As a kid who grew up in india, I’ve fully associated a Bullet with the coolest guy in the room. Seeing you talk about this core memory in such a historical yet informative way is something I never knew I needed. You’re extremely underrated Bart, keep up the good work!!
I associate it with masculinity, I hate some of them ,(rowdies,pata hai Mera baap kaun hai, gutkha spitters,corrupt cops) I want to be some of them(airforce uncle, wandering soul software engineer)
The "Made like a Gun" was a reference to the fact that the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield was best known for making rifles for the British Empire since the mid 1800's. The primary rifles of the British Empire in WWI and WWII were both Enfield rifles, so the general idea was that you could bet your life on an Enfield product.
Had the 500 for a while then they brought out the Interceptor, so I sold the 500 bought the 650. Then the world went mad for 2 years, then they brought out the new 350. Saw the 1 in red and chrome, thought it was the most beautiful bike in the world. Sold the 650 bought the 350, 18 months later have NO regrets.
They shouldn't have omitted the "kick start" in the new classic Reborn series..... having a kick start for me is very characteristic for a classic bike to have ...plus it has a legacy
True but the space that the kickstart would require now houses the counter balanced flywheels ( I think ). So reducing the vibrations would have to take priority.
A bit like having a cranking handle on a Toyota. You will never use it. Good job. Nowadays a nice electric start is the go. This message is from a 1962 Crusader Sport ex owner in 1966. I loved that bike.
I've got a 1992 Enfield bullet in garage. I bought it as a winter bike as the finish of my current bike at the time ( 1993Kawasaki zr 11oo) was not up to British winters. I've not started it for the last 8 years. Until July this year , I put fresh fuel in it an put a jump pack on the battery and it started 2nd kick.. on the back of these simple reliable old school bikes Royal Enfield have built a bit of a reputation with their modern bikes. I bought a Himalayan a couple of years ago as a daily ride to work bike , and l was so impressed with it l turned my back on modern Japanese bikes and bought a 650 continental gt. 46 bhp has never been so much fun down bumpy British roads. Its reminds me of a Yamaha ypvs 350 I had back in past.. sorry to waffle on. ( I'm 60 this year not owned a car for many years)
I own a Meteor 350 and the agricultural sounds the engine makes and the way it feels is the main draw of owning that bike. Also,it was idling in the garage and my wife thought a helicopter was flying close to the house so that was pretty cool 😂
I have a Meteor 350 too! Just did a 2-up camping trip with my 13 year old son. Fully loaded with gear, tent, etc. Managed everything just fine. I tell everyone it's like a tractor.
I'm some one who absolutely loves cars, but I couldn't care less for a motorcycle. Until I saw Royal Enfield classic 350. The style and sound are so beautiful, I love it. I decided to buy one soon.
I will be 70 in a few months, and I have been riding for over 50 years. I have owned at various times Hondas, Moto Guzzis, Triumphs, BSAs and Nortons. All good bikes for what I wanted at the time. I sold my Norton Commando last. Neck and back surgeries had finally put an end to kickstarting motorcycles. Touring was no longer really possible for me. Then, I started reading about this "modern classic" 350 from Royal Enfield (a company I had only been aware of without having ever ridden one). I knew their history, and as a fan of British bikes in general, I stopped at a dealer to look at a 350 Classic Reborn. Oh my.....the headlight nacelle, along with the red over chrome on the tank and fenders SO much reminded me of my '59 BSA Super Rocket! The price was ridiculously affordable. The WARRANTY (are you KIDDING? THREE YEARS?!!!! My first Honda bought in '75 had a 90-day P&L warranty!) The test ride was a revelation. It truly was a no-brainer. I bought it, put the "Touring" solo seat on it, bar-end mirrors, chrome luggage rack and I was down the road. Absolutely no regrets! I ride it around this small college town, take it on weekend trips of generally 100 miles or less, and trailer it to two of the major Texas Classic British motorcycle rallies held in Texas every year. I couldn't be happier to be riding again, and I truly believe that this will be my last new bike purchase.... UNLESS they bring out the Classic 500 Reborn (or even a 650 Twin Reborn) in EXACTLY the same color scheme. If and when they do, I suspect that I will be compelled to add one of those in addition to the lovely 350 parked with pride in my garage at the moment. Good job, Royal Enfield....thanks for getting me "back in the game"!
I am 73. Just bought a used 350 Meteor with less than 400 mi. on it, I am impressed with the quality of workmanship and ABS brakes. A fairly simple bike great for short trips and back roads, but when on an interstate I get "scooter terror" from its lack of power at higher rpm. Of course no bike is capable of eliminating the fear of riding on highways these days, so I stick to the two lanes. I also own a 2002 Honda Shadow 750 that rides like a tank and is almost as heavy as an FLH. That bike has issues with stopping within reasonable limits, but the power and "hog" ride is addictive. One more thing; I acquired the R.E. Touring seat with the purchase of the Meteor. I put it on and took it off after two rides, I thought it very uncomfortable. I am 6ft. and the seat tends to force you forward. Ride safe and leave the B.S. in the wind!
Due to health issues, my 650 V-Strom, despite its speed and good road holding, was becoming too top heavy and cumbersome for me in tight situations. I still held onto the 650 for the occasional rejuvenating blast, but it is my new Hunter 350 that has captured my heart. It brought back all the fun of biking and restored my faith in the simple things in life. Where I live on the S/W coast of Ireland, there are so many single track back roads - often with grass growing in the middle - that I have yet to explore, some up mountains or along the coast, others though fields or wooded areas, but none straight or flat. There's always something exciting or some stunning view to see around the next bend, so who'd want to go fast. Now, in my retirement, I might wake up in the morning with the sun streaming in through the window, look up at my leathers hanging on the wall and ask myself what kind of adventure awaits today.
Interesting comment, and agree wholeheartedly. Can't see the big 4 Japanese manufacturers competing with RE purely because RE doesn't charge 'big 4' prices. I suspect a lot of people who buy these bikes are folks like myself. I own a rocket-ship Gen 3 Hayabusa, but I don't want every journey to be on such a bike. Sometimes the simplicity of a RE is how I wish to toodle along. I don't actually own a RE but as they are so cheap I am actively considering adding one to fill the empty space in my garage...
stu fillingham is like THE royal enfield guy on youtube. pretty much everything you need to know about doing your own maintenance, fitting accessories, etc, he has done a video on. plus, his voice is quite pleasant and easy to listen to.
Until he goes off on one his tirades about the world conspiracy against internal combustion and personal choice. Then I find his voice rather grating. He also doesn’t know how to use a torque wrench.
Great video…..I own a Classic 350. I also own a Heritage and a Scout. I always reach for the Classic when I want a leisurely ride around town or ride for a few hours. It’s a joy to ride. It really takes me back to a time when I was 16 and all my buddies would show up on a Saturday morning on their small cc Japanese bikes to ride anywhere, any direction we didn’t care we just wanted to ride! Even the sound is nostalgic.
The ‘Built like a Gun, goes like a Bullet’ tagline comes in part from Royal Enfield starting out as a supplier of parts to the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock, London in the late 19th century.
Think that you hit the bullseye, many of us motorists are tired of all the unnecessary "riding aids" that manufacturers pile on their bikes and to an ever rising expense. So a company like RE that does the exact opposite atracts with the simplicity but still quite well built and well performing bikes that they make. And for that company to come from India is a story in itself, who would have thought just a few years back that something like this could be possible? It is a remarkable feat, there is a lot to learn from how all this was achieved. And a lesson to take in for allmost all other manufacturers.
