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Review-The 2017 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Redditch Edition.

This is the Royal Enfield Classic 350 Redditch Edition. But before we dig in further, let us take a class of history.
The Enfield Motor Company Limited made its first motorcycle back in 1901 in Redditch, Worcestershire.
The Bullet first rolled out in the year 1948. In 1953, the Indian army wanted motorcycles that were robust, sturdy and at the same time easy to maintain.The contract for 800 350cc Bullet motorcycles was handed to the Enfield Motor Company. The Enfield Motor Company, to simplify the production process, joined hands with Madras Motors in India and the brand Enfield India was born. Enfield India supplied 800 Bullet motorcycle and even today after 65 years the Royal Enfield Bullet is the Indian army's most trusted companion.
In 1999, Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer Eicher Motors acquired Royal Enfield which was sinking back then and revived it and as of now today, RE is a leading motorcycle manufacturer in India.
This Redditch Edition is Royal Enfield's token to honor its heritage and glory and it is indeed special.

The Design.

The basic design of bullet has not changed since 1948. It is strong and retro looking motorcycle and the new Redditch Edition colors further up the game.
The black and Redditch red color combination look great on the bike and the powerful chrome garnished circular headlamp adds to its retro look.
 The Bullet has a clean and uncluttered design. As simple as it could get. Most of the bikes in the segment look over done with the fiber and plastics all over their bodies and then there is the Bullet that stays simple and yet attracts attention. 

A fun fact for all you readers. The ROYAL ENFIELD on the fuel tank on all the motorcycles across its range is still hand painted! 
Usage of chrome is quite extensive on the bike. 

The entire long exhaust of the bike has a chrome finish! 
The gearbox side panels are finished in chrome, the mirror housings are finished with chrome, the fuel cap, the rings around the gauges, the single piece handle bar, the rear suspension coil overs and even the turn signal housings are finished with chrome!

But at the end of the day it doesn't actually look over-chromed. The Redditch red, gloss black and the chrome elements all blend well offering the bike that retro hunk look that it already is.

Performance Specifications.

The Classic 350 is powered by a 346cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke engine, twin spark engine that produces a healthy 19.8 BHP @5250 rpm and torque of 28Nm @ 4000 rpm.
The engine is mated to a 5 speed constant mesh gearbox.
The exhaust thud is the trademark of Royal Enfield motorcycles and boy does it sound great.
But the BS4 variants of the Classic 350 have gone down on the sound levels and that is disheartening for enthusiasts.

Although this is a retro looking bike, it has some modern bits too. This bike is equipped with a digital ignition button stater and also gets a 280mm disc brake at the front.

Comfort, Handling and Riding Dynamics.

The Classic 350 is a big bike. It is around 2.16 meters long and weighs around 190 kilos. 
This bike has single piece handlebar split seats and offers a strong, upright riding posture.

Also, for the pillion there are monotube inverted gas suspensions to make the ride even more comfortable. Another modern touch to a retro bike.

This is a bike that you can take all the way to Ladakh, cruise along the highway and also take it in heavy city traffic conditions.
Being a big bike, flicking the Enfield in the city might be challenging but you can still live with it.
Vibrations might concern a few people and long rides at times can be tiring.
Fit and finish isn't all that great. You can see wires hanging all around and also the plastic fitments and accessories start shaking once the engine is turned on.

The Verdict.

The Royal Enfield Bullet is an icon of Indian motorcycling. It has been into production for more than 70 years now and yet hasn't lost its retro charm.
The Enfield does miss out on modern equipment like the ABS and electronic fuel injection that most bikes in this segment offer as standard yet the Classic 350 is a great value for your money. 
Simple, subtle and easy to maintain this is a total 'paisa vasool' bike. And as you start riding, get spanners and screw drivers to fix the wobbly equipment and spend more time with it you will certainly develop an unbreakable connection with bike.
The bike no longer remains a machine you use for commuting but it becomes your companion you take out to conquer the streets. Every single time you ride it, it has a new story to tell and you explore a new side of this brawny motorcycle.

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Credits:
Writing-
 Anish Kulkarni (anishkulkarni247@yahoo.com)

Photography & edits-
Atul Nair. (atulmnair@gmail.com)
Anish Kulkarni.

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