5 Reasons We'd Buy The Kawasaki W230 Over RE Classic 350 (And 5 Reasons We Won't) (2025)

Retro motorcycles are all about timeless design, taking inspiration from classics with a charming experience. They remind you what riding a motorcycle essentially is — it's just you, your motorcycle, and the wind in your face helmet. While retros have their criticisms, they’re hard to hate. As much as we’d love to ride a Ducati Superleggera V4, we still wouldn’t mind puttering around on a rusty old thumper.

Fortunately, the brands know how to capitalize on this retro charm, which is why they’re bringing out a ton of awesome retro motorcycles. It started with Triumph’s Bonneville line, followed by Harley-Davidson, and today, even brands like Kawasaki have started dabbling in it. Speaking of which, Kawasaki’s latest retro is the W230, a small-capacity thumper, to rival the like of Royal Enfield. Is it worth buying over RE's star player then? Let’s find out.

10 Why We’d Buy The W230: Kawasaki’s Reliability Record And Service Network

As good as other manufacturers get, it’s hard for them to come close to Japanese reliability. The W230 has the upper hand over the Classic 350 here. Kawasaki makes some of the most reliable motorcycles on the market. Royal Enfield doesn’t have the same reputation despite making strides in terms of reliability in recent years. Plus, Kawasaki has a much wider service network here.

The W230’s engine is based on the KLX 230’s powerplant with a different tune and casings. That engine is already tried and tested, and if it can survive being abused on a dual sport, it will do just fine on a laid-back retro. Sure, the J-Series engine is reliable, too, but it’s still a relatively new platform and hasn’t weathered long-term use yet.

9 Why We Won’t: Not Such A Rich Legacy As Royal Enfield

While the W230 has its advantages, there are compelling reasons to consider the Classic 350. Royal Enfield is the oldest motorcycle manufacturer, having produced its first motorcycle in 1901 — it even predates Harley-Davidson by two years! That’s a long legacy, and the Classic 350 gives you a taste of it. It’s inspired by the 1948 G2 350 Bullet, the first motorcycle to be fitted with an articulating swing arm.

Meanwhile, the Kawasaki W230 does not give you the same nostalgic retro feel. Yes, it’s still a retro motorcycle with some heritage connected to it. The design is inspired by the W800, which drew the look of the 1965 Kawasaki 650-W1. Still, you wouldn’t be wrong to think it’s inspired by 1960s British motorcycles (ahem, Royal Enfield). Which one would you pick? An authentic retro or something that simply draws lines from a blurry heritage?

8 Why We’d Buy: No-Frills, Old-School Approach

One look at the Kawasaki W230, and you’ll know it’s all about keeping things simple. It doesn’t give much except a reliable engine, a friendly frame, and the bare minimums. It still ticks the boxes for being a modern retro, like dual disc brakes with ABS, semi-digital instrument cluster, LED lights, and fuel injection. In a way, the W230 comes off as the perfect retro motorcycle for someone who doesn’t want a complicated experience. It’s about as simple as a modern motorcycle can get.

Kawasaki W230 Model Highlights:

• Classic-style teardrop fuel tank with 3D "W" emblem
• LED headlights
• Retro-style gauges with LCD
• Peashooter exhaust
• Dual disc brakes
• Chrome-plated handlebar

7 Why We Won’t: The Classic 350 Is More Feature-Rich

For some retro-lovers, the simple, no-frills approach may be enticing, but who wouldn’t want some modern features in their motorcycles? Retro bikes have a nostalgic charm, but it’s no good if they don’t live up to the present time. That’s where the Classic 350 is making strides, even if they are small.

The Classic 350 is by no means living in 2025; it’s still old-school. But compared to the W230, it brings more features and creature comforts, including alloy wheels on some variants. The 2025 Classic 350 that’s launched in India comes with LED lights, a tripper navigation, a gear position indicator, a USB Type-C port, and adjustable levers. It’s only a matter of time before this model year is introduced in the US.

6 Why We’d Buy: Ideal For Beginner Bikers

The Kawasaki W230 comes off as the perfect beginner motorcycle. It’s uncomplicated, reliable, and approachable. It has a low seat height, a narrow frame, and a low curb weight, which makes it easier for beginner motorcyclists to learn their ropes. The Classic 350, despite being approachable, has a higher seat height and weighs a whopping 115 pounds more than the W230. This difference can be a deal-breaker for many new riders, though the added weight comes down to personal preference.

Kawasaki W230 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 Dimensions

5 Why We Won’t: Only One Color Option And No Accessories

Let’s be honest, we love our motorcycles, and we love adding personalized touches to them. These additions are what make our motorcycles our. Unfortunately, the W230 doesn’t live up to it. Kawasaki only offers one color option: Metallic Ocean Blue/Ebony, and no official accessories. You’d have to rely on the aftermarket for accessories, which may not always be a smart move, considering how new the bike is.

When we talk about the Classic 350, the story is completely different. The 2024 Classic 350 comes with plenty of color options and accessories, including a windshield, panniers, seats, and sump and engine guards. If Royal Enfield’s Indian site is anything to go by, you should have your hopes up for some awesome color options, including chrome and camo!

4 Why We’d Buy: Six-Speed Transmission For Comfortable Cruising

One thing that small-capacity retro motorcycles (including the Classic 350) often lack is the sixth gear. Ride such bikes long enough, and you’ll start missing the sixth gear. It comes in handy when you want to ride at higher speeds, even if you’re just going for a short highway run. Here, the W230 breaks that stereotype by bringing a sixth gear. It’s a small difference that many newbies may overlook, but it’s always good to have, even if the bike may not be a capable highway tourer.

3 Why We Won’t: The Classic 350 Has Better Torque Delivery

Torque Output: 19.9 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM (Classic 350) and 14 LB-FT @ 5,800 RPM (W230)

When it comes to riding in the city, though, the Classic 350 would be more comfortable. It produces significantly more torque than the W230, and that torque comes lower in the rev range. As a result, the Classic 350 should ride comfortably at lower speeds, and you can putter around in higher gears and low revs without lugging the engine. That’s also where you’ll get to enjoy the soothing thumper exhaust note of the Royal Enfield.

2 Why We’d Buy: Better Power-To-Weight Ratio Than The Classic 350

So, the W230 would be comfortable at higher speeds, and the Classic 350 while puttering around. However, for most other riding scenarios, the W230 has the upper hand thanks to the lower power-to-weight ratio. While both motorcycles produce more or less the same horsepower figures, the Classic 350 is much heavier than the W230! For low-capacity motorcycles, this difference is enough to be felt on the road.

Kawasaki W230 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 Performance Specifications

1 Why We Won’t: More Expensive Than The Classic 350

What the W230 lacks in weight, it makes up for in price tag — not in a good way. The Classic 350 benefits from Indian manufacturing, which comes with cheap parts and labor. So, the Indian-made “British” classic costs a thousand dollars less than the Japanese-made “British-looking” classic. That price difference, for a beginner biker, is enough to fund their first set of riding gear.

Kawasaki W230 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 Pricing