STUNNING PICS: The SEXY Royal Enfield Classic 500

Faisal Ali Khan test drives the new Classic 500 and this is what he has to say about it.

Royal Enfield brought back the Classic brand after many years and it has caught the fancy of Bulleters so much that the motorcycle commands a good waiting period. The bike looks very promising on paper, offering loads of exclusivity to the buyer.

The Classic is priced at Rs 1.5 lakh, which makes it quite expensive but does it justify the price tag? We find out in this road test.

Click here for Rediff RealTime News on Royal Enfield Classic 500

Looks

There is no denying that nothing looks as stunning as the Classic. The retro styling along with the bare minimum body work give the Classic massive appeal.

The round head lamp, big tank, long exhaust, exposed engine and spoke wheels give it mammoth presence. The styling is so attractive that many end up buying the Classic just because the way it looks.

A good look at the Classic is sure to make you nostalgic.

The instrument cluster of the Classic is bare minimum too and features a speedometer ignition key slot, engine malfunction light and fuel level indicator.

There are the neutral gear indicator and indicator and high beam light indication on the instrument cluster as well. While this certainly looks appealing from a retro point of view, it is quite inadequate for a modern day machine.

Performance

The Classic 500 is powered by a 499cc, single-cylinder petrol engine which feature fuel injection. This engine develops 27.2 BHP of power at 5250 RPM and 41.3 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM.

This engine is not a high revving monster and more suited for low and mid range. Power delivery is quick and the Classic 500 shows urgency with the torque rush quite addictive to say the least.

The Classic 500 weighs close to 187 kgs, but still manages to nudge past 60 kmph from standstill in just 4.5 seconds.

The UCE (Unit Construction Engine) is more suited to cruising then outright high end red lining. But keep the throttle twisties and the Classic 500 will hit a top whack of 130 kmph.

With all this performance, the Classic still manages to return 30 kmpl, which is decent for a motorcycle of this size and power.

Riding dynamics

Hauling 187 kgs is no mean feat and the Classic 500 does it effortlessly. But with all this too, the C500 manages to offer good handling characteristics one would expect from a cruiser.

The UK engineered chassis has the right weight distribution and keeps the Classic 500 well planted on the road at all speeds.

The telescopic forks at the front and gas filled shocks at the rear give the Classic good ride comfort for long distance riding.

Brakes are good too with 280 mm discs at the front and 153 mm drums at the rear.

The Classic 500 has been engineered so well that the rider never feels the weight of the motorcycle.

Conclusion

So is the Classic 500 worth the price? Certainly yes.

Although many would find the price slightly premium, the unique styling, excellent performance and good riding dynamics make the C500 worth every penny you pay for it.

Surely Royal Enfield could offer more equipment like a rear disc brake and a rear seat as standard but we can only expect that in the future variant of the Classic.