Royal Enfield Bullet 350

Autocar India

•9h

Since you've said you prefer cruisers and commute in heavy traffic, of the three bikes you've shortlisted, the Honda CB350 will fit your usage the best. With its low seat, light clutch action and surefooted yet easy handling demeanour, the CB350 makes for a wonderful city companion. Its engine is smooth and torquey, and when ridden sensibly, it returns very impressive fuel economy for a 350cc machine. Plus, seating comfort for both rider and pillion is also quite nice, although if you carry a pillion frequently, it would be prudent to invest in a backrest - it should be a relatively inexpensive option to purchase.The Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 is a beautiful motorcycle, but to achieve its gorgeous form, there are some functional compromises. It is by no means a horribly uncomfortable machine, but in comparison to its more conventional siblings - Classic and Bullet 350 - it is surely a step down. Pillion accommodations, too, are mediocre at best, and the main draw here is its unique design. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is the odd one out here and will feel very different to the other bikes you've shortlisted. It has a modern, liquid-cooled engine making substantially more peak output and a 6-speed gearbox. Outright comfort will be another strong point on the RTX, and this is likely to be the most comfortable machine of the lot, owing to its form factor. We'd recommend a test ride of all these bikes before you make a decision, and you should also decide what sort of bike you want before you do so.

Autocar India

•3d

Since your usage is mostly going to be inside the city, we'd advise choosing between the Honda CB350RS and 350cc Triumph Speed 400. Both bikes have smooth, torque-focused engines, light clutch action, manageable seat heights and good weight management, which should make them easy to use in the city. Out on the highway, both feel quite unstressed as long as you keep the speeds between 100-110kph at the most in top gear. The Speed 400 will feel more sprightly than the CB350RS owing to its higher output and lower weight but the Honda's engine has a little more character than the Triumph's.The Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 is a gorgeous and eye-catching bobber but comfort and highway capabilities aren't exactly its strong suits. If you do want an option from the 350cc Royal Enfield lineup, we'd recommend taking a look at the Bullet / Classic because these bikes are excellent at city duties and if you don't mind carrying a sedate pace on the highway, they'll do the job just fine. These options are very different from one another, so we'd advise you to take proper test rides of each to see which one suits you best before you pull the trigger on your next purchase.

Autocar India

•1w

If you want the highest level of comfort in this price bracket, there are primarily two options to look at - the Hero MotoCorp Xpulse 210 and the Royal Enfield Bullet 350. The Xpulse will, of course, have the better ride quality of the two with its long travel suspension, but it's actually the Bullet which has the better rider's triangle and seat comfort. There are other factors at play here, too. The Xpulse is taller but lighter, while the Bullet has a lower seat but weighs nearly 200 kilos.A test ride of both will help you decide which is the best option between these two for you.

Autocar India

•3w

Since you liked the Bullet 350 on your test ride, sticking with it for your next purchase would be a good idea. Inside the city, this Royal Enfield bike will return better fuel economy and will be easier to manage than the Himalayan 450, although the latter is unquestionably a more capable motorcycle. Coming to the Himalayan, this machine has a greater spread of abilities than the Bullet but there are trade-offs. Its size and heft may get tiring after a while, especially in staccato city traffic. And like you pointed out, the warmth from its radiator is also noticeable. However, we'd advise you to not write off the Himalayan because of some warm air. Ask yourself if you're willing to put up with this one trait to gain spades of comfort, capability and performance because the Himalayan genuinely has a lot to offer. Since you're browsing through the RE stable already, the Scram 440 is another machine that deserves your attention. It has more performance than the Bullet and its suspension is compliant too, making it a good city companion. Should you want to browse through the catalogue of other brands, Honda's CB350 is an excellent city bike too. With its smooth engine, light clutch action and comfortable seating position, the air-cooled CB makes for a good commuting partner too. A test ride of the Scram and CB350 would be our recommendation so you can make a more informed decision. Also, take another test ride of the Himalayan and pay deliberate attention to the heat you're feeling in traffic before you rule it out.

