KTM 250 Duke

The KTM 250 Duke you are considering makes for a great one-bike garage to handle city and highway duties both. It has a punchy - yet not overwhelming - amount of grunt, engaging handling and will also return good fuel economy. 

Coming to the Triumph Speed T4, depending on how you ride, you should see decent fuel economy even inside city traffic. Since the bike is made by Bajaj, it shouldn't be too expensive to maintain. The advantage of the Speed T4 over the Duke will be its more effortless performance and more comfortable seating and suspension. 

And since you are shopping in this space, the TVS Apache RTR 310 is also worth taking a look at. The RTR 310 is a feature-rich machine with good performance and handling. Also, we will recommend you get the variant with the quickshifter as it is still priced sensibly, and this feature will enhance the riding experience. 

Since these are different machines in the riding experience they deliver, we'd recommend a test ride of all three before you decide. 

The TVS Apache RTR 310 will be a good step up from your current Apache RTR 180. The RTR 310 is a sporty machine with good performance and handling, which doesn't feel overly stiff or uncompromising and makes for a good all-rounder. 

As you have pointed out, there have been sporadic issues with TVS' aftersales. But if you are prepared to deal with them - and it does seem like your heart is set on the Apache - then you can go ahead with the RTR 310.

If you are open to looking at other brands, the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, Triumph Speed 400 and KTM 250 Duke all make for genuinely capable alternatives, with the Bajaj and Triumph also offering you quite a bit more performance. 

We would urge you to take a test ride and speak to your nearest dealer for aftersales of each bike so you can make a more informed decision. 

Each bike you are looking at offers a very different user experience, so we'll list each bike's pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. 

The Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 is a KTM 250 Duke that is wearing a neo-retro suit and as such will be comfortable, engaging yet not overwhelming to ride and return good fuel economy too. The downside is that finding a dealer could prove to be an issue depending on where you're located. 

The Honda CB350RS is the slowest bike among the four you've shortlisted, but it is a proven machine offering comfort, good fuel economy and the promise of reliability in the long run. 

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is the fastest, most powerful bike here and will feel the most lively to ride thanks to its punchy engine and eager handling. Its sporty - read: stiff - suspension setup may not be to everyone's tastes, however. 

Lastly, the Bajaj Dominar 400 is the oldest bike here, and also the heaviest, but it packs in a powerful KTM-sourced engine and for highway touring will feel the most adept. However, its heavy weight will mean more effort inside the city.

We'd recommend you take a thorough test ride of all these bikes before you make up your mind. 

The new TVS Apache RTX 300 weighs nearly as much as your previous Dominar and is much taller than it, so if you are a shorter person, it may not be the best fit for you. It does have a wide handlebar and can make tight U-turns quite easily once you get used to its size, but that is a very subjective issue. 

Coming to the Apache RTR 310, that is a lighter and crucially, lower bike, and what we mean by that is that its centre of gravity is much lower, as is its seat height. This means that inside the city, it will be much more manageable, especially when making U-turns. Some other comparable bikes in this class are the KTM 250 Duke and the Triumph Speed 400, both have similiar performance and fuel economy to the Apache and are worth considering. 

If you aren't going to venture beyond 90kph on the highway and are primarily going to use the bike inside city limits, the Honda CB300F is a credible option to consider. It is a simpler and slower offering than the aforementioned bikes but has a very accessible 789mm seat height and a lithe 153kg kerb weight, which should make it very approachable. 

A test ride of these bikes will help you decide which is the best option for you. 

Since most of your usage is inside the city, bikes like the Hero Xpulse 210, Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic / Hunter 350, Honda CB350 trio and the TVS Ronin will make for good options to consider depending on your preference. 

If you do want something a touch sportier but not very rambunctious, then the KTM 250 Duke also makes for a great companion. 

A test ride of everything you decide to shortlist will help you make a decision.