I hit a pothole which destroyed the front rim completely and created a bend in my back rim.

BHPian kurian_john recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I bought this bike in March 2023 at the discounted price of 2.05L onroad. Since then over 6 months I've driven more than 13800+ km. My experience with the bike has been very good for my daily commutes and for long tours. I regularly get a mileage of 36-39 kmpl. I've done 500+ kms in a day 6 times and multiple other trips in the 300-400 km range. 80-100 kmph is definitely the sweet spot for cruising on this bike. Above that there are quite a few vibrations. Seat isn't the best for long tours but you can easily get an air seat or add a proper cushion. Bigwing's service has also been good for the most part for me.

But the biggest issue has been the spares availability. On August 13, 2023, while coming back during heavy rain on the highway due to bad visibility I hit a pothole which destroyed the front rim completely and created a bend in my back rim. I decided not to go for insurance as I wanted the replacement process to happen quickly.

Only the front rim finally got replaced on 31st August. I live in Chennai but the rim had to come from Thrissur, Kerala. This delay is okay. I can kind of understand it though I was a little perplexed how Honda didn't keep stock in any major cities.

Now coming to the back rim, they absolutely don't have one in stock all over India. I've personally called and checked with service centers in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kerala, Mysore, Lucknow, Puducherry, Mumbai and Delhi. They all said that the rim isn't in stock anywhere in India. That to me is unacceptable from a big company like Honda. And this is even though CB300F and CB300R share the same rims. When two of your motorcycles share the same rims, how can you not keep any in stock? My service advisor told me that for another customer the headlight frame took 4 months to arrive. My service center in Chennai has been very responsive and I can see that they are trying all they can. But without the rim stock available all over India, there's nothing much they can do. I've read Team-BHP threads and twitter threads where people have been waiting 3-4 months for the same rims in cities like Kolkata.

So finally I would say that the bike is pretty good till you actually face a situation where you require a replacement of parts, because Honda's spare parts management is absolutely PATHETIC. Please don't buy it unless you know a way to source spare parts yourself or Honda solves this issue. I'll keep you updated when I finally receive the back rim.

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

Very unfortunate to hear this especially since I considered the CB300F as a no-nonsense VFM do it all motorcycle, like the Unicorn.

What I fail to understand is for someone like Honda 2 Wheelers India with their extensive logistics chain, not use the same when it comes to BigWing or Topline which are supposed to deliver a more premium experience?

IMO taking it back to the standard Honda showroom, ASC and supply chain can actually do wonders for the motorcycle.

Here's what BHPian antz.bin had to say on the matter:

Truly pathetic situation. It's not as if this is a proprietary high-tech hardware and needs to be imported from a far-off country.

I had a question regarding this though. What is stopping us from cutting Honda out of this particular transaction altogether? Why not get the sturdier and lighter weight KTM rims instead? Not only the availability will be better, you will get better performance as well. It was quite commonplace for the CBR250R and its Disk pads where people used to use Pulsar 220 disk pads since the ones from Honda costed 10x more and had similar performance lasted roughly the same amount of time.

Anyways, with the official price cut now bringing the bike to the price you purchased it for, it is quite a VFM offering compared to the competition.

Hopefully these lower prices bring additional volumes which can then help alleviate the spares situation on this motorcycle.

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The collection in the museum is an eclectic mixture of old and new vehicles, with the newest being 2021.

BHPian SS-Traveller recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Our weeklong visit to Tasmania at the end of June this year included a few hours at the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania at Launceston. We were not expecting a large car & bike collection, Launceston being a small town with a population of around 77,000 (Tasmania has a population of 5.73 lakhs), but it turned out to be quite impressive.

The collection in the museum is an eclectic mixture of old and new vehicles, with the newest being 2021. The reception area itself is quite interesting, with a 1958 Messerschmitt KR200 and a 2008 Ariel Atom on display.

This KR200 is powered by a Fichtel & Sachs single cylinder 191cc engine producing 10 horsepower, enough to propel the 230 kg three-wheeler to a top speed of more than 90 kilometres per hour!

