Royal Enfield 350 BULLET Launch WTF happened? Has The Royal Enfield bubble burst? HUNTER 450 LC?

Most people including the mainstream motorcycle press seemed to fall victim to A clickbait type pre launch teaser countdown to the launch of the 350 Bullet. Many fans were left confused and disappointed that the 500 Bullet did not appear as was hinted by the countdown. In this video I try to work out what happened and why interest in this new model seems low. also a quick chat about an upcoming Hunter 450LC
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PATREON. / stuartfillingham
#royalenfield #bullet500 #newbullet350

[@kalynstalinski8375]

I’m a 40 year old American and I’ve always preferred the bullet over the classic, aesthetically, and was hoping they’d launch the 350 platform would come out with the bullet looks, so I for one am happy for this launch

[@Ernes446]

From US and I agree with you. Enfield bucks the trend and stays with the smaller engine

[@Scruffybirdd]

American 29, and totally same

[@philtucker1224]

Those shots of the Royal Enfield factory in Madras were to say the least, utterly mind blowing in its scale..

[@vijayasekarr.7117]

Royal Enfield's first preference is their domestic market. To most RE afficianodos in India the Bullet is synonymous with the company. Many customers still want the old style Bullet here. So the old bike with a new chassis, J series engine, efficient brakes and competitively priced makes sense for the domestic market.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I bought myself a variation of the bullet. It has a 1300cc engine, was shaped in a wind tunnel, and has 'Hayabusa' written on the side...oh, and it goes, yep, you guessed it, "like a bullet"....

[@isingcauseimliving]

The 500 is an ace in the pocket of RE. I think that they are kind of waiting for every other motorcycle manufacturer to show their best before they come up with the ace. Anyway, the sales of the RE bikes are never going to go down in India. So, enthusiasts should either wait for the right time for the 500 or pick up another RE if they cant. Personally I will buy the Bullet / Classic 500 without a thought, if it was available.

[@alphatango5668]

Your not wrong Stu. I see a few Indian viewers are taking great delight in pointing out how obviously it was a 350. (easy to claim after the fact) Truth is the 500 is a must for western roads and the 350 is holding sales back. I would love a classic but not a 350.

[@jakel2837]

I'd have to disagree. 350 is plenty for western roads. I love in the U.S., my Classic has no problem cruising at 70mph on the highways. It's only ever struggled when trying to pass another vehicle on a steep incline

[@SkysaxonDragonslayer]

As mentioned the Classic was always a brushed up variant of the Bullet and the Bullet is RE‘s icon and backbone on the Indian market, bought by very traditional people. So testing the acceptance of the J engine in different models and show these customers that the engine is more reliable as the old one ever was, wasn’t a wrong way. The J motor may have the potential to bore and stroke it to 500cc, but it is still aircooled and so they may get emissions problems -especially with the noise. International sales are important for RE to show on their domestic market, that they have a product that the whole world likes, but in absolute numbers, they don’t mind… A few thousand bike for Europe and America seem a lot, but they sell in the 100.000 from each model on their home market, so who cares if less then 1% of the sales is effected? RE loves it foreign customers, but the 1st they love is the money made on their home market!

[@leonidjoseph5483]

When it comes to sales classic reigns supreme.

[@romeldias]

@@leonidjoseph5483 that is now....the Bullet has always sold...and the Classic has always been a derivative of the Bullet...its just because of the new J-series engine that this is the first time a Bullet is derived from the Classic!

[@leonidjoseph5483]

@@romeldias actualy classic was derived from metior which came first. Classic uses the j series engine, swingarm and frame except for the rear part. I do have a ci 350 from 1990 which I bought new.

[@PhilipBallGarry]

Nothing to add that hasn't been said by many. But a 450 water cooled Hunter would be an excellent idea. But they need to be quick before the new Triumph 400's get too much of a foothold 😊

[@roberthocking9138]

I couldn’t agree more, it wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t even bring this new bullet to Australia. A 500 however would trigger a lot of interest

[@anupam6192]

If they were to launch the bullet 500 you would've seen the videos of them testing the thing on indian roads. As of now RE is just working with 3 engines the 650, J series 350 and the new liquid cooled 450 for the Himalaya. All the bikes they are planning to launch with these 3 engines including the classic 650 can be seen on KZbin as they've been testing it for some time now.

