Query Approved

TB500 would actually be the bike to prefer in this case. It won't grab too much attention in the parking lots, it can be used for long tours, It's great as an occasional ride and is comfortable for rider as well as pillion. With a little care and pampering, it won't give you too much trouble in the long run.
CBR250 would be your second choice, as it looks good (subjective matter!) and is comfortable for long tours as well as for commuting (Have been using it for both, every day!) But it will surely draw attention (at least it does, in my parking lot) and unwanted fingerprints and occasional scratches as surprise gifts.
Duke won't be comfy for a pillion or for those long weekend tours.

Go for CBR250 ABS instead of TB500/CL500

There will be a lot of people giving you lot of suggestions. Since you don't have budget constraint, there are lot of optons. But try the below pointers and you will be amazed that how quick can you make a selection.

1. Sort out your use - You need to keep in mind the regularity of use, your parkng space etc. For instance, I took my tri-color CBR to office 2 days after I bought it and found couple of scratches on the heat shield of the exhaust and the tank. Specially, CBR, Ninja and Duke will attaract posers.
2. Maintainance - You need to get in touch with the existing ownerrs to get an idea of the maintainance. Like the Ninja parts are litte expensive whereas CBR parts are cheaper when compared. Even the service cost is included in maintainance.
3. Fuel average - You have already mentioned, you don't bother about FE, so chill.
4. Your riding style - Like I was cnfused between N250 & CBR. I rode N250 of a freind and found the power of 2 cylinders lie above 7000RPM whereas CBRs power starts all the way from 4000RPM. So it helped me, since I don't ride it too harsh.

Atleat the above points helped me decide. Take a try.

Sid, Somen, bbsrailfan thank you guys for your valueable inputs.
It seems that as per my need CBR 250 and TBTS 500 are best suited.
For TBTS:
1. Wifey liked it, because of pillion seat or maybe she does't want me to feel younger by choosing Duke.
2. Less unwanted attraction in parking lot
3. I really like seating position, it gives you a feeling that you are not sitting on it but inside it
4. RE along with a bike gives you a family at no cost (strong RE fraternity)
5. I think its a bit flickable as well compared to other RE

Against:
1. Reliability (a big concern for me as i dont want to spend my weekend in garage instead of riding)
2. Waiting period (can be reduced as i have some links)
3. Pillion Seat is not comfy for big guys, st the best a ladies seat(it seems atleast to me)
4. ASC

For CBR:
1. Reliable
2. Comfortable for both rider and pillion
3. Eats potholes with ease
4. Faster than TBTS so can save lot of time while touring
5. ABS
6. I think attracts less attention in parking lot then say a Ninja
7. Fun factor

Against:
1. Wifey dont like it but i can manage that
2. ASC

Please add to above if i missed anything.

Doubts regarding Duke 390:
I heard that duke has upright seating position so it should be more comfartable on long tours plus i think its a bliss in city, unmatched infact. So dont you think its a better bet?

Well the CBR is a beautiful machine.
Great tourer infact.
Anyways, as you have choosen 2 entirely different segment bikes, The decision is One to final.
According to me, The CBR-250 ABS will suit your requirements better.
And coming to Duke 390, its one of the most dangerous bikes ever launched in india, being a four stroke, however i should not compare it with a 2 stroke Rd, but i hope the duke 390 makes a powerful feel a bit like the Rd-350
Drop a gear and disappear policy. You can wait for it & check it out too, but according to me, it is way too powerful for indian roads man. A 250 is enough to serve.

Which of these 2 would be easier to manage in city traffic.. Can CBR go zig zag in slow traffic ssy 30 40kmph.

I went to Nawab honda in gurgaon for test ride of CBR250 and surprisingly SE said that sir we do not have TD bike, its with the boss so you can listen to bike's engine sound and decide... I said bug off.
I will try to have Test ride from other dealer.

If Duke 390 is truely madness like RD350 then i would like to wait and taste it before i decide... It would be then a thing to keep

@Cheetah, Most of the points which you have mentioned for the CBR250 are very much true. I am 5'9", 90kgs and 29+. I ride a CBR250 to work every day and it's pure joy on open roads, but frustrating in bumper-to-bumper traffic. ASC was an issue in the past, not anymore. But yes, it does attract unwanted attention when parked. Maybe not as much as a Ninja, but definitely more than a TBTS.