This 2008 Ariel, the Atom 3, is fitted with a Honda K20 engine as used in the Civic type R, fitted with the optional supercharger and weighs just 462 kg. This car is believed to be the only road registered Ariel Atom in Australia. Atoms are in production currently in the UK as well as under licence in the USA. There have been eight variants of the Atom, including the Atom 500, an extreme version, featuring a 3.0 litre V8.

Apart from this, the reception area has an extensive collection of model cars, memorabilia, collectables, books, old magazines and trinkets, some of which are for sale.

For entering the museum, one pays and gets these 'tokens', which open the entry door!

Here we go!

Continue reading about SS-Traveller's experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Surprisingly the washrooms near the finish line were air-conditioned and we regularly used to it to cool ourselves down.

BHPian Sns_12 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Day 1 is done and dusted and was an surreal experience hearing and seeing the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP bikes in action.

We reached BIC from sector 165 in roughly 45 mins, however we were allowed in our designated seating area only at 9 am and we could already hear the Moto3 bikes starting their practice session. Also, since water bottles were not allowed we had a tough time even buying water as the stalls were getting setup and most of them had no stock to sell. Plus the heat didn't help either and even with the roof to provide some shade it was really tough to remind seated. Surprisingly the washrooms near the finish line were air-conditioned and we regularly used to it to cool ourselves down.

Another thing to note is you would need to pay initially 100 rupees to activate the Atom card and you can reload it by paying cash inside as loading it online with a credit card attracts unwanted fees and charges. Also, always ask them to check and confirm the balance before and after the transaction. We had bought beer and our total was 800 but the guy swiped it thrice for 800. It's only when I enquired the balance that I realised that something was not correct as I had just used the card to buy water before it.

Being the first day the place was not that crowded and we used the whole grandstand starting from the A row all the way to the other end at the end of day 1. Bikers were finding it hard to find the braking point and it was evident with the red flag just as the first session of Moto2 commenced and especially at the first right hander after the straight stretch.

Last bit of advise would be anyone going to BIC in an OLA, Uber that coming back will be nightmare as their won't be cab's available and the ones who willing to come will charge a bomb. Parking too is a nightmare as the places are not well marked and it would be better if one gets in early

Looking forward to day 2 now

Some pictures from the day...

Many stalls were being setup and were only operational by afternoon.

My friend Nadia found one of two Superfan pass, which were hidden around the venue. She has followed the instructions and tomorrow she has to win the contest against the other contender. Benefits of going early on day one.

For a brief moment we taught we found the other pass too only to find out it is only the box and someone had already found the pass

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Felt quite comfortable on the bike from the get go. Most of the test ride was in traffic and did not face any issue maneuvering through the traffic.

BHPian Rajeevraj recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So was finally able to do a Test Ride of the Harley X440. Short summary below:

The 'Fastest Finger First' Test Ride Slot booking.:

As it is known, Harley-Hero are following an approach of having to book a test ride slot. Fortunately, I was online on WhatsApp when the message came up with the link to the booking form. I immediately attempted to book and first tried for a slot this weekend which already showed full. Was able to book for a slot today. Was not sure if I would be able to go, but booked it anyway and fortunately was able to make it.

The Good:

• Having a booking system helps obviously helps streamline the test rides. I had to go 15-20km to Tusker Harley, so knowing I would get the test ride was a plus
• Got a message from Tusker reminding about the test ride the previous day. My slot was between 2pm and 4pm, told that I would be there only by 5 and that was ok.
• No crowd at the showroom, not much waiting for the test ride.

The Bad:

• Obviously the whole system is flawed. Only one dealer offering test rides in spite of the Hero Network being ready hence limited slots.
• Being slot based, I expected a longer test ride. No such luck, it was a regular 3-4km test ride.
• Test Rides only for those who have booked till 25th September. Probably against the basic ethos of a test ride. Also Dealer has no way to offer walk in test rides if you have not booked.

