Royal Enfield Classic Squadron Blue

We’re talking about a motorcycle that marks one’s entrance from the teenage to the adult league, a motorcycle that carves out one’s biker identity. In 1953, Madras Motors received an order from the Indian Army for 800 350cc Bullets; they were a soulmate to live with even after the raging wars. That’s history that we’re talking about. Now the Classic 350 has an elder brother, called the Classic 500, and we’re talking the special edition of the Classic 500, called the Squadron Blue Edition. The Squadron Blue, as the name suggests, has an amazing Blue matte paint job on it, which is inspired by the Indian Air Force and is a tribute paid by Royal Enfield to the soldiers of the sky.

This highly popular model now costs about Rs. 186,688 (On-road Pric, New Delhi). It is powered by a 499 c, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, twinspark, air-cooled engine. The engine produces 27.2 bhp of peak power at 5250 rpm and 43.1 Nm of peak torque at 4000 rpm, though it misses out on a tachometer. This power source is linked to a 5speed gearbox with a multiplate wet clutch, which serves as a perfect motorcycle for long tours.

This new edition to the Royal Enfield family rules a mileage of 20 kmpl in the city and 30 kmpl on the highway. It is said to be the most efficient in its segment. Features are all same as the standard classic 500, like analogue fuel and speedometer, keeping the retro look on, though the 18-inch wheels are new for better ride and handling.

With a design inspired from the war, this motorcycle launches from 0-60 kmph in 3.9 seconds and holds a top speed of 130 kmph, which means that one can easily cruise at speeds of 90-100 kmph. The 280 mm front disc and 153 mm rear drum brakes give a fair amount of stopping power. Also, as mentioned earlier, the new 18-inch wheels give you a better ride and grip on the road. The front suspension is a telescopic, 35 mm fork, 130 mm travel and the rear twin gas charged shock absorbers with 5-step adjustable pre-load, 80 mm travel should do more than justice to the Indian roads.