Triumph Speed 400

autocar.india

•2w

Since you found the KTM 39O Duke too aggressive and the 350cc Triumph Speed / Tracker models a little bland, a good alternative to these is the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. The engine of this Royal Enfield bike has a potent mid-range, its handling is quite engaging, and the ownership experience is likely to be pleasant as well.Take a test ride and see if you gel with the Guerrilla.

autocar.india

•2w

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.

autocar.india

•4w

Since you already have a RE Classic 350 at home, we'd recommend you remove the Meteor 350 and Harley-Davidson X440 from your shortlist because these bikes will feel quite similar to your Classic. The 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 will offer a more engaging riding experience with more performance and features on tap, and are the ones we'd advise you to choose between. Of the two, the Triumph bike has the more mellow nature, but it will still feel like a good step up from your Classic in terms of performance and handling. The Guerrilla, on the other hand, is quite excitable and of the two, this is definitely the more fun machine. Its suspension is a little taut, which enables it to have very engaging handling, but over bad roads, you will feel a little more of the road surface coming through to your back. The RE also has a crisper, more tech-laden TFT display, whereas the Triumph uses a simple digi-analogue unit.Take a test ride of both before you make your decision, since they are quite different to ride.

autocar.india

•6w

Since this is going to be your first bike, should you want to play it safe, going with the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 will be our recommendation. It has a low seat, unintimidating power delivery, plush suspension and is easy to manage in the city. You also have an affinity to the brand so going with the characterful Hunter should be quite satisfying in the long run. However, on the flip side, since you have said you can extend your budget to Rs 2.75 lakh, you should definitely consider the 350cc Triumph Speed 400. The Speed is definitely a more capable and exciting machine than the Hunter and over time, will give you more headroom to grow as a rider. Do bear in mind that the Speed doesn't have as much character as the Hunter and feels more like an appliance in the long run - although depending on what your approach towards your motorcycle is, that may or may not be a bad thing. The best way to decide between these two would be to take a test ride before you make your decision. If you want to split the difference between the Hunter and Speed 400, the Speed T4 is an excellent option with middle-of-the-road performance between these two bikes.

autocar.india

•10w

There's no doubt that of the two 350cc Triumph bikes, the Scrambler 400 X will be better at tackling bad roads than its road-biased sibling, the Speed 400. However, the Speed is actually a remarkably comfortable roadster which can easily handle bad roads as long as you don't go charging through them like you would on an ADV. Given your shorter stature and the Scrambler's intimidating 835mm perch, if you're not confident on that bike, then the Speed 400 is definitely a worthwhile option for your needs. Take a test ride and pay attention to the effort needed when moving the Scrambler around at slower speeds and if you're okay with the seat height or not. Another pertinent point is that the Speed 400 comes with sintered brake pads which are definitely better than the Scrambler's quick-wearing organic pads when it comes to braking performance. This will be another factor that tilts the scales in the Speed's favour. Nonetheless, take a test ride of both and then choose whichever one you gel with the most fluidly. Rest assured, the Speed's sintered brake pads can be optioned on the Scrambler.