In the last minute or two of this video, the surmise that Royal Enfield is pushing forward the motorcycle industry in a way that we've never seen before, is more than just an interesting point. Many might consider Royal Enfield's current endeavours as catering to a "niche" market. Sales success might imply that this is anything but a "niche" market, but rather an untapped market. Yes, I've got my old man pants on, with my belt holding them fast, above my belly button! But no other manufacturer is currently offering anything like the Enfield range. Reasonable performance and serviceability for a reasonable price for a product that works reasonably well in the "real" world. We're seeing other manufacturers in the ADV segment capitulate and yield to a market that wants lower performance and lower cost motorcycles. I won't say that that is an acknowledgement of defeat, but rather a realisation that most new motorcycles now perform to such an extent that most potential riders can neither harness that performance, nor afford to pay for it. Oh, how I had to laugh, just yesterday, watching Yammie Noobs video pertaining to the "intermediate" sector. There wasn't one bike featured that wouldn't have laid shame to any superbike of the seventies! And that's "intermediate"? Yes, there's a place for high performance motorcycles, and people are always going to want them. But there is also a place for low cost motorcycles that perform adequately in the "real" world. And that is something that the market has been deprived of for a long time. There's also a place for a motorcycle that goes like a motorcycle, rather than a space shuttle. I will wait with baited breath to see how and when the "big four" respond to Royal Enfield. Royal Enfield are proving a point that there is a gap in the market in which they have no competition. Perhaps the likes of Honda and Yamaha need to revisit the GB 400 and the SR 500, respectively. Perhaps Kawasaki needs to look to marketing their W series with a little more intent. Any way, I think that Royal Enfield are doing a brilliant job at introducing a new era of riders to motorcycles. And that new era of motorcyclist are likely to become diehard Royal Enfield fans for life, if the competition doesn't come out to play on the same wicket and knock a few to the boundary. By the way, I don't own a Royal Enfield.
I'm pretty sure that all of what You said is absolutely correct! I don't have the patience to wait for the big companies to produce an affordable low powered bike for real world purposes (for several reasons this will never happen I guess). That's the reason why I started with the Himalayan (411), continued with the 350 reborn and now added a classic 500 to the fleet.... So this die hard Enfield fan for life thing is also right - at least for me....
@@hardburke4910 You and 900,000 others, last year alone. That's a lot of people that aren't prepared to sit around and wait for the Japanese to do something. And you are the perfect example of the customer that you don't want to lose that first sale to, because it's not one sale that you've lost, it's three. Maybe it will be four sales if you decide one day that a modest twin might be more your style. Where else can you buy one of those but RE?
@@davidbrayshaw3529 Yeah, You're so right! Next might be the 650 Classic or even better a RE vtwin (won't come out I fear) or an old Bullet with right foot gear change....
If they update the 500 like the 350 they can keep it alive. If they put the 650 in the bike with the same style, I think they will have something better.
I had a black 500 Bullet Electra 20 years ago. Every ride out was a joy. People came over to admire it wherever I stopped. I think the Indian workers love of individual craftsmanship, like we had in Britain way back, somehow transmits itself into the soul of the Bullet.
Grew up with my father’s old Classic 350 which he got because his father used to ride a Bullet 350. Earlier this year, she was replaced with a beautiful chrome bronze Reborn 350. A few weeks ago, I picked myself up a ‘14 Continental GT 535. These motorcycles live in my heart, even though it has been a love-hate relationship. Great video!
@@rickbarrington Exactly. The old leaders didn't care much about growth or keeping up with the times. Rather, they just relied on the brand's legacy to stay alive. That was until Sid Lal came along who was truly passionate about the brand and took it to where it is now.
@S_L__ and he wasn't even an engineer from IIT or an IIM grad with an MBA, he was just a normal guy who had a passion for motorcycles. He literally used to go and sit in the factories to observe how the bikes were made and how they could be improved. Shows that sometimes, passion and love overshadow calculations and statistics
Hey! Wonderful take on the bike. I would add on by saying Classic is the peak of philosophy of how Royal Enfield sees riding bikes as. I am currently living a very bad year and no kidding this bike, I have other few in garage, has helped me keep sane on the morning 'Chai' rides I often take. It has character but most importantly it tells me you have your own way in life.
Greetings from the UK, nice video thanks. I am the proud owner of a 2008 500 Bullet which is one of the final carb bikes in Woodsman trim. I also have a 2018 Himalayan, which I love.
My first bike some 3 years ago was a 2016 Bullet 500.. It's still my only bike, and I've taken it with me on all my travels since 😁And while I wouldn't trade it for the world, I'm glad its spirit lives on, as you said, in the Classic, Bullet and other 350 variants today for anyone that wants a taste of RE and that laidback 1950's adventure style motorcycling. Great video!
Own Chrome Classic 500. Beautiful ! Has what most bikes don't ... kick start and a centerstand ... what an innovative concept ( Ha Ha ). Vibrates , yeah, slow, yeah. Fun to ride , yeah. Does the new 350 have a modern better engine. Yeah, but I'll stay with my old pushrod with a smile.
In the 60’s I followed my brother into 2 stroke Bridgestone motorbikes. I ride his 50cc all summer 1964 at 13 years of age. I was hooked. In 65 he bought a 175. In 1968, I bought a 350 Kawasaki twin. Enough to say I was a product of my time and British bikes were part of the past. I moved away from bikes in the early 70’s. Fast forward to 1992 and my work took me to India where I heard and then saw the Bullet or rather throngs if Bullets. I wanted one! Fast forward again to 2019, and I returned to my dream. Royal Enfield was importing a few bikes into Canada and I bought a new 2018 model in the late fall of 2019. I have a Classic 500. The Interceptor and the GT were out but I wanted the sound and feel of something I did not want when I was young. I now put around and find myself with a goofy smile on my face. I have parked among hit rocket ship bikes and glistening Harleys all worth 2 to 5 times what my bike is worth but the eyes of all ages like co on my bike, not the others. I love what Royal Enfield has allowed me do … live a dream at this late time in my life!
I have been in the dark on Royal Enfield for way too long. In the last few months I have become very interested in their motorcycles. This video strongly defines my interest. Time will tell if I become a customer. Thanks for another wonderful video!
I have a real Royal Enfield Bullet 500. It's a 2013 model, and it says Bullet 500 right on the sidecover. It has been converted to an Amal carburetor and a non cat con exhaust. It's a beautiful bike, and I have put 21,000 wonderful miles on it over the last 10 years. I am subscribed to Stuart's channel, but am somewhat disappointed that he does not own a single carbureted motorcycle. I don't have a problem with the unit construction engine, but EFI and a catcon exhaust are simply not acceptable to me. Computers and emissions trash do not belong on motorcycles. So I fixed those problems. A big part of why I bought that 2013 Bullet 500 was the look, but also the feel and sound of the engine. There is nothing I hate worse than a smooth quiet motorcycle. That's why I also have a carbureted Harley Sportster 1200 with an aftermarket exhaust. what nobody seems to understand is that the older Royal Enfield Bullet 500s were not intended for those who wanted a "modern" motorcycle. They were for classic British motorcycle enthusiasts who could no longer afford the absurd cost of a real vintage British motorcycle.
You can borrow mine. I bought a 2022 Classic on 8/17/2022. A little over a year later, I have 19,000 miles on it. Of the 5 bikes I've had.... this one is my favorite!
I have a 500 classic (my second). I love the style, the sound and the seating position. It has adequate power and brakes. The vibrations are punitive. The bike can do 80+ mph but anything over 55 will cause nerve damage. I test rode a 350 and loved it. All the goodness of the 500 but no vibrations, a comfortable seat, a great position, great looks. I took it up to 60mph and found the problem. It's speed is legally limited to 70mph but it would take, roughly, eight days to get there. It is a questionable choice for U.S. users because of it's marginal freeway capability. Freeways are an inevitability in the US... sometimes it's just a few exits but getting anywhere will require time on it. The Classic needs a well balanced 500 or a 350 with 5 more horsepower. . I'm not interested in a 650 Classic.. that would be counter to the whole philosophy of the classic.
Was riding an old Bullet 350 in the Himalayas back in 2009, what an experience! your narrative is unparalleled , you gave me the appetite to go and test ride this new model now! Well done, an amazing channel you have!
As a baby boomer who spent his early teen years longing for a 500 single these bikes make perfect sense. Now with ego consigned to irrelevance , there's no longer any need for 100 plus hp . And they look good. My C5 is the most fun bike I've ever had.
