Royal Enfield Classic 350 Vs Himalayan » MotorOctane

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 set a stage for what a retro bike can achieve in terms of sales. On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Himalayan has set a benchmark for what a small capacity adventure bike can do. Let’s have a head-to-head between the two and find out which is the better choice for you.

Powertrain

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 comes with a fairly old engine. However, it has now been modified to comply with BS6 emission norms. The engine is a 346cc single cylinder, air cooled, fuel injected. It produces a maximum power of around 19.1 PS and a maximum torque of 28 Nm. It comes coupled with a 5-speed gearbox.

On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with a completely modern engine, it is even bigger than the engine of the Classic 350. The engine is a 411 cc single cylinder, fuel injected, air+oil cooled. It produces a maximum power of around 24.3 PS and a maximum torque of 32 Nm. So the engine has a significant increase in power over the Classic 350. It comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox, which is quite unusual for a bike with more than 20 bhp.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Bullet Photon – Classic Bike, Modern Approach

ergonomics

Ergonomically, both bikes are quite similar. You sit up straight and your legs are also slightly forward. So there is very little difference in terms of ergonomics. However, there are plenty of aftermarket accessories for the Himalaya, such as handlebar risers, so this is a plus for the Himalaya. However, you should try both bikes and then find out the best of the two for your personal preference.

Hardware

The major difference between both the bikes is related to the hardware configuration. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 sits on 19-inch front wheel and 18-inch front wheel. You have the option of both spoke wheels and alloy wheels. Spoke wheels come with tubed tires while alloy wheels come with tubeless tires. Suspension duty is handled by 35mm RE forks at the front and 5-speed adjustable double suspension at the rear. You also have extra springs under the seats for added comfort. Braking is done by a 280 mm disc at the front and a 240 mm disc at the rear. These brakes are then assisted by the dual-channel ABS system (optional). So we can say that Classic can also be a capable dual purpose bike with just few modifications like off road tires, soft suspension tuning etc.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan, on the other hand, is a pure adventure bike. Therefore, it comes with a larger front wheel at 21-inch and rear wheel at 17-inch. There is only the spoked wheel option that is suitable for its task. It also gets a better braking setup with 300mm disc up front and 240mm disc at the rear. The brakes are then assisted by the dual-channel switchable ABS, which is a good thing indeed. The suspension setup is the highlight of the Royal Enfield Himalayan. It comes with conventional 41mm telescopic suspension with 200mm travel in front and monoshock rear suspension with 180mm travel. So without any other changes, RE Himalayan still offers better quality and comfort.

Characteristics

In terms of features, there is not much on both bikes as they are retro themed bikes. Both are equipped with simple halogen headlights and conventional indicators. RE Classic 350 comes with full analog speedometer while Himalayan comes with semi-digital unit and gets compass as well.

Prices

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 starts at Rs 1,59,814 (ex-showroom) and goes up to Rs 1,84,499 (ex-showroom). On the other hand, the RE Himalayan starts at Rs 1,89,532 (ex-showroom) and goes up to Rs 1,94,121. So we can say that where the Classic 350 pricing ends, the RE Himalayan pricing begins. So, if most of the ride is in the city and long tours are very frequent, then RE Classic 350 will be a better choice, while adventure enthusiasts must try RE Himalayan.