Honda bikes in India (29)

The Honda CB350 H'ness is a great retro-looking option for your commuting needs with its upright posture, plush suspension and smooth, torquey engine. It also has light controls (like the clutch and steering), which make it a breeze to ride inside choc-a-bloc city traffic. 

On the other hand, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X (and the upcoming 350 X) both will have more commanding ergonomics, more sophisticated suspension damping and a much higher performance ceiling. Another point to consider is the tall 835mm seat height the Scrambler ships with, which could be a pain point if you're shorter and not familiar enough with taller, heavier machines. 

Coming to your last option, the lightly used 2025 Speed 400 (1,500 km), if the bike is accident‑free with service proof and under warranty, then even this roadster can be a good purchase. It will have similiar performance to the Scrambler but will be a more manageable machine owing to its lower overall height, making it well-suited to city commuting. 

A test ride of these three will help you see for yourself which one you prefer the most. 

For a newer rider of shorter stature, we recommend the TVS Zest 110. With a low 760mm seat height and a light 103kg weight, it is one of the most approachable machines available today. More mainstream options, such as the Honda Activa, TVS Jupiter, and Suzuki Access, are also worth considering in the petrol scooter segment, provided your daughter is comfortable with their slightly heavier weight and taller seats.

In the electric scooter space, take a look at the TVS Orbiter, which is like the Scooty Zest. It also has a low 760mm seat height, which will be friendly for a shorter and newer rider. The Orbiter comes with two battery capacities - 1.8kWh and 3.1kWh - and since your daily running is rather low, it would be advisable to go with the smaller battery pack. Similarly, the new Bajaj Chetak C2501 also has an approachable 763mm perch, and its lithe build will also give your daughter confidence.

A test ride of these is essential to understand which machine your daughter finds easy to get along with. And you'll also need to decide whether you want a petrol-powered scooter or a battery-powered one. 

The Honda Unicorn and SP160 you are considering are mechanically near identical, sharing their engines, chassis and quite a few features. Where they differ is in their styling and riding position, so choosing between these two will come down to your personal preference for which bike you and your pillion find more comfortable. 

The TVS Apache RTR 160 2V is a proven machine, but its older engine can't match the smoothness and refinement that most modern peers in the segment will offer you, and we'd instead suggest you look at the 4V version of the Apache for a better experience. You should also consider the Bajaj Pulsar N160, as that is another competent machine in this class and comes with a single-piece seat on some of its variants, which will meet your comfort requirements nicely. 

All of the aforementioned bikes have mostly flat and wide single-piece seats, which should be conducive to rider and pillion comfort, and to make an informed decision, we'd recommend a thorough test ride of each with your frequent pillion.

On the test ride, do a 15‑minute two‑up loop; have your pillion check knee bend, seat comfort, and grab‑rail reach. Also, ride over some speed breakers and rough patches to test suspension comfort thoroughly. 

Since you've said that your commute has bad roads, replacing your Jawa 42 with a scooter wouldn't be our recommendation. While they are innately more practical than motorcycles, scooters have their smaller wheels and shorter, thinner suspension units. It won't really enhance your comfort, at least not to a great extent. 

Instead, we would advise you to get a practical 160cc commuter like the Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V or Bajaj Pulsar N160. These are comfortable, fuel-efficient and peppy machines perfectly suited to city use. To make an informed decision before you go ahead with your purchase, ensure to take a test ride of all three to see which one you gel with the best.

If, however, you want to go with a scooter as your next purchase, consider the following options. In the family scooter space, the TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and Suzuki Access would be our top picks. If you want something sportier feeling and looking yet comfortable enough for daily usage, then the TVS Ntorq 125 & 150 are what you should be looking at. 

Again, a test ride of all of these is imperative before you make your decision. Make sure you intentionally go over bad patches of road and make tight, lock-to-lock U-turns to see if the handlebars foul with your knees, since you are a taller rider.

Since your daily running is quite low, you should look at a petrol scooter - preferably brand new, for the peace of mind and the manufacturer's warranty it will come with. We'd recommend looking at the base variants of the Honda Activa 110, Suzuki Acess and TVS Jupiter 110. All scooters will be friendly for a newer rider because of their low kerb weights and approachable seat heights. 

If, however, your budget doesn't permit you to go for a new scooter, then a pre-owned Activa or Access would be our recommendation. The Activa and Access are some of the most popular scooters available, and finding a good example will be fairly straightforward. 

Because of their popularity and widespread service network, sourcing replacement parts should also be quite easy. 

Between the three bikes you've shortlisted, all three are comfortable for city use, but they all sit at very different price points, and it wouldn't be right to compare the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V with the Honda CB350RS and Triumph Speed 400. If you want a straightforward commuter, then sticking to a machine in the 150-160cc space like the aforementioned Apache, Bajaj Pulsar N160, and Honda Unicorn would make sense. 

These bikes will be lighter and easier to manage within the city (which is where you'll spend most of your life), as well as be fuel-efficient and comfortable. 

If instead you do want to look at something more premium, the Honda and Triumph you have shortlisted are also good options. You should also look at the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 in this segment. These bikes will be larger and more spacious than the 150/160cc options mentioned above, with better build quality, road presence and pillion comfort. 

However, they will demand a little more effort at slow speeds and will also not be as fuel-efficient as the commuters. 

In the family scooter space, the TVS Jupiter, Suzuki Access and Honda Activa models are options that are hard to go wrong with. All are proven models with great service coverage and a reputation for being reliable, fuel-efficient and easy to maintain. While it is true that scootersare more prone to skidding than motorcycles due to their smaller wheels. It also varies from rider to rider and also upon the road conditions. If you are worried about this specific problem, Suzuki now sells the Access with ABS on its top two variants, which should address that qualm. 

However, if you prefer the stability and comfort of a motorcycle but want to downsize to something more approachable and urban area-friendly than your 350cc Royal Enfield. We'd recommend you look at the lineup of 125cc commuters from TVS, Hero and Honda before making your decision. 

The Suzuki V-Strom SX may be a dated machine, but it is a great option for someone who wants a relaxed, reliable and fuel-efficient touring machine. 

If you are open to considering other form factors aside from the adventure bike style, there are some other machines that will fit the bill for your usage as well. In the neo-retro space, the TVS Ronin, Honda CB350 models and Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 will be good options to consider with their relaxed riding triangles, smooth and torquey engines, as well as plush suspension setups. 

These bikes won't be as fuel-efficient as the V-Strom, but the drop isn't going to be too drastic either. 

Take a test ride of these bikes before you make a decision. 

The neo-retro segment has different options today to suit varied tastes and requirements. On the traditional end of the spectrum, you have options like the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 and Honda CB350 models. They are laid-back and comfortable machines which are conducive to relaxed riding. 

On the other hand, if you want something that looks retro but goes like a thoroughly modern machine, the Triumph Speed 400 and Speed T4 come into the picture. The Speed 400 has better componentry, a higher performance ceiling and also costs more. The T4 is a simpler machine, but it still has decent pep in its step, and its engine suits the neo-retro theme more. 

A test ride of these bikes should help you decide which is the best fit for you.