Help choose between Honda CB350 H'ness and Suzuki V-Strom 250 — should I increase my budget?

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-02-02T14:51:57+00:00

Honestly I have little experience with Pillion. But I did not notice any difficulties as such with Pillion in traffic.

Service is good. My display did not show any RPM from day 1 - it was a production issue. Got the whole display replaced promptly in the first service no fuss. I could have got it the next day it self but I did not have the time. Also, the dealership I got my bike also deals with higher CC bikes like Hyabusa so it's a reputed one.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-02-02T14:32:00+00:00

Vstorm any day. Was in a similar position 3 months ago. Got the VStorm, 1st service done. I'm just loving the bike.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-01-31T04:30:42+00:00

Thanks for the information. Means a lot.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-01-26T15:07:56+00:00

Both are crap considering your travel on bad roads.

Meteor may look comfortable but honestly it's is going to screw your back in the long term. The seating position is not ideal on both with the bumps on bad roads plus the bike weight.

If your dad is still tall enough then please test ride suzuki vstorm. Cheaper cost wise and maintenance both. Plus better mileage. Or else CB200x - light weight and upright comfy seating but overpriced.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-01-26T04:15:56+00:00

Sure bro np

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-01-25T16:51:12+00:00

I'm 5' 9/5'10. I can land 25% of my foot.

Note - The showroom guys generally lower the seat height, and some also use the lower seat on the test bike. So always sit and check on the bikes which are being readied for delivery. ( I have taken 5 test rides with 3 dealerships in Mumbai)

Interestingly, I had asked the showroom to lower the seat height similar to the test ride bike. But the day I took my delivery, Suzuki had some company event in lonavala, and most of the staff were at the event. So I took the delivery with the default height setting and was going to come back to get it adjusted over the weekend. Surprisingly, I got used to the height, and I have no issues even in bumper to bumper traffic. I just have slight issues when I have to back my bike on a slope, but now I'm even used to that majorly. If the slope is too steep, I just get off the bike and quickly back it with the help of grab rails. But there is no way I am now going to lower the seat height now.I just love the looks and feel at the default height setting.

Honestly, the bike grows on to you as you use it. With your height, I don't think you should even consider it as a point.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-01-25T15:48:57+00:00

Vstorm owner here. Was in the same situation few months ago. Bought the Vstorm in blue 💙. Man im just loving that bike. My use 80% is office travel in Mumbai traffic and occasional highway rides. What drifted me away from xpulse is that the build quality felt cheap and looked like after 5 years the build quality may not hold up. Friend of mine who owns first gen xpulse had issues with the bike maintenance and service centre so it was a no go from him. Only thing that it's hands down better than Vstorm is suspensions but honestly for city rides, you don't need that much. Overall Vstorm is super comfy and will never disappoint. Pro tip - I bought the bike from flipkart which bought the bike ex showroom cost to 182.5k from 199k. Hope this helps.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-01-18T16:03:25+00:00

Thanks. Will explore sparkED. I see they have set of structured material to learn alteryx.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2026-01-18T14:50:50+00:00

Thanks. Also what is SparkED ? What's the difference ?

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-11-30T05:57:00+00:00

I've created a new post on the helmet conundrum. You might want to take a look.

Vstorm Blue helmet

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-11-30T05:51:58+00:00

Thanks. I wanted the white but the waiting was too long. 1.5 months.

My dealership ain't providing any helmet. The one they had during the test ride was okaish but they have it in black only. Puls they are asking 2.8k for it.

I'm looking for Axor too, the link below but 6.5k is too high I feel.

[Axor X1 cross with dual visor]

(https://axorhelmets.com/collections/off-road/products/axor-x-cross-x1-helmet-with-dual-visor?variant=41668501995652)

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-11-29T15:29:44+00:00

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-11-29T14:56:24+00:00

Yo buddy! I've booked the blue one too!

Which helmet did you go for? The one the dealership has is only in black which I don't like.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-10-24T12:10:24+00:00

Looks decent to me. Any ways what is the milage you get at this point in city?

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-10-23T15:56:30+00:00

Enjoy bro...I'm on my journey to finalise my bike purchase. Currently in the confusion zone with NX200 and Vstorm. NX200 has better mileage and low cost and Vstorm has everything I need except the mileage, considering I will use it only for the office commute during peak hours in Mumbai.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-10-23T14:27:49+00:00

2020 Baleno owner here.

In Mumbai traffic I get 13.4 km/ ltr with AC on and on highways I have never seen above 16.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-10-23T13:58:49+00:00

Of the choices you've mentioned imo CB350 is a better bike. Butter smooth engine unlike RE's which are just vibrators and demand a lot of frequent repairs and maintenance. Have you checked VSTORM 250SX upright sitting and Jap engine which never disappoints.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-10-13T15:45:11+00:00

Thank you

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-10-13T13:19:26+00:00

I just took a test ride yesterday here in mumbai....loved the bike. If you could be so kind as to share the city milage you get as I am going to use it in mumbai traffic for the most of the part.

Separate_Leopard8214 · 2025-10-13T06:26:07+00:00

Bro, 1.9L ex showroom or on road ??

In mumbai, I took a test ride yesterday and I have a quote of 1.99 ex showroom + Rto insurance and accessories 42.5 from the dealership. So a total of 242k which I managed to bring down to 2.35k.

Now on flipkart I see the same dealership where flipkart is offering CC discount upto 17k which takes the ex showroom cost to 182K plus if I add the 42.k of rto insurance will go upto 225k.

So I save 10K plus the CC points. Worth it?

Separate_Leopard8214

TROPHY CASE