Honda CB350 H'ness DLX

Autocar India

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Both the Honda CB350 H'ness and Yamaha XSR155 are great everyday machines, but have different characters. The XSR is light, agile and a lively machine to ride with its R15-derived underpinnings. Its motor also returns excellent fuel economy. However, its stiff suspension setup will get tiring if you encounter bad roads daily. The CB350 H'ness is a relaxed neo-retro roadster which is very easy to ride and prioritises comfort over performance. While the H'ness won't be able to match the XSR for fuel economy, it is a reasonably fuel-efficient machine for its displacement. If you ride often with a pillion, then the more spacious Honda makes a better case for itself.Picking between the two will boil down to personal prefrence so we'd recommend a test ride of both to help you make a decision.

Autocar India

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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.

Autocar India

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While the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 that you have shortlisted is a good place to start, we'd actually recommend its retro siblings, the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350. That's because the Meteor's more feet-forward and relaxed - lazier, if you will - riding position will put some stress on your tailbone after a while and more of the road bumps will filter through to your back. Instead, the Bullet and Classic with their neutral, upright ergonomics and spacious seats will be a better fit.In the Honda stable, we'd recommend you choose between the base CB350 and the CB350 H'ness because the CB350RS's seat isn't as spacious as its siblings.A test ride of these bikes with your preferred pillion will help you make an informed decision.

Autocar India

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Among the options you've shortlisted, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Honda CB350 H'ness will be the most comfortable bikes for two-up city riding. Both have spacious and generously padded split seats for both rider and pillion as well as a plush suspension setup, which should aid overall comfort.One thing to bear in mind is that the Honda CB350 H'ness is quite tall geared, which means you'll need to make more downshifts here than on the Classic, more so if the bike is carrying the weight of a passenger. This might result in a little more effort, and it's best you take a test ride of these two with your preferred pillion to see which bike fits you both best.

Autocar India

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Of the four bikes in your shortlist, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 will offer you the most performance as well as the highest levels of long-distance capability and comfort. However, inside the city, it will feel large and a little top-heavy at crawling speeds, and its fuel economy, too, will be lower than the rest owing to its larger motor. The Himalayan 450 is also quite a bit more expensive than the other bikes you are looking at.The Honda CB350 H'ness and Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are comparable neo-retro roadsters. It will be great inside the city, and as long as you are a sedate rider, it should be reasonably comfortable and capable on the highway too. You will have to take a call based on how much time you're going to spend in the city vs out on the highway, and whether your budget permits you to stretch for the Himalayan. If you're okay with handling a big bike in the city, then the Himalayan 450 does make for a fantastic all-rounder. We'd recommend a test ride of these three, nonetheless, so you can decide which one suits you best.

Autocar India

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Both bikes you have considered are good for a beginner rider. The Honda CB350 H'ness will feel like a more spacious and larger machine than the Hunter, which will be a good thing if you are a larger rider. On the flip side, with its smaller size and 17-inch wheels, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 will feel more agile and flickable in city traffic. Do bear in mind that coming from an Activa, both these bikes will feel quite heavy, weighing 181kg.Something that will be similar to a ride but substantially lighter will be the TVS Ronin, which weighs 160kg. We recommend you take a look at the Ronin instead of the two 350s. Even though you are familiar with how to operate a clutch and change gears in a car, on a motorcycle, it is a different ballgame. Do take a test ride of the machines you shortlist before you decide.

Autocar India

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For a newer rider such as yourself, among all the options you have shortlisted, we would recommend you go with the Honda CB350 H'ness. This Honda bike has a neutral rider's triangle, smooth and torquey engine, a light clutch, comfortable suspension and offers decent fuel economy, provided you ride sensibly.If you find the H'ness a little too big, we would recommend you take a look at the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which is a physically smaller bike with a lower seat height, too.A test ride of these two will help you decide which is the better option for you.

Autocar India

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The two options we would recommend you consider are the KTM 390 Adventure X and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Both have an extensive service network across the country and have aftermarket accessories galore available from both OEM and third-party providers. Plus, with their powerful, liquid-cooled engines, they will deliver more performance than your Honda CB350 H’ness, which will be helpful on your long tours.Do bear in mind that the Himalayan weighs more than the 390 Adventure X, and its size may be a dealbreaker if you are a shorter or less confident rider. We'd urge you to take a test ride of both and see which one fits your needs better.

Autocar India

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Since you already own a Unicorn, stepping up to the Honda CB350RS is a logical move. The CB350RS is a reasonably comfortable machine with a smooth engine and should offer you more riding comfort and enjoyment than your Unicorn. That being said, it is worth checking out its siblings - the base CB350 and the CB350 H'ness - because all three, while mechanically very similar, have different riding positions and price points. We would recommend getting the one that you find the most comfortable on account of your long daily commute.Other options also worth taking a look at are the TVS Ronin and the Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350. These are comfortable, reasonably fuel-efficient and reliable bikes which will be a good fit for you. A test ride of these will help you figure out which is the best option for you.

Autocar India

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If you want a 650cc bike that can be used daily, the models at the forefront are the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and BSA Gold Star 650. Both have torquey engines - albeit ones that sound and behave very differently - with upright ergonomics making them a good fit for daily usage. Do bear in mind that both bikes are much heavier than your current Honda CB350 H'ness and will demand some caution before you get used to their size and heft.If you want something a little more unique, then the Kawasaki Z650 or Z650RS makes for genuinely usable big bikes. While their prices are more than double those of the Royal Enfield and BSA, they really are hassle-free, punchy, well-built machines that will serve you well for a long time.One thing to note with the Kawasaki 650s is that they have low ground clearance, which could be a factor that influences your purchase if your city doesn't have good roads.