And don't forget the essential difference - the riding style in a RE is very different from the riding style in a CBR or a Duke. You have to teach yourself to be patient, calm and to "leisurely hog the road like a bull".

The Duke definitely has an upright seating position with rearset footpegs - pretty awkward, if you ask me. It feels best in the city, but very odd on tours. And being a puny, naked bike, the windblast will be terrible at speeds above 90. It's a bike that is happiest in city and short rides. And the wifey will definitely punch your eyes black once she discovers the dimunitive pillion seat

Dont Expect it to be Enritely close to RD-350, because as said, these two are entirely different bikes.
a 4 stroke should not be compared with a 2 stroke twin cylinder bike though.
Duke-390 at some point makes power figures a bit closer to the Rd-350.

Thanks guys..it seems that i am more inclined towards duke 390. And these are the reasons my mind is giving me for this choice:

1.Age: I am at the fag end of 20s and with age my reflexes will become slow,so this is the time when i can taste thunder . Cruiser style riding can wait as it can be done after some years with same passion.
2. Let RE improve there QC, i hope they will once HD enters 500 cc segment with some localisation.
3. Pillion: i can take my car when i have to travel with my wife and anyways she prefers that only... And maybe just sometimes i can give her hair raising experience of riding pillion on duke.

What do you guys think.. Are my expectation with duke gonna meet its actual performance?

PS: more i think to clear my doubts.... More i get confused

I really can't comment about your personal preferences, but if you are really inclined for the Duke 390, it's just a week away - you can take a TR and then decide if it's really worth the hype.

CL500/TB 500
These are good if you prefer a much relaxed and comfortable ride and have a liking for the Bullet. Better to ride in the highways, hard to maneuver in the city. If you are going through some busy traffic in the city, its best to stay from these. Reasonable mileage for a 500cc engine. Looks are subjective. Only those who have a liking for bullets will like its looks. Fun factor is subjective as well, but like I mentioned before its a much more sedate and relaxed ride.

CBR250R
Good for both city and highway. Though some find it a bit hard to ride in heavy traffic. Excellent for touring on the highway, very good mile muncher. Reasonable mileage for a 250. Looks are subjective. Best(perhaps the only) sport touring machine currently available in this range. More fun than the bullet, but still not as much as a Duke. Will fix in your budget. I would suggest this if you are riding in mediocre traffic in city and partly on the highway.

Duke 390
Pure streetfighter/city bike. Excellent maneuverability in the city, extremely flickable due to lightweight of the ride. Most powerful of the lot that you've mentioned. Mileage is yet to be known since its not out yet. But should be reasonably good for its capacity. Looks exactly the same as the D200, so some if not all may not like it. Should be the most fun bike to ride in the city. Expected to be a high revving machine, though not as short geared like the 200. Don't know yet how it will fare on the highway as its a lightweight naked bike. There is always the question of high speed stability.

Ninja 300
Better than the previous N250R. Does not have low end torque issues that were prevalent in the previous version. Parallel twin cylinders. Most expensive of the lot(expected to be around 4L). Maintenance will be expensive as well. Will attract a lot of attention. Has the best looks. Will be quite a fun to ride at high rpms. Just like the CBR, if you are riding through mediocre traffic in the city and partly on the highways, pick it up if you can afford the extra cash. Not sure about the mileage, it can dip below 25 if ridden at high traffic so watch out for that too. Has more tech than the other bikes you've mentioned.

Pick your ride based on your priority. If you are going to ride through city with traffic most of the time, I'd suggest the Duke. If its going to be partly highway/partly city with mediocre traffic the CBR/Ninja should do. If you are looking for a relaxed ride and have a liking for RE, CL/TB500 would do.

Re: Help required in choosing my ride

Update..booked desert storm today...2 months waiting period..but still in 2 mind about duke 390 and desert storm

Re: Help required in choosing my ride

Update : I have bought black duke 390 yesterday so this thread can be closed.
[MENTION=23793]mod[/MENTION]erators please close this thread