Royal Enfield bikes in India (15)

Between the Honda H'ness CB350 and the Triumph Scrambler 400 X, we would steer you toward the Triumph bike purely because it offers you significantly higher performance for not that much more money. The Scrambler is also a smooth, comfortable do-it-all motorcycle which has good passenger accommodations as well. The H'ness is also comfortable for two-up riding and is a good city bike, but it will not be able to match the Triumph's performance advantage. 

We would advise you not to go for the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 because it is a rather heavy bike at 240kg, which will not be the best fit on traffic-riddled city roads. Moreover, its stiff rear suspension will be the bigger reason to look elsewhere. If you want a RE 650, we would recommend taking a look at the Royal Enfield Interceptor, as that has more pliant suspension and is also much lighter. 

Of the three options you have shortlisted, all are practical and comfortable options which will serve you well. Since pillion comfort is a priority, try to go for a bike/variant which has a single seat. Also, take your preferred pillion with you for a two-up test ride on all the machines. This will help you gauge each bike's strengths and weaknesses for yourself. 

You should also consider the Bajaj Pulsar N160 in the same category for its smooth engine, plush suspension and comfortable seating position. 

If you are open to extending your budget by a little bit, you can also opt for the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which will give you a different riding experience than these commuters but will simultaneously also be a comfortable machine.

If you want to stick to the cruiser format, we would recommend the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (seat height: 765mm) and the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 (seat height: 750mm). 

Do bear in mind that these bikes - while fairly low - weigh close to 200kg, so you will need some time to adjust to their weights. If you're open to another form factor - more specifically, a sporty-looking street naked - we would steer you toward the Honda CB300F. 

That's because with its light 153kg weight and approachable 789mm seat height, it will be a very manageable bike. 

Take a test ride of everything you shortlist before making the final decision. 

Considering your use case, we would advise choosing between the TVS Apache RTX 300 and the Hero Xpulse 210. The RTX is an adventure bike, which will make it great on the road, while the Xpulse is a dualsport, which will be more capable during serious off-roading. 

If you want a more road-biased machine, then the Honda CB350 H'ness (or either of its siblings), the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 and the TVS Ronin would make for a good option. 

Take a test ride of these machines to help decide which one is best for you. 

Both the Honda H'ness CB350 and the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are great step-up options from your current Honda Shine 125 and will be able to handle bad roads reasonably well. 

However, if you want something that can tackle bad roads without breaking a sweat, the Hero Xpulse 210 is our recommendation. 

A new bike will come with a warranty, and you will be the first one to break it in, so the peace of mind of buying a new machine is not to be discounted. 

If you are looking at older bikes that are 4-5 years old or more, then you will also need to budget for a comprehensive service and perhaps some replacement cycle parts like tyres and brakes. 

While the KTM 390 Duke is a great option, you could also look at the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 since you've already owned a bike from the same brand.