With the launch of the new Classic 350, Royal Enfield has ushered in a new era of Classic. In the mountainous surroundings of the French Rhône, we were introduced to the new retro classic, which was the top seller in India last year. An extensive test will soon be available on Motorfreaks, here are our first findings.
That Royal Enfield has hit the nail on the head with the new Classic 350, which was already launched in India last year, as the second model of the new 350 single-cylinder platform, when the figures are added during the presentation: from 20,000 units per twenty years ago to 20,000 units per week last year. Figures that make them jealous of the competition.
Technically, the Classic 350 has many similarities with the Meteor 350, launched last year in Rotterdam, designed and developed by Harris Performance, acquired in 2015, which had previously been responsible for the chassis of the Continental GT. 2015 was also the year that Royal Enfield passed Harley-Davidson in worldwide sales figures, but that aside.
The block and bicycle part have been taken over almost one-on-one from the Meteor 350, but then topped with a retro-classic sauce for which Royal Enfield seems to have an incredibly good nose. So good, that if we had to choose, we would always go for the Classic 350. In terms of looks it seems as if time has stood still for half a century, while under the skin it is a modern bike.
The 349 cc single cylinder is specified for an output of 20 hp at 6,100 rpm and a maximum torque of 27 Nm, which is already delivered at 4,000 rpm. On paper these may not be impressive numbers, but in the French Rhone it turned out to be more than enough to be able to take even the steepest mountain passes without the feeling of having to re-step.
The Classic 350 also owes the latter to its ‘slow down factor’. The Classic 350 is not a bike that continuously tries to tempt you to go for a nice anti-social ragging, but just to enjoy a relaxing strum. Which it turns out to be very good at, thanks to a relaxed and comfortable seat and a wonderful block that despite ‘only’ 20 hp and ‘only’ 349 cc to drive. Most of the day was spent mostly in 3rd and 4th gear.
The bicycle part is also not to be faulted. The front fork could have been a little softer to absorb the many unevennesses in the asphalt, but those roads where it felt that way were really of the level that a new layer of asphalt would not be a luxury. Not that the front was bouncing like a supersport from the early ’90s when sporty was mentioned in the same breath with rock-hard suspension, but we would have welcomed a little more comfort.
That ‘under the skin sporty’ is also apparent from things like the Tripper navigation system, which made its debut last year on the Meteor 350 and Himalayan and is available as an accessory, and the USB charging point that is very subtly under the bracket of the clutch lever. mounted. Enough ‘premium’ engines where USB in 2022 is still missing.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is available in an extensive color palette, with prices starting at € 5,999 with us in the Netherlands. That includes 3 years Road Assistance and a 3 year warranty. An extensive test of the engine will soon be available on Motorfreaks.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.