[srkriz26]

Confused to choose between Bullet 350 - TVS Ronin - Honda Highness - Yezdi Jawa

I owned a 1989 Model Yamaha RX 100 until 2019. The rush of madness made me sell my Bike and move to a Car. Choose comfort over love. Despite multiple requests from my mechanic not to sell the bike, I sold it. I bought a used i20 in 2019. Have been using scooters for groceries or veggie shopping since then.

Since last year, I have been travelling and working out of Bangalore & Chennai on alternate weeks. Bought a used TVS Radeon for local commutes and that has reignited my love for motorcycles again. I sold one of the 2 scooters in Chennai and decided to buy a new Radeon here too. I liked its dynamics, and seating and there is an indescribable character for a commuter bike.

Slowly, I started looking at used Jawas, Thunderbirds, etc., When the Harley X440 and Triumph Speed were launched, I convinced my Home minister to buy a bigger and better bike once and for all since my usage was minimal. The car would be my main mode of transportation, a weekly commute to the office (40 Km) and the rarest of the rare rides between Bangalore & Chennai.

I have test-ridden the following bikes
1. TVS Ronin (thrice)
2. Royal Enfield Hunter
3. Royal Enfield Scram 411
4. Royal Enfield Bullet 350
5. Yezdi Roadster
6. Jawa 42 2.1
7. Yezdi Scrambler
8. Honda CB350 RS - Used one.

While I know the perfect bike doesn't exist, I still look for it.

My expectations are:
1. Comfort & Convenience. Good Suspension is the first need.
2. Classic retros are my kind. Don't want speed or racing monsters.
3. Hassle-free ownership.
4. Longevity. Want the bike to last for 10 years.
5. Proper service network.

Here are my thoughts after the test rides.

1. TVS Ronin - A very very good bike let down by lack of torque. Technically, the bike is easily the best amongst everything that is listed. USD Forks, Excellent Monoshock Suspension - which is adjustable, great seating position, very good weight distribution, Slipper assist clutch. I couldn't test the top end, but I could feel this would struggle to go beyond 80-85 on highways. Its chain setup is fully covered to protect against mud & dirt to avoid frequent lubrication and wear & tare. And, I miss the heal gear extender.

2. Royal Enfield Hunter - Rode it twice. The bike is nimble and racy compared to Ronin. But, the suspension is crap. Flyover joints tossed me at 60 KMPH. No wonder you see so many bikes on the resale market. Seat was another pain point. Wasn't comfortable even during the short rides. It's a BIIIGGGGG NOOOOO.

3. Royal Enfield Scram 411 - One of the BEST in terms of feel, riding posture, driving dynamics, grunt, etc., I am all good for this bike. The only gripe is the Pillion seating. My wife doesn't like climbing to get seated. So, this would be rejected. Another gripe is the lack of Alloys and Tubeless tyres. When Suzuki can provide Alloys and Tubeless tyres on its V Strom, why can't Royal Enfield?

4. Royal Enfield Bullet 350 - I don't like the classic because it is abundant on the road. This is its twin with slightly modified looks. It is being said that amongst all the 350 CC bikes, the Royal Enfield Classic Reborn is the best. So, I am all good for this. Suspension, Driving triangle, laid back character, enough torque for long drives. But, it will be a pain in traffic given the hard clutch and 195 KG weight. When the Cast Iron bullets of the 2000s n 90s weighed only 160 Kg, why is it so damn heavy despite not even being close to the old generation bullets in terms of character.

5. Yezdi Roadster - Good bike but feels heavier than Bullet. Trust factor is a big question mark. Spare availability is a question mark too. Suspension was hard on the default setup. Had to downshift soon after you released the throttle.

6. Jawa 42 - While I have been a fan of this bike ever since the first version launched, I didn't like it when I rode one. The Handlebar is too flat and I had to bend and reach for it. I have to either use a handlebar riser or modify the seat for better riding. I don't like doing either of them.

7. Yezdi Scrambler - Heavy but better to handle. The suspension was better tuned than Roadster and Jawa. The only bike I was confident to stand on while riding. But, the tubed tyres push me away from it.

8. Honda CB350 RS - Used model - 2021. Too good. Perfect suspension and a super smooth engine. While the downshifts are necessary like Yezdis / Jawas, it wasn't a burden or hurdle. It was so damn smooth to shift and was able to stand on the footpegs even during slow movements in traffic. Highness gets a Heal extender for gear shifts and a relaxed riding position. I prefer that. Unfortunately, I am hearing a lot of bad-mouthing from owners on forums related to Honda's poor servicing, Wobbling issues, Chain Sprocket issues, etc., in less than 2 years. Am concerned a bit about making the purchase.

