GST 2.0 came just in time for the festive season, adding to the already burgeoning demand for new two-wheelers in India. For bikes and scooters under 350cc, this has come as a welcome change because they now fall under the 18 percent tax bracket (down from the previous 28 percent). In this story, we’ll be comparing how the popular Royal Enfield Classic 350’s prices shape up against its most direct rival, the Honda CB350.
Royal Enfield Classic 350 price after GST
Classic 350 prices have fallen by up to Rs 16,000.
The Classic 350 is Royal Enfield’s bread-and-butter model and is available in multiple variants, with the primary difference being colour options and single or dual-channel ABS. Before the GST revision, the Classic 350’s price used to start at Rs 1.97 lakh and go all the way up to Rs 2.33 lakh. After the revised tax slabs, its price now starts at Rs 1.81 lakh and goes up to Rs 2.16 lakh, marking a price drop of up to Rs 16,000.
Just to recap, the Classic 350 is powered by the same J-platform 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine making the same 20.2hp and 27Nm. Underpinnings are largely the same across the board with a few tweaks here and there. The base two variants come with a rear drum brake, halogen headlight and pilot lights and single-channel ABS. The two dark colour options come with alloy wheels and tubeless tyres, while the rest come with wire-spoked rims shod with tubed tyres.
Honda CB350 price after GST
CB350 price has fallen by up to Rs 18,000.
The base CB350 from Honda is perhaps the most direct rival in terms of look and feel to the popular Classic 350, which is why we have chosen it here, although the CB350 H’ness and CB350RS both aren’t that different or more expensive either. The CB350 comes in standard and DLX variants, with the former priced at Rs 2.00 lakh and the latter at Rs 2.18 lakh, before the GST revision. Now, the CB350’s price starts at Rs 1.88 lakh and goes up to Rs 2.00 lakh, marking a drop of up to Rs 18,000.
The CB350 is powered by a 348cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor making 21hp and 29.5Nm. Both variants are mechanically identical and the only difference is in terms of colour options and Bluetooth module for the DLX.
Royal Enfield Classic 350 vs Honda CB350 price difference
Classic’s starting price is lower but top-end model is quite pricey.
Comparing both bikes is quite interesting because while the Classic 350’s starting price is lower than the CB350’s, its top chrome variant is a fair deal more pricey than the Honda. Both have strong brand appeal and similar functionality, so ultimately, it all depends on the sort of riding experience you’re after between the two.
Also See: Hero Mavrick 440 vs Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Honda CB350: Retro Rumble
Ved Janve
Vishal Venugopal
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