You absolutely nailed it, I'm a 50 years experience Rider, Had lots of sizes and makes of bike's, At present I own a Royal Enfield Interceptor and Hunter, To me they are the very best in Motorcycling I can find today, They are absolutely brilliant 👍 Tic all my boxes, Really enjoy your video's, Bye the way, I've owned an original 350 Bullet once, Wish I still had it, LOL 😅 They are great 👍 Cheers Paul 👍
I love the character from this single cylinder 350, I ended up riding one on my local MSF course. it's not fast, it's just simply good. I ended up on an interceptor personally but I've got a classic 350 square in my sights when I can afford it.
I think that you would do a good review of the Classic 350. I'm a Stuart Fillingham subscriber and enjoy his motorcycle content. Many whose primary content is motorcycle reviews do not have a good understanding of motorcycle history and the values that drive Royal Enfield.
These are charming motorcycles. I seriously considered buying a Classic 350 during my search for a 2nd motorcycle to go with my Moto Guzzi V7 Special. I ended up buying a BMW R75 but if not for finding the R75, I may have purchased a Classic 350. Royal Enfield has a good thing going with their beautiful and affordable motorcycles.
It is true! I bought Royal Enfield Classic 350 CC. last March 7, 2024 here in Cebu City Philippines at Gorordo Branch. This is awesome Motor Cycle. Rides very comfortable. Clutch and switching gears so swift. The weight is very manageable and the thumping and beating of the Engine is cool and soothing to the heart and ears. The looks so gorgeous and head turners. I love my Royal Enfield 350 CC. Classic Chrome Red! It is so fun to ride and relaxing.... I LOVE THIS MOTORCYCLE!
I always miss classic 500. I am kind of crying sometimes when ever i think about that beautiful machine. I pray to Royal Enfield please please make it come back.
I own a 10 year old classic 500 , i converted it into a carburettor and tbh royal Enfield is the best bike for Indian roads and traffic, u it vibrates soo much that u can't see anything in the rear view mirrors but still feels like a dream to ride the bike
check out the new itchy boots segment, she is riding the newest prototype Himalayan that has very different and new design, including a new water-cooled canted forward engine. That video released today 10/11/23.
I had the Classic 350. One of the first ones available. I started a facebook page dedicated to the new 350s. The only flaw in the Classic is the speedometer. They bought a pile of defective speedos. They happily replaced mine several times with new defective ones. Someone begged to buy mine. I now have a Hunter 350. It has been flawless! “Uncle Stu” has some great information on his channel. Unfortunately, his income comes mainly from RUclips. His most popular videos are the politically charged anti science. They are nonsense but he can’t let go of them. I have to say, I stumbled across your channel when looking for Janus information. I didn’t like your first video but you told me to check out your revisit. I did. I’m glad I did! You have a unique take on motorcycles. You talk about the history and how it leads to today’s bikes. That speaks to me. I’m in western North Carolina if you would like to borrow my Hunter for a longer term ride and report. Even if it is more of a 1960s look.
I think you gotta take a look at Moto Guzzi, their V7 retro bike still uses an engine that can be traced back to the mid 70's, and seem to be up there with the most authentic retro bikes on the market.
I've seen a few, but the ones that don't want to hold on to them are counting on a high return on their investment. I bought a 2021 Himalayan in early 2022 and got a modest discount. Market saturation won't happen too soon.
@@soggycracker5934 hang on, depending on what state you're in, the classic is between 4,200 and 6,300 That's a lot for you? Why would the wife do that? Is that because you already have 12 bikes in the garage? Lol
I owned a bullet 500 just a few years ago; an older carburetted version, not the newer fuel injected model. It was the most fun I have ever had on a motorcycle going under the speed limit. It really felt like I was riding back in the 1950's. A totally valid and fun riding experience. However, my love affair with that bike was undone by it's lack of quality control and reliability issues. That said, the new classic 350 has about the same horsepower as my older Bullet, plus weighs less (I had the militarized version with steel crash bars and steel panniers). Given the top speed reported in numerous viseos of the Classic 350, it clearly has an advantage over my older Bullet. Just because of how much mslow to moderate speed fun my older Bullet was to ride, I likely will end up owning one of the new 350s.
If the only there was a bike with the looks of the Classic 350 just with a 650 engine (and I mean single cylinder or at least a 360° twin), that would be great. I mean, I really like the Interceptor and will probably get one one day, but it could look even more old.fashioned for my taste.
Excellent job, sir, from an old guy who first owned a Gilera 106 cc from Sears, then BSA 250 cc Starfire and finally, a BSA 650 Thunderbolt. It's the little Starfire single that I most loved. I fantasize about a Royal Enfield Bullet!
Growing up in the mid 70s, there were a couple of lads down our street that had Royal Oilfield singles, big alloy tanks, clip-on handlebars, rear sets and open megaphone exhausts. You could hear them coming for miles and at the time, they were the epitomy of cool, to us youngsters waiting to be 16 and get a 50cc Japanese moped.
My first bike in 1970 was an electric start Honda CB175 then about 5 other Hondas, Moto Morini 350 sport, Laverda 750 SF2. Took a break when I got married and had a Son, returned in 2010 Kawasaki, Yamaha, BMW RT1200 Triumph Street Triple then a CB500 Honda that I did not enjoy. Had an operation in January 2022 and could not ride for 8 weeks, sat on RUclips and came across the Classic 350 and fell in love with the bike, watching every video I could find. My first ride I returned to the shop I had bought the Honda from saw a brand new Halcyon Green Classic 350 as they are RE main dealer PX’d the Honda for the Re without a test ride £800 changed hands and 3 days later picked up the Classic. Over 2 years later and this will be my last bike as for me the perfect bike. Heated grips,bar end mirrors, DID chain at first service and touring seats are all I have done to the bike. However after seeing a Bullet seat added to a Classic I am awaiting delivery of a dark brown Touring Bullet seat to fit to my Classic. Superb bike that I will ride till I am no longer able to, 70 this year so hopefully another 20 years at least 😊
Great video! There is something special about these motorcycles. I purchased a 2023 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Reborn in Chrome-Bronze about 7 months ago and seem to love it more and more with each ride.
@@mattlorenzi5606 Gets the views I guess? If I wanted an older gentleman’s ramblings about “climate change communism” and the such I could just call my father in law tbh.
I have a 2013 Classic 500 and the speedo still has that completely analogue, authentic vintage look of the classic "Smiths" speedometers that were ubiquitous on so many vintage English bikes. The later Classic 500's included a modernised digital display that was crap in my opinion. The new Classic 350 "Reborn" takes that digital design further, with a new engine that no longer looks vintage to the same era. I bought the 2013 Enfield classic 500 because it essentially WAS a 1940's bike with minimal modifications to make it reliable, and legal with today's regulations. The EFI was cunningly disguised to look like a single throat carburettor, the electronic ignition was not apparent, and only the unitary construction engine and disc brake front gave it away to those in the know....but not always at first glance. I wanted a 1940's style riding experience, and that's what I got. As close to that ideal as was possible for a modern bike. A digital display is anathema to that whole design concept and riding experience. I can ride my 2013 model and easily imagine I'm actually riding a vintage machine built in the late 1940's to early 1950's. The experience is that authentic. A digital display glaring at me INSTANTLY bursts that bubble completely, and ruins the whole illusion. That was the Classic 500's charm....the illusion of riding a 1940's vintage English bike, built in 2013 without the drawbacks of actual vintage bikes, like oil leaks, unreliable points ignition, and so forth. Modern inclusions like digital displays only shatter that illusion and don't seem to make sense. If I bought a later Classic 500 or new Classic 350, I would have to tear that all out and replace with those from an earlier model, or some other substitute that returns that classic look & feel. Which is the whole point of buying one of these bikes. Otherwise, just buy a completely modern bike, and forget the whole retro experience.
True I have 5 500 classics with very low mileage eg 9 miles total on one of them how much would I pay for a 500 vintage bike rebuild say to that bikes standard not the £3600 I paid for it!
I love my Super Meteor 650. It has great quality, super easy to service and current technology where you need it. I do wish they would make a 850cc enduro version.