Looking at all this, Ronin makes perfect sense despite lacking torque for highways. Even the torquier RE and CB35O can cruise only at 100 KMPH on highways in its smooth operation. Ronin, by the feel of it, would drive at 90. But the trade-off is too good compared to others.

While servicing and service quality is poor across brands, product quality is important. There have been reports of faulty speedos on RE and despite selling in volumes Service network could not arrange these on time. RE spares are taking a month is what the users complain about. I have 2 classics in my home and I see that. We have stopped going to RE service centres for better servicing. When issues like wobbling are reported consistently on Highness, how can it be relied on?

I could only curse Suzuki and Yamaha for their lacklustre products. All it needed for Yamaha was to launch a new roadster like XSR in India and they gave us FZ-X. It is nauseous when I see it in the flesh. They have 2 different 150 CC engines. They have the chassis. All that was needed was an attractive fuel tank and side covers. RX100, Bullet and Yezdis are iconic because of their metal tanks.

I am not buying Ronin because TVS could launch something similar with a better engine out of the blue. They have everything in place. Soon after I bought the 2022 Baleno, Maruti launched Fronx. I don't want that to repeat for me.

[davelok]

@srkriz I too was quite keen about the Ronin, but the test ride did not thrill me in any way. I waited for the Xpulse 200T 4v too, but it also ended up being unappealing. I wanted something more like the Scram 411 but with more power and less weight.

That's when the Triumph Speed 400 was launched, and I booked it immediately. It is a great city bike and a good occasional (weekly) highway bike.

You should do a test ride, and if you like the ergonomics, power delivery, and value proposition, it may very well end up being the perfect bike for you.

[Aditya]

Returning to motorbikes | Choosing between Bullet 350, TVS Ronin, Honda Highness and Yezdi-Jawa - Posts moved to a new thread.

[Rajeevraj]

You have mentioned the X440 and the Triumph 400. Did you do rest rides and eliminate these? If not suggest you do a couple of test rides of these latest entrants in the market. For your use case looks like the Speed/Scrambler 400 will be an ideal choice.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by srkriz26

Confused to choose between Bullet 350 - TVS Ronin - Honda Highness - Yezdi Jawa

Originally Posted by srkriz26

My expectations are:
1. Comfort & Convenience. Good Suspension is the first need.
2. Classic retros are my kind. Don't want speed or racing monsters.
3. Hassle-free ownership.
4. Longevity. Want the bike to last for 10 years.
5. Proper service network

Let's see how many points each of these motorcycles scores:

1. TVS Ronin - 1,2,5
2. Royal Enfield Hunter - No is your answer
3. Royal Enfield Scram 411 - You can opt the new 450 instead of this
4. Royal Enfield Bullet 350 - No is your answer
5. Yezdi Roadster - One word: Avoid
6. Jawa 42 - One word: Avoid
7. Yezdi Scrambler - One word: Avoid
8. Honda CB350 RS - Spares are going to be an issue + otherwise meets 1, 2,3 & 4. Cannot add #5 because regular Honda ASC don't service the bikes from Bigwings unless you know them personally. The same can be said about spares as well. So this is good as long as you're able to manage rapport with ASC

There's one motorcycle that you may want to consider: Triumph 400 that will meet 1, 2, 3 & 4. Since you're in Chennai & if you don't intent to ride between Chennai & Bangalore only, #5 may not be an issue.

[DivyanshuDiv]

I returned to motorcycles after a decade and bought a CB350RS this year. My last bike was a Yamaha R15 V2, but this one made me feel comfortable and engaging in no time.

About the bike, it superior than the bikes you quoted, especially when we talk about.
1. Vibration free ride
2. Smooth engine
3. Beautiful looks
4. Best sounding exhaust in the segment
5. You can cruise on 100KMPH all day, it won't get distressed.
6. Honda is offering 10 years warranty to first 10K bigwing customer. I got it for free.
7. It is a very comfortable bike with nicely tuned suspensions.

Jawa/Yezdi - I won't recommend.
RE, you can try. Classic/Bullet has a separate fan base.
Ronin, it is a good bike for the price but then I personally don't like the rear end of it.

[srkriz26]

Originally Posted by DivyanshuDiv

About the bike, it superior than the bikes you quoted, especially when we talk about.
1. Vibration free ride
2. Smooth engine
3. Beautiful looks
4. Best sounding exhaust in the segment
5. You can cruise on 100KMPH all day, it won't get distressed.
6. Honda is offering 10 years warranty to first 10K bigwing customer. I got it for free.
7. It is a very comfortable bike with nicely tuned suspensions.
.

