Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 350

Overview

Royal Enfield Electra is an advanced version of Bullet which went on to become the best-selling model of Royal Enfield. This bike bridges down the gap between regular Bullet and Classic 350. Let’s try to know the reasons behind its success.

Design and Style

Electra is an attempt from Royal Enfield to modernize the looks of evergreen Bullet. The circular headlight and side indicators get chrome surrounding similar to its younger sibling. This naked face of this bike looks really classy with twin pilot lamps. The chromed finished rear view mirrors are mounted on its handlebar. To differentiate this bike from Bullet, Royal Enfield has opted for a chrome front fender which adds premium touch to this bike and goes well with its silver finished front forks and chrome rims. It has a neatly designed fuel tank with a golden emblem on it. The massive steel engine of this bike lies just below this fuel tank. The body colored side panels is familiar and sports Electra on them. The wide and long seat of Bullet makes its way to this bike. You can notice a lot of chrome on the right side of this bike as its battery case, brake pedal and silencer are finished with chrome. The extensively long muffler of this bike also has a heat shield to protect your leg. The rear fender of this bike is also shiny and carries its tail light, side indicators and number plate. The semi naked chain cover also enhances the appearance of this bike.

Instrument Console

Unfortunately, the bike shares its analogue instrument console with Bullet. The chrome surrounded analogue speedometer and odometer lies in a big circular dial in the centre while its fuel gauge is placed on the right side. The key switch is placed on the left side and the bike lacks any type of indicators in its console.

Engine and Gearbox

The four stroke 346cc engine supplies power to this bike which is also powering other bikes of this family. It’s an air-cooled twin spark engine which is capable of producing 19.8 bhp at 5250 rpm. The maximum torque output of this engine is of 28 nm which is accessible at 4000 rpm. The bike gets the regular five-speed manual gearbox which has one gear down and four gears up-shift pattern.

Acceleration and Performance

The bike feels exactly same to its other siblings in terms of performance. This engine is designed to please you with its low and mid-range. The bike lacks the high speed grunt like other 350cc bikes but delivers superb low end torque. The five speed gearbox of this bike comes with tall gear ratios which delays the performance of this bike. Moreover, it has a poor power to weight ratio but to compensate, this bike offers you immense amount of torque which allows this bike to move easily in big gears at slow speeds. This leads to less gear transitions which mean stress free city rides. This engine is quite popular amongst long tourers as this engine stays calm and relaxed even after hours of riding. It can do the high climbing with all confidence and power. The bike never sounds strained and gives a positive thumping sound. It feels best between 80-120 km/hr as there are no signs of vibrations and harshness. You may find this bike a bit slow in city traffic due to its delayed throttle response but your opinion changes as soon as you take this bike on highways.

Mileage

The city mileage of Royal Enfield Electra 350 ranges from 25-30 kmpl but on highways, these figures can increase to 35-40 kmpl.

Comfort While Driving

Royal Enfield bikes are known for their comfortable rides and Electra further enhances the company’s reputation with newly added features. The bike comes with an engine kill button which allows you to turn on/off bike easily in city traffic. Optional Electric start is also a welcome feature which helps you to get rid of the kicking habit and confirms you hassle free city rides. Apart from this, the wide riding stance, front set foot pegs and well-padded seat offers you optimum comfort similar to its other siblings.

Storage Space and Safety Features

There is small room in the side panels of this bike. The list of safety features in this bike include pass button and halogen headlight which offers you clear vision of roads at night.

Suspension and Brakes

Royal Enfield Electra has a very efficient suspension and braking system which easily deals with the weight of this bike. It features front telescopic forks of 35 mm which has a wheel travel of 130 mm while it has 5-step adjustable twin gas charged shock absorbers at the back. Front disc brake of 280 mm with 2-piston calliper is standard part of the braking system of Electra. A drum brake of 153 mm does duty on the rear wheel of this bike.

Ride and Handling

Similar to its siblings, Electra is also based on the single down tube frame. The bike has a wheelbase of 1370 mm while it has a ground clearance of 135 mm. It stays grounded on highways thanks to its heavy mass, long wheelbase and capable suspension system. The bike can digest most of the potholes and manages to give you a comfortable ride. Electra is quite light in terms of handling especially on highways. Yes, you have to put some effort while you turn this bike around corners at slow speeds. Moreover, it’s not like any other regular bike which can easily steer through city traffic. The addition of disc brake has significantly improved the ride quality of this bike as it feels more easy and convenient to control this machine.

Tyre Size, Shades and Variants

Royal Enfield Electra has R19 sizes of tyres. The two variants of this bike are available in 4 different colors: Black, Silver, Red, and Blue.

Verdict

The self-start variant of Electra may cost you around INR 1.10 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi (approx., may vary)). We feel it’s a complete value for money bike as it looks macho and offers superb cruising experience. Moreover, the bike is stuffed with modern features like Front disc brake and self-start. It should be a good option for those who want a Bullet with modern features at a reasonable price.

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