The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is stylish, affordable, and basic. Millions of them have sold. Is it enough to attract a new type of motorcyclist in the US?
It may not be too much of a claim to say that the 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the most futuristic motorcycle on the market. No, it doesn’t have radar-equipped adaptive cruise control, a six-axis IMU, or semi-active suspension. Nor does it produce 200 hp or flatter the rider with telepathic handling. Quite the opposite, in fact.
With its SOHC air/oil-cooled 349cc single, the Classic 350 produces a claimed 20.2 hp at 6,100 rpm and 19.9 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. Weighing in at a substantial 430 pounds with a mostly full tank of fuel, it struggles to outrun a Toyota Prius and requires a decent tailwind and a long stretch of road to make the speedometer needle sweep three-quarters of the way around its 0–100 mph readout range.
But motorcycles like the Classic 350 are crucial to the future of motorcycling.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s consider the backstory. The Classic 350 and 500 models were introduced in India in 2008 and went on to become Royal Enfield’s bestselling models. Last year the Meteor 350 debuted with an all-new chassis and engine; it’s this platform that the Classic 350 is based upon. The Classic differentiates itself from the Meteor with its larger 18-inch rear wheel and more traditional styling. Both models use the J series engine, which replaces the previous generation UCE engine and uses a counterbalancer to smooth out the vibes while retaining the feel of its signature single-cylinder power pulses at low rpm. It also has a 1,000 rpm broader rev range.
Riding through the rough, well-trafficked streets of Savannah, Georgia, the Classic 350 rolls along unburdened by the future. Its more immediate concerns are grappling with hastily patched asphalt and dodging the day-drinking tourists who take advantage of the city’s open-container policy.
At the first opening of the throttle, the power delivery is surprisingly snappy. Twisting the grip more, however, doesn’t deliver commensurate thrust, and the single’s humble power output quickly becomes evident. Short-shifting is the natural inclination, especially in urban traffic, but it’s difficult to shift smoothly between first and second gears at low rpm. The five-speed gearbox feels precise otherwise, though it requires a firm boot to work well enough to match the overall riding experience.
On the open road, the engine runs fairly smoothly. Vibrations through the grips and footpegs are present but minimal enough to not be fatiguing, at least during the brief, tapped-out-in-fifth highway time of the test ride. If mile-munching highway rides are in the cards, the Classic 350 will likely not be at the top of most riders’ lists anyway.
The engine’s charm lies in its quaint thump-thump-thump at low rpm and the sensation, felt mostly through the seat, of the piston happily working away. One would be hard-pressed to describe the engine as “eager”; “willing” may be a better word. It’s not a performer, but it is fun.
Perhaps the 350′s biggest fault is its abrupt on/off throttle response, a trait reminiscent of early EFI-equipped motorcycles. It’s the wrong kind of retro. Perhaps there’s nothing like a little imperfection to help steer the novice toward proficient use of the throttle, but really, if there’s one area that needs to be refined, it’s here.
In terms of braking, the 350′s ByBre single-disc front setup is perfectly adequate for urban riding. More experienced riders, however, may find they need to recalibrate their minds to judge appropriate stopping distances. When braking from top speed (around 75 mph), there’s not a ton of power, and the lever feels squishy as one starts to bear down on it.
It’s easy to find the limits of the suspension as well. The Classic 350 regularly bottoms out while crossing over pronounced crests in Savannah’s many tree-lined squares. But honestly, the bike’s limitations are part of its appeal; if you’re not bottoming it out, there’s more fun to be had.
It must be noted that the suspension and brakes have a lot to cope with. At 430 pounds, this bike is heavy for a 349cc single. Considered in the context of Royal Enfield’s “Made Like a Gun” slogan, it brings to mind a scene from the movie Snatch. Boris the Blade sells a particularly weighty revolver to one of the protagonists, saying: “Heavy is good. Heavy is reliable. If it doesn’t work, you can always hit him with it.”
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