9 motorcycle test rides in 1 day: Here are my observations on each

I'm also looking forward to the Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle expected this year.

BHPian ani_meher recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Yesterday I took a test ride of around 9 vehicles.

1. Honda CB300F: Mainly lured by the 50k discount by Honda. At around 2.2L on road Pune, the reduced price definitely attractive. The engine generates power very fast. Seemed a bit gruff as compared to other insanely priced CB300R.
2. Honda CB300R: Gem of an engine at higher RPMs, clearly smoother than CB300F at all RPM ranges. But I didn't like the Harry Potter-like position - sitting on a broom with nothing visible in front - of such street bikes. So dropped these two out of contention.
3. Honda CB350/Highness: Not available for a test ride, they are waiting for new RDE-compliant bikes. I had read that due to tall gears, one has to change gears a lot in the city, and I am not looking towards wrestling the gearbox.
4. TVS Ronin 225: Looks are polarising. Looks a bit weird to me. 160kg weight makes itself felt while pushing around. But runs beautifully. Low-end torque is amazing, with peak torque at just 3,750 rpm making the riding experience wonderful. The riding position too is spot on. The Off-centre speedo looks nice but could be bigger/brighter/colourful. The base version's red looks smashing.
5. Kawasaki W175: Didn't even feel like asking for the test ride after looking at the bike. Feels too barebones and retro not in a good way. It looks like a yesteryear's budget bike where one can't really afford anything further.
6. A Chinese 250 twin touring bike: I forgot the brand or the bike's name! It was in the showroom right next to Kawasaki, and the bike's name was some Turismo or something. It was a 250 twin, and I took a test ride out of curiosity. It was a vibey machine, but very eager to leap forward. It reminded me of the two-stroke era, with vibey and eager engines. But didn't ask for any further information. Looked around at some Chinese bikes. If/when mainstream bikes get such features as keyless entry, button-operated windscreen height adjustment or colour infotainment screen, it's a different experience.
7. RE Classic 350: For a long time I simply hated this bike, just because of the crowd I used to see on this. So when I took it out for a test ride, it was with a bit of disdain too. But it soon gave way to awe. The new 350cc engine is very smooth, the mirrors hardly vibrate and the shocks were simply the best for city riding. I didn't feel like asking for more speed but enjoyed the torque. The clutch too felt very light. The cap on the headlight looked like an arrow while sitting on top of the bike, so pinpointing the handle in the target direction was very easy. Just that the speedometer is too retro.
8. RE Hunter 350: It felt like a budget version in every sense. The engine too felt harsh, vibey ride, with hard shock absorbers. Overall I didn't like it.
9. RE Meteor 350: Looks amazing, but I felt that I was sitting on a sofa with sagging cushions, so my knees felt a bit higher than the seat! I am 5'7", so height wise there is no problem. The suspension was harder than Classic, and the seating position ensured that one cannot stand or escape any road irregularity, but has to endure it while seating firmly.

RE Classic 350 again: To make sure of my experience, I once again took a test ride of the RE Classic 350 and liked it once again. This test ride helped me reduce the bias I have against this design.

In the end, the motorcycles I liked best for city commuting and light touring, with good low-end torque and good suspension are Ronin 225 and Classic 350. Ronin's shape is weird, and TVS not reporting monthly numbers for Ronin is giving rise to a suspicion that perhaps markets are not welcoming it.

TVS Ronin's base version with single-channel ABS is at Rs 1.8L, and the top version with dual-channel ABS (recommended) and Bluetooth are Rs 2.07L. RE Classic 350 costs 2.5-2.7 for various versions.

I am looking forward to the Bajaj-Triumph bikes that are expected to launch this year.

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