Royal Enfield Classic 350 Heritage Classic

Autocar India

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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

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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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From a logical point of view, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 makes sense for your use case, which is primarily in the city. The Classic is a lighter machine and will be easier to manage in the city. In your case, it will also be a largely familiar machine since you're coming from an older Classic 350, and there won't be too much of a learning curve. Plus, in comparison to the Interceptor 650, you'll also get better fuel economy from the Classic.On the flip side, the Interceptor will be a far better machine for highway riding, and its twin-cylinder engine gives it a different character. If you're looking for a change of pace from your Classic, the Interceptor could be the perfect step up because, despite its added power and weight, it is still an approachable machine. The one thing you need to be mindful of on the Interceptor inside the city is its wide exhaust pipes, which will stick out in traffic.A test ride will reveal whether you should go for the Interceptor or the Classic.

Autocar India

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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

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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.

Autocar India

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Since your usage skews more towards slower city riding than faster highway trips, going with a Royal Enfield 350 would be our recommendation. However, the Meteor isn't at the top of that list. We've found the Hunter / Classic / Bullet to be more comfortable primarily because of their more upright and neutral riding triangles. With its laidback cruiser ergonomics and low seat, which puts more weight on your tailbone, the Meteor will feel a little stiffer than its aforementioned siblings over bad patches of road. The Himalayan will also make for a decent city machine and will be inherently more capable on the highway, but its large size and taller seat height might be deal breakers for you. If this is going to be your only bike to do everything, purely from a capability standpoint, the Himalayan makes more sense.Take a test ride of both to understand the pros and cons of each and see which one suits your use case better before you make a decision.

Autocar India

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Since you have said that you have a lower back issue and that you need a comfortable riding position, we'd recommend looking at bikes like the Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350 instead. The Meteor is a comfortable cruiser, but by virtue of being a cruiser, its feet-forward, relaxed riding position will put more strain on your lower back while going over bad roads. In the Honda 350 lineup, all three machines are very similiar mechanically, and the main differences are in terms of styling, pricing and small feature additions and subtractions. So, we would recommend going with the one you are attracted to the most. A test ride of whatever you shortlist is imperative before you make a decision.

Autocar India

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Between the three bikes you've shortlisted, all three are comfortable for city use, but they all sit at very different price points, and it wouldn't be right to compare the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V with the Honda CB350RS and Triumph Speed 400. If you want a straightforward commuter, then sticking to a machine in the 150-160cc space like the aforementioned Apache, Bajaj Pulsar N160, and Honda Unicorn would make sense. These bikes will be lighter and easier to manage within the city (which is where you'll spend most of your life), as well as be fuel-efficient and comfortable. If instead you do want to look at something more premium, the Honda and Triumph you have shortlisted are also good options. You should also look at the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 in this segment. These bikes will be larger and more spacious than the 150/160cc options mentioned above, with better build quality, road presence and pillion comfort. However, they will demand a little more effort at slow speeds and will also not be as fuel-efficient as the commuters.

Autocar India

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The Suzuki V-Strom SX may be a dated machine, but it is a great option for someone who wants a relaxed, reliable and fuel-efficient touring machine. If you are open to considering other form factors aside from the adventure bike style, there are some other machines that will fit the bill for your usage as well. In the neo-retro space, the TVS Ronin, Honda CB350 models and Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350 will be good options to consider with their relaxed riding triangles, smooth and torquey engines, as well as plush suspension setups. These bikes won't be as fuel-efficient as the V-Strom, but the drop isn't going to be too drastic either. Take a test ride of these bikes before you make a decision.

Autocar India

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The neo-retro segment has different options today to suit varied tastes and requirements. On the traditional end of the spectrum, you have options like the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 and Honda CB350 models. They are laid-back and comfortable machines which are conducive to relaxed riding. On the other hand, if you want something that looks retro but goes like a thoroughly modern machine, the Triumph Speed 400 and Speed T4 come into the picture. The Speed 400 has better componentry, a higher performance ceiling and also costs more. The T4 is a simpler machine, but it still has decent pep in its step, and its engine suits the neo-retro theme more. A test ride of these bikes should help you decide which is the best fit for you.