Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 is hot/cool

White wall tires and ape-hanger handlebars come to Royal Enfield.

 Royal Enfield's newest addition to its line-up of U.S. models is the Goan Classic 350. 

It's named for Goa, the hot/cool tourist and festival destination in India. And it's plenty hot/cool itself. 

For one, it is magnificently and courageously retro: white wall tires come with one of the two color schemes available in the U.S. It has retro looking wire wheels, but these are designed for tubeless tires, which many riders prefer. Nice. 

For two, it's a "bobber," a designation that originally referred to a motorcycle crudely "customized" by hacking off any bits that were bent or rusted. 

In Royal Enfield's hands, this bobber is bright and shiny, but definitely customized. 

This includes having a rear fender that rides close to the rear wheel, because it is sprung with the wheel. This is a custom touch that adds weight to the rear suspension, negatively affecting ride and handling. But it sure looks hot/cool. 

It also addresses one of the complaints about the other Classic 350 models: that their rear fender, attached to the frame, not the suspension, is ugly because it leaves too much visual space between it and the tire.

Determinably retro Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 in "Trip Teal."

The semi-ape hanger handlebars of the Goan Classic 350 are another feature that may appeal to Americans. They're a typical feature of "choppers" (another reference to cutting things up to customize them).

True ape-hangers are tall enough to get in your face, and are part of the outlaw look Americans seem to have invented.

The cute little ape hangers of the Goan Classic 350 don't deliberately convey disdain to quite the outlaw degree. But they hint at it.

Projecting obnoxious attitude isn't something the Royal Enfield 350s can do very well anyway. Their single-cylinder motors don't put out the power to shut down anybody. The Goan Classic 350 packs only 20 horsepower to move its 434 pounds.

The motor is shared with the other Royal Enfield 350s already in the U.S. These are the Bullet 350, the Meteor 350, the Classic 350 and the Hunter 350. Pick your flavor.

The Goan Classic 350 is closest in appearance to the Classic 350.

The Goan Classic 350 is the most expensive of the bunch, but even it is surprisingly affordable at $4,999 MSRP (you will, of course, pay more than that, in line with SOP in the USA).

Reviewers in India seemed to like riding the Goan Classic 350, calling it relaxing.

"In my opinion, this bike is for the easy rider out there who enjoys watching the scenery go by at a leisurely pace," wrote Abhinav Jakhar in MSN.

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 in Rave Red. Website photo emphasizes India, almost to the point of hiding the motorcycle.

Reviewers typically relate the mild mannered Goan 350 to Goa itself, as laid back and fun. Royal Enfield's website for America unreservedly picks up on India-specific cues.

Americans may not fully understand these. But they may, nevertheless, like what they see in the motorcycle.

Specifications from TopSpeed.