Royal Enfield Classic 500

Forget retro. This is a Classic. This is a design that has not changed since its post world war origins. The teardrop-shaped tank with classy decals, pinstriping and tank protector, round headlight with bullet style indicators and small pilot lights, an engine that looks like something from the industrial age, pea shooter style exhaust, full-sized fenders, and single seat evoke the image of a classic British motorcycle. The finish and build quality have never been better. The splashes of chrome in the headlight surround and the other bits and pieces are very tasteful. The motorcycle is available in a variety of colors which include matte black, chrome, and military inspired brown, green and navy blue shades. But while it does convey the right image, it misses out on some modern touches. The wheels are spoked with a 19” for the front with 90/90 tire and an 18” for the rear with a 110/90 tire. The instrument cluster is housed in the headlight surround but misses out on things like a tachometer, and even a proper fuel gauge. You can forget about a trip meter or a gear indicator. It is also quite substantial with dimensions of 2140 mm (L) X 790 mm (W) X 1090 mm (H).

For a bike that weighs 196 kg, the Classic 500 turns out to be pretty agile. The single downtube chassis using the engine as a stressed member might not be the most advanced. The 35 mm telescopic front forks with 130 mm of travel and the twin gas charged 5 step adjustable shock absorbers in the rear with 80 mm of travel are also very basic. But they do give the rider a lot of agility in corners and a stable ride on highways. The handlebars are high and wide and the seat is low, giving it great ergonomics for people of all heights. The rider sits in a relaxed manner with their feet placed forward and enjoys a deep and supportive seat. The suspension soaks up the bumps very well and 135 mm of ground clearance means that this bike is not shy of a little off roading.

The Royal Enfield Classic 500 is powered by a single cylinder 499cc twinspark air-cooled and fuel injected SOHC engine producing 27.2 hp at 5250 rpm and 41.3 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission. In a modern twist, the bike comes with both a kick starter and an electric starter. For a 500cc engine, the performance figures might not seem very impressive. But the engine’s best characteristic is how it delivers the torque. Almost 80% of the peak torque is delivered below 3000 rpm. This means that the rider has a ton of torque at the disposal of their wrist at any given moment. The bike pulls nicely in every gear, making the bike a very good mile muncher that makes overtaking just as easy. The torque builds up like a surge and is a large part of the appeal of the Royal Enfield. It can get intoxicating very quickly. What is not so enjoyable is its harshness. It vibrates a lot at any revs which can be felt in every part of the bike. This makes taking long rides on it an acquired taste. Which is a shame considering its sizable 13.5 L fuel tank which makes for decent range with its fuel efficiency of 25-30 kmpl And who can forget the meaty thump of the exhaust note which shakes the ground as you move forward?

Royal Enfield has improved the braking on the Classic 500 a lot by giving it a 280 mm disc with a twin-piston caliper up front and a 240 mm disc with a single piston caliper in the rear. The bike also comes with dual channel ABS on certain variants which inspires a lot of confidence. But it might still feel inadequate considering the weight of the bike.

There are many faults that can be leveled against the Classic 500. But honestly, nothing comes close to providing this raw experience. And what an experience it is.