If you’re at the beginning of your riding journey, or prefer something with a lower capacity to just putt around on, and the thought of a sports or naked bike doesn’t excite you, then a retro-inspired 2025 Royal Enfield Classic 350 might be just the ticket.
Draped in Emerald Chrome, which is surprisingly easy to keep clean but a pain in the proverbial to photograph, particularly at close range, this trim level is considered the top of a five-tier range in terms of premium features.
That includes a full LED lighting package, Tripper navigation (a package that combines Google Maps and the Royal Enfield app), a gear position indicator on the small screen, adjustable brake and clutch levers, and a USB-C port.
Modern touches aside, it’s design is nostalgic, with a real post-war (that’s WWII) feel to the way it presents itself. That’s partly because its heritage dates all the way back to the 1952 G2, an iconic bike in the Indian brand’s stable.
Powering the 195kg Classic 350 is a single cylinder 4-stroke air and oil cooled engine, that in its latest incarnation offers significant reliability improvements. The 349cc unit delivers 15kW of power and 27Nm of torque through a single pipe exhaust.
It’s got real character, sounding almost “old school” lumpy in what is definitely a nod to its vintage persona. To some, that might imply laziness, but there’s poke there when you need it, thanks to a decent 5-speed gearbox.
To be fair, the speedo only goes to 160km/h and this bike is genuinely designed to tap out at 120km/h. It’s not for racing, it’s for peaceful weekend rides in the country, and commuting, and it does both, reasonably well.
There was a tiny bit of splutter when you try to get on it from low revs, but that could be limited to our example. That said, fuel injection adds to the smoothness of power delivery and the transmission is easy to manage, even if you’re just starting out.
That’s an important point. This bike is learner approved, and might well represent the perfect starting point for those who love retro. From here you can step up to a bevy of larger bikes.
That rather long list includes things like Royal Enfield’s own Classic 650 (which is still learner approved), or opt for a cruiser like the Kawasaki Vulcan, Honda’s CMX1100 or the Triumph Bonneville.
You can of course, then go the whole hog and opt for an Indian or Harley-Davidson. Enough about future motorcycles though, back to the bike at hand. The Classic sports a twin-downtube spine frame chassis and a telescopic 41mm front fork.
It offers 130mm of travel. On the rear are twin-tube emulsion shock absorbers with 6-step adjustable pre-load. The bank end does feel the bumps a little, despite its capability, and if you’re a strapping human, you might take a hit on the larger pot holes.
A 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel are matched to a 300mm single disc brake setup up front, with a two-piston floating caliper and ABS. At the back is a 270mm single disc with a one piston floating caliper and ABS.
They’re a little like chalk and cheese. The back brakes are great, and offer plenty of grab, while the fronts are a little spongy. While there is bite there, it does feel a little underdone. Its 805mm seat height is perfectly accessible, but ground clearance is fairly low.
That does mean if you ride hard and lean deep into corners, you will likely scrape the foot pegs. Which brings us to ergonomics. The seating triangle on the Royal Enfield is brilliant. It feels properly upright and comfortable, like you’re sitting on a dining chair.
We mean that in a good way. That’s partly due to those foot pegs we mentioned, and that’s one of our small dislikes with this bike. Where they’re placed, while great for ergonomics, is less fun for other needs.
We found ourselves kicking them hard every time we wanted to put the side stand up, and we did knock our shins on them. It’s not a deal breaker, in fact none of the minor things we fussed over about this motorcycle are, but it is worth noting.
The 2025 Royal Enfield Classic 350 is backed by a 3-year unlimited kilometre warranty with 24/7 roadside assist for the same period. It’s learner approved, with pricing starting from $7,990 ride away for the base model (available in Madras Red or Jodhpur Blue).
The range steps through different spec levels in Medallion Bronze, Commando Sand, Gun Grey or Stealth Black. The Emerald (Chrome) example tested here kicks off at $8,790. You can find out more on the Royal Enfield website, or by talking to your local dealership.
Our test bike was provided by Royal Enfield Australia and New Zealand for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this motorcycle.
