Royal Enfield Classic 350

Has much riding on its shoulders

Paired with relatively high-set bars and comfortable footpegs, you have a bike that you can tour on more than comfortably. Best of all, with the built-in navigation feature on the instruments you don’t even need to mount your phone on the bars. Just like that, the 290 km to the Tamil Nadu border were dispatched with ease.

We entered the Tamil Nadu border as rush hour from the various factories in the Sriperumbudur district was in full swing. Thanks to the Apache’s Glide through technology GTT function, all I had to do was ease off the clutch and the Apache rolled smoothly through traffic saving us the strain of constantly having to clutch in and out in traffic. We checked into a hotel with neither rider nor motorcycle showing any signs of fatigue from the quick 300km ride down the highway.

The next morning, we arrived at the track to complete the full circle of the Apache 200 RTR 4V abilities.

As we prepped the bike for the track, what stood out was how little we really needed to change on the Apache. Having adjusted the pre-load on the adjustable front suspension for track settings, and removing the sliders from under the footpeg we were ready for the MMRT. With settings dialled in, the Apache felt like an entirely different motorcycle. Sharp and aggressive through the corners, the stock bike was only a few seconds off the pace of the race bikes. It was hard to believe that I had ridden this same motorcycle the day before this.

This really sets the Apache apart, especially in this segment. This is an entry-level sports bike that you can commute on with ease, ride comfortably on the highway and then on track-days you can take that same motorcycle and ride it hard on the track without any changes to the motorcycle. At this price point, I don’t believe there’s any with this much bang!

WITH SETTINGS DIALLED IN, THE APACHE FELT LIKE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MOTORCYCLE. SHARP AND AGGRESSIVE THROUGH THE CORNERS