Royal Enfield Classic 350 2021

Royal Enfield Classic 350 design 

The Classic is a design legend and we really don’t need to go into detail about what makes it so widely loved. What we will say is that it’s nicely put together with appealing quality all around and a solid, almost unbreakable feel. The Classic is available in multiple colour options and can even be had with alloy wheels if you want the peace of mind of tubeless tyres.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 features

The small LCD below the analogue speedometer displays the odometer, two trip metres and the fuel gauge. The top-spec Chrome variant also gets the company’s Tripper navigation display as an optional extra. It will also be available as an MIY accessory for the lower models in the coming months. There’s also a neat USB charging socket underneath the clutch lever’s mounting point, but that’s where the features list ends.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 Engine and performance 

Royal Enfield wasn’t after performance numbers while designing this engine, but it still gets the Classic to 60kph in 5.25sec and 100kph in 16.23sec. What Royal Enfield enthusiasts will appreciate the most though is that the engine still oozes character. Royal Enfield has made sure that the engine braking is very controlled, and that fueling isn’t cut abruptly as you go off throttle, so as to give the bike gradual deceleration. The Classic can sit at around 95-100kph without feeling like it’s coming apart. The 5-speed gearbox is smooth and works well with this motor, but the clutch feels heavy, especially in bumper to bumper traffic.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 Ride and handling

Royal Enfield has also made big improvements in the chassis department. The biggest change comes in the double-downtube frame that replaces the basic single-cradle unit. While the main frame and swingarm are exactly the same as on the Meteor, the foot peg mounts are different, as is the rear subframe which enables the mounting of a different rear fender. Like with the Meteor 350, the ground clearance on the 2021 Classic 350 has climbed by 35mm, to a fairly substantial 170mm. As a result, there’s a big bump in cornering clearance as well. The bike has a relatively firm feel to the ride quality, but it’s not harsh or too stiff. What has come as a by-product of this suspension set-up is much more confident handling.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 Price and Verdict 

With its familiar looks, it may not look like it, but the engineers at Royal Enfield have done as much as they could while not messing with what gets them the nutty sales numbers. When compared to the outgoing model, it has major improvements to the engine, frame, suspension and brakes, but without compromising on the feel that customers will expect. They’ve also added a couple of features and improved the fit and finish, while they were at it. With a starting price of Rs 1.93 lakh the single channel ABS-equipped Redditch variant is competitively priced. The Halcyon, Signals, Dark and Classic Chrome variants are progressively more expensive. As a package, the Classic 350 has been modernised and improved in almost every way. However, RE has also managed to retain the virtues that Classic fans tend to love and that makes this motorcycle a safe, yet worthy successor to the original.