Hello, I need guidance on buying a new bike for myself. I’m 5.7ft tall, and my main use will be city riding and highways, with occasional weekend bike trips. After doing quite a bit of research, I’ve shortlisted: • Honda CB350 H’ness • TVS RTX 300 (Base Model) • Triumph Speed 400 • Triumph Speed T4 I’m looking for something that’s comfortable for daily use but can also handle long rides and rough roads when needed. Right now I’m seriously confused Which one would you recommend and why?

autocar.india

•4h

We'd recommend you choose between the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, if you have a budget that stretches in the ballpark of Rs 3 lakh. Both the Speed and Guerrilla are good upgrades but have very different riding experiences so a test ride is in order to see which one you gravitate towards. The Speed is lighter, nimbler and has the more polished, refined experience overall. Meanwhile, the Guerrilla is our ranks quite high in terms of bang for buck in the affordable performance game. Its torquey 452cc motor makes for effortless brisk riding and its chassis is well-suited to riding in a sporty fashion when the road turns squiggly. If you instead want a more cost-effective option, look at the KTM 250 Duke. The quarter-liter Duke is a bike that promises sublime handling, an engine that is reasonably punchy without sacrificing usability or fuel efficiency and a good amount of tech.

autocar.india

•2h

Of the two, the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X is surely the more capable machine in most scenarios but if you like the Honda CB350RS more, you should definitely go for the Honda. Especially, since you are only going to use it for your daily commute. The CB is likely to be more fuel efficient than the Scrambler, especially inside the city, although fuel economy is something that's quite variable and depends on your riding style, prevailing traffic and weather conditions as well as a myriad of other factors. There is also the fact that the Honda is much more affordable than the Triumph, and if you're mainly going to be using it in the city, then the added premium that the Scrambler commands may not feel justified, as you will rarely explore the full breadth of its capabilities.

autocar.india

•2h

Since you already have a Shine currently, stepping up to a Honda Unicorn / SP160 seems like a no-brainer, given that you are innately aware of the Honda ownership experience and you mainly plan to use it for commuting. If you want more feature-rich and sporty offerings, then the Bajaj Pulsar N160 SS and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V should be considered. These bikes promise more performance and tech while still being friendly and comfortable daily commuters. A test ride should help you decide which is the best one for your needs.