Not simply as a State but additionally as a lifestyle, Goa is kind of distinctive. It’s positively extra characterful than different well-liked vacationer places, its susegad way of life is distinctly extra alluring, and the nice mixture of nature and modernity is second to none. Goa can be a favorite alternative amongst automotive producers. Many first-drive occasions happen in Goa, and a few firms prefer it a lot that they find yourself naming their merchandise after this perennially sunny State. The most recent one to go down that route is Royal Enfield, which has launched a brand new iteration of its very profitable Traditional 350 bike. We take the brand new Goan Traditional 350 for a spin to know if it deserves the premium over the common iteration of the Traditional 350 and why.
A bobber-style bike, the Goan Traditional 350 shares its platform with the Traditional 350. Its 349 cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine makes 20.2 bhp and a couple of.7 kg-m. It nonetheless will get a 5-speed gearbox, however at 197 kg (kerb weight), the brand new bike is heavier than the Traditional 350 by 2 kg. The opposite noticeable change is the 16-inch rear tyre. The entrance suspension has 130 mm of journey and the rear will get 105.3 mm. On the Goan Traditional 350, the wire-spoke wheels include white-walled tubeless tyres. The bike additionally will get a brand new exhaust, a blacked-out engine, and a alternative between 4 reasonably good color combos. The one we had on the take a look at was Journey Teal.
On the Goan Traditional 350, the wire-spoke wheels include white-walled tubeless tyres
Ergonomically sound
Swinging your leg over it, you’ll discover that the 750 mm tall seat is straightforward to get onto; the rear seat is non-obligatory. The footpegs are ahead set and most significantly, the ape-hanger handlebar is 100 mm taller than earlier than. The mix makes for an ergonomically sound setup, with the handlebar posing no points when cornering arduous and even making fast course modifications. The tractability of the engine isn’t dangerous, both, and I might proceed driving effectively on the streets of Goa in third gear with none points in any respect.
What I discovered to be barely problematic is the suspension. The entrance does an honest job, however one way or the other, the rear doesn’t supply as a lot consolation as I’d have favored. The oxidised orange paint for the tank and the mandala sample are each value appreciating, however not precisely ‘Goan’, I felt. Nevertheless, it didn’t take too lengthy for the color to develop on me. Equally, the remainder of the bike turned out to be an effective way to benefit from the finer issues in life, viz., leisurely cruising, true to its identify.
The Royal Enfield Goan Traditional 350 is priced at ₹2.35 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards, whereas the dual-tone model retails for ₹2.38 lakh, which is about ₹30,000 dearer than the common Traditional 350’s base mannequin.