Overall, while Hero Harley started well with the launch and publishing the Hero Dealer network for the X440 and even the booking process, post that it has been a lot of mis-steps. Ideally by now, like Triumph, all the Hero Dealers should have got multiple test ride bikes and the delivery schedules should also have been published. Looks like this will take some time to settle down and become streamlined. Expected better here considering that Hero churns out and sells 10-15 Lakh motorcycles a month.

The Test Ride:

• 2 Bikes available for the test ride. Both were the mid variant. Typically test ride vehicles are always the top variant. So this was a little strange
• SA was welcoming and completed the formalities quickly, he was the same person I spoke to when I went to see the bike. A friendly patient person and was continuously talking to customer and clarifying the questions.
• The SA rides pillion on one of the bikes and leads the way, again pretty strange, luckily when I was riding, he was pillion on the other bike.
• I had not liked the color scheme of the mid variants. So this put me off a little.
• The bike definitely looks large out on the road. Fairly long and you feel you are sitting on a substantial bike unlike the Triumph which is more compact.
• Seeing the top end variant inside the showroom, the quality and finish looked ok to me. Outside the showroom, some of those finishing issues seem more obvious. The cables are more neatly managed in the test ride bikes, but overall the Triumph 400 is way better.
• Nice sounding exhaust. Last time it was within the confines of the showroom, out on the open road also it sounds nice. Not loud for the sake of it like some of the other bikes.
• The bike is definitely heavy, coming from a fairly heavy bike myself, did not find it difficult to manage and once you get going, you do not feel the weight. But again, I don't think it is as beginner friendly as the Triumph 400.
• The seating position is more upright than I am used to on my Pulsar NS. So initially felt a little uncomfortable but got used to it soon.
• Felt quite comfortable on the bike from the get go. Most of the test ride was in traffic and did not face any issue maneuvering through the traffic.
• Due to the short test ride and heavy traffic , got very little chance to open the throttle. While it felt good in the small chances I got, could not ride enough to reach a conclusion about it.
• Clutch felt light and easy to manage, gear shifts were also precise and sharp. All of the ride was on smooth roads and hence no chance to test the ride quality also.
• Display looks good and lays out all the info neatly. Along with all the connected features, definitely scores over the Triumph here. Being the first ride, the gear change indicators were useful.
• Did not feel much of a heating issue although the bikes had been running back to back in heavy traffic. In the Triumph 400 the heat was very obvious.
• The SA was promoting the mid variant to the customers who were asking, saying that the top just has some cosmetic additions and the additional connected features and mid variant is more than enough. I get a feeling that there maybe further delays in supply of the top variant.

Overall, I would say that the Test Ride was inconclusive for me. Primarily because it was a very short one in heavy traffic and was not possible to get a real feel of the bike one way or the other. The Triumph ride was much better as it was in the Whitefield area with more open roads. All folks going to do the Test Ride in Bangalore at Tusker Harley are going to face this issue, there is no day or time when that area has less traffic. It is the same issue with Keerthi Triumph also, but Triumph at least has few other dealers now.

Now the challenge is that if I need another test ride, I need to find a slot, book it and go again. Hoping the Hero dealers start test rides soon.

Some pictures that I took of the Test Ride Bikes:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

When i rode a friend's Standard 350 recently i found the handle bar gives a good support.

BHPian DRIVE_ADDICT recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Sorry to hijack, since i don't have an ownership thread and i see this is one thread where bhp'ians with Classic Reborn will land up looking for tips and solutions, so updating few mods i did to my Reborn.

PS: I strongly feel and urge, the ergonomics and rider triangle is unique for each rider. Something which works for one, not necessarily work for the other. so make your mods according to your need not just go with what others do.

Suspension:

Changed the rear set with older BS6 classic 350's gas charged units. Not that the gas charged suspensions are superior than standard suspensions, but i did this mainly for the reason below. Though Reborn comes with 6 way adjustable rear suspension, it comes from factory with the softest setting possible. So no scope of improvement if someone looking for reducing the stiffness further. This Gas charged suspension comes with setting 3 as standard and you have option to tone it down further.

