I’ve been riding a Himi450 for 2 years and want to upgrade to a bigger, twin-cylinder bike with more power and refinement — thinking about a Himi750 or BMW F450. A new Himi750 may launch in about a year; should I wait for the new model or buy an existing bike now? I also own a Ford Freestyle (2019, 58,754 km) and drive up to 250 km weekly. If I upgrade my car, I want a powerful, refined, reliable SUV with 4×4, no sunroof, and only essential safety features. Should I buy a new or used for the car, and which options would fit these needs?

Autocar India

•2d

Since you have said you want comfort, we'd recommend you rule out the KTM 390 Duke. The Duke can be usable on a day-to-day basis, but it is a stiffly sprung and sporty machine that's also rather cramped for taller folks and especially coming from the Meteor, could prove too uncomfortable.The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a good choice, which will balance performance and comfort, although there will be a short adjustment period for you before you completely gel with it. We'd recommend going for the Apex variant, which comes with grippier Vredestein rubber that is better than the standard variant's CEAT shoes.The KTM 390 Adventure is a great bike for long-distance travelling, and if that is going to be the main reason behind your purchase, then it makes sense. However, inside the city, it can feel a little too buzzy, and its fuel economy isn't great either. Do bear in mind that KTMs comes with stiff seats and you will either have to adapt to it or get it fixed in the aftermarket.Since you are already considering the 390 Adventure, it would make sense to also look at the Himalayan 450. This is the more rounded of the two machines in our experience, and its ride comfort is unparalleled at this price point. Its size and weight will take some getting used to, but if you are okay with it, then this is a machine definitely worth considering.Take test rides of all before you go ahead with your purchase, so you make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•3d

An ADV is the logical recommendation usually for your query, and we'd normally recommend options like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, KTM 390 Adventure and TVS Apache RTX 300. These bikes will fit your criteria quite nicely and offer you similar performance to your R3.However, since you have said you are on the shorter side and you want something more manageable for your stature, the only option you have realistically is the 350cc Bajaj Dominar 400. The Dominar has a low 800mm seat height, and while it weighs as much or more than the aforementioned options, since it is a lower bike, you'll be able to manage it better. Do bear in mind that the Dominar is a much simpler, older and more affordable machine than the three ADVs mentioned above, and you will feel that. To assess whether or not the Dominar should be your next bike, take your preferred pillion along with you on a test ride of all the options listed above. Then, depending on what you feel, go ahead with the bike that suits you guys best.

Autocar India

•8h

Since you seem like a leisurely weekend rider who wants to keep the machine for a longer duration and you lean towards off-road riding, we'd recommend you to pick between the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400X and KTM 390 Enduro R. Of the two, the Triumph bike is the more sensible, practical and daily-use friendly machine while the KTM is the more fun and niche option. The Scrambler's 350cc engine has the better low and mid-range spread of torque but the Enduro's 398cc single is fun when you chase the redlines. While both have off-road capabilities (the Enduro way more so than the Scrambler), they are good fun to use on the road to ride to your favourite twisty bit of tarmac. Some points to bear in mind are that the KTM bike has a super tall 895mm perch and comes with tubed tyres. While there's not much you can do about the seat, you can fit 19/17-in alloy wheels from the Adventure to sort out tubeless tyres for yourself. Coming to the Triumph, since you have mentioned you are from SoBo, you don't have a service centre nearby as of answering this query - authorized service centres are located in Goregaon, Nerul and Thane. There's also a massive price delta between these two and if you aren't looking to spend more, the Triumph is the better option. The best way to decide between them would be to take a comprehensive test ride of both and see which one you like the most. While there is a big price delta between both, since you're using the bike as a leisurely tool and are going to keep it for a long time, make the stretch for the Enduro if you like it. The X-47 (even with its larger battery pack) won't give you a realistic riding range of much more than 220km on a single charge (and this will be in the least powerful Glide riding mode, so performance will be quite gentle). Electric bikes are still quite a nascent market, charging stations are also very rare to find in most places and this is why for your needs, going with a petrol-powered bike makes more sense. Also, kudos to you for keeping the RX alive and using it daily!