Keeway’s update to the V302C is tiny, but the motorcycle itself still occupies an unusual space. For 2026, the change is mostly visual. A new yellow colour joins the existing red and black options, and the ex-showroom price now stands at Rs 4.22 lakh.
There are no mechanical changes. The same 298 cc liquid-cooled V-twin, six-speed gearbox and belt final drive continue unchanged. That may sound modest, but the V302C still has one clear talking point: there is very little else at this price that offers a V-twin cruiser layout at all.
The price path is worth noting because it shows exactly where this bike now sits. The V302C originally came in at Rs 4.29 lakh. It then dropped to Rs 3.99 lakh after the GST revision in September 2025.
The new 2026 price of Rs 4.22 lakh means it has climbed by about Rs 23,000 from that lower point, while still staying Rs 7,000 below its original launch price. So this is not a dramatic re-pricing, but it is no longer as tempting on value as it briefly looked after the tax cut.
The engine is still the heart of the proposition. Keeway’s official specs list 29.5 hp at 8,500 rpm and 26.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm from the 298 cc V-twin. That is not big power in absolute terms, but it is enough to give the bike a distinct personality in a segment dominated by singles and parallel twins. The V302C also gets belt drive instead of chain drive, which is rarer at this price and helps reinforce the low-maintenance cruiser pitch.
The V302C weighs 167 kg, has a 690 mm seat height, a 15-litre fuel tank and 158 mm of ground clearance. Suspension is not conventional telescopic forks. Instead, the bike uses an upside-down fork up front and preload-adjustable dual shocks at the rear. Braking comes from a 300 mm front disc and 240 mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS. These are straightforward numbers, but together they explain why the bike feels approachable. It is low, not especially heavy, and far less intimidating than many mid-capacity cruisers.
The V302C’s strongest claim is also its weakest one. Yes, it is the most affordable V-twin cruiser around. But at Rs 4.22 lakh, it is not actually cheap in the wider market. Royal Enfield’s Shotgun 650 starts at Rs 3.98 lakh and runs to Rs 4.13 lakh, while bringing a 648 cc twin-cylinder engine with 46.4 hp and 52.3 Nm. In outright power and torque, the Shotgun is in another league.
That said, the Keeway fights back in a different way. It is much smaller, much lower and much lighter. Compared with the Shotgun 650’s 240 kg kerb weight and 795 mm seat height, the V302C is about 73 kg lighter and 105 mm lower. Those are not minor differences. For shorter riders or people who simply want a compact city-friendly cruiser instead of a large 650, the Keeway can feel far less demanding before the engine is even started.
That is the real way to read the V302C. This is not the value leader if performance per rupee is your metric. It is not the feature leader either. What you are paying for is powertrain configuration.
A small V-twin. A belt drive. A very low seat. A compact bobber-style stance. Those things still give the bike a niche of its own, especially for riders who care more about character and ease than outright speed or spec-sheet bragging rights.
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