I am planning to buy my first bike for my daily office commute in city traffic. I was considering waiting for the Triumph Bonneville 350. Are Triumph’s upcoming 350cc bikes worth waiting for, or should I consider another motorcycle instead?

autocar.india

•1d

Since you predominantly use your bike inside Pune city, choosing a machine with good comfort would be wise. Neo-retro machines like the Honda CB350 trio, Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350 and TVS Ronin would fit the bill well and offer you a great step up from your Passion Pro too. If instead you want something off-road oriented, then the Hero Xpulse 210 and TVS Apache RTX 300 will make sense. Take a test ride of these very different bikes before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•1d

Within Honda's own stable, you'll find siblings to the CB350 with different styling but similiar underpinnings, should your husband want a different design. Another option to look at is Royal Enfield's 350cc lineup, specifically the Hunter / Bullet / Classic models, because these will be more comfortable than their siblings, the Meteor and Goan Classic. The REs are noticeably heavier than the Hondas but have a more characterful engine, so pick between them depending on what experience your husband is looking for. If this bike is going to be solely used for casual weekend rides, then we'd strongly recommend considering the gorgeous Goan Classic 350, which will appeal with its flashy colours and bobber aesthetic.

autocar.india

•5d

If you have had a good experience with your Electra (and considering you've kept it for 2 decades, it seems you have), then going for a new-age Royal Enfield bike like the Bullet / Classic 350 would be the ideal step up. These bikes will retain the core character and thump of your Electra but bring in many engine and chassis improvements, offering you a thoroughly modern biking experience. Reliability, too, has seen a significant jump over older REs, and this will positively impact the overall ownership experience.In many ways, the Honda CB350 models are uncannily similar to the RE 350s (sometimes to their own detriment) but bring in some signature Honda bike strengths like a lightweight, easy-to-manage demeanour and super reliability as well as low ownership costs. As for an electric scooter, it is a completely different proposition. It makes sense only if your usage is limited to short city commutes and you are looking for a low-maintenance, cost-effective solution. At your age and weight, a modern 350cc motorcycle will be far more comfortable than a scooter.