Autocar India
•12w

I own a Harley X440, which is a beautiful bike but falls short on some areas such as braking performance, tyre grip and front suspension performance. I want to keep the bike while adding another bike to my garage, which will have a distinct character from the Harley and offer better performance in the areas where the Harley falls short. What can be my options in the budget of ₹5L?

Verified
•12w

Since you already have a relaxed bike in the garage with your X440, we'd recommend you look at something sporty - specifically, the KTM 390 Duke R and Aprilia Tuono 457. The 390 Duke R is a proven product, and if you want a thrilling machine with good cycle parts, it doesn't get much better than the 390 at this price point. Of course, you'll have to deal with some amount of vibrations and the fact that the Duke is quite a cramped machine for taller riders. 

The Tuono 457 offers a more polished riding experience thanks to its twin-cylinder engine, which is one of the biggest reasons to buy one. It is smooth at almost any rpms, makes a great sound and has plenty of punch almost everywhere. Its handling is also sublime, but it does come at the cost of a stiff ride over broken roads. There's also the fact that the Aprilia 457cc engine doesn't have a stellar reputation for reliability, and the company's sales and service network is quite small. Aprilia's service is also expensive and not always friction-free. 

The Duke is definitely the safer buy of the two, although if your nearest Aprilia dealer can give you some reassurances on the ownership front, the Tuono 457 is a machine that will keep you happy for a long time to come. 

Harley Davidson X440

Harley Davidson X440

More posts on similar bikes

•2d

I have loved manual-transmission cars since childhood. I grew up watching people drive manual cars, and my love for cars and driving has only grown over the years. However, people keep telling me that driving a manual car in heavy city traffic can be difficult and tiring. I genuinely enjoy driving and feel that a manual car gives me a more engaging driving experience. So, what should I do? Should I accept the realities of heavy city traffic and buy an automatic, or should I follow my heart, buy a manual sedan and accept the inconvenience of driving a manual in heavy traffic? I am currently considering the Skoda Slavia 1.0 MT. Does it make sense to choose the manual given my love for driving, or would an automatic be more practical for city use?

Verified
•1d

Have you been driving regularly or are you simply fascinated by the concept of owning a manual sedan? If it is the latter, we'll recommend you to rent any self-driven manual car for a week, and replicate your daily usage with. If you're comfortable driving the manual car in traffic, then go ahead and get the car you've been longing for. A self-drive rental might seem a bit expensive but it'll help you get clarity of which transmission you should pick for the long term.The Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI MT is a good choice, but since you have a Rs 20-30 lakh budget for a sedan, we'd suggest you consider the Hyundai Verna 1.5 Turbo 6MT instead. The Verna's 1.5 Turbo engine is much more powerful, gearbox is smoother, and clutch is lighter than the Skoda's.

VehicleSkoda Slavia
VehicleHyundai Verna

Popular discussions right now

Posted on: 24 Jun 2026