Royal Enfield bikes in India (16)

Autocar India

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From a logical point of view, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 makes sense for your use case, which is primarily in the city. The Classic is a lighter machine and will be easier to manage in the city. In your case, it will also be a largely familiar machine since you're coming from an older Classic 350, and there won't be too much of a learning curve. Plus, in comparison to the Interceptor 650, you'll also get better fuel economy from the Classic.On the flip side, the Interceptor will be a far better machine for highway riding, and its twin-cylinder engine gives it a different character. If you're looking for a change of pace from your Classic, the Interceptor could be the perfect step up because, despite its added power and weight, it is still an approachable machine. The one thing you need to be mindful of on the Interceptor inside the city is its wide exhaust pipes, which will stick out in traffic.A test ride will reveal whether you should go for the Interceptor or the Classic.

Autocar India

•4d

The Honda CB350 H'ness and Triumph Speed T4 offer similar riding experience with their relaxed engines and upright ergonomics, although the T4 will be quicker owing to its more powerful engine. The Speed 400 is a cut above in terms of performance and handling but it doesn't really come at the expense of comfort. You should take a test ride of these three before you choose so you can figure out which one is best for you.Additionally, we'd also recommend you look at the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 because these bikes are very comfortable, offer upright riding positions and a plush suspension setup. Yes, these are heavier and slower than the aforementioned bikes but for city use, the 350cc Royal Enfields are something that fit the bill perfectly and as you've put it, won't feel "boring" after a longer period as long as you don't demand frenetic performance.

Autocar India

•3d

Whether or not any motorcycle is the right choice for you is something we cannot decide for you. You should take a comprehensive test ride and weigh its pros and cons as well as see its fitness for purpose before you make your decision.Royal Enfield, like other manufacturers, periodically introduces new colours for its offerings, and it could do so for the Classic 650, although a timeline for this isn't known. Lastly, the tubeless spoke wheels for the Classic 650 have been a major ask from both the mainstream media as well as paying customers. Royal Enfield usually listens and acts proactively on this feedback, but as of now, the company hasn't officially commented on when these wheels will be fitted to the bigger Classic.

Autocar India

•2w

Since you're upgrading from a Ronin, we'd recommend you take a look at the Harley-Davidson X440. It has a similiar riding position, a smooth, torquey engine, and neo-retro looks as well. The 440cc motor is a refined unit and can easily cruise between 100-120kph without breaking a sweat. If you want something a little sportier, then machines like the KTM 390 Duke, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 and TVS Apache RTR 310 are worth considering. These bikes have the performance to cruise at 120kph and more, but neither is particularly refined. A test ride of these is imperative so you can make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•2w

Since you haven't specified a budget, it's hard to give you an exact recommendation, but we'll give you a wide variety of options to choose from, catering to different price points. Under the Rs 2 lakh mark, something like a Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350, any of the Honda CB350 models, TVS Ronin, as well as the Honda CB300F will be available. These bikes can handle long highway rides, provided you're comfortable with maintaining speeds below 100kph.If you can stretch to Rs 3 lakh, then options like the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, TVS Apache RTR / RR 310 and previous-gen KTM 390 Duke and Adventure models are available. These bikes give you the ability to cruise around 100-120kph owing to their more powerful engines. However, the single-cylinder TVS and KTM models won't be able to match the smoothness of the twin-cylinder Royal Enfield. Do bear in mind that since you want a vehicle with low maintainance, it would be advisable to go for a machine with a documented service history and one that has its cycle parts (brakes, tyres, fluids) in good condition, so you don't need to incur additional expenses.

Autocar India

•2w

The Bajaj Avenger is a tried and tested product, and it still remains a good VFM cruiser in the entry-level class. However, if you are willing to stretch your budget a little more, modern and well-rounded offerings like TVS Ronin and the base Royal Enfield Bullet 350 will become available. These are comfortable and refined machines which will provide a more well-rounded riding experience than the Avenger. Even though your usage is limited, buying a new bike makes sense if you intend to keep it for a longer time because it will come with the peace of mind of the manufacturer's warranty. Take a test ride of these two before you decide.

Autocar India

•2w

The KTM 390 Enduro R is one of the most fun machines you can buy in its category today, but it comes with some compromises. You need to be okay with its tall 890mm seat height, 177kg kerb weight and tubed tyres. Coming to your questions, firstly, the 390 Enduro R is actually quite nice on the road. Day-to-day riding will become quite enjoyable, not to mention rather fast because of its tough, long-travel suspension and commanding ergonomics. You'll only need to be mindful of punctures and the lower tank range. If this is to be your only bike, then the Enduro might not be the most practical or user-friendly option. Taking it off-road might prove to be too much for a beginner, especially so if you find its seat height intimidating. An adventure bike like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 or KTM 390 Adventure X will undoubtedly be more practical, capable and user-friendly on the road but will feel a little larger off it. Ultimately, it all boils down to two things. First, can you live with the seat height (both on and off the road) and second, are you willing to live with the compromises the Enduro comes with over its Adventure sibling?If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then you should go ahead with your purchase. Only an exhaustive test ride will help you figure out whether the Enduro will be the right fit for you.

Autocar India

•3w

Since your usage skews more towards slower city riding than faster highway trips, going with a Royal Enfield 350 would be our recommendation. However, the Meteor isn't at the top of that list. We've found the Hunter / Classic / Bullet to be more comfortable primarily because of their more upright and neutral riding triangles. With its laidback cruiser ergonomics and low seat, which puts more weight on your tailbone, the Meteor will feel a little stiffer than its aforementioned siblings over bad patches of road. The Himalayan will also make for a decent city machine and will be inherently more capable on the highway, but its large size and taller seat height might be deal breakers for you. If this is going to be your only bike to do everything, purely from a capability standpoint, the Himalayan makes more sense.Take a test ride of both to understand the pros and cons of each and see which one suits your use case better before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•4w

In terms of familiarity, the Harley Davidson X440 will be the logical next step up for you from your Thunderbird 350. With its neutral ergonomics, plush suspension and torquey air/oil-cooled engine, the X440 T will serve your use case well. If you want something with a bit more performance and more commanding ergonomics, then the Triumph Scrambler 400 XC is what you should consider. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 will easily be the most comfortable for two-up riding of the bikes you've shortlisted, but its heavy kerb weight could be hard to manage, especially with a pillion onboard in stacatto big-city traffic. We'd recommend you steer clear of the Super Meteor 650 because its laidback riding position and stiff rear shocks will cause you discomfort over bad roads. Take a test ride of the other three with your pillion to see which one you find comfortable before you make your purchase.

Autocar India

•5w

Since you have said that you have a lower back issue and that you need a comfortable riding position, we'd recommend looking at bikes like the Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350 instead. The Meteor is a comfortable cruiser, but by virtue of being a cruiser, its feet-forward, relaxed riding position will put more strain on your lower back while going over bad roads. In the Honda 350 lineup, all three machines are very similiar mechanically, and the main differences are in terms of styling, pricing and small feature additions and subtractions. So, we would recommend going with the one you are attracted to the most. A test ride of whatever you shortlist is imperative before you make a decision.