According to a Zigwheels report, a test mule of a scrambler, based on the Royal Enfield Classic 500 was spied testing in Pune with an “On test by ARAI” license plate. However, the publication hasn’t shared images of the test bike.
What is believed to be an official prototype of the Royal Enfield Classic 500 Scrambler was spied at a dealership in June 2018. The images, courtesy of Bikers Janata Party, revealed the next version, based on the Classic 500. The motorcycle featured an awkwardly upswept exhaust and knobby off-road tyres. The telescopic forks can be seen with rubber gaiters to protect it from sand and dust.
The alleged factory-fresh Royal Enfield Classic 500 Scrambler featured a slightly raised handlebar with a centre brace and a rear parcel rack in place of the pillion seat. Furthermore, the prototype also received short scrambler-style fenders at the front and the back. One of the photos shows a cable running into the front disc, which hints at the presence of a possible ABS unit.
Before 1 April, ABS will be standard on the Royal Enfield Classic 500 Scrambler. It would be interesting to see if the variant gets a switchable ABS unit as it should help during off-road riding.
We don’t expect any changes to the power figures on the scrambler. At the most, Royal Enfield could offer a different tuning or use revised sprocket sizes and gearing ratios. On the Royal Enfield Classic 500, the 499cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor churns out 27.5 PS of max power at 5,250 rpm and 41.3 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed transmission.
Also Read: Jawa & Jawa Forty-Two vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 - Spec sheet comparison
The Royal Enfield Classic 500 Scrambler is expected to be launched in India by early next year. It could be priced around INR 1.85 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), which is in the ballpark of the Classic 500. The scrambler variant won’t have any direct competition if launched in India.
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[Story Source: Zigwheels.com]
