It’s been over a year since I started using my NS400Z as a daily commuter. No major issues so far. But if you ride sensibly, it's surprisingly fuel efficient and the upright riding position makes it easy to thread your way through traffic. If you just keep up with regular maintenance, you’ll be fine.

Now obviously the NS400Z has potential, as someone who’s built a few custom bikes myself. There's enough power to work with and the frame is good for cafe racer conversions. You’ll have to be prepared to make a lot of parts yourself as the aftermarket isn’t as developed as it is for other more popular models.

It's a mixed bag. There’s a great engine and performance, but refinement is still something Bajaj needs to work on. The higher one goes in speed, vibrations can become an issue. Nevertheless, it is a massive leap forward for Indian motorcycles and the promise is great. In two generations it'll be a real winner.

Having toured on a number of bikes, I would say that the NS400Z is a good all round bike. It isn’t as comfy as a dedicated tourer, but it’s a lot more fun on twisty roads. It is easy to do multi day trips with some soft luggage and a tank bag. That’s just something to plan for more frequent stops.

I’ve been around a bunch of NS400Zs as a track day instructor. These are great bikes for the beginner to learn the basics of riding track. If you can’t carry corner speed, and you’re smooth on the straights, you’ll get passed, but you’ll learn a lot.