Top 5 Affordable Retro Roadsters In India

These bikes will let you relive the old days of motorcycling at a pocket-friendly price

The retro-styled bike segment is getting hotter day by day, especially with the amount of sub-450cc bikes that were launched in the last year, and with those coming soon. Today we  take a look at the top 5 affordable retro roadsters in India.

Harley-Davidson X440

Starting this list is the X440, the most affordable Harley-Davidson in India, which is priced from Rs 2.39 lakh to Rs 2.79 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The X440 is the first bike to roll out after Hero MotoCorp took over Harley’s India operations. This American roadster is made in India, for India. It’s powered by a 440cc air- and oil-cooled engine that makes 27.4PS and 38Nm, mated to a six-speed gearbox. This engine allows the X440 to sit at highway speeds comfortably for long durations, yet is easy enough to ride around in the city. It looks nothing like the other Harleys, except the now discontinued XR1200X, which is what makes the X440 a roadster rather than a cruiser that you’d typically associate with the American brand. Keep that in mind when you approach the X440. 

Honda CB350RS

The Honda CB350RS is just the perfect bike if you want everything from the H’ness CB350 except its typical cruiser-type looks. While the RS tries hard to look like a cafe racer with its low-set handlebar and also a scrambler with its block pattern tyres. But despite its sporty appearance, it offers a true retro roadster riding experience. That is, the riding position is not completely relaxed nor is it too aggressive. But that is what makes it quite appealing to many, and it has a decent grunt too, with its 350cc air-cooled engine making 21.07PS and 30Nm. However the feather in the RS’ cap is the engine refinement, as you would expect from any Honda motorcycle. The Honda CB350RS is priced from Rs 2.15 lakh to Rs 2.19 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

The Hunter 350 is the cheapest Royal Enfield bike in India. It gets the new J-Series 350cc engine which makes a decent 20.4PS and 27Nm, which makes it easy to ride at 80kmph. It’s the most agile and nimble 350cc Royal Enfield, mainly due to its 17-inch wheels. The seat is quite soft, which makes it easy for short rides in the city. However, its stiff rear suspension can be a pain over bad roads. The Hunter 350 is available in two variants: Retro and Metro, and is priced from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1.75 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai), which makes it the most affordable retro roadster in India. 

Triumph Speed 400

The Triumph Speed 400 is the quintessential affordable retro-styled roadster. At Rs 2.34 lakh (ex-showroom, India), it’s relatively affordable, it’s got an iconic British brand with heritage, and the build quality is top notch too. Top that all with the 40PS, 37.5Nm, 398cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine which is quite easy to ride in the city. But don’t be fooled by its easy-going nature. The Speed 400 can hit a speedo-indicated 165kmph top speed, and can easily sit at 130kmph all day. The Speed 400 is quite a friendly bike, which makes it appealing for those who aren’t looking for a relatively fast, premium and affordable retro roadster. 

Jawa 350

With the Jawa 350, Classic Legends has proved that less is more. The Jawa 350 gets a bigger, 334cc liquid-cooled engine that makes less power than its 300cc predecessor. That’s mainly due to the decreased compression ratio, which has also made this engine much smoother. The Jawa 350 is an easy roadster to ride around everywhere. The bigger seat with the extra cushioning makes any ride plush, almost enough to make you forget the stiff rear suspension. The Jawa’s looks are timeless, and now the engine has decent performance with lots of refinement. The Jawa 350 is priced at Rs 2.15 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).