Royal Enfield Classic 350

autocar.india

•1d

Moving up from a Pulsar 150, you should check out the 350cc Bajaj Dominar 400, which will feel more substantial and comfortable, not to mention head and shoulders above when it comes to performance. Since your ride has a lot of highway stretches, a machine that can cruise comfortably at higher speeds while keeping you comfortable will be a good bet.If you want to look at the adventure bike space, consider the Hero Xpulse 210 and TVS Apache RTX 300. The Xpulse is lighter, which will make it easier to manage at slower speeds, and its smaller engine will also be more fuel efficient. On the other hand, the RTX has a more powerful engine capable of delivering more performance and its seating comfort is better than the Xpulse. Do bear in mind that both of these are tall bikes and will require some skill to manage if you're a shorter person.If, instead, you want a neo-retro machine, then consider proven options like the Honda CB350 models and Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350. These are relaxed and comfortable machines with torquey engines, which will be suitable for long commutes. When ridden sensibly, they also return good fuel economy. These bikes are all very different from one another, and to accurately gauge which is the best one for you, take a test ride of all before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•2d

Since you have mentioned that comfort is your top priority, and you also have a rather long daily commute, going for a motorcycle would be our recommendation. We'd recommend you look at options like the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 and Honda CB350 models, because these are spacious, comfortable machines with approachable seat heights and torquey, smooth engines. While in terms of overall performance, these bikes will be quite evenly matched, the RE 350s have better low and mid-range torque, which will make city riding more pleasurable than on the Hondas, which are hamstrung by their tall gearing, necessitating more gear changes. That being said, the Hondas are much lighter and also come with tubeless tyres and alloy wheels as standard, as well as a slip/assist clutch, which makes life a whole lot easier. To decide between these models, take a test ride before you go ahead with your purchase.

autocar.india

•3d

Since you have mentioned you've ridden the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 in the past and you are buying this bike to fulfill a dream, we'd recommend the Bullet itself. It is a comfortable machine with a characterful and smooth engine and will fit within your budget too. If you want brighter colours and a slightly more different look, then look at its sibling, the Classic 350. If you want something that won't be as commonplace as either of these aforementioned bikes but still want a machine that can be used daily, their offbeat sibling, the Goan Classic 350 is the right bike for you. It has a lower seat height than both the Classic and Bullet which will make it easier for a person with a shorter frame like yours to manage around town, which is where you're going to be spending most of your time. Take test rides of the Goan and the Bullet and then make your decision based on which one you like more.

autocar.india

•1w

For your use case, we would recommend looking at the Honda CB350 models, Royal Enfield Bullet/Classic 350, and Triumph Speed T4. All of these 350cc machines set a high bar for comfort, but the Bullet and Classic will definitely have a small edge here. When it comes to fuel economy, the CB350s and Speed T4 will likely be more efficient than the heavier Royal Enfield bikes, although mileage varies greatly depending on a multitude of factors. Finally, when it comes to long-term peaceful ownership, it's likely that the Hondas will be the easiest to live with, although maintenance costs for all three will be pretty comparable.These three options are also very different in terms of their riding experience, and to accurately gauge which one will be best for you, we'd recommend a test ride of all before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•1w

Since you have the budget that permits you to venture into the 300-400cc category if you so wish, you can look at the Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350, any of the Honda CB350 models and even the 350cc Triumph 400 models like the Speed T4 and Speed 400. These bikes are premium machines with larger engines than normal commuters, which means fuel economy will range between 30-40kpl most likely, although mileage can vary quite widely depending on multiple factors. If you want to prioritise fuel economy and instead settle for something more frugal, like a 160cc commuter will be our recommendation. Options like the Bajaj Pulsar N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Honda Unicorn / SP160 are our picks in this class. The Apache and Pulsar are more powerful and feature-rich machines, while the Unicorn and SP160 are straightforward, no-nonsense commuters. Make sure to decide which segment you want to shop in and then take a test ride of all the options in that class before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•3w

Thank you for your appreciation. We will continue to keep putting out content that resonates with the public at large.Coming to your query, it will be the Royal Enfield Classic 350, which will be the better machine than the Meteor for your usage, and it all comes down to how you sit on the bike. On the Classic, you're sitting higher and in a more upright position with your knees at an almost 90-degree bend going down to your feet. This is the sort of riding position that distributes weight evenly across your joints, which, over bad roads and on longer journeys, will feel more comfortable overall. Whereas, on the Meteor, most of your body weight is on your tailbone owing to the position of the footpegs and handlebars. This means that over road imperfections, most of the shock will be transmitted to your spine, which isn't a pleasant feeling.Take test rides of both to see if you resonate with what we are saying, and then go ahead with your purchase.

autocar.india

•5w

Since you already own a Classic, upgrading to the latest one will be the safer bet for you. All the strong points are carried forward in the latest-gen Royal Enfield Classic 350, without many of the shortcomings it had previously.The Honda CB350 H'ness is similiar in many ways when it comes to engine character and power delivery, but it is a lighter, nimbler machine, and its clutch action is also much more effortless. The H'ness' tall gearing doesn't really suit the relaxed nature of the engine, but it does help in extracting better fuel economy and feeling less stressed on the highway.To decide between the two, we'd recommend a thorough test ride of both. No matter which one you choose ultimately, you're unlikely to go wrong because both are accomplished, proven machines in their own right.

autocar.india

•5w

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

•9w

Both the machines you've shortlisted are great ones for commuting within Mumbai but have different characters. The Royal Enfield Classic 350's smooth thumper is known for its low-end torque and encourages you to ride in a relaxed fashion. Its seating posture and suspension comfort both are excellent at keeping the rider shielded from road imperfections and should be good enough for you. We'd also recommend you take a look at the Honda CB350 models if you want a similiar riding experience with a little less weight and clutch effort. If instead, you want a quicker and more modern-feeling machine, then the TVS Apache RTX 300 is a great option to consider. The RTX has a tractable engine but its smaller motor cannot be lugged around in higher gears like the Classic's engine can. However, the Apache has a much higher performance ceiling and a lot of electronic features (including a bidirectional quickshifter, from the Top variant onwards) if that sounds appealing to you.You should also consider the Hero Xpulse 210 because this bike has lovely suspension and upright, commanding ergonomics - both great attributes to tackle Mumbai's largely subpar roads. The Xpulse will be slower than the RTX but quicker than the air-cooled 350s and you can expect it to be the most fuel efficient of the lot, when ridden sensibly. A test ride of these bikes should help you decide which is the best fit for you.

autocar.india

•9w

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.