Classic-350
BS3 and BS4 models of Royal Enfield’s Classic 350, Bullet 350 and Thunderbird can now run on E20 petrol by installing retrofit kit.
Royal Enfield has launched the E20 retrofit kit for its BS3 and BS4 bikes in India. This kit has been brought so that these old bikes can run without any problem on E20 petrol mixed with 20% ethanol. The price of this kit for BS4 bikes is Rs 1,700. This kit is especially useful for older 350cc models like Classic 350, Bullet 350 and Thunderbird, which have a carburetor UCE engine.
Let us tell you that the company’s BS6 motorcycles are already compatible with E20 fuel and they do not require any conversion kit. BS6 emission standards came into effect in India from 1 April 2020. According to the company, all motorcycles produced thereafter are E20 fuel compliant. Therefore, this new kit has been brought especially for BS3 and BS4 bikes with 350cc carburetor engines. At present there is no clear information regarding any such kit for 500cc models.
The E20 kit contains many small parts, including O-rings, tubes, and seals. The high ethanol content in E20 fuel can cause rapid wear of rubber and some metal parts. This problem can be prevented by replacing these parts. This step has been taken after the Government of India made E20 fuel mandatory.
Royal Enfield E20 conversion kit
These E20 conversion kits are available at authorized Royal Enfield dealerships across the country. Although there is no specific retrofit kit available for 500cc models, dealers are recommending updating some fuel system parts to avoid problems like blockage in future. It is advised to contact the nearest dealership for more details.
Media reports have also revealed that bikes which are not E20 compatible have seen a reduction in mileage after using E20 fuel. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see to what extent this retrofit kit of Royal Enfield can reduce the decline in mileage. However, improvements are expected to be limited and mileage may be difficult to fully return to normal.
Currently, these kits are available in limited numbers as many dealers are out of stock. Therefore, owners of BS3 and BS4 models are advised to contact their nearest Royal Enfield dealer and get information about it.
