I’m currently riding a 2013 Honda Trigger and planning to upgrade to a new bike, mainly for daily city commuting to the office. I want something with good suspension, decent mileage, and enough power to overtake and filter through traffic easily. I am also confused between the 150 cc segment and the 350 cc segment - some 350 cc bikes look great but seem to lack quick pickup in the city or require frequent gear shifts. Which segment and specific models would be best for my needs?

Autocar India

•1w

Since you're upgrading from a Ronin, we'd recommend you take a look at the Harley-Davidson X440. It has a similiar riding position, a smooth, torquey engine, and neo-retro looks as well. The 440cc motor is a refined unit and can easily cruise between 100-120kph without breaking a sweat. If you want something a little sportier, then machines like the KTM 390 Duke, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 and TVS Apache RTR 310 are worth considering. These bikes have the performance to cruise at 120kph and more, but neither is particularly refined. A test ride of these is imperative so you can make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•1w

The KTM 390 Enduro R is one of the most fun machines you can buy in its category today, but it comes with some compromises. You need to be okay with its tall 890mm seat height, 177kg kerb weight and tubed tyres. Coming to your questions, firstly, the 390 Enduro R is actually quite nice on the road. Day-to-day riding will become quite enjoyable, not to mention rather fast because of its tough, long-travel suspension and commanding ergonomics. You'll only need to be mindful of punctures and the lower tank range. If this is to be your only bike, then the Enduro might not be the most practical or user-friendly option. Taking it off-road might prove to be too much for a beginner, especially so if you find its seat height intimidating. An adventure bike like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 or KTM 390 Adventure X will undoubtedly be more practical, capable and user-friendly on the road but will feel a little larger off it. Ultimately, it all boils down to two things. First, can you live with the seat height (both on and off the road) and second, are you willing to live with the compromises the Enduro comes with over its Adventure sibling?If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then you should go ahead with your purchase. Only an exhaustive test ride will help you figure out whether the Enduro will be the right fit for you.

Autocar India

•5w

Since you're looking at just a small upsize in your tyre sizes, you can go ahead and replace the tyres of your Jupiter with 100-section units from the stock 90-section ones. It will help give you more sure-footed handling as well as a slight improvement in ride quality. The flip side to this change will be that wider tyres will increase rolling resistance, which is going to have a small but noticeable negative impact on fuel efficiency. Another point to bear in mind is that the scooter's steering will feel heavier in general, but especially at slower speeds.