I love the classic 350 but it's not powerful enough for most southern highways in the US where I need to go at least 85. I'm just holding out for the Classic 650 to be launched
i was so excited when they anounced they were going to releace this bike in the usa. i was afraid it was not coming. now i have one and i love it. it will probably be the only bike i ever buy new. i have owned more used bikes than most people should. witch come with a lot of work keeping junk running. when i look at the c350 i know i could pull that enginge if i needed to. its basic and that is huge for me. i have tryed alot of differant styles of bike from 70s 50cc scooters with pettals to 750cc sport bikes and the c350 brings an easy riding joy that i love. if you live in the usa and you dont think it has enough engine for the roads then you need to take the back roads insted of the highway i promise it will be a lot more fun
I've never quite understood the whole Royal Enfield lineup except the Himalayan though even that bike I've never been tempted by. Is it my age & origin?. Born in 62 in the American Southwest i started riding 70s Japanese enduro bikes and the odd scrambler. My father rode a Harley. To me a golden classic is my old 1972 Honda CL350 and a bit later my Yamaha XT 500. The latter that has risen to legend status these days & actually achieved that status in it's own time by winning the first two Dakar rallies. Having said that i do sorta get the likes of the newer 650 twin bikes from RE for all they barrow from the triumph Bonneville and Norton commandos of the 1960s that were truly iconic bikes of their time. I just don't really understand where the 350 classic fits in today ?. A big bike in size & weight, but with all the horse power of a scooter?. It's styled loosely on bikes none of us are old enough to remember and in their day were little more than utilitarian. To me a modern classic is a bike based on an iconic classic, but stealthy built for & fit for copping with the modern world, ie, it can actually achieve the national speed limits etc. As a purely urban bike i can sorta understand the hunter & meteor 350s as city scooters in wolfs clothing?, but I'm still baffled by the classic 350 and it's 40kg of chrome plating?. Please feel free to enlighten & ridicule my ignorance 😊.
I fully understand where you are coming from, but i still fell for the charm of the classic 350, the roadking is gone and i've slowed down. I'm loving it!.
I own the UCE 350 cc Classic 2017 make , carbureted, and man trust me it's a torque monster ( the 500 is a torque demon ) but trust me the way this things lays down it's torque on WOT it just pulls for infinity in any gear and the top end is also fun too just most people prefer not to rev it as it gets very vibey at higher RPM and returns great Km/L too and once this thing get's on the highways it really opens up the engine and it's actually appreciated in it's value , it's worth more than what I paid for it a few years ago, the new reborn classic is good but it just doesn't have the monstrous torque delivery like the old engines Ps- the UCE engine on the old classic was designed on a long time period ownership perspective I've broken in the engine properly and redline it quite often and after 20000km on the odo the vibrations have decreased like 80%
Amazing, great job with this one B! I always learn something new when watching your videos 🎉 I'd certainly tune in to your reviews Feel like you'd give those bits of information that many reviewers fly by.
The Himalayan 411 is the real cool guy who says I am back with full energy , it's only with that Himalayan 411 we started to see that RE can actually innovate in 21st century .
Love my 1959 G2 upconverted from 350cc to 500cc. It's a cement mixer as far as vibration goes if you compare it to anything modern, but it is fun. The addition of electronic ignition has made it quite reliable and easy to start. Not sure how the modern units are, but they are founded upon a solid platform, and so they must be roughly the same ride with better reliability and less vibration.
I love that we're getting a lot of practical bikes. Janis and RE's been doing something so well that other's have taken notice. I hope that the new Triumph 400's do really well and we start to get a lot more people on two wheels.
This summer I sold my Husqvarna and bought the new Hunter 350. It's got the simplicity of maintenance, and truly "pure" riding experience that I've always wanted. After literally decades of riding on and off road, I feel like I've arrived at that ideal place 😎
I'm tempted. I have long admired the looks of the old AJS and Matchless big singles that came out of WWII, but they are impossible to find now. One thing about those old bikes is that they weren't reliable - but were easy to maintain, so that didn't matter so much. This included (at least in the case of Norton, that I am familiar with) beautiful and accurate shop manuals. I wonder if this Classic has the same easy maintenance, even if the reliability no longer mandates so much of it?
I worked at Royal enfield as a mechanic for awhile and to this day i dont understand the why to have 350 at that price because top speed is 120km/h and u can have a 125cc with the same top speeed and cheaper
The knee-out crowd can't understand why a heavy, underpowered bike is selling hand over fist. It's not about 'miles per hour'. It's SMILES PER GALLON. Think air cooled Beetles and Citroen 2CVs. There are so many being restored/owned/driven that there are whole industries dedicated to keeping them on the roads. Both are laughably slow but nothing few things create more sheer joy on a scenic back road at 40-50 mph.
This is a new video so you could have included shots of the new Bullet 350 that has already been launched in India. You could have talked about it a bit too. Still, this is a great video overall and I agree with all the points you made.
Great channel. Do an episode on minibikes please. They have a ton of history( including the army) and a new modern resurgence.(due in large part to go cart evolution ans innovation). Keep up the good work! Thank you
I owned both Jawa 300 and RE 350 Classic, they're both classic and WWII veteran. Jawa was used by Germans as the technology was Czech and RE by the British. Jawa is a little sportier with higher bhp, and RE is fun. I prefer RE for longer rides but for more bhp & power I prefer Jawa. I think bike fans in the US would love Jawa.
As a kid who grew up in india, I’ve fully associated a Bullet with the coolest guy in the room. Seeing you talk about this core memory in such a historical yet informative way is something I never knew I needed. You’re extremely underrated Bart, keep up the good work!!
Damn I associated it with farmers
"Underrated" 🙄
Do you sink or rise to the level of "extremely underrated?"
@@gteefxr3094not to be mean but he’s still at under 100k subs deserves way more if you ask me
I associate it with masculinity, I hate some of them ,(rowdies,pata hai Mera baap kaun hai, gutkha spitters,corrupt cops)
I want to be some of them(airforce uncle, wandering soul software engineer)
The "Made like a Gun" was a reference to the fact that the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield was best known for making rifles for the British Empire since the mid 1800's. The primary rifles of the British Empire in WWI and WWII were both Enfield rifles, so the general idea was that you could bet your life on an Enfield product.
Indeed. The first rifle I was assigned in the army was a Lee Enfield. A WWII relic, but it was good for training.
@@TheOriginalCodais the Springfield also the same?
@@piyushhmusic Not sure I understand your question sorry. They are not the same rifle, that's for sure, sorry if that's not what you meant.
Brilliant marketing. For Americans, this is Springfield.
@@TheOriginalCoda oh that's what i asked, also did they make the Springfield too? i mean royal Enfield
Had the 500 for a while then they brought out the Interceptor, so I sold the 500 bought the 650. Then the world went mad for 2 years, then they brought out the new 350. Saw the 1 in red and chrome, thought it was the most beautiful bike in the world. Sold the 650 bought the 350, 18 months later have NO regrets.
Does it not feel underpowered? (I mean going from a 650 to 350 would obviously be but individually)
They shouldn't have omitted the "kick start" in the new classic Reborn series..... having a kick start for me is very characteristic for a classic bike to have ...plus it has a legacy
True but the space that the kickstart would require now houses the counter balanced flywheels ( I think ). So reducing the vibrations would have to take priority.
I agree, would be nice but on balance I'd take a smoother motor overall
A bit like having a cranking handle on a Toyota. You will never use it. Good job. Nowadays a nice electric start is the go. This message is from a 1962 Crusader Sport ex owner in 1966. I loved that bike.
If you have a Kickstarter you cannot move the footpegs, brake and gear pedals for the different models.
