Bajaj VS400 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 vs UM Renegade Sport S: Spec Comparison

Introduction

Bajaj is gunning for Royal Enfield territory with the VS400. And Royal Enfield's highest selling model is the Classic 350, it won't be easy given the Classic's fan following. But that's not all. UM Motorcycles are eyeing the exact same sales pie. It is a three way contest. But does the new Bajaj VS400 have what it takes to hold its own in front of these traditional cruisers with its new-age approach? Here's what you can expect...

Design and Engine:

The VS400 being a cruiser sport shares bits from two different genres of motorcycles. One can tell within minutes of looking at the VS that Bajaj has taken inspiration from the Ducati Diavel. The final product of the motorcycle looks almost identical to the concept model and gets the same broad fuel tank, low-set headlamp and stubby muffler along with the dual screen instrument cluster. The UM Renegade Sport S, like the VS, has drawn design inspiration from a bigger bike. However, this time it’s the M1800 from Suzuki. With the Sport S, UM wants to attract a set of audience who wants to buy a premium cruiser bike with a touch of sportiness. Unlike the VS400 and the Renegade, the Classic is a very familiar motorcycle. The motorcycle has been around for quite some time now and is targeted at buyers looking for a retro styled bike.

The Bajaj VS400 is expected to be powered by a single-cylinder 373.27cc engine that develops 34.5bhp at 8,000rpm. This engine will be liquid cooled and be mated to a six speed gearbox. The UM Renegade Sport S will be powered by a 279cc single-cylinder water-cooled engine. This engine produces 25bhp at 8500rpm and peak torque of 21.8Nm at 7000rpm, it is also mated to a six-speed gearbox. The Royal Enfield Classic 350, meanwhile uses a 346cc single-cylinder engine that churns out 19.8bhp of power and 28Nm of torque. The Classic is air-cooled and uses a five speed gearbox, down a gear on the other two.

Features and Cycle parts:

The Bajaj VS400 will come with the most modern engine of the lot along with ABS and fuel injection. The VS400 will also ride on a 150 section rear tyre which will be the widest of the three motorcycles. It is also the only one to have a monoshock. The instrument cluster on the Bajaj will be a dual LCD screen unit which will display a wide variety of information like fuel efficiency and gear position indicator. The Renegade’s instrument cluster consists of a small LCD screen that displays the trip meter and fuel level, along with an analogue tachometer.  The Renegade Sport S will be sold in a one-seating configuration and a plastic cowl does the job of the pillion seat. In here, the Royal Enfield misses out on a lot of features, keeping true to its retro feel. However, the motorcycle does have a low fuel indicator light but no gauge reflecting the level of fuel.

Price:

Here's where the Royal Enfield Classic 350 comes out tops. It is the most affordable of the lot priced at Rs 1.38 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The UM Renegade Sport S will set you back Rs 1.51 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) while, the upcoming Bajaj VS400 is expected to be priced somewhere between Rs 1.6 lakh and Rs 1.8 lakh.