In the past few years, the 350cc motorcycle segment in India has become a hotbed of competition with Japanese motorcycle manufacturers Honda and Yamaha beefing up their game by bringing machines that squarely take on Royal Enfield. The Roadster 350 has now landed in this competitive arena, taking on bikes such as the Honda CB350RS and Yamaha FZ-X. Debates have been going on about whether Royal Enfield can hold its fort in the retro modern motorcycle market. The Roadster classic appeal, and the Royal Enfield brand value give it an edge say some, and its Japanese rivals superiority in refinement and reliability say others. It’s also a conversation about how heritage and modern engineering can be balanced, and what Indian motorcycle buyers want. In addition, it explores themes of nationalism in consumer choices and how the domestic vs. international brands’ perception is changing in the Indian market.