I've got a 1992 Enfield bullet in garage. I bought it as a winter bike as the finish of my current bike at the time ( 1993Kawasaki zr 11oo) was not up to British winters. I've not started it for the last 8 years. Until July this year , I put fresh fuel in it an put a jump pack on the battery and it started 2nd kick.. on the back of these simple reliable old school bikes Royal Enfield have built a bit of a reputation with their modern bikes. I bought a Himalayan a couple of years ago as a daily ride to work bike , and l was so impressed with it l turned my back on modern Japanese bikes and bought a 650 continental gt. 46 bhp has never been so much fun down bumpy British roads. Its reminds me of a Yamaha ypvs 350 I had back in past.. sorry to waffle on. ( I'm 60 this year not owned a car for many years)
I own a Meteor 350 and the agricultural sounds the engine makes and the way it feels is the main draw of owning that bike. Also,it was idling in the garage and my wife thought a helicopter was flying close to the house so that was pretty cool 😂
I have a Meteor 350 too! Just did a 2-up camping trip with my 13 year old son. Fully loaded with gear, tent, etc. Managed everything just fine. I tell everyone it's like a tractor.
@@mattlorenzi5606 you'd recommend Meteor or classic for touring?
@@manishgoyal7677 based on what I've read, go with the Meteor...especially if considering a passenger
I'm some one who absolutely loves cars, but I couldn't care less for a motorcycle. Until I saw Royal Enfield classic 350. The style and sound are so beautiful, I love it. I decided to buy one soon.
I will be 70 in a few months, and I have been riding for over 50 years. I have owned at various times Hondas, Moto Guzzis, Triumphs, BSAs and Nortons. All good bikes for what I wanted at the time. I sold my Norton Commando last. Neck and back surgeries had finally put an end to kickstarting motorcycles. Touring was no longer really possible for me. Then, I started reading about this "modern classic" 350 from Royal Enfield (a company I had only been aware of without having ever ridden one). I knew their history, and as a fan of British bikes in general, I stopped at a dealer to look at a 350 Classic Reborn.
Oh my.....the headlight nacelle, along with the red over chrome on the tank and fenders SO much reminded me of my '59 BSA Super Rocket! The price was ridiculously affordable. The WARRANTY (are you KIDDING? THREE YEARS?!!!! My first Honda bought in '75 had a 90-day P&L warranty!) The test ride was a revelation. It truly was a no-brainer. I bought it, put the "Touring" solo seat on it, bar-end mirrors, chrome luggage rack and I was down the road. Absolutely no regrets!
I ride it around this small college town, take it on weekend trips of generally 100 miles or less, and trailer it to two of the major Texas Classic British motorcycle rallies held in Texas every year. I couldn't be happier to be riding again, and I truly believe that this will be my last new bike purchase.... UNLESS they bring out the Classic 500 Reborn (or even a 650 Twin Reborn) in EXACTLY the same color scheme. If and when they do, I suspect that I will be compelled to add one of those in addition to the lovely 350 parked with pride in my garage at the moment.
Good job, Royal Enfield....thanks for getting me "back in the game"!
I am 73. Just bought a used 350 Meteor with less than 400 mi. on it, I am impressed with the quality of workmanship and ABS brakes. A fairly simple bike great for short trips and back roads, but when on an interstate I get "scooter terror" from its lack of power at higher rpm. Of course no bike is capable of eliminating the fear of riding on highways these days, so I stick to the two lanes. I also own a 2002 Honda Shadow 750 that rides like a tank and is almost as heavy as an FLH. That bike has issues with stopping within reasonable limits, but the power and "hog" ride is addictive. One more thing; I acquired the R.E. Touring seat with the purchase of the Meteor. I put it on and took it off after two rides, I thought it very uncomfortable. I am 6ft. and the seat tends to force you forward. Ride safe and leave the B.S. in the wind!
Due to health issues, my 650 V-Strom, despite its speed and good road holding, was becoming too top heavy and cumbersome for me in tight situations. I still held onto the 650 for the occasional rejuvenating blast, but it is my new Hunter 350 that has captured my heart. It brought back all the fun of biking and restored my faith in the simple things in life. Where I live on the S/W coast of Ireland, there are so many single track back roads - often with grass growing in the middle - that I have yet to explore, some up mountains or along the coast, others though fields or wooded areas, but none straight or flat. There's always something exciting or some stunning view to see around the next bend, so who'd want to go fast. Now, in my retirement, I might wake up in the morning with the sun streaming in through the window, look up at my leathers hanging on the wall and ask myself what kind of adventure awaits today.
Interesting comment, and agree wholeheartedly. Can't see the big 4 Japanese manufacturers competing with RE purely because RE doesn't charge 'big 4' prices.
I suspect a lot of people who buy these bikes are folks like myself. I own a rocket-ship Gen 3 Hayabusa, but I don't want every journey to be on such a bike. Sometimes the simplicity of a RE is how I wish to toodle along. I don't actually own a RE but as they are so cheap I am actively considering adding one to fill the empty space in my garage...
stu fillingham is like THE royal enfield guy on youtube. pretty much everything you need to know about doing your own maintenance, fitting accessories, etc, he has done a video on. plus, his voice is quite pleasant and easy to listen to.
lol TRUE 👍 🤣
Until he goes off on one his tirades about the world conspiracy against internal combustion and personal choice. Then I find his voice rather grating. He also doesn’t know how to use a torque wrench.
@@blazesboylan7947I am not a fan of his political rants.
Also see @tigerness5555
Great video…..I own a Classic 350. I also own a Heritage and a Scout. I always reach for the Classic when I want a leisurely ride around town or ride for a few hours. It’s a joy to ride. It really takes me back to a time when I was 16 and all my buddies would show up on a Saturday morning on their small cc Japanese bikes to ride anywhere, any direction we didn’t care we just wanted to ride! Even the sound is nostalgic.
The ‘Built like a Gun, goes like a Bullet’ tagline comes in part from Royal Enfield starting out as a supplier of parts to the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock, London in the late 19th century.
I own a classic 350 signals. Desert Sand. It's bloody lovely!
Think that you hit the bullseye, many of us motorists are tired of all the unnecessary "riding aids" that manufacturers pile on their bikes and to an ever rising expense. So a company like RE that does the exact opposite atracts with the simplicity but still quite well built and well performing bikes that they make. And for that company to come from India is a story in itself, who would have thought just a few years back that something like this could be possible? It is a remarkable feat, there is a lot to learn from how all this was achieved. And a lesson to take in for allmost all other manufacturers.
In the last minute or two of this video, the surmise that Royal Enfield is pushing forward the motorcycle industry in a way that we've never seen before, is more than just an interesting point.
Many might consider Royal Enfield's current endeavours as catering to a "niche" market. Sales success might imply that this is anything but a "niche" market, but rather an untapped market.
Yes, I've got my old man pants on, with my belt holding them fast, above my belly button! But no other manufacturer is currently offering anything like the Enfield range. Reasonable performance and serviceability for a reasonable price for a product that works reasonably well in the "real" world.
We're seeing other manufacturers in the ADV segment capitulate and yield to a market that wants lower performance and lower cost motorcycles. I won't say that that is an acknowledgement of defeat, but rather a realisation that most new motorcycles now perform to such an extent that most potential riders can neither harness that performance, nor afford to pay for it.
Oh, how I had to laugh, just yesterday, watching Yammie Noobs video pertaining to the "intermediate" sector. There wasn't one bike featured that wouldn't have laid shame to any superbike of the seventies! And that's "intermediate"?
Yes, there's a place for high performance motorcycles, and people are always going to want them. But there is also a place for low cost motorcycles that perform adequately in the "real" world.
And that is something that the market has been deprived of for a long time. There's also a place for a motorcycle that goes like a motorcycle, rather than a space shuttle.
I will wait with baited breath to see how and when the "big four" respond to Royal Enfield. Royal Enfield are proving a point that there is a gap in the market in which they have no competition.
Perhaps the likes of Honda and Yamaha need to revisit the GB 400 and the SR 500, respectively. Perhaps Kawasaki needs to look to marketing their W series with a little more intent.
Any way, I think that Royal Enfield are doing a brilliant job at introducing a new era of riders to motorcycles. And that new era of motorcyclist are likely to become diehard Royal Enfield fans for life, if the competition doesn't come out to play on the same wicket and knock a few to the boundary. By the way, I don't own a Royal Enfield.
