Buying a 350 cc bike in 2020- Royal enfield or Honda Highness

When you are planning for a bike then there are certain considerations you have to make as per your choice and liking. Some of the main points are cost of the bike and its performance. Today there are many models available in the market from the reputed bike manufacturers. In such a scenario it is not easy to select a model. But if you know your priorities you can decide that with much ease.

There are so many models in different price ranges. The models which you have mentioned are having prices in the range Rs 1.4 lakhs to 1.85. Let us go through some of these models and do a comparative study. As regards the engine power Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Honda Hness CB 350 appear having a higher power (Engine cc). So they will be advantageous in rough and inclined terrains. Price wise Honda Hness CB 350 is slightly higher side. If you are interested in a light weight bike then I would prefer Yamaha MT 15.

I have compiled the specifications of four models that is Royal Enfield Classic 350, Yamaha MT 15, Honda Hness CB350, and Bajaj RS200. You can also go through the details and select the one of your expectations. I would go for Bajaj RS200, seeing the value for money. If money is not a big constraint then it would be advisable to go for Honda Hness CB350.

1. Royal Enfield Classic 350 -
Engine : 346 CC
Emission Type : BS6
Power : 20.07 PS @ 5250 rpm
Gears : 5 Speed
ABS : Dual Channel
Wheels : Spoke
Tyre : Tube
Kerb Weight : 195 Kg
Price: Rs 1.61 lakhs

2. Yamaha MT 15 -
Engine : 155 CC
Emission Type : BS6
Power : 18.5 PS @ 10000 rpm
Gears : 6-Speed
ABS : Single Channel
Wheels : Alloy
Tyre : Tubeless
Kerb Weight : 138 Kg
Price: Rs 1.39 lakhs

3. Honda Hness CB350 -
Engine : 348 CC
Emission Type : BS6
Power : 21.07 PS @ 5500 rpm
Gears : 5 Speed
ABS : Dual Channel
Wheels : Alloy
Tyre : Tubeless Seat
Kerb Weight : 181 Kg
Price: Rs 1.85 lakhs

4. Bajaj RS200 -
Engine : 199 CC
Emission Type : BS6
Power : 24.5 PS @ 9750 rpm
Gears : 6 Speed
ABS : Dual Channel
Wheels : Alloy
Tyre : Tubeless
Kerb Weight : 166 Kg
Price: Rs 1.52 lakhs

By your query, it can be understood that you have a craze for bikes and riding them. All the options that you have given are his speed and power bikes which are costly but strong and robust. You have not mentioned anything like why are you going for such models or select the above-given options. I would give some comparison of your mentioned bikes which can help you narrow down your selection process.

a) Name: Royal Enfield Classic 350
On Road Price range - Approx. 1.8 Lakh onwards
Engine Type - Single cylinder 4 stroke, air-cooled fuel injection
Max Torquer - 28 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Starting - Kick and Self Start
Body Type - Cruiser Bikes
Fuel Capacity - 13.5 L
Battery Type - Maintenance Free(MF)
Reviews from users: People have complaints about the reduction of milage after service and the engine gets heated but overall is good for the long drive and overall looks.

b) Name: Honda Hness CB350
On Road Price range - Approx. 2 Lakh onwards
Engine Type - 4 Stroke, SI Engine, BS-VI
Max Torquer - 30 Nm @ 3000 rpm
Starting - Self Start Only
Body Type - Cruiser Bikes
Fuel Capacity - 15 L
Reviews from users: People have liked its look, mileage, style, performance when compared with the above-given variant.

c) Name: Bajaj Pulsar NS200
On Road Price range - Approx. 1.5 Lakh onwards
Engine Type - 4 stroke, SOHC 4-Valve, Liquid Cooled, Triple Spark, BSVI Compliant FI DTS-i
Max Torquer - 18.5 Nm @ 8000 rpm
Starting - Self Start Only
Body Type - Sports Naked Bikes
Fuel Capacity - 12 L
Battery Type - Maintenance Free(MF)
Reviews from users: People consider as an ideal bike for short and long drives on Indian roads considering the safety, style, design, mileage, suspension, etc.

d) Name: Yamaha YZF R15 V3
On Road Price range - Approx. 1.7 Lakh onwards
Engine Type - Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve
Max Torquer - 14.1 Nm @ 8500 rpm
Starting - Self Start Only
Body Type - Sports Bikes
Fuel Capacity - 11 L
Battery Type - ETZ
Reviews from users: The overall performance of the bike as per many users is excellent with low-cost maintenance, best millage and can beat other bikes in terms of design, style on the road in this range.

e) Name: Royal Enfield Himalayan
On Road Price range - Approx. 2.25 Lakh onwards
Engine Type - Single cylinder, 4 strokes, SOHC, Air-cooled
Max Torquer - 32 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Starting - Self Start Only
Body Type - Adventure Tourer Bikes
Fuel Capacity - 15 L
Battery Type - Maintenance Free(MF)
Reviews from users: People consider it as the beast in the two-wheelers with a big engine, excellent performance and best riding comfort, high-level comfort, low maintenance cost, durable parts, etc.

f) Name: Yamaha MT-15
On Road Price range - Approx. 1.6 Lakh onwards
Engine Type - Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve
Max Torquer - 13.9 Nm @ 8500 rpm
Starting - Self Start Only
Body Type - Sports Naked Bikes
Fuel Capacity - 10 L
Reviews from users: The bike has good overall performance with great Power, pickup, stylish on looks, Good mileage, no vibrations of the engine and pretty good and comfy for rides. The problem highlighted by users is poor Suspension, pillion comfort and high cost.