Even though I'm keeping this in standard setting, i felt this is little softer in comparison to Reborn's standard suspension. The ride is much more pliant, especially when there is a sudden dip in road, earlier it used to feel that it drops down with no action, now its not.

Handle bar:

Though i got advice from couple of folks vouching for Vardenchi handle bar, i somehow not convinced, as it robs away the classic look and it looks bulk (subjective). Heard folks complaining about RD350 replicas quality and even the shops out there in JC road (genuine folks) suggested only to go for black powdered coated since the chrome one tends to rust, also i heard mixed review about the posture we get with RD350 units.

When i rode a friend's Standard 350 recently i found the handle bar gives a good support. Also in one YT video i saw someone suggested to change to Standard/Electra handle bar and the person mentioned that he changed it because he felt pain in shoulder (Trapezius muscle) and upper arm (Triceps) which is exactly the same issue i also went through.

So went ahead and changed it and it DOES help.

This handle bar gives you a very supportive feel, it felt effortless and less strain in comparison to stock Reborn handle bar.

On first look you may not see any difference but it does makes the difference felt. The handle grip portion is slightly tilted inward towards rider and there is a slight increase in height, both helps here.

Seat & Horn:

Added dual horn setup based on the input in this thread and added the seat cover (black) since someone vandalized the original seat and made few marks in tank as well

Added lamination on top portion of tank to avoid further damage.

With all this mods now i feel the motorcycle is tailor made for me .

All mods done at Fixwell motors, JC road, Bangalore. This place has good reviews and has all RE genuine spares and few mechs around to fix things.

Here are couple of latest pics:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The bike pulls very cleanly and smoothly in first gear from standstill with very little throttle input.

BHPian davelok recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I took the bike to the Thol Bird Sanctuary outside Ahmedabad this morning. It's about 24km from home and took me about 45 minutes to reach it, primarily because of the numerous speed bumps on the Thol - Shilaj road, which restrict speed effectively.

I didn't carry a camera with me, because this is the lean season for birding there, and I would have paid Rs. 250 unnecessarily for camera fees. I just took a pair of binoculars, some water with electrolytes, and biscuits. It was a peaceful visit - there was no one around, which is why we go out in the first place, isn't it?

The travel to Thol was uneventful. I paced the motorcycle out peacefully. The road inside Thol is unpaved and broken, which makes one feel the need for a proper adventure bike, even though the front suspension on the Speed 400 is plush. The Speed bumps and the bumpy road told me that I need to learn standing up while riding the bike.

After enjoying solitude for a while, I decided to go for a ride to a place called Kanzari nearby. This place used to have some flocks of Blackbucks in the open fields, but a huge number of luxury farmhouse developments have come up on that very land and all around, driving the deer away (and perhaps to their dying out eventually).

As I rode on, I started to enjoy the ride more and more, feeling the bike to be more of an extension of myself rather than the strange steed that I felt I was riding when I took it to work yesterday for the first time.

I guess this happens when one starts to get a feel of the machine,its handling dynamics, engine characteristics, etc. At times, I found myself pushing backwards on the seat rather than the forward seating position I prefer in the city. All those fantasies from thirty odd years ago of riding a Hero Honda CD100 like a sporty machine have started to come to life.

The ride through lush green farms and water bodies was thoroughly enjoyable as I went beyond Kanzari to explore side roads into rural areas. Speed bumps were everywhere and I started to lift my bum off the seat to avoid the, well, bumps when coming off them. I feel a little bit that rider foot pegs need to be longer to be able to stand up safely and comfortably.

While there was nothing really wrong with the bike, I did find it stalling twice in second gear, once with the clutch fully in and once when the engine wasn't even knocking. Plus at lower rpm in third or fourth year, I did feel the engine sputter a bit, which makes me suspect that there might be a fuelling issue - not that it is always present. The bike pulls very cleanly and smoothly in first gear from standstill with very little throttle input. I will watch this carefully and if it's real, I will get it addressed during the first service.