Thanks for the input.

Does it have the wobbling issues that the current batch have? About this wobbling issue, there is no sufficient information I could find. Whether it is the new BS6 - II variant, or the BS6 variant. When I rode the CB350 RS, it was damn smooth and easy to work with.

[DivyanshuDiv]

Originally Posted by srkriz26

Thanks for the input.

Does it have the wobbling issues that the current batch have? About this wobbling issue, there is no sufficient information I could find. Whether it is the new BS6 - II variant, or the BS6 variant. When I rode the CB350 RS, it was damn smooth and easy to work with.

Personally, I haven't faced any wobbling issue, even on some deliberate attempts.
However, as apart of CB350 riders community and some research which I did, it's mostly because of the MRF types which after 10-15K kms causes this problem or with improper tyre pressure.

[srkriz26]

Regarding Speed 400 & Harley, want to stay away from the first gen models. Will wait for refinement. But I am in love with X440. I am more of a laid-back rider. Even during my RX100 days, I was never the one to throttle it hard. I used to enjoy my time on the bike.

I have ridden the Duke 200 for months and never liked its feel. It didn't align with me. I get the same feeling looking at Speed 400. I checked out my friend's bike. The design and engine response don't align or correlate with each other. Engine response felt like Duke while the design felt classic. Moreover, I am not a fan of sporty footpegs.

Related Scram 450, RE would hike the price heavily and I felt the current bike doesn't have issues with pull or grunt. It is more than enough for an average rider.

I liked Bullet 350. But the weight, tubed tyres, etc., make me picture all the hardships I will have to face. One option could be Updating it with the Alloy Wheels and Tubeless tyres. But that is gonna increase the price. These things, make me question the brand's thought process and importance to customers.

[sreejithkk]

I was in similar situation 1.5 years back. I am a laid back rider, and 6ft 2 inches tall, returned to Motorcycles after a decade. I have test ridden Hunter, Ronin, Classic and H'ness and it was a tough time to decide between Classic and H'ness and eventually settled for H'ness. If Classic350 had come with alloy wheels in the same price range, I would have settled for Classic. (Here in Kerala, on road price of Classic dark edition which comes with alloy wheels and tubeless tires are 40K costlier than hallycon Dual channel model which just cost 2.4L on road. H'ness costed 2.5 L). However, if I am in similar situation again, I would buy classic 350 and will later switch to alloy and tubeless tires. H'ness is great bike for good roads and highways, but in my regular commute where there are lots of junctions and potholes, where the speed varies consistently between 20kmph to 60 kmph, H'ness requires too much gear changes and I am kind of tired of the same. I do not face any other issues with H'ness so far, like wobbling or rusting etc. Only concern is it is not a relaxed machine on the roads I mentioned due to frequent gear changes. So i would recommend Classic /Bullet if your road speed is consistently varying between 20 to 60 kmph. However if it involves higher speed riding in highways, H'ness is an extremely relaxed bike. It is also flickable in the city, but Honda just ruined the experience by selecting the lower final reduction (smaller 35T rear sprocket).

[shivkrishh]

I own a CB350RS from the very first lot after the launch. 3 years and 20000kms so far and i could say its the best from the above list.

Concerns i have faced so far :
1. Breakpads - Trust me ,you have to change it every 5000 kms. They worn out very easliy.

2. Tall gearing : Forget about 5th gear in city rides and enjoy the frequent downshifts often. But is hsould say first three gears gives a very racy powerful feeling.

3. Availability of tyres : The stock tyres ran out very earlier than i expected within 20k where ideally the expectancy is 35k kms as per dealer . And also the MRF kurve is so hard to find these days , especially the rear one. Even the MRF godown here in Bangalore doesn't seem to have any. Luckily i was able to find one from a store after sourcing almost 8-10 dealers. The (150/70-R17) of rear is a rare configuration which is very hard to find from other companies as well. If you got heavy pockets then Pirelli , Metzler can be you choices which are readily available.

Luckily I haven't experienced any wobbling issue so far . It could be due to the tyres maybe . Also if you are living somewhere within 40km radius of Bigwing then service and spares wont be an issue and they are cheap as hell when you look at any other brands.

If you are someone looking for a city bike which is very nimble , powerful , and good looking then there is no better choice than CB350RS in segment.

