Royal Enfield Classic 500 – Road Test & Review

Ride and Handling:

As I mentioned before, the C5 emits unnerving shivers after the 110 km/h mark (not unnerving enough if you are the type who thinks that a ‘classic’ MUST vibrate). These vibes do hamper ride quality but if you remain in the 90-110 km/h zone you will not only be greeted with cruising comfort but also with some phenomenal handling. The Classic has finally ended the love affair between the Bullets and the 19” wheel rims. It instead employs 18-inchers shod with MRF Zappers both at the front and rear. The new wheels and tyres coupled with the gas-shocks at the rear make for surprisingly good handling etiquettes. This statement is based purely on my experience while riding the bike on high-speed straight highways.

‘Made like a gun’ – hope the Classic stays true to the tag-line

The old-school taillight looks good and showed no hints of loosening out throughout the ride

However, keeping in view the poise and balance of the bike while tackling the undulations and sudden direction changes at high speeds, I have every reason to believe that the bike will handle well in the ghats. The only ugly piece in the jigsaw is the cycle seat which acts like a suspension itself! It contributes to the fairly decent ride quality but when you try to lean the bike into a bend, the inner spring tends to ‘bottom-out’! Expecting these springs to have their own pre-load setting is a little too much to ask for, ain’t it? But on a serious note, I do like it. The movement of the seat while shifting your weight does add a wee bit of nervousness to the handling, but it is that very nervousness that gives you the honest feeling of riding a classic motorcycle!

The rear suspension gets gas-damped shocks from the LB500, albeit with a colour-matched head

Instead of using the proven 500cc mill from the LB500, RE has plonked a fresh, technologically advanced fuel-injected, twin-spark plugged Unit Construction Engine (UCE) which is truly wonderful

The conventional headlight gets an old-school hood to contribute to the Classic styling

Verdict:

Well, from the short stint I have had with the Classic, there is no denying the fact that I like the new kid on the block. But at an asking price of 1.6-lakh rupees I would have liked the Classic to feel equally comfortable and smooth at 125 km/h as it is at 90 km/h. However for someone not too interested in outright performance, the Classic proves to be a great combination of style, class, feel good factor and hopefully, improved reliability. For me, I guess I need to pit the C5 against its most immediate nemesis, the LB500 before I change my perceptions….

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Related posts:

1. Royal Enfield Classic 500 and 350 launched in India! All the details, with prices
2. Honda CB Twister First Ride / Road Test Review
3. TVS Jive first ride review and road test
4. Mahindra duro first ride review / road test
5. Aviator 110 first ride review / road test