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Mileage is a big deal for Indian riders because it quietly decides your monthly running cost. The real question is not “What is the best number?” but “What will my city commute return, and what will my weekend highway ride return?” On Paper, “With a fuel tank of 13 litres and under ideal environmental conditions and road, a mileage of 36.2 kmpl can be expected from the Royal Enfield Classic 350.
Alt Text – Bullet 350
Below is a clear, repeatable way to test mileage in city and highway conditions, plus a rider-focused lens for reading owner reviews so you can judge results that match your routine.
The bits that influence fuel use
A few specifications set the baseline for how the bike drinks fuel:
- Engine: 349cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, air-oil cooled, electronic fuel injection (EFI)
- Output: 20.2 bhp @ 6100 rpm (14.87 kW); 27 Nm @ 4000 rpm
- Gearbox: 5-speed constant mesh; clutch: wet, multi-plates
- Kerb weight: 195 kg (with 90% fuel & oil)
- Fuel capacity: 13 ltr
On the road, mileage then changes mainly with how often you accelerate, brake, and idle.
City vs highway: why the numbers separate
City riding is a cycle of stop-start movement. Even with a gentle right hand, you still spend time at signals, crawl behind traffic, and rebuild speed again. That repeated momentum-building tends to raise fuel use.
Highway riding is more uniform. The throttle stays steadier, gear changes reduce, and the engine can run without constant interruptions. That is why highway figures often feel easier to repeat.
Instead of chasing a single “final” number, treat mileage as a range that shifts with:
- Traffic density and idling time
- Road surface and speed breakers
- Load (solo vs pillion and luggage)
- Riding smoothness (progressive inputs vs sudden inputs)
The full-tank to full-tank method (the one that stays honest)
To avoid guesswork, use this same method for both city and highway runs:
- Fill the tank to full and reset the trip meter
- Ride your planned loop without topping up
- Refill to full at the same station, ideally the same pump
- Note kilometres covered and litres filled
- Calculate kmpl as: kilometres ÷ litres
Run each test at least twice and take the average. One bad traffic day or one disrupted highway stretch can pull a single reading down.
For better accuracy, refuel with the bike upright, stop at the first auto cut-off, and note the same trip meter unit every time. Consistency beats guesswork on both routes.
City mileage test for the Classic 350
Route and timing
Choose a route you genuinely ride – office, college, market, or mixed errands. A city test is meaningful only when it includes the slow sections you cannot avoid.
- Use normal traffic hours (because that is your real world)
- Keep the start point consistent across runs
- Keep load consistent (same rider, same pillion if used)
Riding approach –
City mileage improves when inputs are predictable. The goal is not slow riding; it is smooth riding.
- Roll on the throttle progressively instead of snapping it open
- Look far ahead so you can avoid unnecessary braking
- Maintain a steady gap rather than chasing small openings
With 27 Nm of maximum torque at 4000 rpm, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is built for a calm, steady rhythm; that riding style also makes city mileage easier to stabilise.
What to note in your log
A simple log makes your results trustworthy:
- Total kilometres between full-tank fills
- Total litres added at refill
- Any unusual events (long jam, road diversion, heavy rain)
Highway mileage test for the Classic 350
Route and consistency
Pick a route with longer, uninterrupted stretches. The more your ride is broken by repeated slowdowns, the more it starts behaving like a city test.
- Aim for clean stretches where you can hold a steady throttle
- Keep your run length similar each time
- Avoid large changes in load between runs
Riding approach
The highway test rewards steadiness. The 5-speed constant mesh gearbox is designed for regular, repeatable progress; the more you keep pace consistent, the more consistent your mileage result becomes.
- Hold a steady throttle for long sections
- Avoid frequent hard accelerations that push the engine towards peak power
- Plan overtakes so you do not brake and re-accelerate repeatedly
Because maximum power is 20.2 bhp at 6100 rpm, aggressive riding can be fun, but it is also the quickest way to pull the highway kmpl down.
Reading “real owner reviews” the right way
Mileage posts and review comments can be useful, but only if you read them with the right filter. A single kmpl number without conditions is not a review; it is a guess.
When you look at owner feedback for the Royal Enfield Classic 350, prioritise reviews that clearly state:
- City, highway, or mixed use (not a combined number without details)
- Typical traffic level and route type
- Rider load (solo or with pillion)
- Refuelling method (full-tank to full-tank is the cleanest)
Also, watch for patterns rather than headlines. If multiple owners describe similar behaviour – city readings moving around with traffic, highway readings staying steadier – that pattern is more valuable than one standout claim.
Small maintenance details that can sway mileage
The bike’s basics can influence how consistently it runs from tank to tank.
- Air cleaner: paper element (keep it clean)
- Lubrication: wet sump, forced lubrication
- Engine oil specification: SAE 15 W 50 API, SL grade, JASO MA 2 semi-synthetic
If you are comparing your results across weeks, keep the maintenance routine consistent; it helps you identify what is actually changing – route, load, or riding style.
Control and comfort specs that support steady riding
A composed ride encourages smoother throttle and braking, which can help your mileage stay predictable.
- Front suspension: telescopic, 41mm forks, 130mm travel
- Rear suspension: twin tube emulsion shock absorbers with 6-step adjustable preload (90mm travel)
- Brakes front: 300 mm disc with twin piston floating caliper
- Brakes rear: 270 mm disc, single piston floating caliper
- ABS: dual channel
Tyres also affect rolling feel and stability:
- Front: 100/90 – 19 – 57P; spokes wheel (tube type) or alloy wheel (tubeless type)
- Rear: 120/80 – 18 – 62P; spokes wheel (tube type) or alloy wheel (tubeless type)
Daily usability: electricals and lighting
If your riding includes early mornings or late evenings, lighting consistency matters.
- Electrical system: 12 volt – DC
- Battery: 12 volt, 8 Ah, VRLA (maintenance free)
- Head lamp: 13.2V, 15.1/17.1W (LED)
- Turn signal lamp: 12V, 1.4W x 2 nos (LED)
- Pilot lamp: 13.5V, 1.6W x 2 nos (LED)
- Tail lamp: 12V, P21/5W
Dimensions that shape how you ride in traffic
Ease of handling affects how smoothly you can ride, and smooth riding supports predictable mileage.
- Wheelbase: 1390 mm; ground clearance: 170 mm
- Length: 2145 mm; width: 785 mm (without mirrors)
- Height: 1090 mm (without mirrors); seat height: 805 mm
- Kerb weight: 195 kg; fuel capacity: 13 ltr
Final word
Use the on-paper 36.2 kmpl figure as a reference, not a promise. The best way to understand mileage is to measure it in your own city conditions and on your usual highway route, using the same full-tank method every time. Once you have two or three repeatable readings, you will know what your commute costs, what your weekend rides cost, and how your riding style changes the result. With that clarity, the Classic 350 becomes easier to enjoy – steady, predictable, and ready for both daily miles and open-road kilometres.