I currently own a 2009 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and am looking to upgrade. I am unsure about the Super Meteor 650 due to its stiff suspension, low mileage and my past experience with Royal Enfield. I frequently ride with a pillion on long journeys across rural India and value comfort and value for money. All Royal Enfield options don’t entice me, but if you suggest one, I can think of it. I prefer a cruiser stance, but the Kawasaki Eliminator feels too low for me. I am 5’10”. Please advise.

•34w

Considering you ride a lot with a pillion and in rural areas, where roads can suddenly disappear without warning, an adventure bike will suit your needs better than a cruiser. Under the Rs 3 lakh mark, you have the very capable TVS Apache RTX 300, and if you are willing to stretch your budget to Rs 4 lakh, then the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and KTM 390 Adventure X are our recommendations.

If, however, you are determined to stick to a roadster/cruiser, then your best bets would be the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 and the Honda CB350 trio. These bikes will be available under Rs 3 lakh (on-road).

Take a test ride of these bikes with a pillion onboard to understand which one serves you best.

Explore bikes mentioned

TVS

Apache RTX

from ₹2.31 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Himalayan

from ₹3.55 Lakh

KTM

390 Adventure X

from ₹3.98 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Classic 350

from ₹2.17 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Bullet 350

from ₹1.92 Lakh

More posts on similar bikes

•1w

I’m 38 years old and 5'6" tall. I’ve been riding a Honda Shine 125 for about a decade and now want to upgrade to a bigger bike. I really like the Triumph Speed 400, but I’ve heard that its maintenance costs can be high. I’m also considering the Bajaj Dominar 400, Pulsar NS200, and Royal Enfield Classic 350. Please help me choose the right bike based on my requirements. I’m also open to other suggestions. I plan to keep the bike for at least 8 years, so long-term reliability and maintenance costs are important to me.

•3d

Since you are going to keep your next purchase for a long time and are coming from a Shine, we'd advise you to consider with the Royal Enfield Classic 350. The Classic is a simple, fuss-free motorcycle which should be easy and inexpensive to maintain. This Royal Enfield bike will also offer you a step up in terms of comfort, features and road presence from your Shine although, expectedly, its fuel efficiency will be lower owing to its larger engine. If you want something sportier, then consider the KTM 250 Duke. The quarter-litre Duke has approachable yet exciting performance and will allow you to grow into it as time passes. This KTM bike has great handling, cool tech like a colour TFT display and bidirectional quickshifter and its zingy engine can also be rather fuel efficient with sensible riding. These are two starkly different machines and depending on your preferences, pick between them. A test ride of both should help you decide which one is right for you.

Royal Enfield Classic 350

KTM 250 Duke

•19h

Switched my daily commute from the car to a scooter six months ago just to beat traffic, and honestly haven't looked back even once during peak hours.

•1w

I am thinking of getting a new bike after using a TVS Sport 100cc for almost 15 years. I have been interested in sports bikes since childhood, and now that I am settled, I am thinking of getting one. Earlier, I was considering the Kawasaki Ninja 300, but its price has recently increased while offering minimal features and high maintenance costs. For some time, I also considered the Ultraviolette F77, but I am still sceptical about its long-term reliability. The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 has always been on my mind, and I recently visited its showroom. I really like the colours of the SF 150 more than those of the 250, but I also don't want to miss out on the thrill of the 250. I am particularly interested in the SF 250 FFV variant, but it is available in only two colours, neither of which I find very appealing. I really like one of the colours offered on the SF 150, but it isn't available on the 250. I also came across the Suzuki GSX-8R, and it was love at first sight. Now I am wondering if Suzuki could launch a similar bike in the coming months. I am very confused. What should I do?

•2d

The Suzuki Gixxer models (both 150 and 250) are due to get a generation change soon and therefore, buying one of them right now would not be our recommendation. If you want something in a similar displacement and price bracket, then the Bajaj Pulsar N250 would be the closest match.The Hero Xtreme 250R is also a well-priced alternative that rides well and unlocks a whole new spectrum of performance, although Premia dealerships are quite few and far between currently.

Bajaj Pulsar N250

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 250R

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