Honda CB 500 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Price Comparison

Honda has launched the CB 500, its biggest single-cylinder motorcycle yet. We’ve compared it up against the Royal Enfield Classic 350. Both motorcycles make a strong proposition, but if you’re confused between the two, here’s a detailed price comparison to help you make your decesion:

Price 

The Honda CB500 has a simpler variant lineup, with three variants based on the type of wheels and graphics combinations. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 offers a wider range of variants and colour options, giving buyers more choice at different price points.

Honda CB500 

The Honda CB500 is the biggest single-cylinder motorcycle currently on sale from the brand in India. It gets a classic and timeless design, with a muscular tank, a long seat, and a wide handlebar, giving it a bold road presence.

It is available in 3 variants: Alloy, Spoke and Spoke with Stripes. 

The bike is powered by a 501 cc air/oil-cooled engine, which produces 28.1 PS and 43.3 Nm and is paired to a 5-speed gearbox.

Featurewise, the bike gets a semi-digital instrument console. On the safety front it gets switchable traction control and dual-channel ABS as standard. Suspension duties are taken care of by a telescopic fork and preload-adjustable dual shocks. It gets disc brakes at both ends. 

Royal Enfield Classic 350 

The Classic 350 is a proper old-school motorcycle with a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a round headlight and large, rounded mudguards. 

It is available in 7 shades: Madras Red, Medallion Bronze, Commando Sand, Gun Grey, Stealth Black, Emerald, and Signature White. 

Powering the motorcycle is the tried and tested 349cc J-series air-cooled single-cylinder engine, which produces 20.4 PS and 27 Nm. It is paired to a 5-speed gearbox. 

The bike is suspended on a telescopic fork and preload-adjustable dual shock absorbers. The bike rides on a 19-inch wheel at the front and an 18-inch rear wheel (spoke or alloy depending on the variant). Braking duties are handled by a 300 mm disc at the front and a 270 mm disc at the rear. Along with this, the motorcycle gets a seat height of 805 mm and a ground clearance of 170 mm.  

Feature-wise, the bike gets a semi-digital instrument console, which displays essential information such as speed, trip meters, time and fuel level. It also features a Tripper navigation pod (optional on certain variants), which enables connectivity features such as Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation.

BikeDekho says

Both bikes make a good proposition for buyers looking for a classic-looking roadster. That said, it is the CB500 which is the more expensive option of the two. Although the bike redeems the price tag with a much more powerful engine and tubeless spoke wheels.

The Classic 350, on the other hand, is more accessible but gets a smaller engine, which, in turn, produces less power and torque.  But, if you are someone who is on a budget and wants an old-school retro motorcycle, the Classic 350 is the best option you can get your hands on.