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Two lightweight singles have just been announced for the United States, and they represent polar opposite approaches to affordable motorcycling.
Both bikes are built in India with smallish one-lunger engines. They are successors to immensely popular product lines with hardcore fans around the world, and they manage their speed with India-made ByBre braking components.
Price tags are in the same neighborhood, but different ends of the street. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350’s pricing and position in India, where it is already available for order, suggest it’ll cost about the same as a Meteor 350, or $4,500 in the United States. The KTM RC390’s U.S. pricing hasn’t been revealed yet. The last generation’s base model was $5,549. Count on a small price bump for the new features and tech.
That’s just the beginning of the differences between these two motorcycles. Let’s get a closer look at the latest in small bikes.
2022 KTM RC390
The RC390 receives its biggest update yet with the 2022 refresh, mostly focused on looks and tech. The windscreen takes a striking “full coverage” look that covers even more of the nose than before to boost aerodynamic efficiency. The side plastics were also reworked to cheat wind. Practically, this helps KTM to extract all the performance they can out of the small engine, and stylistically, the redesign channels the look of their MotoGP racer.
Despite a slight increase in overall size, the RC390 dropped 3.3 pounds from the frame alone. Gone are the radical trellis sections under the seat.
Moving on to tech updates, the big story for ‘22 is the addition of an IMU and a new ride-by-wire system for cornering traction control and lean-sensitive ABS. There’s a slick new TFT dash with smartphone pairing and automatic brightness adjustment, Supermoto mode for uninterrupted rear wheel slides and heavy front braking, and an up/down “Quickshifter +” option. Suspension technology also takes a leap forward with a new 43 mm WP Apex fork and matching rear shock.
2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350
While KTM is busy chasing the cutting edge of small-single performance, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is pursuing the exact opposite direction. These new motorcycles have RE’s new J-series engines and all the basics that you’d expect from a motorcycle of its class, like a subtle digital dash and ABS, but the style goes right back to the Enfields of old. Specifically, the postwar G2 was the main inspiration behind the Classic’s styling.
The bike uses the same chassis and powerplant as the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 that I reviewed earlier this year, so check that out for a good idea of how this bike will ride. The essential info: a 349 cc engine with five speeds making 20 horsepower, a 19-inch and 18-inch wheelset, and a claimed wet weight of 429 pounds.
RE offers 11 paint options, including a chrome tank option and a military tribute in desert tan with unique numbers for each bike stenciled in white. Tripper navigation should be an optional add-on.
The Classic 350 marks a return to form for RE after the Bullet was discontinued. RE finally has a bike in its lineup that fits the image most riders imagine when they think of the brand, at a friendly price point.
If you're interested in either of these very different Indian singles, you shouldn't have a hard time choosing which one is better for you.
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