Royal Enfield Classic 350

When we talk about the RE Classic 350 design, there's only one word that comes to mind - timeless. Its teardrop-shaped fuel tank with matte finished leg guard, and pinstriped decal with the name in bold lettering is the biggest attention grabber. Next up is the powerplant itself, which looks no less than a work of art, and its hard not to mention the pea shooter style exhaust. At the front, the Classic 350 gets old-school round headlight with tiny pilot lights flanking alongside bullet-style turn indicators. The large seat-mounted on springs and the full-sized fenders bring in the sense of quality to the design. Under the seat are present oval-shaped battery box and one of the world's most beautiful air filter covers. Smaller details like the chrome-plated rearview mirrors and integrated dials in the headlight housing are delightful. Coming to the bike's dimensions, they perfectly complement its stance and goes as follows: 2160 mm X 790 mm X 1090 mm (LXWXH). Its a 90/90 front and a 110/90 rear tire are warped in 19- and 18-inch wheels. The back seat can be removed easily as per requirement, and it further highlights the bike's design. Royal Enfield currently offers the Classic 350 in five colour options, including black, classic black, silver, ash, and chestnut. All these elements together create one of the most iconic silhouettes in the motorcycle industry. 

When fully loaded with passenger and cargo, the Classic 350 weighs more than 193 kg. Its wide handlebars make commuting at low speeds through heavy traffic very easy and efficient. Its straight-line performance is equally good with the bike tracking well and staying stable at high speeds on the highway. Its single downtube frame uses the powerplant as a stressed member, therefore when it comes to handling the Classic 350 is not a sports bike. The bike offers a relaxed seating position. Moreover, it is fitted with 35 mm telescopic front forks with 130 mm of travel and the twin gas-charged rear shock absorbers with 5-step adjustable preload and 80 mm of travel. Together, they do a great job of absorbing imperfections on the road. However, there is one big issue: the harshness from the engine, which makes high-speed ride unbearable.

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is powered by a 346cc single-cylinder twin spark air-cooled, carbureted engine that thumps out a maximum power of 19.8 hp at 5250 rpm and a peak torque of 28 Nm at 4000 rpm. Sending power to the ground is a 5-speed transmission. Both an electric and kick starter options are available for riders; the later obviously offers a more authentic riding experience. If noticed carefully, the Classic 350 specs resemble that of the Middle Ages, and the bike itself is not very different. And it is because the engine is very harsh and the vibrations it creates fast reaches the handlebars and every other part of the bike. Thus making even those nice rearview mirrors at times unusable. As mentioned earlier, when fully-loaded, the bike weighs 192 kg, making the engine feel slightly underpowered to move. However, this 346cc mill does hold a few charms of its own - it is very torquey with a lot of the peak torque available at a very low rev range. The transmission, as well as the clutch, is very smooth. These two things make this RE bike a breeze on the highways allowing the rider to cruise all day long without doing a lot of gear shifting. The 13.5-litre fuel tank is good enough, and the Classic 350 offers a fuel efficiency of 25-30 kmpl. But the best part about is the meaty exhaust note that announces one's arrival from miles away.

A 280mm disc with a twin-piston caliper at the front and a 240 mm disc with a single-piston caliper at the rear take care of the Classic 350 braking duties. However, it's another sore spot on this bike, as even with dual-channel ABS, the braking setup fails to inspire confidence at high speeds.

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is like an analog radio in the age of Spotify. Though old, but like its name, it is a true classic. It's irreplaceable, but with all good things, it is accompanied with some flaws.