Autocar India

•3w

In the relaxed neo-retro space, you've already ridden the TVS Ronin and the Honda CB350 H'ness, that are two of the best bikes available in the class. We would also recommend you look at the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 because these bikes still remain the benchmark in the class, in our opinion. Especially since you've mentioned you're a heavier person and carry a pillion regularly. The Classic and Bullet both have lovely seating comfort, sorted suspension and neutral ergonomics. Pair that to a torque-rich engine and lovely fit and finish and you have a concoction that's hard to top - unless you're looking for more performance, that is. In that case, the 350cc Triumph Speed T4 makes a good case for itself although do bear in mind, it isn't as large a machine as the Honda bike or Royal Enfield 350s and could feel cramped for a larger rider as well as pillion. If you're open to considering ADVs, the Hero Xpulse 210 makes a compelling case for itself and will offer you more comfort and fuel economy than any of the machines listed above. Take a test ride of these bikes and compare them with your notes of previous test rides to see which one you like best before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•3w

From the options you've shortlisted, the Hero Xpulse 210 will be the most comfortable as well as the most fuel-efficient. Its long travel suspension can gobble up pretty much anything our roads will throw your way while keeping you comfortable.However, if you want a neo-retro machine that's easier on your eyes but don't want to sacrifice comfort, then the Honda CB350 models and the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 are your best bets. These 350s are spacious and offer good ride comfort, which helps on Mumbai’s notoriously bumpy roads.A test ride will help you decide which is the right fit for you.

Autocar India

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Depending on your riding style, there are multiple different options to choose from in the segment you're looking at. If you're looking for a quick and sporty machine, then the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, KTM 390 Duke and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 make good sense because they have energetic performance as well as good comfort (the KTM bike will be a little less comfy than the Triumph bike in this one regard, but will have more performance). On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you prefer to ride in an unhurried fashion, then look no further than the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350, Honda CB350 models and Triumph Speed T4. These bikes have great comfort and should also be reliable in the long run.If you want something that prioritizes comfort and utility over all else, then an adventure bike is the way to go. You have the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, TVS Apache RTX 300 and KTM 390 Adventure models (with both 350cc and 399cc motors, depending on your needs and budgetary restrictions) in this class. In our opinion, as an all-rounder, nothing can match the versatility of the Himalayan and if you're comfortable with its size, this is definitely an option worth considering. As always, first decide what form factor appeals to you the most and will suit your usage best and then accordingly take test rides based on that before making your decision.

Autocar India

•5w

The Honda CB350 H'ness and Triumph Speed T4 offer similar riding experience with their relaxed engines and upright ergonomics, although the T4 will be quicker owing to its more powerful engine. The Speed 400 is a cut above in terms of performance and handling but it doesn't really come at the expense of comfort. You should take a test ride of these three before you choose so you can figure out which one is best for you.Additionally, we'd also recommend you look at the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 because these bikes are very comfortable, offer upright riding positions and a plush suspension setup. Yes, these are heavier and slower than the aforementioned bikes but for city use, the 350cc Royal Enfields are something that fit the bill perfectly and as you've put it, won't feel "boring" after a longer period as long as you don't demand frenetic performance.

Autocar India

•5d

Since you will spend an overarching amount of time inside the city, your best bet would be to look at either the Honda CB350 models and the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet/ Hunter 350. These are relaxed, comfortable and proven machines which will be great for patchy city roads and out on the highway - as long as you're keeping the speeds under the three-digit threshold - they will be unstressed.If you want a bit more performance without sacrificing comfort the Triumph Speed 400, Tracker 400 and Scrambler 400 models are what you should look at. With their recently downsized - 350cc, liquid-cooled engines, they offer significantly more performance and are lighter than the Honda and RE models listed above which should mean a more energetic demeanor out on open roads. Take a test ride of these machines to see which one you gel with the best before you make a decision.

Autocar India

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Since you haven't specified a budget, it's hard to give you an exact recommendation, but we'll give you a wide variety of options to choose from, catering to different price points. Under the Rs 2 lakh mark, something like a Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350, any of the Honda CB350 models, TVS Ronin, as well as the Honda CB300F will be available. These bikes can handle long highway rides, provided you're comfortable with maintaining speeds below 100kph.If you can stretch to Rs 3 lakh, then options like the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, TVS Apache RTR / RR 310 and previous-gen KTM 390 Duke and Adventure models are available. These bikes give you the ability to cruise around 100-120kph owing to their more powerful engines. However, the single-cylinder TVS and KTM models won't be able to match the smoothness of the twin-cylinder Royal Enfield. Do bear in mind that since you want a vehicle with low maintainance, it would be advisable to go for a machine with a documented service history and one that has its cycle parts (brakes, tyres, fluids) in good condition, so you don't need to incur additional expenses.