Upcoming Royal Enfield bikes in India (3)

autocar.india

•10h

From our first experience with the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 750, it seems like it has all the fundamentals in place to be a comfortable and quick long-distance touring machine. Make sure you get a test ride once the twin-cylinder Himalayan is launched in India so that you can gauge for yourself how the bike fares for you. Like with every other new platform, our advice would be to wait at least 6 months to a year for the machine to prove itself before investing your money in it.

autocar.india

•1d

The Harley-Davidson X440 seems like the bike most well-suited to your requirements, amongst all the options you have shortlisted. It has an approachable seat height, comfortable ergonomics, good suspension comfort, a torquey and smooth motor as well as a super light clutch to make life easy in the city. It isn't much lighter than the Scram but owing to its roadster form factor and smaller front wheel, it definitely feels easier to manage. Some things to bear in mind before you plunge into X440 ownership are that its front fork can bottom out over larger bumps (a very unpleasant sensation) and Hero's aftersales experience - particularly for Premia products like the X440 - is still far from ideal. The Scram 440 is a machine that could be slightly more physically demanding to ride but overall it offers a similiar experience with a torque-rich motor, good suspension and comfy ergos. If you don't want to deal with a hit-or-miss ownership experience, Royal Enfield's aftersales and service reputation is far better than Hero's.

autocar.india

•1d

It would be unfair to directly compare a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 to a TVS Ntorq 125 so we'll list out what each vehicle is good at and where it will struggle. The Meteor 350 is a textbook small-capacity cruiser which will be easy to use thanks to its chaming and torquey engine, light clutch action and pretty comfortable rear suspension. If you are of short stature, then its 765mm perch will prove welcoming too. The downsides here are that thanks to its seating position, all big road imperfections will filter through to your spine and it is also a rather heavy bike with what can be best described as unhurried performance. At almost the polar opposite of the spectrum is the Ntorq 125 which balances practicality and rider engagement rather well. It is quite comfy for a scooter, has an extensive feature set and its underseat storage is pretty decent too. It will struggle over big road undulations and by virtue of its form factor, stability at higher speeds isn't its strong point. You should also factor in that the Meteor's price is well over Rs. 2 lakh on-road, whereas the Ntorq will cost you just above one lakh rupees. According to your usage and budget, we'd recommend you choose your next vehicle.

autocar.india

•1w

A first motorcycle purchase is a big milestone in life, and it seems like you're not sure which style of bike to go for, so we'll give you a vast list of options to choose from.Since you said you've always wanted a Harley-Davidson, we'd advise you to try the X440 T out. This is a comfortable, characterful and capable motorcycle, and if you're not interested in outright top speed, it will be a good option. In a similar vein, if you want something in the neo-retro space, the Royal Enfield 350s are a lovely option and hard to ignore.If you want something with a little bit of pep in its step, then the 350cc Triumph 400s like the Speed, Scrambler, Tracker, etc. are really nice bikes (although if you don't have a dealer in your city, it wouldn't be advisable to buy them). The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is another really nice bike and packs in serious performance so if you do get it, have your wits about you when you whack open the throttle. The RE Himalayan 450 is a completely different proposition to all of the aforementioned bikes and is a jack-of-all-trades sort of bike. Unless you're really going to venture off-road or do long rides, it may not be the right tool for you - as a first-time buyer. Something lighter, nimbler and more straightforward is a better bet.If you don't want to spend more than Rs 2-2.50 lakh on your first bike, then something simple like a Bajaj Pulsar N250SS, Dominar 400 (350cc), TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and similiar bikes will keep you happy until you're ready to move up too. A test ride will be key to determining, first, what sort of bike you are after and second, whether you want to spend its asking price or not. Happy trails!

autocar.india

•1w

The Bajaj Pulsar N250SS is a budget-friendly, capable, and comfortable motorcycle that is likely to be a good fit for your needs. You should also look at the TVS Ronin and Royal Enfield Hunter 350, as well as the base Battalion Black Bullet 350. These neo-retro bikes place more emphasis on engine character and comfort, and all of them should be around the Rs 2 lakh mark (on-road). Take test rides of all and see which one suits your riding style and stature best before you make a decision.