I'm pretty sure that all of what You said is absolutely correct! I don't have the patience to wait for the big companies to produce an affordable low powered bike for real world purposes (for several reasons this will never happen I guess). That's the reason why I started with the Himalayan (411), continued with the 350 reborn and now added a classic 500 to the fleet.... So this die hard Enfield fan for life thing is also right - at least for me....
@@hardburke4910 You and 900,000 others, last year alone.
That's a lot of people that aren't prepared to sit around and wait for the Japanese to do something.
And you are the perfect example of the customer that you don't want to lose that first sale to, because it's not one sale that you've lost, it's three. Maybe it will be four
sales if you decide one day that a modest twin might be more your style. Where else can you buy one of those but RE?
@@davidbrayshaw3529 Yeah, You're so right! Next might be the 650 Classic or even better a RE vtwin (won't come out I fear) or an old Bullet with right foot gear change....
One hundred percent with what you presented. Have 3000 miles on my Classic 350 and have enjoyed every minute on the ride.
I absolutely love my Royal Enfield Classic 500!!!!
Me too. I would never get rid of it.
If they update the 500 like the 350 they can keep it alive. If they put the 650 in the bike with the same style, I think they will have something better.
I had a black 500 Bullet Electra 20 years ago. Every ride out was a joy. People came over to admire it wherever I stopped.
I think the Indian workers love of individual craftsmanship, like we had in Britain way back, somehow transmits itself into the soul of the Bullet.
Grew up with my father’s old Classic 350 which he got because his father used to ride a Bullet 350. Earlier this year, she was replaced with a beautiful chrome bronze Reborn 350. A few weeks ago, I picked myself up a ‘14 Continental GT 535. These motorcycles live in my heart, even though it has been a love-hate relationship. Great video!
did a trip of 2000km + italy to nord germany in autobahn the classic was totaly fine that bike is a damn tank
Great shut out to Stu! I agree he's changed my perception of what I want. Love his channel.
Siddhartha Lal SAVED the company. That's the fundamental truth!
Sid Lal built a whole new company one could argue. And along the way he also resurrected the Royal Enfield brand.
@@rickbarrington Exactly. The old leaders didn't care much about growth or keeping up with the times. Rather, they just relied on the brand's legacy to stay alive. That was until Sid Lal came along who was truly passionate about the brand and took it to where it is now.
@S_L__ and he wasn't even an engineer from IIT or an IIM grad with an MBA, he was just a normal guy who had a passion for motorcycles. He literally used to go and sit in the factories to observe how the bikes were made and how they could be improved. Shows that sometimes, passion and love overshadow calculations and statistics
Hey! Wonderful take on the bike. I would add on by saying Classic is the peak of philosophy of how Royal Enfield sees riding bikes as. I am currently living a very bad year and no kidding this bike, I have other few in garage, has helped me keep sane on the morning 'Chai' rides I often take. It has character but most importantly it tells me you have your own way in life.
completely love my '23 Classic 350; great value and runs great without police attention 🎉
Greetings from the UK, nice video thanks. I am the proud owner of a 2008 500 Bullet which is one of the final carb bikes in Woodsman trim. I also have a 2018 Himalayan, which I love.
My first bike some 3 years ago was a 2016 Bullet 500.. It's still my only bike, and I've taken it with me on all my travels since 😁And while I wouldn't trade it for the world, I'm glad its spirit lives on, as you said, in the Classic, Bullet and other 350 variants today for anyone that wants a taste of RE and that laidback 1950's adventure style motorcycling. Great video!
Own Chrome Classic 500. Beautiful ! Has what most bikes don't ... kick start and a centerstand ... what an innovative concept ( Ha Ha ). Vibrates , yeah, slow, yeah. Fun to ride , yeah. Does the new 350 have a modern better engine. Yeah, but I'll stay with my old pushrod with a smile.
In the 60’s I followed my brother into 2 stroke Bridgestone motorbikes. I ride his 50cc all summer 1964 at 13 years of age. I was hooked. In 65 he bought a 175. In 1968, I bought a 350 Kawasaki twin. Enough to say I was a product of my time and British bikes were part of the past.
I moved away from bikes in the early 70’s. Fast forward to 1992 and my work took me to India where I heard and then saw the Bullet or rather throngs if Bullets. I wanted one! Fast forward again to 2019, and I returned to my dream. Royal Enfield was importing a few bikes into Canada and I bought a new 2018 model in the late fall of 2019. I have a Classic 500. The Interceptor and the GT were out but I wanted the sound and feel of something I did not want when I was young. I now put around and find myself with a goofy smile on my face. I have parked among hit rocket ship bikes and glistening Harleys all worth 2 to 5 times what my bike is worth but the eyes of all ages like co on my bike, not the others. I love what Royal Enfield has allowed me do … live a dream at this late time in my life!
I have been in the dark on Royal Enfield for way too long. In the last few months I have become very interested in their motorcycles. This video strongly defines my interest. Time will tell if I become a customer. Thanks for another wonderful video!
I have a real Royal Enfield Bullet 500. It's a 2013 model, and it says Bullet 500 right on the sidecover. It has been converted to an Amal carburetor and a non cat con exhaust. It's a beautiful bike, and I have put 21,000 wonderful miles on it over the last 10 years. I am subscribed to Stuart's channel, but am somewhat disappointed that he does not own a single carbureted motorcycle. I don't have a problem with the unit construction engine, but EFI and a catcon exhaust are simply not acceptable to me. Computers and emissions trash do not belong on motorcycles. So I fixed those problems. A big part of why I bought that 2013 Bullet 500 was the look, but also the feel and sound of the engine. There is nothing I hate worse than a smooth quiet motorcycle. That's why I also have a carbureted Harley Sportster 1200 with an aftermarket exhaust. what nobody seems to understand is that the older Royal Enfield Bullet 500s were not intended for those who wanted a "modern" motorcycle. They were for classic British motorcycle enthusiasts who could no longer afford the absurd cost of a real vintage British motorcycle.
Spot on!!
You can borrow mine. I bought a 2022 Classic on 8/17/2022. A little over a year later, I have 19,000 miles on it. Of the 5 bikes I've had.... this one is my favorite!
A Classic 350, my dream bike for all the right reasons you have outlined.
Im a simple guy, i see my dream childhood bike i click
I have a 500 classic (my second). I love the style, the sound and the seating position. It has adequate power and brakes. The vibrations are punitive. The bike can do 80+ mph but anything over 55 will cause nerve damage. I test rode a 350 and loved it. All the goodness of the 500 but no vibrations, a comfortable seat, a great position, great looks. I took it up to 60mph and found the problem. It's speed is legally limited to 70mph but it would take, roughly, eight days to get there. It is a questionable choice for U.S. users because of it's marginal freeway capability. Freeways are an inevitability in the US... sometimes it's just a few exits but getting anywhere will require time on it. The Classic needs a well balanced 500 or a 350 with 5 more horsepower. . I'm not interested in a 650 Classic.. that would be counter to the whole philosophy of the classic.
I'd love to see you review a RE, your research is always great hope Royal contacts you.
100% with all of that. the 350 classic is my all time favourite bike. i was even riding it when i had covid.
The classic 500 was my first bike and my god WHAT A BIKE!!! I out grew pretty quickly but it was a great bike learn on
Was riding an old Bullet 350 in the Himalayas back in 2009, what an experience! your narrative is unparalleled , you gave me the appetite to go and test ride this new model now! Well done, an amazing channel you have!
As a baby boomer who spent his early teen years longing for a 500 single these bikes make perfect sense. Now with ego consigned to irrelevance , there's no longer any need for 100 plus hp . And they look good. My C5 is the most fun bike I've ever had.
I have a 2013 Bullet 350 BS3 bought in 2014. Still have it today ❤ I will never ler go of that bike.
