Royal Enfield Himalayan Mileage

Hi Autocar India, I’m planning to buy my first proper motorcycle and I’d really like your recommendation based on my overall riding style rather than just a comparison between two bikes. I’m based in Hyderabad and my maximum budget is around Rs. 3-3.5 lakh on-road. My regular usage would be around 20-30 km a day in the city for roughly 20 days a month, but I also want to go for regular highway rides and occasional 300-600 km trips. I’m interested in doing longer rides such as Ladakh, although I’m not looking for hardcore off-roading. My priorities are strong acceleration and good pickup and therefore, I don’t want a bike that feels underpowered while overtaking or riding with a pillion/luggage. I want a bike that is comfortable for highway cruising at around 90-120 km/h with good stability and comfort for long-distance. The bike should offer reasonable mileage and manageable running costs. I am looking for bike that can handle both city riding and touring without being too tiring. Reliability and good service support are also important because I plan to keep the bike for several years. I’m okay with a heavier motorcycle if the weight is manageable while moving. I’m open to singles or twins and even 300-600cc if the bike genuinely suits my requirements. Styling is also important to me. I don’t particularly want the most common KTM/Duke-type motorcycle on the road. I like motorcycles with a distinctive, mature or premium character. I’m increasingly interested in cruisers and bobbers as well such as the Honda Rebel 300, Harley-Davidson X440, Dominar 400, etc. but I’m not fixed on a cruiser. I also like bikes such as the V-Strom and sport-tourers, so I’m genuinely open to different categories. I’ve considered bikes such as the Dominar 400, V-Strom 250, Himalayan 450, X440, Apache RR 310, Ninja 300, Rebel 300 and some KTM Adventure models. I’m finding it difficult because every bike has a different compromise. I’d therefore like your honest expert recommendation: if you were choosing one motorcycle for my exact usage, budget, riding style and long-term plans, which bikes would you shortlist and why? Please consider performance, highway cruising, comfort, touring ability, city usability, reliability, mileage, service/ownership costs and whether the bike will still feel satisfying after a few years. Also, if you think I’m approaching the purchase from the wrong category entirely, please tell me that and suggest what type of motorcycle I should actually be looking at. I’m not simply looking for the bike with the biggest engine or the highest specifications but I want the motorcycle that makes the most sense for the way I will actually ride.

Hi, I live in Bangalore and am looking to buy a new motorcycle under 3 lakh (on-road) and would really appreciate your suggestions. I am planning to primarily use this bike for daily commuting, weekend rides, and occasional long-distance touring or adventure trips. My wife and I are both around 5'10" tall, and pillion comfort is a high priority. Since I occasionally experience back pain, a comfortable riding posture and good suspension are very important. Also, good mileage is another major deciding factor. I'm looking for a bike that offers a good balance of comfort (for both rider and pillion), reliability, fuel economy, touring capability and ability to handle occasional bad roads or light adventure riding. I'm open to any brand and would love to hear your recommendations based on personal experience. If you've owned or ridden any bike that fits these requirements, please share your thoughts, along with any pros and cons. Thanks in advance!

I am upgrading from a Royal Enfield Scram 411. My top priority is reliability and near-zero day-to-day niggles. My budget is around ₹4.7 lakh (on-road). What I disliked about the Scram was the recurring cone-set or steering-head bearing issues and the related front-end feel and maintenance. My use case includes: Daily city commuting Weekend highway runs Occasional bad roads and touring I prefer something that can do it all without requiring constant attention. I am considering KTM, but I am wary of being too electronics-dependent, such as sensor or ECU-related failures and issues with ride-by-wire, traction control, or quickshifters, since reliability is my number one filter. Which bikes in this budget have the strongest real-world reliability record over the years and kilometres, with minimal repeat issues? If you have owned or maintained these bikes, what typically fails and at what mileage? What would you shortlist if the goal is to buy once, ride daily, tour hard, and not have to constantly babysit the bike? Bikes I am already considering include the Kawasaki Versys 300, Suzuki V-Strom SX 250, Honda NX200 and CB350, KTM Adventure 390 X, TVS RTX 300, and Royal Enfield Bear 650.

I currently own a 2009 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and am looking to upgrade. I am unsure about the Super Meteor 650 due to its stiff suspension, low mileage and my past experience with Royal Enfield. I frequently ride with a pillion on long journeys across rural India and value comfort and value for money. All Royal Enfield options don’t entice me, but if you suggest one, I can think of it. I prefer a cruiser stance, but the Kawasaki Eliminator feels too low for me. I am 5’10”. Please advise.