[srkriz26]

Originally Posted by sreejithkk

I was in similar situation 1.5 years back. I am a laid back rider, and 6ft 2 inches tall, returned to Motorcycles after a decade. I have test ridden Hunter, Ronin, Classic and H'ness and it was a tough time to decide between Classic and H'ness and eventually settled for H'ness. If Classic350 had come with alloy wheels in the same price range, I would have settled for Classic. (Here in Kerala, on road price of Classic dark edition which comes with alloy wheels and tubeless tires are 40K costlier than hallycon Dual channel model which just cost 2.4L on road. H'ness costed 2.5 L). However, if I am in similar situation again, I would buy classic 350 and will later switch to alloy and tubeless tires.

So i would recommend Classic /Bullet if your road speed is consistently varying between 20 to 60 kmph.

But, RE's clutch is heavy and the heaviness of the machine when you ride is abundant. I am not a heavily built person. I am 37, measuring 5.4 ft tall and 70 kg heavy.

This is exactly my problem. Out of the interest and love for biking reignited by riding a commuter, I started looking out again. But, whatever is out there is imperfect in many ways.

I hate RE for not providing the basics that are essential for public. Like a light clutch, manageable weight, tubeless tyres. They rob us on accessories.

[2wheelsvaga]

Originally Posted by srkriz26

Confused to choose between Bullet 350 - TVS Ronin - Honda Highness - Yezdi Jawa

I owned a 1989 Model Yamaha RX 100 until 2019. The rush of madness made me sell my Bike and move to a Car. Choose comfort over love. Despite multiple requests from my mechanic not to sell the bike, I sold it. I bought a used i20 in 2019. Have been using scooters for groceries or veggie shopping since then.

Ah, that special bike. I too sold mine ages ago. It remains a mystery why Yamaha is not giving us something that measures up to the spirit of the RX. That means a piddly in-town commuter, until you wring the throttle and the world rushes at you.

My expectations are:
1. Comfort & Convenience. Good Suspension is the first need.
2. Classic retros are my kind. Don't want speed or racing monsters.
3. Hassle-free ownership.
4. Longevity. Want the bike to last for 10 years.
5. Proper service network.

I have almost the same requirements. I additionally need the bike to be simple for long-distance touring away from these new Amrikan style highways.

Here are my thoughts after the test rides.
3. Royal Enfield Scram 411 - One of the BEST in terms of feel, riding posture, driving dynamics, grunt, etc., I am all good for this bike. The only gripe is the Pillion seating. My wife doesn't like climbing to get seated. So, this would be rejected. Another gripe is the lack of Alloys and Tubeless tyres. When Suzuki can provide Alloys and Tubeless tyres on its V Strom, why can't Royal Enfield?

I am still to figure out why manufacturers have shifted en masse to these horrible step seats. The Himalayan 411 ones are much better, but still change the dyanmics for the worse with a pillion aboard. Maybe it has to do with chassis design, but surely that applies more to sports bikes rather than standard motorcycles.

4. Royal Enfield Bullet 350 - I don't like the classic because it is abundant on the road. This is its twin with slightly modified looks. It is being said that amongst all the 350 CC bikes, the Royal Enfield Classic Reborn is the best. So, I am all good for this. Suspension, Driving triangle, laid back character, enough torque for long drives. But, it will be a pain in traffic given the hard clutch and 195 KG weight. When the Cast Iron bullets of the 2000s n 90s weighed only 160 Kg, why is it so damn heavy despite not even being close to the old generation bullets in terms of character.

The mystery of the ever-increasing weight. I've put up this question on this forum in the past, but haven't got any clear answers. Obviously, there are all kinds of things being added-the cat con, electronic paraphernalia. But then the current engines are much better integrated and with all kinds of tech advances there is no reason why the RE Std and Classic 350 are not around 170-180 kg kerb weight.
They've cut a kgs with the Hunter but that's mostly because they've shifted to cheap plastic parts.

8. Honda CB350 RS - Used model - 2021. Too good. Perfect suspension and a super smooth engine. While the downshifts are necessary like Yezdis / Jawas, it wasn't a burden or hurdle. It was so damn smooth to shift and was able to stand on the footpegs even during slow movements in traffic. Highness gets a Heal extender for gear shifts and a relaxed riding position. I prefer that. Unfortunately, I am hearing a lot of bad-mouthing from owners on forums related to Honda's poor servicing, Wobbling issues, Chain Sprocket issues, etc., in less than 2 years. Am concerned a bit about making the purchase.

I test-rode the CB 350 and spoke to a friend who has one. I find the wheelbase to be too long for in-city riding. The gearing isn't good (Std 350 scores here). Then there is the well-known issue of the wobble at higher speeds, and there was a whole series of batteries that just randomly failed. And of course Honda is using cheap quality. Above all, if you have any plans of touring you will have to think of the lack of service centres.