You absolutely nailed it,
I'm a 50 years experience Rider,
Had lots of sizes and makes of bike's,
At present I own a Royal Enfield Interceptor and Hunter,
To me they are the very best in Motorcycling I can find today,
They are absolutely brilliant 👍
Tic all my boxes,
Really enjoy your video's,
Bye the way,
I've owned an original 350 Bullet once,
Wish I still had it, LOL 😅
They are great 👍
Cheers Paul 👍
I love the character from this single cylinder 350, I ended up riding one on my local MSF course. it's not fast, it's just simply good. I ended up on an interceptor personally but I've got a classic 350 square in my sights when I can afford it.
I think that you would do a good review of the Classic 350. I'm a Stuart Fillingham subscriber and enjoy his motorcycle content. Many whose primary content is motorcycle reviews do not have a good understanding of motorcycle history and the values that drive Royal Enfield.
These are charming motorcycles. I seriously considered buying a Classic 350 during my search for a 2nd motorcycle to go with my Moto Guzzi V7 Special. I ended up buying a BMW R75 but if not for finding the R75, I may have purchased a Classic 350. Royal Enfield has a good thing going with their beautiful and affordable motorcycles.
You are right!! Uncle Stu is great and his influence is definitive. Great video.
It is true!
I bought Royal Enfield Classic 350 CC. last March 7, 2024 here in Cebu City Philippines at Gorordo Branch. This is awesome Motor Cycle. Rides very comfortable. Clutch and switching gears so swift. The weight is very manageable and the thumping and beating of the Engine is cool and soothing to the heart and ears. The looks so gorgeous and head turners. I love my Royal Enfield 350 CC. Classic Chrome Red!
It is so fun to ride and relaxing.... I LOVE THIS MOTORCYCLE!
I had a black 2010 Classic 500 and I didn’t think it vibed excessively. It was such a fun bike . Great vid.
Well done you nailed it, and this includes all the reasons why I went out and bought one :)
I always miss classic 500. I am kind of crying sometimes when ever i think about that beautiful machine. I pray to Royal Enfield
please please make it come back.
I own a 10 year old classic 500 , i converted it into a carburettor and tbh royal Enfield is the best bike for Indian roads and traffic, u it vibrates soo much that u can't see anything in the rear view mirrors but still feels like a dream to ride the bike
Nicely summed up. You've captured the essence of the 350 perfectly.
check out the new itchy boots segment, she is riding the newest prototype Himalayan that has very different and new design, including a new water-cooled canted forward engine. That video released today 10/11/23.
Bart, great narration of content. Please keep it coming. Been a fan of your channel for sometime 👏👏😉👍
Agreed, love Stuart and his videos.
I had the Classic 350. One of the first ones available. I started a facebook page dedicated to the new 350s. The only flaw in the Classic is the speedometer. They bought a pile of defective speedos. They happily replaced mine several times with new defective ones. Someone begged to buy mine. I now have a Hunter 350. It has been flawless!
“Uncle Stu” has some great information on his channel. Unfortunately, his income comes mainly from RUclips. His most popular videos are the politically charged anti science. They are nonsense but he can’t let go of them.
I have to say, I stumbled across your channel when looking for Janus information. I didn’t like your first video but you told me to check out your revisit. I did. I’m glad I did! You have a unique take on motorcycles. You talk about the history and how it leads to today’s bikes. That speaks to me.
I’m in western North Carolina if you would like to borrow my Hunter for a longer term ride and report. Even if it is more of a 1960s look.
'Made like a gun' is echoing Enfield's history as a weapons manufacturer, specifically the legendary Lee Enfield rifle
I think you gotta take a look at Moto Guzzi, their V7 retro bike still uses an engine that can be traced back to the mid 70's, and seem to be up there with the most authentic retro bikes on the market.
Absolutely brilliantly written and presented, as always.
I have always wanted a Royal Enfield, unfortunately, I've never come across one in good shape, that the owner was willing to part with.
I've seen a few, but the ones that don't want to hold on to them are counting on a high return on their investment. I bought a 2021 Himalayan in early 2022 and got a modest discount. Market saturation won't happen too soon.
Get a new one. They're great!
@@fderbar1 I can't justify the cost for a new one. More importantly, my wife would skin me alive.
@@soggycracker5934 hang on, depending on what state you're in, the classic is between 4,200 and 6,300
That's a lot for you?
Why would the wife do that? Is that because you already have 12 bikes in the garage? Lol
@@fderbar1 I have seven in my bike shed, and three in my shop... I trade my cocaine addiction for motorcycles...
It's a royal bike and I love meteor 350 it's my dream bike in retro style
I owned a bullet 500 just a few years ago; an older carburetted version, not the newer fuel injected model. It was the most fun I have ever had on a motorcycle going under the speed limit. It really felt like I was riding back in the 1950's. A totally valid and fun riding experience. However, my love affair with that bike was undone by it's lack of quality control and reliability issues. That said, the new classic 350 has about the same horsepower as my older Bullet, plus weighs less (I had the militarized version with steel crash bars and steel panniers). Given the top speed reported in numerous viseos of the Classic 350, it clearly has an advantage over my older Bullet. Just because of how much mslow to moderate speed fun my older Bullet was to ride, I likely will end up owning one of the new 350s.
If the only there was a bike with the looks of the Classic 350 just with a 650 engine (and I mean single cylinder or at least a 360° twin), that would be great. I mean, I really like the Interceptor and will probably get one one day, but it could look even more old.fashioned for my taste.
Kawasaki w650 or w800 is as close as you will get with a modern bike I think
The new BSA has a 650 liquid-cooled single. Some love it, some hate it.
There are spy shots of a new 'classic' styled twin being tested. 500 or 650 probably. Gonna be at least late 2024 and probably 2025 for North America.
Guess what Royal Enfield plans to make a Classic 650 for 2025/26
Excellent job, sir, from an old guy who first owned a Gilera 106 cc from Sears, then BSA 250 cc Starfire and finally, a BSA 650 Thunderbolt. It's the little Starfire single that I most loved. I fantasize about a Royal Enfield Bullet!
Growing up in the mid 70s, there were a couple of lads down our street that had Royal Oilfield singles, big alloy tanks, clip-on handlebars, rear sets and open megaphone exhausts.
You could hear them coming for miles and at the time, they were the epitomy of cool, to us youngsters waiting to be 16 and get a 50cc Japanese moped.
My first bike in 1970 was an electric start Honda CB175 then about 5 other Hondas, Moto Morini 350 sport, Laverda 750 SF2. Took a break when I got married and had a Son, returned in 2010 Kawasaki, Yamaha, BMW RT1200 Triumph Street Triple then a CB500 Honda that I did not enjoy. Had an operation in January 2022 and could not ride for 8 weeks, sat on RUclips and came across the Classic 350 and fell in love with the bike, watching every video I could find. My first ride I returned to the shop I had bought the Honda from saw a brand new Halcyon Green Classic 350 as they are RE main dealer PX’d the Honda for the Re without a test ride £800 changed hands and 3 days later picked up the Classic. Over 2 years later and this will be my last bike as for me the perfect bike. Heated grips,bar end mirrors, DID chain at first service and touring seats are all I have done to the bike. However after seeing a Bullet seat added to a Classic I am awaiting delivery of a dark brown Touring Bullet seat to fit to my Classic. Superb bike that I will ride till I am no longer able to, 70 this year so hopefully another 20 years at least 😊
Great video! There is something special about these motorcycles. I purchased a 2023 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Reborn in Chrome-Bronze about 7 months ago and seem to love it more and more with each ride.
I like Stu when he keeps on the topic of bikes. Sadly, he seems to be more and more interested in turning slightly right of topic…
I noticed that too. Gets a dig in about climate change activism and such, lol.
@@mattlorenzi5606 Gets the views I guess? If I wanted an older gentleman’s ramblings about “climate change communism” and the such I could just call my father in law tbh.
