Royal Enfield Classic Family Explained

Here’s a clear explanation of what Royal Enfield’s most popular range is all about

The Classic range was like an adrenaline shot to Royal Enfield, which was reeling under the pressure of tough, more modern competition. The Classic range was launched back in 2009 and has been consistently raking in healthy sales till date! This model family is broadly classified into two categories - 350cc and 500cc. Here’s a detailed explanation of both:

Royal Enfield Classic 350 range:

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is powered by a 346cc single-cylinder air-cooled, carburetted engine which churns out 20PS at 5250rpm and 28Nm at 4000rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox linked to a final chain drive. Royal Enfield offers the Classic 350 in a variety of colour schemes with different price tags for some of the colour variants. 

The most affordable colour variants are Mercury Silver and Pure Black. These two variants (nicknamed Classic 350 S) feature a colour coded fuel tank whereas the rest of the bike, including the powertrain and rims get an all-black treatment. Interestingly, the fuel tank logo is also different and is much simpler compared to the one in the rest of the colour variants. Also, these two colours are available only with a single-channel ABS acting on the 240mm disc up front whereas the rear gets a 153mm drum brake. Another cost-cutting feature is the single horn instead of twin horn setup in the rest of the variants. These two colours are priced at Rs 1,45,975, which make them almost Rs 8000 less expensive than the standard colour variants.

Coming to the standard colours, the bike is available in Ash, Black, Chestnut, and Silver - all priced at Rs 1,53,903. These models feature colour-coded body panels including fuel tank, fenders and side panels. The spoke wheels and the powertrain have a traditional metal finish. Royal Enfield has equipped these colour variants with a dual-channel ABS setup linked to the front 280mm front disc and a 240mm rear unit.

Royal Enfield also offers the Classic 350 in Redditch colour series, which comprises of three options: Redditch Blue, Redditch Green and Redditch Red. All the three bikes get colour-coded fuel tank along with black body panels. However, unlike the Classic 350 S, the Redditch range get metal finish on the powertrain and wheels. This variant has been inspired by Redditch, a town in England from where the first Royal Enfield rolled out in 1901. These bikes also get a Redditch logo on the rear fender as a small mark of exclusivity. Interestingly, the Redditch edition costs the same as the other standard colour variants. 

In 2017, Royal Enfield introduced another colour variant called Gunmetal Grey, along with the Classic 500 Stealth Black (more on that later). This variant was the first Classic to get a rear disc brake in the Indian market. The motorcycle gets matte grey and gloss black combo on the body panels, a tan seat and is priced at Rs 1,55,740. This makes it dearer than the standard colours by around Rs 1800.

In August 2018, Royal Enfield equipped the Classic 350 with ABS for the first time in India by launching the Classic 350 Signals Edition. Compared to the other colour variants, the Signals Edition features a distinctive livery inspired by the Indian Army Corps of Signals. It is a division that oversees military communications. The Signals Edition is available in two colour options: Airborne Blue and Stormrider Sand. These bikes get a distinctive Signals logo on the fuel tank along with stencilled numbering. They also feature blacked-out powertrain and rims for a meaner look. The two variants are priced at Rs 1,64,905, which is about Rs 11,000 more expensive than the standard colours.

Royal Enfield Classic 500 range:

The Royal Enfield Classic 500 draws power from a 499cc single-cylinder air-cooled, fuel-injected engine that’s good for 27.5PS at 5250rpm and 41.3Nm at 4000rpm. Like the Classic 350, the 500cc version also gets a 5-speed transmission. The motorcycle gets the same suspension and brake setup as the standard colour variant of the Classic 350. 

The standard colour variant is black and it is priced at Rs 2,02,046. Royal Enfield also offers a stealthier-looking variant, aptly called the Stealth Black for Rs 2,04,977. This colour model comes with a completely blacked out theme, including the powertrain and rims. For retro enthusiasts, the cult bikemaker offers the Classic 500 in Squadron Blue and Desert Storm colour options too. These two bikes cost as much as the stealth black colour variant and get a matte finish on the bodywork.

For enthusiasts who love all things shiny, the Classic 500 is available in Chrome too. The Chrome variant is subdivided into two colour options: Black and Graphite. These variants cost Rs 2,12,479, which is around Rs 10,400 dearer than the standard colour. They get proper chrome treatment on the fuel tank, headlight nacelle, fenders and side panels to set them apart from the rest of the range.

All prices ex-showroom Delhi.