Let Your Senses Decide - Royal Enfield Classic 350

Let Your Senses Decide - Royal Enfield Classic 350

From my personal experience with Royal Enfield Classic 350 so far, here's what I think :

* Performance of the bike does not depend just on the new unit constructed engine, but also on the usage. If ridden within acceptable limits, the bike will exhibit a higher than perceived fuel efficiency. I get raised eyebrows from people when they hear my bike runs at 40–42 kmpl.
* Although the bike is sufficiently engineered to serve both everyday commute and long rides, it is still not a perfect machine. There may be minor sporadic issues like blown lighting bulbs(parking, speedo), braking switches going kaput, clutch cable snapping and some more. So far, I have not experienced any serious breakdown, while on the road. Bottom line is, if the vehicle gets its due attention and servicing, chances are rather slim that one would face issues.
* Like many RE bikes, it does not have tubeless tyres, which obviously means, that a puncture on the road will certainly cause some distress. But then, if you ride with the correct tyre pressure, you may not have to see that day.
* As mentioned earlier, one can do long stretches on it, and it is quite comfortable. Credits to the spring seat for that. For the pillion rider though, I cannot say the same. The stock pillion seat and a lack of backrest, are to blame. In one of my rides along with a friend who rode pillion, after 9 hours of riding, he utterly refused to ride back in the same fashion and took the overnight bus instead. May be, RE should think about the pillion rider too and include a better pillion seat and a decent backrest.
* Though it lacks features like a tachometer, a fuel gauge, which some consider standard in today's bikes, I personally did not feel the need. Absence of a fuel gauge will require you to do some math, and also be aware of fuel amount left. I am not sure if a tachometer will help in anything else, other than giving a clue on when to switch gears.
If you intend to own one, then you must ride it once, get the feel of it, and let your senses decide.