Royal Enfield Classis 500 | Thump of an Indian Heart

If anyone in India says the name "Bullet", the only thing comes to one's mind is the ballistic thumping sound of the Royal Enfield and it also reflects in their tagline "Made like a Gun". It all started back in 1901 at the west midland county of England named Worcestershire under the company named "The Enfield Cycle Company Limited". They were the seller and manufacturer of motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines. They built the first Royal Enfield motorcycle Bullet in 1901, which is the longest-lived design in motorcycle history. In 1955, the Indian government was looking for a suitable motorcycle for its police and army. And as a result, this British company partnered with Madras Motors in India and started manufacturing of a 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet and since then you can watch them in our Republican day parade.

Time has passed but still, the classic design of Royal Enfield has remained unchanged over the decades. In 2018, Royal Enfield has revealed its new Classic 500 Stealth Black edition. The design and looks are old but it got the features of the 21st century. This Stealth Black Classic 500 was a part of NSGs(National Security Guard) motorcycle expedition. As a part of this expedition, 15 Black NSG commandos traveled 8000 km over the country to spread the message of responsibility towards fighting terror among citizens.

This new Classic 500 Stealth Black comes with the matte black paint scheme and the looks are just killer. The motorcycle is painted all black including the exhaust. It has the same 13.5-liter fuel tank, same round headlight with the bulb in it, no DRLs are there. Even the brake light you'll get is also same old school style, no LEDs are there also. The wheels are all spoke not the alloys with tube tires. But if you'd not be expecting these things on this bike, you should have gone for Thunderbird X. Also speaking of the instrument cluster only thing you'll get is a Speedometer and a low fuel and ABS indicators. The battery amp gauge is removed, but you will still not get the fuel gauge.

Engine

This Royal Enfield comes with the 4-stroke 499 cc single cylinder engine. This engine is equipped with a fuel injector instead of the regular carburetor and this 500 cc engine is still cooled by air only. The EFI in this motorcycle really makes a noticeable difference in fueling and acceleration. In Royal Enfield, whether it is 500 cc or 350 cc, the vibrations are always gonna be there. You can easily feel it on the handlebar as you cross the speed of 80 Kph. And now lets come up to the what these bullets are most famous for, the thump from its heart. But surprisingly its gone...!!! Yup, It is not there at all after the BS4 norms compliance. With the stock exhaust, it doesn't make much difference whether you are riding a bullet or any normal bike. You will have to upgrade to the aftermarket exhaust if you want that thump back. The initial acceleration and torque in this classic 500 are enjoyable and one can also cruise easily at 100 kph all day long (if you can bare the vibration or 80 would be perfect for vibe free cruising). This can easily provide a mileage of 25 kilometers per liter, but still, as a lack of fuel gauge, you'll have to rely on low fuel indicator light on the console. 

Brakes and Suspension

The new classic 500 has the single 280 mm 2-piston caliper disc at front and 240 mm single piston at the rear. The new braking system comes with dual channel ABS, which makes this motorcycle more safer and confident at high cruising speed. And the brakes do well on the highways. Speaking of suspension, it has Twin gas charged shock absorber at the rear, which can be adjusted in 5-steps from stiffer to smoother as per your requirement. In the front, it has 35 mm Telescopic forks. During my ride, it can easily soak up the bumps and potholes. I think the extra springs under the rider's seat makes it even more comfortable. One can easily take it for the long adventurous trip both on and off the road. The rear seat comfort is also up to the mark for long rides.

Verdict

This new avatar of classic 500 is really an appreciable step by the Royal Enfield to keep the bullet fans excited. But the premium price tag it comes with, it really shows how big bullet fan are you.