The 2021 Classic 350 is built on a new Meteor 350-derived twin downtube spine frame with 41mm telescopic front fork and twin rear emulsion shock absorbers with 6-stage preload adjustability. While the front travel remains the same at 130mm, the rear suspension offers 10mm more, at 90mm. The 300mm front and 270mm rear disc brakes have been carried over from the cruiser, and the base single-channel ABS variants feature a 153mm drum at the rear.
As far as the features are concerned, the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is as barebones as it gets. Its all-analogue instrument cluster only shows the speed and odometer readings. There’s no trip readout nor a fuel gauge. Even the iconic ammeter is gone now. The space is now utilised by the engine check lamp and a low fuel light. The motorcycle comes with a single-channel ABS as standard. We would’ve liked it if Royal Enfield had offered a dual-channel unit at least in the Kick Start variant.
Although Royal Enfield has been selling the Thunderbird in India since the year 2000, it was only by 2009 that the brand updated the motorcycle comprehensively by introducing the 346 cc unit construction engine (UCE) that now powers all their 350cc models.
It continues to be powered by the same 499cc single-cylinder air-cooled, fuel-injected motor, which generates 27.5PS at 5250rpm and 41.3Nm at 4000rpm. The motor works in conjunction with a 5-speed transmission. It employs telescopic front fork and twin gas-charged shock absorbers at the rear. Brakes include a 280mm front and a 240mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS as standard.
Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 is the more powerful version of the Thunderbird 350 and comes with a 500cc UCE engine with fuel injection. Suitable for long rides, the Thunderbird 500 is capable of high-speed cruising and delivers better throttle response due to the fuel injection system.
The Bullet 500 is the same as the iconic Bullet 350, but with a bigger 499cc engine. The Bullet 500 is powered by a single-cylinder air-cooled 499cc mill producing 26.5bhp of power at 5,100rpm and 40.9Nm of torque at 3,800rpm. Power is transmitted via a five-speed gearbox. The motorcycle has been fitted with a carburetor. The motorcycle features a 280mm disc brake with a two piston calliper in the front, and an electric start is standard. A rear disc brake and dual-channel ABS are on the options list. Opting for the rear disc brake adds Rs 5000 to the price of the base model, and the jnclusion ABS adds Rs 18,000 to the price of the base model, ex-showroom. The Bullet 500 is available in green, grey or black.
Royal Enfield launched the 2021 Himalayan back in February this year. While not a complete makeover, the aesthetics and ergonomics have been tweaked to improve the overall package. The most significant update here comes in the form of the Tripper Navigation system. Head here to read our full launch story.
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