2020 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Spy Shots Reveal Engine Details

[Update: The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been spotted in a production-ready state. The bike is likely to replace the Thunderbird 350X. Head here for more details.]

• New Classic 350 will continue to sport a halogen headlamp instead of an LED unit.
• The rear brake lever has been repositioned for better ground clearance.
• Royal Enfield has employed a new double cradle frame as well.
• Expect the motorcycle to be launched in India next year.

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 has been spied testing yet again. Last time, the spy shots gave us a glimpse of the various touring accessories it is likely to be offered with. This time though, detailed images of the engine have surfaced online. The most notable design aspect of the motor is that the gearbox casing on the left side looks oddly similar to the one seen on the Interceptor 650. This hints at the possibility that the engine could be offered with the same 6-speed transmission as its 650cc cousin. The current-gen 5-speed transmission isn’t exactly known for its finesse and the motor isn't touring friendly either. The new engine and a 6-speeder would go a long way in making the motorcycle a better tourer.

Interestingly, the exhaust lacks an oxygen sensor, suggesting that the new bike will not feature fuel injection as was previously expected. Since this is a 2020 model, it has to comply with BS6 emission norms. And Royal Enfield seems to have figured out a way to meet the new regulations without needing a fuel injector. The engine head also appears to be different, which hints at the possibility that the new motor could have a displacement of over 350cc. Consequently, expect the power and torque figures to go up too. The current-gen 346cc motor makes 20PS and 28Nm. Also, the exhaust routing is slightly different from how it was the last time around. Earlier, it was routed between the downtubes and now it is on the right side.

Even the brake lever has been repositioned over the exhaust for better ground clearance. The twin-horn setup has been replaced with a single unit and the single downtube frame has been swapped for a double cradle unit to accommodate the new engine. Other smaller design intricacies include a redesigned and flatter footpeg cushions, a halogen headlamp and a split seat configuration sans the springs under the rider’s seat. The analogue instrument cluster could come with a digital inset for fuel level, trip meter and odometer details.

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Underpinnings on the test mule include a telescopic front fork and twin shock absorbers at the rear as opposed to gas-charged units seen on the current version. The motorcycle uses disc brakes at either ends with dual-channel ABS. We expect Royal Enfield to launch the 2020 Classic 350 sometime next year. Likely to be priced between Rs 1.7 lakh to Rs 1.8 lakh (ex-showroom), it will compete against the Jawa and the Jawa Forty Two.

Image Credit: Rushlane