Autocar India
40w

Hello, Autocar. I am considering purchasing a new bike, and my shortlisted options are the RE Shotgun 650, Bear 650, Himalayan and Classic 650. My daily usage is not much, just a 5km commute to the office and back. I primarily want good suspension and design. Please share your advice. If there is any other model you would recommend, please mention it.

Verified
39w
Of the three Royal Enfield 650s you have shortlisted, none of them has particularly comfortable rear suspension, especially so in the city. The Himalayan 450 would be the logical choice between the four you have considered but if you want something a little more manageable and nimble inside the city, you can look at its sibling - the Guerrilla 450.
If you want something that will stand out and look good, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is a unique option that you can consider. Underneath its svelte, Swedish bodywork are the KTM 390 Duke chassis and engine, so you should have a supremely talented bike that will also be uncommon.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

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2d

Hello Autocar team, I am from Pune, and my father is looking for a bike for his daily office commute of around 50km (25km one way). His requirements are a comfortable seating position, decent fuel efficiency, good after-sales service and long-term reliability, and a low seat height, as he is 5 ft 5 in tall. He was initially considering the TVS Ronin base variant, but after reading about some after-sales issues, he is looking at other options as well. Since we already have a Hunter 350, he is considering the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Honda CB350RS. However, he is confused between the two, as the Meteor 350 is around 10kg heavier than the Hunter 350, while the CB350RS has a taller seat height. Could you please suggest which would be the better choice considering his usage and requirements? He is also considering an EV scooter, so suggestions for suitable options in that category would be helpful as well.

Verified
5h

While the Royal Enfield Meteor 350's low seat height is surely welcoming, owing to its feet-forward riding position, you will feel more of the road imperfections you encounter. We'd recommend you instead look at the Bullet / Classic from RE's stable, as these bikes have more upright, natural riding triangles which will be useful over the long daily commute your father faces. The Honda CB350s offer a similar riding experience but are lighter and easier to manage. Given that your daily commute is quite long and likely to involve bad patches too, a motorcycle would be the more comfortable alternative to a scooter. However, if you must have an electric scooter, choose from proven options like the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta / Konarc and Vida VX2.

Royal Enfield Meteor 350
Ather Konarc
Ather Rizta
Bajaj Chetak
Vida VX2
Royal Enfield Classic 350
Royal Enfield Bullet 350

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Posted on: 6 Dec 2025