[DriveOnceMore]

I'm 37 year (young) person who is otherwise having okay-ish life is now looking for some source of instant nirvana (like instant coffee).
Solo tripping, bag packing and wandering without limits is currently out of my limits. due situation at hand.

So looking out for a riding machine as instant source of redemption.

My budget is 3.5 lakhs MAX. (Please don't suggest me to stretch a little :P )

My priorities are (in order of preference):

1. Comfort.. comfort .. comfort
   As I'm approaching 40, don't want to risk my back even 1%.
   
2. Like a strong coffee, zing of ability to cruise at 100 kmph all day long
3. Mileage (25+ kmpl at least)
4. Refinement (slight buzz is acceptable)
5. Big bike appeal (as I myself is BIG guy with 6ft height tipping the scale by 110 kg)
6. Reliability
7. Convenience of maintaining it.
8. Should be able to tour to mountains later part of my life.

I've shortlisted following bikes and would like help from you fellow riders in finalizing one:
(In order to fit it in my budget, I can go with BH registration too if need be)

1. RE Himalayan 450
2. RE Interceptor 650 (would have chosen Super Meteor if it had better suspension)
3. KTM Adventure 390 X
4. KTM Adventure 250 (not sure if it can comfortably cruise at 100 kmph all day long)
5. Bajaj Dominar 400
6. Triumph Scrambler 400 X (looks small-ish for me)
7. Hero Xpulse 210

Thanks in advance for your help and inputs.
Please help this soul to find nirvana by staying IN this chaotic world.

[acex]

If comfort, cruising ability, and future touring are your top priorities, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is your best bet. Take a few test rides.

For comfort & touring:
1. Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
2. KTM Adventure 390 X

Good alternatives:
3. Bajaj Dominar 400
4. RE Interceptor 650

Less Ideal for Your Needs:
5. KTM Adventure 250
6. Triumph Scrambler 400 X
7. Hero Xpulse 210

[farhadtarapore]

You can also consider the VStrom 250 SX. Can cruise comfortably at 100kmph, way better reliability than Enfield, less heavy so easy even in city traffic.

[amtak]

I am wondering, why isn't anyone recommending the Honda twins? CB350 or RS350 are way better for highway and city cruising. Supremely comfy and ride really well!

[antz.bin]

Let me help you out with a shortlist:

RE Classic 650
KTM Adventure 390 X
Triumph Scrambler 400X
RE Himalayan 450

Drop the rest.

I am also of similar height (but weigh 25kg less). I opted for the Triumph Speed 400 on my 36th b'day after having a similar dilemma with different bikes (since only 2/7 existed at the time )

I went to the mountains 4-5 months prior to the bike being purchased and let me tell you. All of these can manage just fine.
Triumph, Himalayan are better for the city.
KTM is better for primarily highway use.
Classic is for ultimate swag.

Test ride and take a pick, you will be happy with all.

[Turbojc]

Originally Posted by DriveOnceMore

I'm 37 year (young) person who is otherwise having okay-ish life is now looking for some source of instant nirvana (like instant coffee). So looking out for a riding machine as instant source of redemption.

Hi @DriveOnceMore! I'm very close to your age and build, and I ride a Himalayan 450. The main reasons I chose that over the Interceptor 650 were the ride comfort, seat height, and big bike feel.

I can guarantee that it is supremely comfortable and a deceptively fast motorcycle that won't fail to put a smile on your face every time you roll the throttle past the 3k rpm mark . Yes, it is feels a tad heavy at parking speeds, but it can be easily handled once you get used to it.

Based on your requirements, I feel that the Himalayan 450 would be the best pick among the choices you listed. However, I strongly recommend test riding it first, along with the new KTM 390 Adventure X as well, preferably back to back.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by amtak

I am wondering, why isn't anyone recommending the Honda twins? CB350 or RS350 are way better for highway and city cruising. Supremely comfy and ride really well!

Hi @amtak! I previously owned a CB350 H'ness. That 350cc thumper is indeed a sweet engine with a delightful exhaust note, but the poorly-spaced gear ratios spoiled the riding experience for me. It was okay on the highway, where I could slot it into 5th and cruise at 100kmph with ease, but it never felt comfortable in the city. I always had to work through the gears, and I could hardly shift past the 3rd. In comparison, I can stick my Himalayan 450 into fourth gear and ride it like an automatic between 35kmph to 85kmph .

[DriveOnceMore]

Thank you everyone for your responses so far.

Originally Posted by amtak

I am wondering, why isn't anyone recommending the Honda twins? CB350 or RS350 are way better for highway and city cruising. Supremely comfy and ride really well!

To be honest, I don't find these two Honda twins exciting enough. There is nothing (apart from perceived reliability) which would make the bike stand out or which the bike manages to do exceptionally well than others.

Originally Posted by acex

If comfort, cruising ability, and future touring are your top priorities, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is your best bet. Take a few test rides.

For comfort & touring:
1. Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
2. KTM Adventure 390 X

Good alternatives:
3. Bajaj Dominar 400
4. RE Interceptor 650

Less Ideal for Your Needs:
5. KTM Adventure 250
6. Triumph Scrambler 400 X
7. Hero Xpulse 210

I think I pretty much agree with your suggestion but still in dilemma if I should save some bucks and go with Dominar 400 instead and off-roading is NOT what I would be doing much.

Originally Posted by farhadtarapore

You can also consider the VStrom 250 SX. Can cruise comfortably at 100kmph, way better reliability than Enfield, less heavy so easy even in city traffic.

Everything is perfect with V Strom SX, except PRICE.!
It is dangerously close to other big bikes.
By adding ~50K I can get other Bigger and better bikes.

