I test-rode the Speed T4 and Speed 400 last week and liked both. The Speed T4 price is great at ₹2.67L, but the tyres and lack of traction control are holding me back. Speed 400 feels a bit expensive. I'm confused between these three options: Speed T4: Good price, but is it enough for an experienced rider? Speed 400: Costs ₹3.21L and has great features, but I've heard about stalling and engine stress. Duke 250: Costs ₹2.87L. What do you guys recommend?

Autocar India

•3d

Since you have said that you have a lower back issue and that you need a comfortable riding position, we'd recommend looking at bikes like the Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350 instead. The Meteor is a comfortable cruiser, but by virtue of being a cruiser, its feet-forward, relaxed riding position will put more strain on your lower back while going over bad roads. In the Honda 350 lineup, all three machines are very similiar mechanically, and the main differences are in terms of styling, pricing and small feature additions and subtractions. So, we would recommend going with the one you are attracted to the most. A test ride of whatever you shortlist is imperative before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•3d

The Honda CB350 H'ness is a great retro-looking option for your commuting needs with its upright posture, plush suspension and smooth, torquey engine. It also has light controls (like the clutch and steering), which make it a breeze to ride inside choc-a-bloc city traffic. On the other hand, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X (and the upcoming 350 X) both will have more commanding ergonomics, more sophisticated suspension damping and a much higher performance ceiling. Another point to consider is the tall 835mm seat height the Scrambler ships with, which could be a pain point if you're shorter and not familiar enough with taller, heavier machines. Coming to your last option, the lightly used 2025 Speed 400 (1,500 km), if the bike is accident‑free with service proof and under warranty, then even this roadster can be a good purchase. It will have similiar performance to the Scrambler but will be a more manageable machine owing to its lower overall height, making it well-suited to city commuting. A test ride of these three will help you see for yourself which one you prefer the most.

Autocar India

•6d

The Honda Unicorn and SP160 you are considering are mechanically near identical, sharing their engines, chassis and quite a few features. Where they differ is in their styling and riding position, so choosing between these two will come down to your personal preference for which bike you and your pillion find more comfortable. The TVS Apache RTR 160 2V is a proven machine, but its older engine can't match the smoothness and refinement that most modern peers in the segment will offer you, and we'd instead suggest you look at the 4V version of the Apache for a better experience. You should also consider the Bajaj Pulsar N160, as that is another competent machine in this class and comes with a single-piece seat on some of its variants, which will meet your comfort requirements nicely. All of the aforementioned bikes have mostly flat and wide single-piece seats, which should be conducive to rider and pillion comfort, and to make an informed decision, we'd recommend a thorough test ride of each with your frequent pillion.On the test ride, do a 15‑minute two‑up loop; have your pillion check knee bend, seat comfort, and grab‑rail reach. Also, ride over some speed breakers and rough patches to test suspension comfort thoroughly.