Driven #10: Royal Enfield Classic 500 Desert Storm

Royal Enfield needs no introduction in India. After all, this is a brand that beat the mighty Harley-Davidson and emerged on top in a recent brand image study amongst automotive manufacturers. Almost all the models in the company's lineup are sold out for months together in advance with the Classic twins, launched in 350 and 500 variants, being a phenomenal success with customers waiting for 6 months and more to own one. Not content with that, Royal Enfield recently launched two new variants of the Classic 500 - Classic Chrome and Desert Storm. As the names suggest, these are just cosmetic tweaks with the former sporting an overdose of 'chrome' and the latter wearing a stunning pre-war era 'sand' paint job. 

As only Royal Enfield can fathom, launch of merely two variants of an already well-established product has created quite a stir in the industry and amongst the public. We can't afford to miss out on driving one when the chance came by and find out what is different from the regular Classic.

TO LOOK & FEEL: 

We have driven the Classic 500 before and it was open to the world that we were smitten hard by its styling. That has not changed a bit ever since. In fact, its only growing bigger and bigger. The industry might be moving forward with modern and aerodynamic designs, but the Classic is a truly one-of-a-kind motorcycle retaining its typical old-world charm and unashamedly 'classic' elements. This retro motorcycle stuns the onlookers with round lights all around, twin tiny pilot lamps, a mighty fuel tank, magnificent wheel arches, a meaty exhaust pipe and the classy chrome mirrors and indicators. The pre-war era sand paint job with a matte-like finish of the Desert Storm version only adds to the overall visual appeal.

The kind of attention that the Classic Desert Storm attracted during our test drive was incredible. The answer lies in the magnificent design and the awesome paint job that immediately brings in a sense of nostalgia to our minds sends us into a tizzy. Having said that, the build quality is still not up to the mark in quite a few places which is quite disappointing given the price that you pay to own one. The blisters in the surface, the irregular joints and the rusty metal and chrome parts in a fairly new motorcycle that has hardly covered 2000 km isn't something that can be easily excused.

Another thing which is not particularly commendable is the age old design of the instrument cluster. There is nothing snazzy and digital here with a large circular speedometer dominating the proceedings. The speedo also houses bare minimal tell tale lights and is flanked on either sides by the key slot and a fuel cum engine warning indicator. The low fuel warning light is the only indicator for fuel and the absence of a fuel gauge is a glaring omission by Royal Enfield. The switchgear, in contrast, matches up to the present day standards and also looks and feels better to operate as it is made of better quality materials that feels built to last.

ON THE ROAD: 

The Desert Storm is powered by the same single-cylinder, 499cc engine that thumps out 27.2 bhp of maximum power. With features such as Twin Spark ignition, Electronic Fuel Injection system and a Unit Construction Engine in which the engine and gearbox are enclosed in a single casing thereby reducing the transmission losses, this fairly modern power-train is soon becoming the staple for many Royal Enfield models including the recently unveiled Thunderbird 500. Crank the engine up and you are sure to get lost in the royal thumps that fill the surroundings. 

The Classic is pretty quick off the line and accelerates briskly but the most interesting thing is that you just don't realize the speeds that you are doing until you look at the speedo. The 5 speed constant mesh gearbox is smooth shifting and the gear ratios are nicely placed with the bike not feeling out of breath in any gear. The abundant torque available at lower end of the rev range makes it pretty comfortable to drive the Classic inside the city, unabated by its sheer bulk. The vibration levels leaves a lot to be desired and is so bad that things are hardly visible in the rear-view mirrors as speeds build up.

The high and comfortable seating position and the massive bulk at your disposal invariably gives you the feeling that you are king of the road once you hop on. And the superb ride just reinstates this point as the Classic continues unfazed by bumps, potholes and other road undulations with telescopic dampers up front and gas-charged shocks at the rear gobbling them away. The high-speed handling and superb straight-line stability instills confidence in you making it a perfect highway cruiser. On the contrary, the Classic isn't as nimble as you would like in the city traffic. Braking is average and is not on par with ABS-equipped bikes like TVS Apache RTR180 and Honda CBR 250R. It is high time Royal Enfield brings in ABS technology to their models, given that they are all pricey and rich in power and torque.

SPECIFICATIONS: 

* Engine Type: 4-stroke, Liquid Cooled
* No of Cylinders: 1
* Displacement: 499 cc
* Maximum Power: 27.2 bhp @ 5250 RPM
* Maximum Torque: 41.3 Nm @ 4000 RPM
* Transmission Type: 5-speed, 1Down 4Up
* Tires: 90/90 R19 (Front), 120/80 R18 (Rear)
* Brakes: 280mm Hydraulic Disc (Front), 153mm Single Lead Internal Expanding (Rear)

WHAT'S COOL:

* Classic retro looks
* Superb high-speed stability
* Excellent Ride quality
* Powerful and torquey engine
* Stunning matte-finish 'sand' paint job

WHAT'S NOT SO COOL:

* Basic Instrument Cluster
* Lack of advanced features
* Inconsistent Fit and Finish

TO SUM UP:

Royal Enfield motorcycles are still not the best when it comes to long-term reliability. The build quality is still not on par with the competition. Barring a few modern technological bits, they are basically old-school and are not feature-rich. The engine vibrates so much giving your palms and shoulders a shudder. Still, those who own one love their machines and swear by them anyday anytime and anywhere. And those who don't own one aspire to do so very soon. Despite its many flaws, the Classic 500 is still a great motorcycle with unbeatable highway characteristics and we will not hesitate for a moment to put our money on one. As most of you would agree, learning to live with its flaws is a part of the pleasure of owning a Royal Enfield. The world may come to an end in 2012 but we are sure that the sun will never really set on a Royal Enfield.