But, then comes along the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350: it looks drop dead gorgeous and has the same road presence as the Classic 350, something that is a sore point for the X440. And now you're confused, the bike with a bigger engine and more expensive brand tag on the tank sounds inviting but the Goan is just beautiful. Here we'll help you decide which of the two to go for:

Price & Variants

• The Royal Enfield 350cc bikes are so well-priced that it's hard for non-Indian brands to match them. At Rs 2.22 lakh, the Goan's top variant is about Rs 12,000 less than the X440's base variant. The gap obviously widens if you decide to spec up your X440.

• While the X440 isn't very expensive in itself, bikes like the Goan Classic 350 and Triumph Speed 400 are so well-priced, they make you feel like the Harley's just a little bit expensive.

Dimensions & Design

• While their weights are something you will get used to over a period of time, it's only fair if beginners get on them and suddenly lose a bit of their confidence, given their weights.

• In terms of designs, it's a one-sided battle. The Harley-Davidson X440 isn't conventionally pretty and its subpar finish levels don't help either. So when viewed from afar, it's a bike with slightly awkward proportions and wiring that takes away from the premium feel. At this price point, that should've been taken care of better, for sure.

• The Goan, on the other hand, is drop dead gorgeous. It has the imposing proportions of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 with classic bobber aesthetics: ape handlebars and a single seat, both of which add to the retro appeal. And then there are the colour schemes, which are droolworthy, to say the least. Purple Haze is catchy, Shack Black is just gorgeous, Trip Teal looks stunning and Rave Red is bold. Add to that the whitewall tyres and you have an absolute looker.

Features & Safety

• The Harley-Davidson's TFT definitely looks more premium than the Goan Classic 350's analogue console. The TFT is bright and spaced out enough to be easily read even while on the go, and it's thankfully not filled up with all sorts of details on the home page itself.

• Meanwhile, the Goan's analogue console is something we've seen on the standard Classic 350 as well. It has just the basic data and if you need a bit more, there's the tiny little digital inset under it, which is barely readable without leaning in towards the console.

• That said, these are two retro bikes so we're not mad about the fact that the Goan Classic isn't crammed up with features. In fact, retro purists might even like the Goan's old-school console more than the X440's TFT.

Engines

• Both bikes have similar easygoing and torque-laden engines. Both have a lot of grunt at low revs, meaning you don't need to put in a lot of effort to execute quick overtakes. Both bikes fly past traffic quite naturally and they're lovely to ride in the city.

• That said, they both enjoy a brisk pace, not a fast one. Rev both bikes out and you'll probably come back to riding them more easily because they don't have a lot of performance up top.

• The X440's engine will feel like the stronger engine of the two given that it's the bigger one with more performance. That also comes into play out on the highway where the Harley-Davidson bike feels like the more relaxed bike at 100-105kmph. While the Classic 350 isn't super stressed at those speeds, it definitely doesn't feel as calm as the X440.

Verdict

This is a tough one. For starters, if you want something that just looks cooler and more special, you should probably get the Goan Classic 350. The Goan will turn heads like not many bikes in this segment and the X440 cannot match the Goan's feel good factor. For that, the X440 will have to be finished a lot better.

With that out of the way, the next question is who should get the X440. For starters, if you're a Harley-Davidson fan, getting one for just Rs 2.35 lakh will mean a lot to you. Secondly, if you think there are a lot of Royal Enfield bikes out on the road and want something that's quicker yet authentically retro, the X440 will charm you with its beautiful engine.

vs Rivals:

• If road presence and finish levels matter to you the most, get the Royal Enfield Classic 350. Otherwise, the X440 is quicker and a bit easier to ride.
• The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a lot more sporty and exciting, so if that's what you want, get the Guerrilla over the X440.
• Under the beautiful retro looks, the Triumph Speed 400 is a thoroughly modern bike. So if you want fun, get the Speed and if you want a genuine retro bike, get the X440
• The Bajaj Dominar 400 feels quite dated and if you want a proper retro experience, get the X440
• If you want to learn off-roading or want to tour more, get the Triumph Scrambler 400 X. But if you just want a sweet retro bike, get the X440
• The TVS Apache RTR 310 is a properly sporty bike, while the X440 is a laidback, gentle retro one.