I have a 2013 Classic 500 and the speedo still has that completely analogue, authentic vintage look of the classic "Smiths" speedometers that were ubiquitous on so many vintage English bikes. The later Classic 500's included a modernised digital display that was crap in my opinion. The new Classic 350 "Reborn" takes that digital design further, with a new engine that no longer looks vintage to the same era. I bought the 2013 Enfield classic 500 because it essentially WAS a 1940's bike with minimal modifications to make it reliable, and legal with today's regulations. The EFI was cunningly disguised to look like a single throat carburettor, the electronic ignition was not apparent, and only the unitary construction engine and disc brake front gave it away to those in the know....but not always at first glance. I wanted a 1940's style riding experience, and that's what I got. As close to that ideal as was possible for a modern bike. A digital display is anathema to that whole design concept and riding experience. I can ride my 2013 model and easily imagine I'm actually riding a vintage machine built in the late 1940's to early 1950's. The experience is that authentic. A digital display glaring at me INSTANTLY bursts that bubble completely, and ruins the whole illusion. That was the Classic 500's charm....the illusion of riding a 1940's vintage English bike, built in 2013 without the drawbacks of actual vintage bikes, like oil leaks, unreliable points ignition, and so forth. Modern inclusions like digital displays only shatter that illusion and don't seem to make sense. If I bought a later Classic 500 or new Classic 350, I would have to tear that all out and replace with those from an earlier model, or some other substitute that returns that classic look & feel. Which is the whole point of buying one of these bikes. Otherwise, just buy a completely modern bike, and forget the whole retro experience.
True I have 5 500 classics with very low mileage eg 9 miles total on one of them how much would I pay for a 500 vintage bike rebuild say to that bikes standard not the £3600 I paid for it!
You need to do a ride to umlingla pass
I love my Super Meteor 650. It has great quality, super easy to service and current technology where you need it. I do wish they would make a 850cc enduro version.
That buddy was an awesome presentation and your summary at the end about the motorcycling experience says it all 👍👍
I love the classic 350 but it's not powerful enough for most southern highways in the US where I need to go at least 85. I'm just holding out for the Classic 650 to be launched
same, here❤
coz of mighty sales of this RE is now playing and experimenting in 400cc+ segment now and capturing more market there
i was so excited when they anounced they were going to releace this bike in the usa. i was afraid it was not coming. now i have one and i love it. it will probably be the only bike i ever buy new.
i have owned more used bikes than most people should. witch come with a lot of work keeping junk running. when i look at the c350 i know i could pull that enginge if i needed to. its basic and that is huge for me. i have tryed alot of differant styles of bike from 70s 50cc scooters with pettals to 750cc sport bikes and the c350 brings an easy riding joy that i love. if you live in the usa and you dont think it has enough engine for the roads then you need to take the back roads insted of the highway i promise it will be a lot more fun
I've never quite understood the whole Royal Enfield lineup except the Himalayan though even that bike I've never been tempted by. Is it my age & origin?. Born in 62 in the American Southwest i started riding 70s Japanese enduro bikes and the odd scrambler. My father rode a Harley. To me a golden classic is my old 1972 Honda CL350 and a bit later my Yamaha XT 500. The latter that has risen to legend status these days & actually achieved that status in it's own time by winning the first two Dakar rallies.
Having said that i do sorta get the likes of the newer 650 twin bikes from RE for all they barrow from the triumph Bonneville and Norton commandos of the 1960s that were truly iconic bikes of their time. I just don't really understand where the 350 classic fits in today ?. A big bike in size & weight, but with all the horse power of a scooter?. It's styled loosely on bikes none of us are old enough to remember and in their day were little more than utilitarian.
To me a modern classic is a bike based on an iconic classic, but stealthy built for & fit for copping with the modern world, ie, it can actually achieve the national speed limits etc.
As a purely urban bike i can sorta understand the hunter & meteor 350s as city scooters in wolfs clothing?, but I'm still baffled by the classic 350 and it's 40kg of chrome plating?. Please feel free to enlighten & ridicule my ignorance 😊.
I fully understand where you are coming from, but i still fell for the charm of the classic 350, the roadking is gone and i've slowed down. I'm loving it!.
I own the UCE 350 cc Classic 2017 make , carbureted, and man trust me it's a torque monster ( the 500 is a torque demon ) but trust me the way this things lays down it's torque on WOT it just pulls for infinity in any gear and the top end is also fun too just most people prefer not to rev it as it gets very vibey at higher RPM and returns great Km/L too and once this thing get's on the highways it really opens up the engine and it's actually appreciated in it's value , it's worth more than what I paid for it a few years ago, the new reborn classic is good but it just doesn't have the monstrous torque delivery like the old engines
Ps- the UCE engine on the old classic was designed on a long time period ownership perspective I've broken in the engine properly and redline it quite often and after 20000km on the odo the vibrations have decreased like 80%
Personally, I am a fan of a "thumper."
Amazing, great job with this one B!
I always learn something new when watching your videos 🎉
I'd certainly tune in to your reviews
Feel like you'd give those bits of information that many reviewers fly by.
Awesome RE ❤
The Himalayan 411 is the real cool guy who says I am back with full energy , it's only with that Himalayan 411 we started to see that RE can actually innovate in 21st century .
Love my himalayan!
You can thank ex Triumph engineers and designers for that 😅
@@bobz1736 Ex Triumph Engineers ?? , Or Freelancing Engineer's who happened to be contacted by RE ?! .
i like riding old classic 350 over j series because i like when everyone hears its bassy thuds ... there is no other feeling comparable to that
Love my 1959 G2 upconverted from 350cc to 500cc. It's a cement mixer as far as vibration goes if you compare it to anything modern, but it is fun. The addition of electronic ignition has made it quite reliable and easy to start. Not sure how the modern units are, but they are founded upon a solid platform, and so they must be roughly the same ride with better reliability and less vibration.
I love that we're getting a lot of practical bikes. Janis and RE's been doing something so well that other's have taken notice. I hope that the new Triumph 400's do really well and we start to get a lot more people on two wheels.
This summer I sold my Husqvarna and bought the new Hunter 350. It's got the simplicity of maintenance, and truly "pure" riding experience that I've always wanted.
After literally decades of riding on and off road, I feel like I've arrived at that ideal place 😎
I'm tempted. I have long admired the looks of the old AJS and Matchless big singles that came out of WWII, but they are impossible to find now. One thing about those old bikes is that they weren't reliable - but were easy to maintain, so that didn't matter so much. This included (at least in the case of Norton, that I am familiar with) beautiful and accurate shop manuals. I wonder if this Classic has the same easy maintenance, even if the reliability no longer mandates so much of it?
They look so beautiful but I saw ppl complain about reliability issues all the time.
I worked at Royal enfield as a mechanic for awhile and to this day i dont understand the why to have 350 at that price because top speed is 120km/h and u can have a 125cc with the same top speeed and cheaper
Sturdy. Solid.
great video, especially your comments on the end of it ! !!!! I own a 50 yr old Aermacch-HD SS 350 ......
The knee-out crowd can't understand why a heavy, underpowered bike is selling hand over fist. It's not about 'miles per hour'. It's SMILES PER GALLON. Think air cooled Beetles and Citroen 2CVs. There are so many being restored/owned/driven that there are whole industries dedicated to keeping them on the roads. Both are laughably slow but nothing few things create more sheer joy on a scenic back road at 40-50 mph.
Love it!!! Riding back to basics!
I have a 2017 Classic 500 and I'll never get rid of it.
This is a new video so you could have included shots of the new Bullet 350 that has already been launched in India. You could have talked about it a bit too. Still, this is a great video overall and I agree with all the points you made.
Excellent production quality of these videos.
Great channel. Do an episode on minibikes please. They have a ton of history( including the army) and a new modern resurgence.(due in large part to go cart evolution ans innovation). Keep up the good work! Thank you
I owned both Jawa 300 and RE 350 Classic, they're both classic and WWII veteran. Jawa was used by Germans as the technology was Czech and RE by the British. Jawa is a little sportier with higher bhp, and RE is fun. I prefer RE for longer rides but for more bhp & power I prefer Jawa. I think bike fans in the US would love Jawa.
I'm stoked on any manufacturer that is getting computers out of things they don't need to be in, and making things I can service myself.
Yes I also watch Uncle Stu.
I would like to see Royal Enfield do a 398 cc motor in the style of the 650 twin . Ronn
Great bikes, I own a meteor 350 and enjoy any ride, simple, reliable machines, great summarize of the company🎉