I’m confused between the Honda CB350 H’ness and the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. I liked the refined engine and comfortable riding position of the CB350, while I liked the Hunter’s looks, lightweight nature, and ease of manoeuvring. My daily travel is around 40 km, mostly in traffic, with speeds rarely crossing 80 kmph. I plan to use the bike primarily for daily commuting. Which one should I go for? Also, would using an inclined handlebar riser on the Hunter 350 improve its riding comfort?

autocar.india

•6d

For a first-time driver who is not very confident, the Nissan Magnite CVT and Renault Kiger CVT are the most natural fits, while the Honda Elevate CVT remains a good choice if the extra size is manageable. The Magnite and Kiger are compact, have light steering, good all-round visibility, around 205mm ground clearance and 360-degree cameras, making them particularly easy to place in tight traffic and parking spaces. The CVTs are also smooth and predictable, which is useful for a new driver. The Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT is another good option, and its IVT is essentially a CVT in operation, but the Seltos is larger and therefore not quite as unintimidating as the Magnite or Kiger. The Honda Elevate CVT has several advantages for a new driver, particularly its good bonnet visibility, upright driving position, 220mm ground clearance, light and predictable CVT and 5.2m turning circle. Its 4.3m length, however, will make tight parking slightly more challenging than in the Magnite or Kiger. The current Elevate's lack of a factory 360-degree camera is also a drawback, although the upcoming Elevate facelift is expected to get a 360-degree camera, which would make it a considerably better match for this requirement. An EV can be even easier in traffic because there is no gear changing and the response is very smooth, so the Punch EV is worth considering if home charging is available.

Nissan Magnite

Renault Kiger

Honda Elevate (2023-2026)

Tata Punch EV

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•20h

Given your stature and the fact that you're coming from a Ronin, we'd recommend you choose between the 350cc KTM 390 Duke and the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 you've shortlisted. While both bikes have similar peak power outputs and pricing, they're poles apart to ride, so make sure you get a test ride before you go ahead with your purchase. The 390 Duke has sublime handling, great features and its 349cc engine loves chasing the redline but in day-to-day usage it feels like the machine that needs to be worked harder. Its suspension is also quite stiff (not harsh but definitely not plush) and there are quite a few vibes from the engine at almost all touch points no matter the revs you're at. If you don't care about refinement or comfort too much, and want all-out sporting thrills at a reasonable budget, then the 350cc Duke is something you should consider. If instead, you want your next purchase to be a bit more rounded to balance both usability and performance, then the RE Guerrilla 450 should be on your radar. The Guerrilla's 452cc engine's torquey nature makes it far more effortless to ride both in the city and on the highway, and its chassis is set up well for brisk road riding. It also has a lower 780mm perch (compared to the KTM's 800mm one) and its suspension is also set up to deal with road imperfections better. Ofcourse, it lacks the outright speed, handling, as well as the finessed electronics of the KTM, but for some people, this will actually be a plus point. Like we said at the outset, these are two very different bikes, so before making your decision, ensure you take a thorough test ride.

autocar.india

•3d

An updated Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 has been on the cards for quite some time, and yes, twin front disc brakes are quite likely to be part of the package. This setup has been spotted on quite a few test mules in the past and should likely improve the Inty's stopping performance - something that has been a point of contention for owners for many years now. RE is likely to focus its energies on the upcoming Himalayan 750, which is due to be launched at its MotoVerse festival, after which we could perhaps see this updated Interceptor launched.