Royal Enfield Classic 350
The new Classic brings a new heart and good vibes
The shape has endured for decades: the timeless form of a standard royal enfield is something that we all grew up with and learned to respect at a young age. We have known it by many names over the years — Bullet, electra, Machismo and, most lately, classic — but the enduring formula is unmistakeable. an easygoing, long-stroke, single-cylinder thumper displacing 350 cc, nestled within a simple steel frame. throw in old-world British looks and top off with a generous helping of chrome, and you have one of the most universally recognisable motorcycles in India. this year, royal enfield’s bread-and-butter product gets a long-overdue update and the red and chrome machine you’re looking at is the 2021 classic 350. not much has changed in the looks department over the last 50-odd years; after all, it is the nostalgia for days gone by that is royal enfield’s allure, and meddling too much with the age-old design would be considered blasphemy by brand loyalists. consequently, the bike standing before me could be mistaken for an older model at a glance, but closer inspection reveals a few new bits and build quality that far surpasses that of any past royal enfield 350.
as expected, royal enfield are offering several colourways on the new classic 350, including solid colours with blacked-out components, optional alloy wheels, designs inspired by the outgoing classic 350 in all-new colours, and more; however, the red and chrome on our test bike is the most authentic option on offer, and successfully captures the old-school charm that royal enfield are known for.
the Meteor impressed us greatly with its ride quality and refinement when it was launched last year and, since the classic 350 is built around the same J platform as its cruiser cousin, I already knew that it is was going to be a great improvement on its predecessor. the motor fires up promptly with a quick dab of the starter and immediately settles into an even idle, while the long chrome exhaust lets out a deep thump that spontaneously brings a smile to my face. the round speedometer with its chrome bezel looks authentic enough, while the small Lcd just below adds a modern touch and displays odo, trip meters, and a clock as well as a fuel gauge — a first for the classic 350.
the riding position doesn’t feel any different from that on the outgoing classic 350, although royal enfield claim that the handlebar has been moved slightly forward to positively affect weight distribution. I found the riding position, typical of old British bikes, natural and comfortable even after a couple of hours in the saddle. It must also be mentioned here that while the seats look unchanged, a lot of thought and effort have gone into their shape, material, and foam thickness, the result being an extremely comfortable perch that is supportive without feeling too hard and it still maintains its period-correct look.
While most of the components and surfaces on this machine feel like a great improvement on its predecessor, the mirrors on the classic 350 are a different story. although the round chrome mirrors enhance the authentic look and provide a decent field of rearwards vision, they feel flimsy and cheap and not in line with the rest of the bike. the mirrors on our test bike came loose twice during our ride and the adjustment ball joint seemed to have a mind of its own; so, the mirrors kept moving around while I was riding, requiring me to re-adjust them every time I wanted to use them. this was quite a let-down, considering how well-built the rest of the bike is, and I do hope royal enfield look into this and come up with a solution.
royal enfield had organised a fixed route just outside pune for us to experience their latest motorcycle and, with no traffic to contend with early in the morning, we were soon out on the highway with speeds rising. the new classic 350 pulls strongly from low down, while pushing the higher reaches of the rev-range no longer brings forth the vibrations that plagued the outgoing bike. I saw close to an indicated 80 km/h in second gear and just short of 100 km/h in third, but even bouncing off the limiter, this engine still manages hold on to its refinement; though that’s not how this bike is meant to be ridden.