Royal Enfield bikes in India (17)

autocar.india

•1d

Since you have had a long and drama-free stint with your Shine, the logical next step to make would be the Honda Unicorn. For your use case, which is mostly inside the city with short weekend leisure rides, the Unicorn makes for a good fit. It will offer a noticeable step up in performance and comfort compared to the Shine with only a small drop-off in fuel economy. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is lovely if you want a relaxed bike with new-age reliability and old-school feel, but since you have mentioned you are on the slimmer side of the spectrum, its weight could be a problem at slower speeds and its fuel economy will also be noticeably lower.If your landlord and the building you reside in, don't have a problem with you installing a charging solution at home, you can consider electric scooters like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2. If not, stick with a petrol-powered bike for now.To decide between the Unicorn and Bullet, we'd recommend a test ride of both since they are very different machines.

autocar.india

•1d

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 you have shortlisted would be the best machine within your budget for your use case. It has a charming, torque-rich engine with a heart-tugging soundtrack, a low seat height and pretty decent comfort (for a cruiser). You could also look at the Goan Classic 350, which has very distinctive styling and bright colours with similar strengths to the Meteor, like a low seat and a comfortable (ish) ride. We'd advise sticking with the RE 350s and not stepping up to the 650cc models because the bigger ones, which a shorter person like you will consider, aren't very comfortable and also they are quite heavy.Take test rides of both the Meteor and the Goan Classic before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•2d

The TVS Apache RTX 300 may be in the same price and displacement bracket as the RE Meteor 350 and Honda CB350C but it is a completely different sort of bike. It has a more powerful, rev-happy, liquid-cooled engine, better suspension and seating comfort and sportier handling than the two laidback neo-retro machines you've shortlisted. On the other hand, the air-cooled 350s will have a more torque-rich and laidback riding experience. While these bikes will be slower, they're sure to have more of an emotional connect with you. Since these are such drastically different machines, only a test ride will help you decide which is the best one for you.

autocar.india

•4d

Thank you for your appreciation. We will continue to keep putting out content that resonates with the public at large.Coming to your query, it will be the Royal Enfield Classic 350, which will be the better machine than the Meteor for your usage, and it all comes down to how you sit on the bike. On the Classic, you're sitting higher and in a more upright position with your knees at an almost 90-degree bend going down to your feet. This is the sort of riding position that distributes weight evenly across your joints, which, over bad roads and on longer journeys, will feel more comfortable overall. Whereas, on the Meteor, most of your body weight is on your tailbone owing to the position of the footpegs and handlebars. This means that over road imperfections, most of the shock will be transmitted to your spine, which isn't a pleasant feeling.Take test rides of both to see if you resonate with what we are saying, and then go ahead with your purchase.

autocar.india

•4d

There are no plans to discontinue the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 anytime soon so you can wait as long as you'd like before purchasing it. In fact, toward the end of the calendar year, both the Continental GT and Interceptor are likely to be updated in a comprehensive way. Expect more features, better braking and suspension hardware and some new colours and cosmetic touches as well.

autocar.india

•1w

Honestly, both bikes are great at their job and will suit your needs well, but they offer very different experiences. The Hunter 350 is a very different Royal Enfield from what we've seen before, but carries some signature strengths like plush ride quality, a characterful and torquey engine, as well as great curb appeal and good finish levels. Plus, when you buy a RE, you get access to a brand which has built a very good community and ownership experience in terms of events and rides, which is something few brands in India offer you today.Do bear in mind that the Hunter is a heavy machine, and this is just something you will have to work around. It's not as heavy as other Royal Enfields, but it is a good 20 kilos heavier than the TVS Ronin.Coming to the Ronin, this is a lighter, more agile and eager-feeling machine than the Hunter. It isn't overtly sporty and will be comfortable for daily use. The Ronin's lighter weight and smaller engine also translate to better fuel economy in general. The TVS is also the more affordable machine to purchase, and the price difference isn't insignificant. If you are on a tight budget, this is something to consider.Both bikes have a very different feel despite being similar on paper, and to make an informed decision before your next purchase, take a test ride of both.

autocar.india

•6d

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.

autocar.india

•1w

An ADV is the logical recommendation usually for your query, and we'd normally recommend options like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, KTM 390 Adventure and TVS Apache RTX 300. These bikes will fit your criteria quite nicely and offer you similar performance to your R3.However, since you have said you are on the shorter side and you want something more manageable for your stature, the only option you have realistically is the 350cc Bajaj Dominar 400. The Dominar has a low 800mm seat height, and while it weighs as much or more than the aforementioned options, since it is a lower bike, you'll be able to manage it better. Do bear in mind that the Dominar is a much simpler, older and more affordable machine than the three ADVs mentioned above, and you will feel that. To assess whether or not the Dominar should be your next bike, take your preferred pillion along with you on a test ride of all the options listed above. Then, depending on what you feel, go ahead with the bike that suits you guys best.

autocar.india

•1w

Since you're innately familiar with Royal Enfield ownership, upgrading to the Himalayan 450 seems like a safe bet. The Himalayan's suspension can iron out pretty much any road imperfection you encounter and its performance will be a big step up over the Hunter you own too. The only caveat with going for the Himalayan is that it is a tall and heavy bike, and these attributes will make their presence felt at slower speeds inside the city. If you want slightly higher performance levels on a lighter machine, then the KTM 390 Adventure models (whether you opt for 350cc or 399cc iterations is up to the budget you have) are worth considering. The KTM bikes have great handling, punchy top-end performance and come with features like adjustable suspension, traction control and a bidirectional quick shifter - depending on the variant. In your Rs. 7 lakh budget, you can also get the BMW F 450 GS, although depending on your city's taxation structure, you may need to stretch your budget a little if you are eyeing the top Trophy variant. The new entry-level GS is a competent machine and will be a step up in refinement from the single-cylinder machines mentioned above and it is also lighter than them. You will, however, need to be prepared for higher running and maintenance costs expected of a machine wearing the BMW badge. Take test rides of these machines to decide which one works best for you before you make your next purchase. If none of these options seem enticing, you could also retrofit the latest-gen Hunter's suspension to your older model which will bring some much needed relief in terms of ride quality. Do bear in mind that this swap will likely void your warranty and we'd recommend reaching out to your nearest dealership for more clarity on the same.

autocar.india

•1w

Both the bikes you have shortlisted are similar on paper and in terms of their laidback, relaxed riding experience. Picking between the two will boil down to factors like fuel economy, styling and pricing. The TVS Ronin's oddball styling will be more polarising than the clean styling of the Royal Enfield Hunter, although the Ronin is lighter and has slightly better ride and handling than the Hunter. It also managed to be a little more fuel efficient than the Hunter in our tests, although fuel economy varies greatly depending on your riding style. Finally, the Ronin is also quite a bit more affordable than the Hunter, with the top-end variants of both differing by as much as Rs 20,000 when it comes to ex-showroom pricing. Of course, deciding on which one purely on these factors wouldn't be fair to either and if you want to make an informed decision, take exhaustive test rides of both before you go ahead with your purchase. The Hunter is a very different sort of Royal Enfield with some core strengths like a characterful, torquey engine and good comfort. The Ronin's trump cards are that it can handle very well and is the more economical of the two to purchase and run.