Does Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 Spell Death For Jawa's Bobber Dreams?

The kingdom of small-capacity bobber motorcycles is completely dominated by Jawa in India. So far, riders had only two options: either get the retro Jawa Perak or the more modern Jawa 42 Bobber. Jawa Perak targets retro design enthusiasts and the 42 Bobber attracts Gen Z bobber lovers with its sleek and trendy design traits. Royal Enfield, however, had eyes on this category. 

Although you could spec your Classic 350 in a single-seat bobber configuration, Royal Enfield hasn't ventured into the bobber category wholly. The Shotgun 650 was the closest Sid Lal and his men went but the need for a proper bobber wearing the coveted RE badge was felt.

Hence, at the onset of the winter season in 2024, Royal Enfield decided to shake the motorcycle market. Why let Jawa have all the Bobber fun? Revealed ahead of the Motoverse 2024 event in Goa,  RE introduced their very first bobber with a pristine paint job, exquisite metal logo, an ape-style handlebar and the good-old white wall tyres. This is the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350.

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350: What is it?

If you’re thinking Royal Enfield has just swapped out the dual seat of the Classic 350 to make the Goan, then reality might hit you hard—this is almost a new machine. Yes, it does borrow some parts from other Royal Enfield models but the bike still feels like a completely fresh creation.

The Goan Classic 350 flaunts funkier colour options with names as quirky as Trip Teal, Purple Haze, Shack Rack and Rave Red.

While it’s based on the Classic 350 and shares the same headlamp and instrument cluster, the design tells a different story. Royal Enfield has borrowed the teardrop-shaped fuel tank, curved fenders and side panels from the Classic 350.

But this bobber comes with its own flair, featuring a slash-cut exhaust system, ape hanger-style handlebars, white-wall tubeless tyres with spoke wheels and a bobber-style floating seat. The rear mudguard is now mounted to a different spot, thus creating a lowrider presence. The seat too sits at 750mm, which is much lower than what you get on a bone-stock Classic 350.

Up front, you’ll spot LED illumination, tripper navigation and a digital instrument cluster that features a gear position indicator. The levers are adjustable and of course, the motorcycle comes with dual-channel ABS for added safety.

Under the tank, the Goan 350 is houses the familiar 349cc J-series engine churning out 20 bhp of max power and 27 Nm of peak torque. Like its sibling, it’s paired with a smooth five-speed gearbox.

The Goan is all set to debut in the Motoverse in Goa on 23 November 2024.

Goan Classic 350 vs Jawa 42 Bobber

While these two belong to the bobber category, the two machines target different types of riders. The Jawa Bobber is for performance-oriented riders while the Goan Classic 350 appeals to retro enthusiasts.

The Jawa 42 Bobber comes with a smaller capacity 330cc short-stroke engine while the Goan Classic 350 has a 349cc long-stroke engine. The 330cc engine of the 42 Bobber produces a higher output of 29.51 bhp and 32.74 Nm of torque compared to the Goan Classic’s 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm.

Not only that, the 42 Bobber is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission whereas the Goan Classic 350 comes with a five-speed manual gearbox. The differences in top speed, acceleration and overall riding experience, hence, target different audiences.

The Jawa Bobber leans more toward speed-focused riders while the Goan Classic is built to embody retro-hippie vibes with its signature style and a leisurely ride. The paint jobs and designs of both motorcycles perfectly reflect this contrast.

Can the RE Goan Classic 350 kill Jawa's Bobber dreams?

No.

As established, both motorcycles differ in the way they are designed and to add to the difference, they come at different price points. The expected ex-showroom price of the Goan Classic 350 is around INR 2.5 lakhs while the Jawa 42 Bobber is priced at INR 2.13 lakhs.

Hence, the Jawa 42 Bobber, despite lacking all the visual drama, continues to be a great choice for those who seek retro styling with modern performance. The same can be said for the Perak. For those who prefer long-distance highway cruising over the weekends, the 42 Bobber and Perak are good choices.

The Goan Classic 350, on the other hand, is tailored for a leisurely drive with a relaxed riding position.