You have to admit that the 1970s and 1980s have a specific charm. Maybe that’s because, once the world’s conflicts and other tragedies were over, those years catalyzed creativity and technological progress. The era’s charm differentiates itself from the modern world in almost every way.
In the dynamic Indian motorcycle industry, both riders and bike lovers are always looking for the ideal balance between cutting-edge engineering and classic design that doesn’t break the bank. Finding the ideal modern classic two-wheelers has become an interesting work, especially for individuals with a budget of Rs 3 lakh or less.
Today, in this article, we will explore the top 5 modern classic two-wheelers available in India.
5 Modern Classic Two-Wheelers Under 3 Lakh
1. Triumph Speed 400
Let’s start by taking a closer look at the newly launched classic motorcycle, the Triumph Speed 400. The price of the Bajaj-Triumph alliance surprised us a lot, as we had estimated it to be around Rs 2.60 lakh. However, the surprising thing is that the ex-showroom price of Speed Twin is Rs 2.33 lakh. Additionally, it appears to combine cutting-edge technology like traction control, ABS, a slipper clutch, and ride-by-wire throttle with the tradition of the British brand.
Because the Speed Twin inspires the Speed 400, it features a round headlamp, a contoured fuel tank, and a simple body with elegant chrome highlights that perfectly reflect its timeless appeal.
The motorcycle uses a 398cc single-cylinder engine to produce 39.5bhp and 37.5Nm. Now, the Speed shares some characteristics with the KTM, like being agile and smooth, and although there are some vibrations, they are not very strong. Speaking of which, the Triumph’s narrow seat makes it easy to mount for smaller riders and offers good ergonomics overall.
2. Harley-Davidson X 440
The Harley-Davidson X440 is another model that has joined the small-capacity retro motorcycle market. With a starting price of Rs 2.40 lakh for the base variant (spoke wheels and bright yellow color), this is the most affordable Harley-Davidson for now. There is another variant, which costs Rs 2.60 lakh and has alloy wheels and high-quality colors.
Apart from the brand name, the unique selling point of the X440 is its styling. With styling inspired by the XR1200X, the Harley appears to be more powerful than most of its competitors. Its 440cc engine, producing 27 horsepower and 38 Nm, is accommodated within the trellis frame.
There is a lot of modernity in its packaging also. It has a TFT instrument cluster and full LED lighting. On the top-end model, you will get features like call and message notifications, music, and turn-by-turn navigation.
3. Honda CB350
The Honda CB350, which marked Honda’s entry into the modern classic segment in India, comes next. Taking inspiration from Honda’s famous CB series of the 1960s and 1970s, the CB350 combines contemporary features with a classic appearance.
The 348cc single-cylinder engine of the Honda CB350 produces around 20 horsepower and 29 Nm of torque. Although these numbers are not as high as those of the Harley X440 or Triumph Speed 400, the Honda has a much more refined and vibration-free engine.
The Honda CB350 features traction control, a slipper clutch, ABS, full-LED lighting, and a semi-digital cluster. Honda has recently released upgrades/kits for the CB350 motorcycle that will improve its touring or even café-racing capabilities, making it stand out from the competition.
4. Royal Enfield Classic 350
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is another popular modern classic two-wheeler. It is an iconic motorcycle in the industry and has been consistently on top for many years. It was not until recently updated with the J-platform.
One of the mechanical highlights is the 349 cc air/oil-cooled engine built on the firm’s J-platform. The engine is tuned to generate a maximum torque of 27 Nm and 20.2 horsepower when mated to a five-speed gearbox.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is equipped with the brand’s Tripper navigation system and is slightly more expensive than the Jawa Classic. Although it doesn’t have ride-by-wire or LED lights yet, the current package is still quite nice.
5. Jawa Standard/Classic
The last on the list of modern classic two-wheelers in India is the Jawa Standard. We have slowly moved towards motorcycles with a classic aesthetic. Now, Jawa is a highly respected name that is back to satisfy Indian motorcyclists.
The 294cc single-cylinder motor with 26.9bhp and 26.8Nm is installed by Classic Legends, which also owns the Yezdi brand. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox. This mill is not the most refined, but it has low to mid-range power.
However, Jawa Standard looks good—almost exactly like the original. But Jawa failed to add features in an attempt to turn it into a classic. The only standard features are a modest digital cluster and ABS. The standard single-channel ABS model of the Jawa Standard is priced at Rs 2,09,189, and the standard dual-channel ABS model is priced at Rs 2,36,282.
