delivering more performance and its seating comfort is better than the Xpulse. Do bear in mind that both of these are tall bikes and will require some skill to manage if you're a shorter person.If, instead, you want a neo-retro machine, then consider proven options like the Honda CB350 models and Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350. These are relaxed and comfortable machines with torquey engines, which will be suitable for long commutes. When ridden sensibly, they also return good fuel economy. These bikes are all very different from one another, and to accurately gauge which is the best one for you, take a test ride of all before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•1d

Since you have mentioned that comfort is your top priority, and you also have a rather long daily commute, going for a motorcycle would be our recommendation. We'd recommend you look at options like the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 and Honda CB350 models, because these are spacious, comfortable machines with approachable seat heights and torquey, smooth engines. While in terms of overall performance, these bikes will be quite evenly matched, the RE 350s have better low and mid-range torque, which will make city riding more pleasurable than on the Hondas, which are hamstrung by their tall gearing, necessitating more gear changes. That being said, the Hondas are much lighter and also come with tubeless tyres and alloy wheels as standard, as well as a slip/assist clutch, which makes life a whole lot easier. To decide between these models, take a test ride before you go ahead with your purchase.

autocar.india

•2d

Since you have mentioned you've ridden the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 in the past and you are buying this bike to fulfill a dream, we'd recommend the Bullet itself. It is a comfortable machine with a characterful and smooth engine and will fit within your budget too. If you want brighter colours and a slightly more different look, then look at its sibling, the Classic 350. If you want something that won't be as commonplace as either of these aforementioned bikes but still want a machine that can be used daily, their offbeat sibling, the Goan Classic 350 is the right bike for you. It has a lower seat height than both the Classic and Bullet which will make it easier for a person with a shorter frame like yours to manage around town, which is where you're going to be spending most of your time. Take test rides of the Goan and the Bullet and then make your decision based on which one you like more.