I was generally riding around at 50-60kmph with frequent gear changes. Took the bike to near 100kmph only once or twice. Every time I cross 60kmph, wind starts to roar like a jet engine inside my helmet - possibly because I had removed the cheek pads a long time ago, and now need to find and fix them again.

Yesterday during my return commute from work, I checked the actual speed of the bike with what its speedometer reports. I used an app called GPS Speedometer on my phone (mounted on the handlebar). It seems that the speedo is off by about 10% at 60kmph, so when the needle is indicating 70, the bike's actually doing 65. Good from a safety perspective, but my route has speed control of 70kmph, so I need to be very sure of the margin of error. Anyways I am not a wild rider, but this bike is growing on me and asking me to twist the throttle.

By the way, Triumph India is monitoring this thread and considers what you post here as feedback, asking their service advisors to address it. Good going.

After nearly an hour of riding around, I decided to return home. It was getting closer to lunchtime and I was feeling hot from the sun. Engine heat was quite bearable though.

As time wore on, I found myself trying to sit straighter up taking the stress off my back and palms. The heel of the palms and the right thumb joint started to get sore, leading me to massage them at traffic stops. Perhaps they need some conditioning as I have been a car-only traveller for a long time now.

Despite this slight discomfort, it was a thoroughly enjoyable ride, which would not have been possible in my car. As the weather cools down, migrant birds start arriving, and Triumph gives us some accessories to help carry gear around, I see myself going on more and more of them on the bike.

I'm quite happy that I bought it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Burgundy colour was looking smashing. Too bad it is not available on the top end.

BHPian naveenvenkatesh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Visited Tuskar HD today after taking a longish test ride of the Speed 400 nearby. The test rides have started and there were couple of burgundy HD 440s available for test ride.

The person asked me if i had selected the slot but i told him i haven't received any communication yet. He was gracious and asked me to wait.

There was one more person waiting for test ride. After about 10-15 mins of wait, I got the test ride. Before the test ride, i was explained all the controls.

The ride was fantastic. I got Classic 350 vibes (thats a good thing!)

HD X440 has adequate power and can pull cleanly. The ride was not long, about 3-4 kms but was enough to convince me to hold onto the booking.

The guy at the dealership mentioned more than a couple of times that they are open to providing longer test rides once they receive more bikes. As per him, these bikes were loaner from HD and not from the dealership. They are doing about 80 test rides per day across 2 bikes.

Deliveries will commence from 2nd Oct. The bikes themselves were a lot better than the display bike inside the showroom. The cables that were prominent on the display bike were well hidden on the production bike. Overall build quality was excellent. There was that new vehicle smell as well

The Burgundy colour was looking smashing. Too bad it is not available on the top end. Would love to get it on the top end model.Or I might just buy the middle variant also.

Overall, i was really impressed with the bike and experience. So much so that i have cancelled my Triumph booking. The experience was several notches above the Triumph dealership!

Will take 1-2 more longer test rides on the HD. My wife was also riding pillion today so we got to compare both Speed 400 and HD 440X back to back. She was a lot more comfortable on the HD.

Can't wait for more test rides and eventual delivery.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

In a week, it may be used for 25 kms daily and an additional 50 kms on days I go to office

BHPian bhaskar.guru recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello all,

After more than ten years, I am planning to buy a bike for myself.

Requirements :

• Something in commuter segment
• Touch sporty
• Riding comfort is needed
• 99% will be city riding only
• In a week, it may be used for 25 kms daily and an additional 50 kms on days I go to office

I have owned a Pulsar 150 cc(2007-11), Avenger 220(2011-11, got stolen :( ), and a Suzuki GS-150R(2012-19).

Options I have seen so far and considering in the crowded segment are as below:

Honda Unicorn 160:

• Pros : Beautiful no nonsense engine, absolute comforting ride, decent performance and great mileage
• Cons : No upgrades whatsoever since the shift to alloy wheels, you can see it as the same bike which it was 16-17 years ago when it was launched. Only the engine got upgraded to 160 and addition of ABS due to it becoming a norm.

