Spec Comparo: UM Renegade Commando Classic vs Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350

The recently launched UM Renegade Commando Classic comes packed with a 279cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. It produces 25PS of power and 21.8Nm of torque at 7000rpm. This is where the Renegade Commando gets the edge when compared to the Royal Enfield Thunderbird’s 346cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that produces 19.8PS of power. However, the Thunderbird gets a strong foothold by producing 28Nm of torque at a lower 4000rpm, as compared to the Renegade Commando’s 21.8Nm at 7000rpm. While the Royal Enfield offering gets a 5-speed gearbox, the Renegade Commando Classic comes equipped with a 6-speed transmission. The extra gear will come in handy while touring on open highways. 

Features: 

In terms of design, the UM Renegade Commando Classic is clearly inspired by big American cruisers, with its large visor and chrome elements. It also gets additional features like a small zipper on the fuel tank to hold your smartphone or loose cash and also a small saddle bag. The bike features a tank-mounted semi-digital instrument console with an analogue speedometer. There is also a USB port next to it that can be used to charge a phone or a GPS unit while riding. 

With its round headlamp, bulbous fuel tank, and split seats, the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 makes for a beautiful looking motorcycle. The bike sports a twin-pod instrument console with analogue speedometer and tachometer while the LCD unit displays details like tripmeter, odometer, fuel gauge, service indicator, etc. The cruiser from the Chennai-based manufacturer also features a projector headlamp that provides better luminance than the halogen unit found on the Renegade Commando Classic.

Dimensions and Cycle parts:

The UM Renegade Commando Classic is held together by a dual-cradle frame. The brawny American also uses conventional telescopic forks at the front and hydraulic shocks at the rear. On the other hand, the Thunderbird employs telescopic front forks and gas-charged twin shock absorbers at the back, making it more comfortable for cruising. The Thunderbird’s 280mm disc at the front and the 240mm disc at the rear edges the Commando Classic when it comes to stopping power. The latter only gets a 280mm disc at the front and a 130mm drum at the rear which, for a cruiser that costs Rs 1.89 lakh (ex-showroom), could be a deal breaker.

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The UM Renegade Commando Classic has a kerb weight rated at 179 kg. In comparison, the Thunderbird is heavier with a kerb weight of around 195 kg at kerb. The lighter kerb weight along with the more powerful motor should put the American back in the race. However, the Thunderbird should make for a more comfortable ride as it produces its peak torque at a much lower rpm. In terms of dimensions, the Commando Classic, at 2257 mm, is longer than the Thunderbird, which stands at 2060mm. While the American cruiser has a fuel tank capacity of 18 litres, the Royal Enfield Thunderbird gets a larger 20-litre tank, which for a cruiser makes better sense.

Pricing: 

The UM Renegade Commando Classic comes at a price of Rs 1.89 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi), while the Royal Enfield Thunderbird will set you back by Rs 1.46 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). If you’re good at math and logic, you’ll probably figure out that the Renegade Commando is Rs 43,000 more than the Thunderbird, while carrying a smaller engine and much lower torque. But what the UM offers is better visual presence and performance as we found out from our first ride with the new bike. 

UM Renegade Classic And Renegade Commando Mojave First Ride Review

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