Royal Enfield’s most popular offering, the Classic 350 was recently launched in 2024 avatar with subtle yet purposeful updates. This also brought along a small price hike of Rs. 7,000. It starts from Rs. 2 lakh and goes up to Rs. 2.30 lakh. Interestingly, the Indian market has many other similarly priced alternatives that are worth considering. Here are the top four options.
The prices of the Jawa 350 start from Rs. 1.99 lakh and it is a more modern yet equally retro-looking alternative to the Classic. Visually, it harks back to the Jawas for the olden times but the engine is a modern 334cc, liquid-cooled unit which makes 22.2bhp and 28.1Nm and comes mated to a six-speed gearbox. It also has a slipper clutch, USB charging port, and dual-channel ABS.
Another more modern option is the Hero Mavrick 440 which is priced almost the same as the Classic 350. It boasts a contemporary roadster styling but the engine feels more like an old-school thumper with a bassy exhaust sound and great low-end torque. Being the same unit as on the Harley-Davidson X440, this engine produces 27hbp and 36Nm and gets a six-speed gearbox. With 17-inch alloy wheels and a light kerb weight, it’s impressively agile.
The strongest suit of this Classic 350-rival is refinement. The Hness CB350 is a typical Honda and doesn’t exude any vibrations even beyond 100kmph. The smooth 348.36cc, air-cooled engine comes mated to a widely-spaced five-speed gearbox and produces 20.7bhp and 30Nm. It also gets a semi-digital console with Bluetooth connectivity and traction control.
This one is for those who want a sporty roadster in an old-school avatar. The Triumph Speed 400 is substantially quicker and faster than all the bikes in this list. Its profoundly modern 398cc, liquid-cooled engine churns out 39.5bhp and 37.5Nm and reaches 100kmph in a jiffy. It’s also sporty in terms of handling with 17-inch alloy wheels, USD forks, and a kerb weight of just 176kg.
(All prices are ex-showroom)
