KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Royal Enfield 350cc bikes rolling off without a gear position indicator
- Temporary move due to chip shortage
- Bikes will be retrofitted with the indicator once the shortage subsides
In a move prompted by global supply chain constraints, Royal Enfield 350cc bikes are now being dispatched without gear position indicators. The company has informed its dealer network through an official circular, assuring customers that the feature will be retrofitted at no extra cost once the required components become available. This temporary change is a direct result of a rare earth material shortage, which has impacted the production of gear position sensors used across the automotive industry. Let's take a closer look at this situation that arises out of the recent geopolitical shifts, but before that, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community, specifically curated for petrolheads like us to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates.
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Royal Enfield 350cc Models Affected By The Temporary Change
The omission affects all Royal Enfield 350cc bikes built on the J-Series platform that typically come equipped with a gear position indicator. This includes the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Classic 350, Goan Classic 350, Bullet 350, and the Hunter 350. Other motorcycles in Royal Enfield's 450 cc and 650 cc line-up remain unaffected, as the shortage currently impacts only components specific to the 350 cc range. Given that these models account for over 85% of the company's sales volume, the impact is significant.
Gear position sensors rely on rare-earth magnets and Hall-effect chips to detect gear positions and display them to the rider. With the supply of these rare earth elements, especially neodymium, tightening globally, Royal Enfield has opted to temporarily exclude the gear position indicator rather than slow down production and deliveries. To keep the riding experience functional, the brand has reverted to the traditional neutral indicator system. This simpler mechanism uses a plunger-type or contact-type switch and does not depend on rare earth components, allowing the bikes to be shipped without delay.
Royal Enfield's Temporary Solution For Customers
Customers purchasing affected 350 cc models will receive their motorcycles with only the neutral indicator active. Royal Enfield has clarified that once the gear position sensors are back in stock, dealers will retrofit the full indicator system at no cost. This transparent approach aims to minimize inconvenience while ensuring timely deliveries, especially with the festive season demand on the horizon.
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Royal Enfield is currently the only major two-wheeler manufacturer in India to temporarily remove this feature due to rare earth shortages. However, other OEMs have also faced similar supply-chain disruptions in recent months. For instance, Bajaj Auto had to scale down production temporarily earlier this year, while Ather Energy and TVS Motor Company also reported component-related slowdowns in their EV divisions.
Verdict
While the absence of a gear position indicator may be a minor inconvenience for some riders, Royal Enfield's decision to maintain deliveries and offer free retrofitting later reflects a practical and customer-focused strategy. As the rare earth material supply stabilizes, the brand is expected to restore the feature across all Royal Enfield 350cc motorcycles. For now, rest assured that this is a temporary issue and does not affect the overall performance or reliability of their bikes.