[nova.19_exe]

Originally Posted by DriveOnceMore

I think I pretty much agree with your suggestion but still in dilemma if I should save some bucks and go with Dominar 400 instead and off-roading is NOT what I would be doing much.

Pardon my stupid 18 y/o question. I'm 5'11 around 57kgs and I find the Dominar 400 to be heavy at parking speed, feeling that it's top heavy. Did you face this too?

[RD150]

I too was looking for a similar "coffee' last year and got myself the Yezdi Adventure. It has everything that you have listed out, the new alpha 2 engines are better at refinement and reliability. Please take a test ride and decide. All the best.

[DarthFader]

I would recommend Himalayan 450 for your height/weight & requirements.

I own a Honda Cb350 Highness and I find that the engine is smooth but the overall feel of the ride is not smooth. Honda has cut corners here and we cant use the blanket term "honda reliability" for this one atleast. One issue atleast half of the owners face is handlebar wobbling and Honda did nothing to resolve it. To top that the service rep's general high & mighty approach, that as they are Honda everything they do is perfect, is not acceptable.

I would also recommend to stay far from Yezdi as their service & parts reliability is not sorted yet. If you do love the machine at a test ride, then it will still be a good buy but not the best what market can offer you today.

KTM 390 adv is mainly highway muncher, but rough at the early stages.

Dominar is top heavy but a proven tourer from Bajaj's end. If it suits you after a test ride then the maintenance and parts replacement is going to be a very smooth process. I owned an Avenger for almost 7 years and atleast the service reps there listen to the customer without being highhanded.

I found RE Bear 650 more suitable than interceptor though you will have to get the rear suspensions replaced as soon as you buy it.

Footnote: Please test ride the machines atleast 2-3 times before finalizing on one. If you can, take the bikes for rent for a day or 2 and test it yourself thoroughly. Buyer's remorse is a real thing and its a lot of time/efforts/money to modify a bike as per your requirements.

[DriveOnceMore]

Originally Posted by nova.19_exe

Pardon my stupid 18 y/o question. I'm 5'11 around 57kgs and I find the Dominar 400 to be heavy at parking speed, feeling that it's top heavy. Did you face this too?

Dominar IS heavy. No doubt about it. But that weight makes it an excellent tourer as the bike feels planted on any speeds. So it's a tread-off I can live with.

Originally Posted by RD150

I too was looking for a similar "coffee' last year and got myself the Yezdi Adventure. It has everything that you have listed out, the new alpha 2 engines are better at refinement and reliability. Please take a test ride and decide. All the best.

Actually I missed to add that as an option. I loved the latest updated Yezdi Adventure. How real is the issue of after sales service in Pune? I'm from Pune like you and hence would love to have your first hand experience. Plus the price at which the whole package is offered makes it quite irresistible deal.

Originally Posted by DarthFader

I would recommend Himalayan 450 for your height/weight & requirements.

Footnote: Please test ride the machines atleast 2-3 times before finalizing on one. If you can, take the bikes for rent for a day or 2 and test it yourself thoroughly. Buyer's remorse is a real thing and its a lot of time/efforts/money to modify a bike as per your requirements.

Bear / SM 650 would have been my to go choice IFF it came with little better suspension. I will test ride it though, just to check how does it perform for my weight. Will share my experience with you all here.

[RD150]

Originally Posted by DriveOnceMore

Actually I missed to add that as an option. I loved the latest updated Yezdi Adventure. How real is the issue of after sales service in Pune? I'm from Pune like you and hence would love to have your first hand experience. Plus the price at which the whole package is offered makes it quite irresistible deal.

The bike has completed 2 free services till now. I don't think there are any issues for routine services. Real test will be when something goes wrong or needs replacement. Fortunately my bike is doing good so far. But the over all service experience has been really good for me. Green Gearz Mobility is where I get my bike serviced. Even the google reviews are very positive for this particular service center. I do feel the Yezdi Adventure is often overlooked but is a no non sense, do it all bike. An under rated beast, if you ask me.

[100Kmphormore]

Get the base variant of the Bear 650, it is 3.37L exshowroom IIRC. Beautifully sorts out the obvious flaw of the Inty 650 ie. suspension and thanks to your weight, the suspension wont be extra stiff (I am just around the territory at 93 kg, 5'8 and did not find it back-breaking, I daily a Duke 390). Creamy smooth engine with great low end torque and a fast one too. Though the Himalayan 450/390 ADV are great at comfort, at your age the vibes may be offputting for you as you go past the initial newness. Just incorporate a bit of exercise (stretching, weights) for a better and longer riding career!

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by DriveOnceMore

I think I pretty much agree with your suggestion but still in dilemma if I should save some bucks and go with Dominar 400 instead and off-roading is NOT what I would be doing much.

You have listed a lot of bikes and also mentioned biking as a way of Nirvana.

My suggestion to you before you plonk money down, is to rent out the said 2 bikes, do 50-100 Km rides to see if this is what you can sustain.

Buy a bike only if you are able to rent out and go on ride atleast twice in a period of 30 days.

Else you might want to rethink

P.S: I was on a similar junction last year begining and my thought process is documented here (Urge to return to biking after 2 years | Buy or rent a bike? EDIT: A used Tiger 800 comes home)

[RPRIME95]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Buy a bike only if you are able to rent out and go on ride atleast twice in a period of 30 days.

Do you know of any places to rent such bikes in Pune? As far as I know, options are very limited and extremely difficult to find.

On the topic at hand, in the same boat as OP right now. I test drove a 390X just a couple hours before and found it very plush indeed. Vibes were also minimal for me. I was wearing gloves and hiking boots so they may have contributed. Yet to ride a Bear 650 so I will give my feedback once I do so.