Jawa 350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 Specs Compared

Jawa vs Royal Enfield has been a battle that has been fought since the former was a two-stroker. Several racing stories have been written between the two. However, in the modern era, it is the latter with its Classic 350 that has been shining brightly. Classic Legends’ attempt to disrupt the dominance failed with the Jawa Jawa. But with the new Jawa 350, things are becoming more evenly matched. Has Jawa once again triumphed over its arch-nemesis, or is Royal Enfield still the one calling the shots?

Engine

Despite a bigger 334cc engine, the Jawa 350 now produces less power and a little more than 1Nm than the old 293cc. However, Jawa has now made the motor more rideable in an overall sense without letting go of the sporty characteristic of the company. While its spirited acceleration is appreciated in the lower gears, in higher gears it doesn’t like to be revved that much. 

Jawa confirmed to us that it has been done deliberately to offer that peaceful retro experience. Unlike the older model, the vibrations are relatively less at lower speeds, but anything above 100 kmph the vibes become harsher and the motor starts to protest.  

But when it comes to relaxed riding, it is the Royal Enfield Classic 350 that dominates this side of the bargain. The way the Classic 350 delivers its power and keeps you relaxed throughout the acceleration until 100 kmph, is something that very few motorcycles have managed to come close to. The Jawa 350 does try its best to achieve this and it hasn’t fallen out of its aim by miles, however, it is in the right direction for sure. 

Underpinnings, Suspension And Braking

On paper, both bikes get similar equipment like telescopic fork, twin-shock absorbers, and disc brakes at both ends. The disc brakes are bigger on the Royal Enfield, but whether that converts to better stopping power, for that you will have to wait for our real-world comparison of these two motorcycles. 

Dimension

As mentioned above, Jawa has made some major changes to the chassis of the motorcycle. For starters, it is now 12 kg heavier than before, but during our first ride test, the way the bike has been packaged this extra weight didn’t come in the way. In addition to that, the chassis has been raised by 13mm, therefore despite that increase in weight, its generous ground clearance of 178mm resolves the previous notorious issue of underbelly scrapping. 

On paper, the RE Classic 350 might weigh more, has less ground clearance and a shorter wheelbase when compared to the Jawa 350. But these details don’t interfere in a major way with the daily ride quotient of the bike. On the contrary, the RE Classic 350 already has an established reputation for having a relaxed riding posture. The ergonomics of the Jawa 350 has also been altered with the raised handlebar which in turn reduces the stress on your shoulders. However, the footpegs could have been slightly set forward. The current position affects taller riders who might feel constricted on the Jawa.

Features

Although, both the bikes don’t come loaded with features per say. However, it’s the Jawa 350 that falls short in this department. 

Aside from an odometer and two trip meters displayed on the top flat-mounted instrument cluster, dual-channel ABS is the only other major highlight in the Jawa 350. In comparison, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 gets all these three features plus Bluetooth connectivity for the Tripper navigation pod, a clock, service reminder, and USB charging. So, it is the Royal Enfield Classic 350 that gets the better half of the yardstick. 

Variants And Price

The newly launched Jawa 350 is available in three colour options - Mystique Orange, Black and Red. Aside from the colour, there are no other differences between the models, and all three are priced at ₹2.14 lakh. 

With three different trim levels, divided into single-channel ABS and dual-channel ABS variants, the Royal Enfield gives you the benefit of more options. Moreover, it has also allowed the marque to price the roadster better with a sub-₹2 lakh starting ex-showroom price. 

So, from a VFM point of view, its the Royal Enfield Classic 350 which is still the more sensible option. However, the Jawa 350 comes close and yet stands afar to establish its own value. The motorcycle will fill you with pride, devoid of the lack of nostalgia that owners of the outgoing model endure. Changes made to the motorcycle are in the right direction, a few more updates and additions, and the Jawa 350 will be a proper reckoner in this segment.