These days there are many models of bikes in the market from different manufacturers. The choice will vary from person to person. Mainly we have to think of the budget. How much we want to spend on the bike. Then maintenance cost should be minimum and the vehicle should give us good milage. Based on these facts one will select the model. You have mentioned the names of 6 vehicles. Now you have to shortlist the item from the list. The specifications of the models are as below.
1. Royal Enfield Classic 350: The cost of this vehicle is about 1.6 L. The engine is 4 stroke, SOHC 4-Valve, Liquid Cooled, Triple Spark, BSVI Compliant FI DTS-i. The vehicle is appreciated by regular users except for small issues.
2. Yamaha R15 V3: The cost of the vehicle is about 1.6 Lakhs. The engine is of Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve type. Many of the users are happy with the performance of the vehicle as the problems are very less and mileage is also good.
3. Yamaha MT 15: The cost of the vehicle is about 1.5 Lakhs. The engine is of Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve type. The performance is good except for small problems.
4. Honda Hness CB350: The cost of the vehicle is about 1.9L. The engine is of 4 Stroke, SI Engine, BS-VI. Many people who can afford the price are of the view that the vehicle deserves the cost.
5. Bajaj Pulsar RS200: The cost of the vehicle is about Rs.1.5 Lakhs. The engine is of 4 stroke, SOHC 4-Valve, Liquid Cooled, Triple Spark, BSVI Compliant FI DTS-i type. The users are comfortable with this vehicle even when they go for long-distance travel.
6. Royal Enfield Himalayan: The price will start from Rs.2.1 Lakhs. The engine is of Single cylinder, 4 strokes, SOHC, Air-cooled. If we are ready to spend this much money, this vehicle is treated as the best and the users are very happy with the vehicle.
Now you can decide based on the budget. If I have to make a choice I will go for Royal Enfield Himalayan.

It appears that you have much fascination of the latest models of the bikes from the different brands and in order to select the best variant, you would have to examine the different features such as fuel consumption, sturdiness, safety of brakes, maximum speed of the bike attainable within fraction of seconds and constant supply of the power in course of driving etc.
I would discuss the some of the salient features of the different models making the same in your list to be included for selecting the models. Different models and their review of the users are listed below -
1) Royal Enfield Classic 350 -
Price Range - 1.8 lakh and onward
Engine Type - Single Cylinder 4 stroke air cooled fuel injection
Starting - Kick and self start
Fuel Capacity - 13.5 L
Battery Type - Cruiser Bike
Review - Riders have experienced the reduction of mileage within the couple of months after the purchase. Moreover excess heat generation was felt on the engine segment during the long drive otherwise it would appear up to mark in terms of safety feature and attainment of maximum speed within fraction of seconds.
2) Honda Hness CB 350-
On road price - Approx 2 lakh onward
Engine Type - 4 stroke, SI Engine, BS -6
Starting - self start only
Body type - Cruise Bike
Review of customers - There is overall appreciation of the users in terms of performance , safety and driving pleasure with the given model.
3) Bajaj Pulsar Rs 200 -
On road price - Approx 1.5 lakh only
Engine type - 4 stroke, SOHC - 4 valve liquid cooled, Triple spark
Starting - Self start only
Body Type - Sports naked bike
Fuel Capacity - 12L
Battery type - Maintenance free
Review of users - Users are highly satisfied with the better throttle response, effective braking system due to provision of ABS feature, trouble free rides etc.
4) Yamha - YZF R15 V3-
On Road Price Range - Approx 1.7 lakh and onward
Engine type - Liquid cooled, 4 stroke, SOHC , 4 Valve
Fuel Capacity - 11L
Battery type - ETZ
Review of the users -


5) Royal Enfield Himalaya -
On Road Price Range - Approx 2.5 lakh and onward
Engine Type - Single Cylinder, 4 stroke, AC air cooled
Starting - Self start
Fuel Capacity - 15 L
Review of the users - The users are highly impressed with the engine capacity due to its enlarged capacity as compared to other versions, excellent in terms of comfort while driving,maintenance cost minimum and durability of the parts used in the bike is excellent.
6) Yamha - MT - 15
On road price range - Approx 1.6 lakh
Engine type - Liquid cooled, 4 stroke, SOHC, 4 valve
Starting - Self start only
Body type - Sports naked bike
Fuel capacity - 10 L
Review from the users - The engine is relatively advanced as compared to the other variants. Users are highly satisfied with the fuel saving, amazing suspension and riding comforts for the long travel. High revolution per minute ensures high speed in the highway.Fuel consumption is less leading to higher mileage in highway ie around 67 km/litre where as in the heavy traffic conditions, mileage would be around 48 km/ litre.

It is depend on your requirement of the 350cc bikes. In case if you are looking for a heavy bike with 350cc then you can go with Royal Enfield brand. And, if you are interested in stylish 350cc bikes then you can try a different brands than RE, or, as stated by you or the other members' in responses.

The latest one from RE is, Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and it has just launched in India. I would suggest you to go with this bike in case if you are intested in RE brand bikes ignoring the special features in case if you are looking for.

You can check the RE Meteor 350 bike's specs in brief, below.

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 specs / features:
Cylinder: G-Series 349cc
Maximum Power: 20.2 HP @ 6100 rpm
Transmission: 5 speed
Emission Type: BS6
Fuel Tank Capacity: 15 litres
Ground Clearance: 170 mm
Valve Per Cylinder: 4

RE Meteor 350 price: INR 1.75 lakh approx.

Also, there are reviews available about the subject bike on YouTube and online articles for better understanding.