I’m 22 and planning to buy my first bike, mainly for city commuting, with strong pillion comfort as a top priority. We already have a 15-year-old Honda Shine that is still reliable. My parents encouraged me to buy something better than basic commuter bikes like the TVS Sport or Bajaj Platina, and even offered financial help, which I would prefer to avoid since I’ve just started working. Initially, I shortlisted the TVS Raider, Hero Glamour (with cruise control, which I don’t really need), and Honda SP125 because they are affordable. However, I’m concerned about long-term service with TVS and Hero, and the lack of ABS on the Honda SP125. Then I looked at higher-segment options but ruled out sporty bikes with stepped seats (like the Hero Xtreme 125R and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V) due to pillion comfort concerns. That left me considering the TVS Ronin, Royal Enfield Hunter 350, and Yamaha XSR155 (which I ruled out due to pillion comfort). Now I’m confused between the comfort and efficiency of the TVS Ronin and the road presence and perceived reliability of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. At the same time, I’m wondering if it would be smarter to save money and stick with a premium 125cc bike, since 90% of my usage will be relaxed city riding and I value cruiser-like comfort over speed.

Autocar India

•1w

Both the Yamaha MT-15 and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V are reliable machines offering you similiar levels of performance around the Rs 1.50 lakh mark. In general, Yamaha's products are easier to live with and service in comparison to TVS' offerings. Although it's not an exact science and sometimes boils down to your particular machine and the service centre you take it to. We'd recommend a test ride of both as well as visits to authorised service centres and showrooms of both bikes, so that you can make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•1w

Both the Honda CB350 H'ness and Yamaha XSR155 are great everyday machines, but have different characters. The XSR is light, agile and a lively machine to ride with its R15-derived underpinnings. Its motor also returns excellent fuel economy. However, its stiff suspension setup will get tiring if you encounter bad roads daily. The CB350 H'ness is a relaxed neo-retro roadster which is very easy to ride and prioritises comfort over performance. While the H'ness won't be able to match the XSR for fuel economy, it is a reasonably fuel-efficient machine for its displacement. If you ride often with a pillion, then the more spacious Honda makes a better case for itself.Picking between the two will boil down to personal prefrence so we'd recommend a test ride of both to help you make a decision.

Autocar India

•2w

Since your usage skews more towards slower city riding than faster highway trips, going with a Royal Enfield 350 would be our recommendation. However, the Meteor isn't at the top of that list. We've found the Hunter / Classic / Bullet to be more comfortable primarily because of their more upright and neutral riding triangles. With its laidback cruiser ergonomics and low seat, which puts more weight on your tailbone, the Meteor will feel a little stiffer than its aforementioned siblings over bad patches of road. The Himalayan will also make for a decent city machine and will be inherently more capable on the highway, but its large size and taller seat height might be deal breakers for you. If this is going to be your only bike to do everything, purely from a capability standpoint, the Himalayan makes more sense.Take a test ride of both to understand the pros and cons of each and see which one suits your use case better before you make a decision.