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V:

• Pros : Upgraded tech, digital display, connected experience, good performance, feels advanced like a spaceship when compared to the Unicorn
• Cons : Higher maintenance cost and lower mileage apparently from the reviews, not very sure of the reliability of the parts(would need your help here), Seating is a little on the sporty side with foot pegs right below the seat and as a 6 foot tall guy, it is difficult to bend and put the legs... It is not impossible but a tad difficult than the Unicorn.

Others being considered :

• Pulsar 150 : Have owned it already, will go for it as a last option
• Pulsar P150 : Doesn't look and feel like a Pulsar, will still check it out having heard decent reviews of the same
• Pulsar N150 : Need to check it out
• Avenger 160/ 220 : Loved the Avengers, but hate the new Cruise styling and also the fact that they haven't touched anything on this bike except for mandatory updates in the last so many years... Even the switch gear was old(Pre-2006 upgrade to Pulsar switches) last time I checked...

Confusions I have are:

Should I go for the no nonsense Unicorn and just be content with riding a very comfortable and good motorcycle which looks and feels(features wise) like a bike from 20 years ago or should I go for the modern tech and get the TVS or any other.

Should I go for Apache, is it okay to go for the 160 or should I stretch till the 200 as that gives the addition of Slipper clutch (heard it is a good feature especially for city commute, would be helpful if one of the Knowledgeable folks from here can help explain the feature) and Dual channel ABS considering safety.

What other options could I consider?

I am from Hyderabad btw!

Thank you in advance!

Regards,

Bhaskara

Here's what BHPian SaurAswale had to say on the matter:

Hello,

If I was in your position, I would completely ignore the Unicorn, it "feels" heavy for a 160cc bike, doesn't like to turn. It's a very old motorcycle and feels like bigger CB Shine, not a bad thing but very boring in my opinion. There are better options available. But do take a test ride.

If you want that Honda reliability, consider the the Hornet instead.

Apache 160 RTR is the best option you have. It has very smooth engine and good suspension. It is simply king of the segment. If you are concern about the mileage, it will not be wise decision to go for RTR200.

One wildcard entry from my side,

Check out MT15. It has that beautiful 155cc VVA engine which punches above its weight. There is light assist and slipper clutch which makes life easy in traffic. Plus, people are claiming great FE numbers, and I can confirm as I have recently bought R15v3 myself.

There should not be any reliability issue either (otherwise I'm doomed ).

Cons- It is very expensive (worth the price IMO), you might need to check used market to keep it in your budget. Spare parts are also expensive than all other 160cc rivals but as I said, don't compare it with any 160cc bike.

Here's what BHPian amit_purohit20 had to say on the matter:

Let me clear your doubts first - TVS vehicles are well engineered and I would rate their reliability only a tad below the Honda that too only in terms of engine reliability. I have seen honda unicorns with engine problem too. I would rate TVS higher than honda from my own experience for rest of the cycle and plastic parts in the 150 to 200 cc range.

Ps:- I have owned TVS Victor and Apache RTR 180 (took it to Ladakh) in last 20 years.

For commuter you want:

• Comfort
• Light bike
• Flickability or bike should be easy to change directions

From comfort POV :- Unicorn, Yamaha Fz, Yamaha FzX, Honda CB200x

From light weight POV:- TVS Apache, Yamaha FZ and FZx

From flickability POV:- TVS Apache series.

I would strongly suggest you go for a Dual Channel ABS bike. I would have lost my life in the city when I braked on wet road and realised no compromise on Dual Channel ABS.

I think it makes lot of sense to upgrade to 200 cc Apache RTR 4V.

If you are not comfortable with the driving position of Apache then I suggest to go for Unicorn or Yamaha FZ. Check all bikes which give Dual Channel ABS.

