The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the brand’s best-selling model and has achieved a cult of its own, given the thumping engine and old-school styling. The Classic 350 continues to be the most sought-after retro motorcycle in its segment despite the new arrivals in the segment. The current generation Classic 350 arrived in 2021 and is based on the new J-platform underpinning a host of 350 cc motorcycles in the brand’s lineup.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 uses a new dual cradle frame, while the suspension setup comprises 41 mm telescopic forks at the front with 130 mm of travel and a 6-step preload- adjustable twin shock absorbers at the rear. The braking duties are performed by a 300 mm single disc at the front and a 153 mm disc brake at the rear. The entry-level Redditch variants get a drum brake setup at the rear. The motorcycle is available with single-channel ABS on the lower trims, while the higher variants get dual-channel ABS as standard.
Power on the Royal Enfield Classic 350 comes from the 349 cc single-cylinder, long-stroke, air and oil-cooled engine tuned for 20.2 bhp at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. The motor is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The Classic 350 tips the scales at 195 kg and has a fuel tank capacity of 13 litres.
Visually, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 retains the lines of the older generation model. The round headlamp, round rearview mirrors, teardrop-shaped fuel tank and the split seats, all point towards the vintage look. The bike also gets a side-slung exhaust and spoked wheels with a 19- unit at the front and an 18-inch unit at the rear. The wheels come shod with a 100/90-section front and 120/80-section rear tyres. These are tube-type tyres on the Classic 350.
The low seat height of 805 mm makes the Royal Enfield Classic 350 accessible to most users. The ground clearance at 170 mm ensures it can tackle most roads easily across different terrains. The Classic 350 is restricted in features but gets a semi-digital instrument cluster and USB charging port. The new cluster shows an analogue speedometer, while the LCD readout shows the odometer, two trip meters, clock, and fuel gauge. It also gets the new rotary switchgear from the Meteor 350. The top variants can be had with the Royal Enfield Tripper navigation unit that brings additional convenience to the motorcycle.
The new-generation Royal Enfield Classic 350 is sold in five variants - Redditch, Halcyon, Classic Signals, Dark, and Classic Chrome. There are 11 colour options on offer including Redditch Sage Green, Redditch Grey, Halcyon Black, Halcyon Green, Halcyon Blue, Signals Marsh Grey, Signals Desert Sand, Gunmetal Grey, Dark Stealth Black, Chrome Red, and Chrome Brown.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 competes against the Honda CB350, Benelli Imperiale 400, Jawa 42, Yezdi Roadster and TVS Ronin in the segment.