Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 variants

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While the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 may wear dual-purpose tyres, its hardly the ideal machine to take off-roading. Sure, it can tackle a gravelly rough road or a hard-packed trail but beyond that, it will feel out of its element. Think of the Guerrilla as a roadster that doesn't shy away from bad roads when you encounter them but you shouldn't actively go out seeking them. On the flip side, it is going to be fun to ride on the highway and inside the city with its torquey engine and sporty chassis - especially the Apex variant with its more committed riding position and grippier Vredestein Centauro ST tyres. On the other hand, the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X will be more of a jack of all trades sort of bike and will be a great deal more capable off-road. Things to keep in mind here: this Triumph bike has a tall 835mm seat height (a significant 55mm more than the Guerrilla) and its downsized 349cc engine will feel much mellower in comparison to the Guerrilla's punchy 452cc single. While the Scrambler is a decent handling road bike, it cannot match the sportier Guerrilla's handling characteristics and if you spend your time predominantly on the road, the Royal Enfield bike is definitely the better choice. You need to decide whether you're actually going to venture off-road on a routine basis as well as considering the performance they have to offer and then, take a call between these two machines. To help make a decision, a test ride of both would be advisable.

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Since you have said you want to start riding long distances in addition to your daily commutes, buying a machine with good performance for highway rides would be a smart move. Therefore, we'd recommend choosing between the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, TVS Apache RTX 300 and 350cc KTM 390 Adventure. The Guerrilla 450 and Speed 400 will offer you a traditional roadster experience wherein they are easy to manage 'standard' bikes with good performance and comfort to handle your needs. If you plan to do a lot of solo riding, these bikes make good sense. If, instead, you want space for a pillion and luggage, and the ability to simply shrug off bad roads without giving it a second thought, then the RTX and 390 Adventure are the way to go. The KTM will offer more performance and is the machine that has been around much longer but the RTX is the better rounded product of the two. In the city, these ADVs can feel a little big and cumbersome, especially at slower speeds although in time you would get used to it. They also have big windscreens which will block cooling air coming to the rider, another hindrance in our climate. Lastly, the Scrambler 400 X is a jack of all trades sort of machine wherein it is good fun to ride it both in a spirited and laidback fashion, as your mood changes and it will give you a similiar amount of comfort and space to the ADVs but will lack the weather protection. Coming to why your palms were hurting, all of these bikes have very upright riding postures so it's unlikely to have anything to do with the rider's triangle. If you are to grip the handlebar tightly and stay like that for an extended duration, you will experience this. On your next ride, pay special attention to this. Based on your needs, it would be wise to pick between the Scrambler, Speed and Guerrilla, depending on which one fits your budget and personal case the best.

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While the Harley-Davidson X440 T and Royal Enfield Guerrilla are comparable in terms of displacement and price, both are actually very different animals. The X440 T has a long-stroke, air/oil-cooled, torque-rich thumper which really encourages brisk cruising more than attacking corners. The H-D is also the more laidback and comfortable machine, which will be a valuable USP over rough, patchy roads. If ridden gently on the highway, you could see a fuel economy number in the 27-30kpl ballpark. On the other hand, the Guerrilla is a sporty street naked which will delight you with its punchy performance, agility and surefooted handling. Sure, it may not be as comfortable as the X440 T, but in isolation, it is a comfortable enough machine. If you ride sensibly, the Guerrilla can also give you close to 30kpl on the highway, which is pretty decent considering its displacement and performance on offer. Another option you should consider is the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 / Scrambler 400 duo, depending on what sort of look you want and whether or not you can manage the Scrambler's tall 835mm seat height. The Triumphs will sit between the X440 T and Guerrilla in terms of performance and are comfortable machines for longer journeys. Take test rides of all bikes listed to ensure you make an informed decision.

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•6w

Since you have said you want comfort, we'd recommend you rule out the KTM 390 Duke. The Duke can be usable on a day-to-day basis, but it is a stiffly sprung and sporty machine that's also rather cramped for taller folks and especially coming from the Meteor, could prove too uncomfortable.The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a good choice, which will balance performance and comfort, although there will be a short adjustment period for you before you completely gel with it. We'd recommend going for the Apex variant, which comes with grippier Vredestein rubber that is better than the standard variant's CEAT shoes.The KTM 390 Adventure is a great bike for long-distance travelling, and if that is going to be the main reason behind your purchase, then it makes sense. However, inside the city, it can feel a little too buzzy, and its fuel economy isn't great either. Do bear in mind that KTMs comes with stiff seats and you will either have to adapt to it or get it fixed in the aftermarket.Since you are already considering the 390 Adventure, it would make sense to also look at the Himalayan 450. This is the more rounded of the two machines in our experience, and its ride comfort is unparalleled at this price point. Its size and weight will take some getting used to, but if you are okay with it, then this is a machine definitely worth considering.Take test rides of all before you go ahead with your purchase, so you make an informed decision.

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The 349cc Triumph Tracker 400 is a lighter and less powerful machine, which will make it easier to ride and get on with in daily use. Since you are a college student who will primarily use it in the city, these are factors that will play in the Tracker's favour as will its higher fuel economy owing to its smaller engine. Coming to its tail section, there's not much you can do officially. The Tracker and Thruxton use a simpler, rectangular tail lamp, unlike the other Bajaj-made Triumphs which have a rather neat-looking, flush-fitting and ornately designed tail light. Its unlikely that this unit can be fit onto the Tracker / Thruxton without significant reworking of the bodywork and the electricals. Our advice is that if you want a road-focused 350cc Triumph with a good-looking tail lamp, opt for the Speed 400 instead of the Tracker. The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 may make the same power but its larger, 452cc engine makes significantly more torque which will translate to a very different riding experience than the Tracker. It also has the more sporty chassis, which should make it fun in the twisties. The Guerrilla's tyres are wider than the Tracker so the Triumph will tip in quicker than the Royal Enfield, but of the two, its the Guerrilla which has the edge in terms of sportiness. To our eyes, the Guerrilla's slick round TFT dash is better-looking and has more features than the simple digi-analogue dash of the 350cc Triumphs. To see which one is the better fit for your use case, we'd advise a thorough test ride of both before you make a decision.