Regards,

Amit

Here's what BHPian Nikhildrao had to say on the matter:

I would recommend the newly launched Honda SP160 for the option of buying Honda's new 10 year warranty program if you want a fuss free ownership experience. Highly recommend the Apache rtr 160 and the disc variant of Pulsar p150. Buy the FZ if you want a no nonsense commuter with decent looks(buy the FZ not the FZ-S).

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan had to say on the matter:

Any chance you could try taking a test ride of the Yamaha MT-15? It is the perfect tool for the city; lightweight, excellent chassis, powerful smooth non-excessive motor with just enough go juice to bring a smile on your face and oh so poised at all times.

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

My experience with TVS has been good, in reliability, quality and service and across motorcycles and cities.

Service is dependent a lot on the area so hat varies a lot and is true for most manufacturers.

I don't think in the 100-200cc range there's any motorcycle you need to worry about in terms of reliability.

Coming to your requirements, I would say for someone 6 feet tall, the RTR 160/200 might not be the best suited in terms of comfort.

I would also suggest to try out some of the newer platforms and bikes like the Unicorn should be allowed to rest and retire.

I would suggest to test ride the following and find what syncs with your riding style:

• Bajaj : Pulsar P150/N160/N250 : check for comfort and FE.
• TVS : RTR 160/200 : On the 200, the slipper makes the clutch feel lighter but more importantly TVS's Glide Through Tech helps in crawling traffic. But if the clutch is light enough then it doesn't matter. If getting the 200 try the one with adjustable suspension for that added option for comfort or just to play around.
• Hero : Xtreme 160/Karizma XMR: Do check for ride and seating comfort. Also try the just launched Karizma XMR, it might suit your frame better along with the liquid cooling but its built more like a sports tourer.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

All the power considering all I have had, and coming from a decade old bike the difference is night and day

BHPian al90 recently shared this with other  enthusiasts.

So I took the test ride of the Speed 400 from the Anna Nagar Triumph. The sales team were definitely great & polite, even gave a reminder call on the morning of the TD, they were even happy to reschedule for me as well, all this without even a booking. I purposely avoided going on the weekend and picked 2pm (a 40 degree afternoon is a deterrent in itself) on Thursday just to make sure there wasn't a crowd. Sure enough just 3 others in the showroom including myself, the 3rd guy came back from his TD just as I was filling out the TD forms.

They gave me their standard TD route, asked them for a few patches of broken roads and they were happy to indulge, called a friend who sent location for his TD route as well. I spent 30 mins with the bike driving through traffic, open and broken roads. My driving is going to be mostly in the city and even if it's on highways it will be in the city not outside.

Coming from a CB Unicorn Dazzler, which I have had for the last 13 years this is going to be my big step up, only concern was bit of stress on the wrists but not as painful as on my bike, definitely 80% less. I am 5'11 and weigh 105kg, so guess it's mostly due to my size and weight.

But other than that absolutely loved the bike chucking it in and out of traffic. All the power considering all I have had, and coming from a decade old bike the difference is night and day, people coming from more modern vehicles might have things to nit pick but not me.

Post the TD, booked the bike in black, went to Honda Bigwing and cancelled my CB 350 RS booking. They asked me for the reason and a signed letter and in 7 days I had the booking amount refunded with a Rs. 500 deduction.

There are now only 2 bikes which might waiver my decision:

• Scrambler 400x: Considering the part of Chennai where I stay doesn't have roads. The GCC promises of roads being re-done in another 2 or 3 months (ongoing metro and drain works) and the more upright riding position is inviting.
• Sherpa 650: If it's launched before I take delivery of the Speed 400 and I get a TD, but I don't find it very likely because I test drove the Interceptor 650 - it's heavy and it put a lot of strain on my wrists which I believe could have been fixed with a handle bar riser and second the Hunter 350 felt minuscule, so since the Sherpa is going to be a hybrid of both, not sure how its going to turn out.

I forgot to take a pic. Here is a pic from my friend who took a TD a day before. We both had gotten the same bike for the TD:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This thing has ample amount of torque to roam around in the city and then pick pace on highways.

