Royal Enfield reveals new Classic 350
The modernisation of Royal Enfield’s range is set to be completed shortly with the arrival of an all-new Classic 350.
While it looks a lot like the old 350, this new version boasts a modern 4-stroke EFi and air-oil cooled engine, as well as an all-new frame. The new Classic 350 also benefits from the latest tech that’s available on other current Royal Enfield models and like the rest of the Royal Enfield range, the new Classic 350 retains its LAMS eligibility for the Australian market.
Classic Modernised
According to Royal Enfield, the new Classic 350 is “a timeless classic motorcycle reimagined to meet modern aspirations”. Additionally, the “sublime beauty and confidence of the Classic, now enhanced with a more smooth and refined ride experience”.
“We’ve paid great attention to every aspect of the motorcycle, from its stunning looks to the perfection in parts and the touchpoints, to its impeccable riding performance,” says Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director of Eicher Motors Ltd, Royal Enfield’s parent company.
Replacing the previous Classic that was introduced in 2008, and continuing a lineage that stretches back to 1948, the new version is powered by the ‘J-Series’ 349cc single-cylinder engine that was introduced with the Meteor 350.
This engine sits in an all-new frame that delivers the smooth and refined ride experience Royal Enfield refer to, with new features and attention to detail throughout the rest of the bike, too, including improved suspension, better brakes and a more comfortable saddle.
“The all-new chassis inspires enormous confidence while handling and is especially well-mannered in tight traffic situations and around twisty corners,” Lal adds. “The Classic is by far the most comfortable motorcycle to ride, with plush seating and suspension, and great ergonomics.”
Stellar Single
First seen in the Meteor 350 cruiser, the air-oil cooled 349cc single in the new Classic 350 is fuel injected, with what’s said to be strong bottom-end grunt and smooth linear power delivery across the rev range. The addition of a primary balancer shaft cuts down on the vibration that was a characteristic of the old Classic 350, especially at higher speeds.
Listed outputs of 15kW (20.2hp) at 6100rpm and 27Nm (19.9lb/ft) at 4000rpm are almost identical those delivered by the UCE in the old Classic 350, but it’s the nature of that power and torque delivery that’s changed.
“The supremely well calibrated engine is super smooth, intuitively responsive and engaging, and has that gorgeous growl on acceleration,” Lal says.
The five-speed gearbox is also the same as that on the Meteor 350, geared to suit both inner-city acceleration and open road cruising. With a wet multi-plate clutch, shifting is said to be crisp and smooth.
The frame surrounding this compact, torquey single is an all-new design – at least in Classic 350 terms – that’s stiffer while still offering rider comfort. Developed across Royal Enfield’s tech centres in India and the UK, the frame was designed to deliver a “superlative ride” with the additional stiffness providing more confidence when cornering at high speeds.
Complementing this is a revised suspension set-up, still a hydraulic fork front and twin-shock rear, but said to deliver more comfort in the saddle. The saddle itself is now wider, with soft foam cushioning allowing longer hours on the road without discomfort.
Handlebars are new, too, and while the ergonomics have been tweaked a little, riding position remains very much neutral.
Additionally, the braking has been modified to increase stopping performance from higher speeds.
On the Tech Front
While the Classic 350 remains very much a basic motorcycle compared to most others, even in the LAMS market, some modern features have crept in.
ABS carries over from the old model, but depending on which variant you choose, that’s still a single-channel system. Higher grades add dual-channel ABS, but in line with Royal Enfield’s mantra of pure motorcycling, there’s no cornering functionality in the ABS, nor is there cruise control, traction control or selectable riding modes.
There is, however, a USB port and an LCD instrument window as part of a digital/analogue dash display. The secondary pod on this system can be upgraded to a turn-by-turn navigation screen using the ‘Tripper’ app-based navigation tool that was introduced on the Meteor 350 and is an option on the new Classic 350, but limited to the premium ‘Classic Chrome’ version.
Big Family
From launch, the new Classic 350 will be available in five main variants and a total of eleven colourways – Redditch, Halcyon, Classic Signals, Classic Dark and Classic Chrome.
The Redditch is the entry point into the new Classic 350 family, available in two colours (Grey and Sage Green) and defined by blacked-out wheels, mudguards and other components. This is also the only Classic 350 with single channel ABS.
Next up is the Halcyon series that adds polished wheels, painted mudguards and side covers, body-coloured fork uppers and headlight casquette, knee rubbers, a brown saddle and two-tone paint on the tank, accented by a gold flourish. The Classic 350 Halcyon is available in a choice of green, grey or black.
The Classic Signals series builds on military themes explored previously with the limited-edition Classic 500 Pegasus. In this case, the inspiration comes from the Royal Corps of Signals and uses a stylised version of that British Army unit’s Mercury motif (Mercury being the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology) that’s also used by the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, coincidentally.. Rather than a Royal Enfield decal, these variants feature a unique number stencilled on the tank, with blackout wheels, engine and exhaust highlighting the choice of Desert Sand or Marsh Grey paint available for the tinware.
Moving up to the Classic Dark series, Royal Enfield call this a youthful, urban and custom take on the Classic 350 platform. Identifying features start with alloy wheels (the only new Classic 350 so equipped) and include the same blackout components as the Classic Signals. Of the two colour options – Gunmetal Grey and Stealth Black – a brown saddle is standard on the former, with red rim stickers and a red tank stripe on the latter.
At the top of the new Classic 350 range is the Classic Chrome series. As the name suggests, this series adds lashings of chrome – to the mudguards, engine, exhaust, fuel tank and mirrors - complemented by proper tank badges, not decals.
Available in red and bronze colourways, the red version features a black casquette, toolbox cover and fork uppers, while the bronze version has these items painted in bronze.
Both colour options also add a central stripe to the chromed mudguards – in red for the Classic Chrome red and bronze for the Classic Chrome bronze.
The Chrome series is also the only Classic 350 to offer the Tripper navigation system as an option.
Make it Yours
Options available under the ‘Make It Yours’ range of Royal Enfield Genuine Motorcycle Accessories cover 35 items, including bar-end mirrors, sump guards, engine protection bars, pillion seats and windscreens. While not confirmed at this stage, configuration of the subframe and rear mudguard brackets suggest panniers will be available, too.
Coming Soon
While a specific Australian release date has not been set for the new Classic 350, Royal Enfield say that Australia and New Zealand should receive their first units of the LAMS-approved model before the end of 2021.
No pricing had been revealed at time of writing, either, but using the Meteor 350 as a guide, expect pricing to start in the upper $7,000 range and stretch up to around $9,000.
Backup is also unconfirmed at this stage, but Royal Enfield will most likely offer the same 3-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, with 24/7 roadside assistance, as the Meteor.