Looking at all this, Ronin makes perfect sense despite lacking torque for highways. Even the torquier RE and CB35O can cruise only at 100 KMPH on highways in its smooth operation. Ronin, by the feel of it, would drive at 90. But the trade-off is too good compared to others.

I see this differently. There really isn't much point in cruising at 100 kmph, unless required. Youtube is full of these videos of dudes laden with gear and zooming away on these new highways, all making for a very monotonous experience. For me motorcycling is all about going slower and using the state highways and back roads.
The RE Std or Cl 350 will easily do 80 to 90 kmph, which on a full load seems to be enough to let you reach your destination in good time.
The wheelbase is spot-on, and you will find the 2 REs to be easy city bikes. The weight is still an issue, but the CG seems to be reasonable, so you shouldn't have much issue in adapting your parking habits to city conditions.

I could only curse Suzuki and Yamaha for their lacklustre products. All it needed for Yamaha was to launch a new roadster like XSR in India and they gave us FZ-X. It is nauseous when I see it in the flesh. They have 2 different 150 CC engines. They have the chassis. All that was needed was an attractive fuel tank and side covers. RX100, Bullet and Yezdis are iconic because of their metal tanks.

Nauseous it is.
Yamaha is a big mystery. Imagine if they designed a 350-400 cc single and tailor-made it for Indian conditions. Harley and Honda are competing with RE, but Yamaha doesn't care.

[srkriz26]

Originally Posted by 2wheelsvaga

The mystery of the ever-increasing weight. I've put up this question on this forum in the past, but haven't got any clear answers. Obviously, there are all kinds of things being added-the cat con, electronic paraphernalia. But then the current engines are much better integrated and with all kinds of tech advances there is no reason why the RE Std and Classic 350 are not around 170-180 kg kerb weight.
They've cut a kgs with the Hunter but that's mostly because they've shifted to cheap plastic parts.

Spot on. No reviewers or motorcycle enthusiasts talk about these. Increasing weight on bikes, that are made for the masses. And, lack of Tubeless tyres on these heavier machines.

I test-rode the CB 350 and spoke to a friend who has one. I find the wheelbase to be too long for in-city riding. The gearing isn't good (Std 350 scores here). Then there is the well-known issue of the wobble at higher speeds, and there was a whole series of batteries that just randomly failed. And of course Honda is using cheap quality. Above all, if you have any plans of touring you will have to think of the lack of service centres.

Seriously. For all that Japanese supremacy and trust, Honda CB350s are a disgrace to their reputation. If Honda can't make a hassle-free bike, who can?

I see this differently. There really isn't much point in cruising at 100 kmph, unless required. Youtube is full of these videos of dudes laden with gear and zooming away on these new highways, all making for a very monotonous experience. For me, motorcycling is all about going slower and using the state highways and back roads.

You are right. I don't intend to ride like Mad Max. 80-90 will always be the sweet spot. I am more inclined towards trouble-free ownership. That was another reason to let go of my RX 100. I had to make friends with mechanics to hit the sweet spot in getting the niggles erased even though we were paying for it. Not only mechanics, but the quality of repairs and repairmen have gone down drastically off-late. Even the brand's own service technicians are interested in swapping the problem-free parts rather than replacing them.

The RE Std or Cl 350 will easily do 80 to 90 kmph, which on a full load seems to be enough to let you reach your destination in good time.
The wheelbase is spot-on, and you will find the 2 REs to be easy city bikes. The weight is still an issue, but the CG seems to be reasonable, so you shouldn't have much issue in adapting your parking habits to city conditions.

I have a couple of Classics in my household. Whenever I ride them, it becomes are tiresome affair. Maybe, we will get used to it when we own one and ride it daily. But, RE is full of photo ops rather than actual trouble-free ownership. The tubed tyres lack lustre service quality is what makes me think about owning one.

Nauseous it is.
Yamaha is a big mystery. Imagine if they designed a 350-400 cc single and tailor-made it for Indian conditions. Harley and Honda are competing with RE, but Yamaha doesn't care.

Every bike in their lineup is very good in terms of quality and ownership. But the lack of a proper product portfolio is :thumbs-down
Same with Suzuki.

The above factors make Ronin a better option. A No nonsense bike which isn't complicated. The reviewer community will praise only RE despite its shortcomings. Still thinking though. Wanna wait till Feb to see if there are any new launches or updates.

[dkaile]

No brainer...



Go with this with your eyes closed. Live happily ever after, if such a thing exists... Lolz.

Speaking as a experienced biker owning/having owned each category of bike/superbike there is.

Cheers...