Royal Enfield is planning to launch the next-generation Classic 350 in the Indian market. The new generation Classic 350 will be powered by a new engine that will be wrapped in a newly developed chassis. The overall silhouette of the motorcycle is expected to remain similar to the outgoing model but the brand is expected to make subtle changes to give the new Classic a refreshed look.
Three new Royal Enfield Classic 350 motorcycles have been spotted sans camouflage, all running in a convoy around the Valparai Hills of Tamil Nadu in the southern Indian state where the brand is headquartered. All three Classic 350 motorcycles appear to be in the production-ready avatar and are likely to have been performing altitude tests in the hills.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is expected to be powered by the same J-Series engine that made its debut on the Meteor 350 motorcycle which replaced the Thunderbird 350 and Thunderbird 350X in the Indian market. The new-generation engine replaces the classic push-rod valve distribution system with a more modern cam-chain driven over-head camshaft system.
The 349cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine also features a new oil-cooling system engineered into the cylinder head, improving the motor’s thermodynamic ability. The primarily air-cooled engine is tuned to develop 20.2 Bhp of power and 27 Nm of torque on the Meteor 350 matched to a new 5-speed gearbox which comes with a new 7-plate clutch pack that boasts to improve the shifting smoothness. The new engine also gains a new balancer shaft that cancels out rogue vibrations from the crankshaft.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is also expected to come with a newly-developed double-downtube cradle chassis that is more stable in corners as well as on straight lines. The new frame is also expected to reduce the weight and enhance the power to weight ratio of the motorcycle. The motorcycle is also expected to come with LED daytime running lights, LED tail lamps, new turn signals, upgraded seats with better ergonomics and upholstery, a redesigned pillion grab rail, new instruments cluster etc. The new Royal Enfield Classic 350 is also expected to feature the option of alloy wheels and a host of other accessories.