It may not be too much of a claim to say that the 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the most futuristic motorcycle on the market. No, it doesn’t have radar-equipped adaptive cruise control, a six-axis IMU, or semi-active suspension. Nor does it produce 200 hp or flatter the rider with telepathic handling. Quite the opposite, in fact.
With its SOHC air/oil-cooled 349cc single, the Classic 350 produces a claimed 20.2 hp at 6,100 rpm and 19.9 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. Weighing in at a substantial 430 pounds with a mostly full tank of fuel, it struggles to outrun a Toyota Prius and requires a decent tailwind and a long stretch of road to make the speedometer needle sweep three-quarters of the way around its 0–100 mph readout range.
But motorcycles like the Classic 350 are crucial to the future of motorcycling.