BHPian neononwheels recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got a message from the Pune dealer yesterday about TRs available starting today and did not miss this opportunity to check the bike up close. All the 3 colour bikes are on display and I am pretty impressed by its presence. Of course this is not a big bike but the fit and finish is so good that you just fall in love with her. Personally I liked the bike in black colour and its what I pre-booked a month back. Sadly, the SA told me that Bajaj has made red bikes more in the first lot and chances are, I will have to wait until month end for my black beauty. When I mentioned that I will transfer funds the moment you show me the bike allotted to me, his reaction was not too inspiring. He wanted me to pay by 15th and wait for my bike.

Now coming back to the TR:

• Being 5’4”, I don’t have much options available in more than 350CC category, which are comfortable to ride in city. I am happy to say that this bike is pretty easy to manage, thanks to its low weight
• I could flat foot on any one side and it did not intimidate me. However, the handle does not let it manoeuvre easily in tight spots. I am coming from scooters so you can discount this discomfort which might go away once you get used to the bike
• This thing has ample amount of torque to roam around in the city and then pick pace on highways. I was happy that I test rode this in traffic which did put my apprehension about city handling to rest.
• The bar end mirrors provide good rear visibility but they make the handlebar look wide and you have to be careful while taking it to narrow lanes. Also I felt the handlebar could have been a bit smaller (2-3 inches total) than they are for a perfect city dweller
• I did reset the FE figures and then took 8-10 KMs test ride, end of which it did show 29 kmpl which is not bad considering I could not even engage 5th gear at all. I am sure on highway, if you ride it under 100, it would return decent mileage.
• The gear shifts are flawless and its fun to downshift and go full throttle. Unfortunately, I got only one patch of 200 meters free but it was fun nonetheless.
• As the bike was used continuously for the test rides, I could feel the heat most of the time. It was not bad but it made its presence felt.
• I am not a fan of the rear end of the bike. Somehow it makes this bike look smaller than it is. May be a round taillight like Hunter would have completed the retro look.
• Speed400 was parked next to Speed twin and you don’t feel like this bike is made by Bajaj. Kudos on the execution !!!

I liked the experience at the price offered and I will go ahead with my booking the time my bike arrives.

Here' what BHPian MandarMax had to say on the matter:

Went to check out the Street 400 at B U Bhandari, Pune a couple of days ago. In summary, it felt a bit underwhelming. Maybe the short distance or traffic played a part, or perhaps my expectations were too high.

Here are my thoughts after the test ride:

Pros:

• Engine and gearbox are tractable; it pulls well even in higher gears at low speeds.
• Styling is decent, and the build quality seems okay for now.
• Despite the good looking red colour in photos, the black looked classier in person. I'm leaning towards it if I decide to buy.

Cons:

• No "wow" factor in terms of power or torque.
• Felt smaller than anticipated with a hard clutch, hoping it smoothens over time.
• Concerns about the brand's quality, longevity, and after-sales service.
• Engine heat was noticeable, even on a cool day. This was also possibly due to constant test rides and abuse/hard revving from other test riders.

Other points:

• Booking management seems completely messy. My early booking done on June 29th wasn't recorded in their tracker sheet. I had to show my receipt a couple of times and then they managed to locate the booking in one of their systems.
• Overcrowded showroom with many being told to wait until December for new bookings.

Did a back-to-back test ride with the KTM 390 Adv. Preferred the KTM's height, presence, and build quality. However, the Street 400 felt better for city rides given better gearing and the ability to pull even in higher gears. The Triumph Scrambler might be a more interesting option given its stance and build and slightly more heft.

After riding the bigger Triumphs such as the Tiger 660, Bonneville and Speed Twin, I'm left wondering if the Street 400 will soon feel inadequate. My test ride of the Tiger 660 was a joy, making me question if I should wait and invest in a bigger bike. That being said, I might just change my booking from Street to Scrambler (if that's allowed) and wait for the test rides to start later this year. If that too feels inadequate then I guess I will have to take the plunge and get a bigger, pricier bike early next year.

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