[@SkysaxonDragonslayer]

@@anupam6192 If they would test a J 500, nobody will see or recognize it 😇

[@KrishnaKumar-hz8my]

True sir

[@shottskies]

As an Aussie I would agree with your prediction regarding our particular market. They probably have the classic styling thing already covered with the other models. And at the end of the day this new bullet 350 is another rather niche product , certainly in our market, that would probably have limited appeal here imo. Especially considering the small engine

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

This is why I don't believe anything nor pay any attention anymore until I see it. Marketing departments and social media thrive on BS.

[@paulshenton6527]

Well said Stu, and spot on. What i think is that due to ongoing Euro emission standards, that next range will be more liquid cooled and possible euro 6.. Just do not think the 500 air cooled system will ever be introduced.

[@gedbaines1107]

An RE 500 Bullet based on the J platform may just be the last bike I need to complement my 650 Interceptor. The 350 seems to be a good bike, but not quite enough for my long daily rides. Excellent video as always!

[@twowheeledparadox]

As you have realised, the old Bullet 500 logos you saw in the launch countdown teaser were just to pay homage to the bygone models. It was clear in the domestic market that RE would not be launching a Bullet 500 this month. I don't think RE will be making 500 single, as unfortunate as it is. They will likely want to keep their production lines streamlined and just keep the J-350 and the 650 engines for their mainstream lineups. The gap between the two platforms especially in price is not wide enough to accommodate a 500. Also, if I remember correctly, RE had laid it out in their roadmap some years ago that they will have only a 350 single in the future and a twin cylinder platform for those who want more performance. Personally, I would love to see a J-500 from RE. The new 350 has so much more usable power that a 500 would be a lot of fun! As for the water-cooled 450, rumour has it that the Himalayan will be launched on the 1st of November in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. In the meantime, I will deal with the plethora of issues I have been facing with my new Interceptor 650.

[@themechanic2036]

You say that with hindsight which is any easy thing to do. The brand may well have done itself some damage internationally.

[@twowheeledparadox]

@@themechanic2036 Fair enough but I don't think the sales of existing models will be affected. The Classic 350 and Interceptor/Continental GT 650 have been quite successful internationally. The next most important international product will likely be the new water-cooled Himalayan. The Bullet is mainly for the traditionalists in India for whom the name "Bullet" is synonymous with RE. In fact, whenever I don't take my Interceptor 650 to my office, the security guards ask me "You didn't bring the Bullet today?" Such is the identity of the Bullet here. In the international scene, the Classic has way more presence than the Bullet. Had RE been planning to launch a new 500, they would have started with the Classic. People who thought that RE was going to launch a Bullet 500 on the 1st of September were simply mistaken. Nobody in the domestic market thought that RE was going to launch anything but a Bullet 350.

[@RobVespa]

This is not accurate. Agree to disagree.

[@doughoffman9463]

What "plethora" of issues have you had? My new 2023 Interceptor, I got it May 4 2023, haas been literally perfect. Actually, the OEM CRUZ tires were horrible on the diamond grinding grooves on high speed freeways here in the US. Those tires caused very noticeable and unnerving wobbling/tracking of the bike. New Michelin Road Classics solved that.

[@twowheeledparadox]

@@doughoffman9463 Minor issues. Got mine in December last year. Got one of the horns replaced. Then at about 2800 km or so the engine started putting out vibes past 6k rpm. Got the tappets adjusted which solved the vibes but they were having issues getting the setting right. The tappet threads were acting weird. Started to hear popping noise in the right side cylinder. Testing both cylinders individually revealed that the right side cylinder will not idle the engine alone when hot. The right side spark plug connector was found to be faulty and replaced. Issue was not solved. The service centre called the regional engineer to check so I handed them the bike on 24-AUG. They found two of the adjusters with bad threads. There were also two bands of abrasions on the right side intake rocker pin. New rockers and adjusters were ordered which have been delivered. They will install the parts tomorrow after which the compression needs to be checked. If it's fine, the issue should be resolved. Hopefully, there is no issue with the valves or the engineer will come back and open the cylinder head for further troubleshooting. Once this is done, they will replace the headers as they have rusted near the cylinder head. Other than that, sometimes one cylinder stops firing altogether after a wash. The bike has 3300 or so kilometres on it. I am not counting the unequal levels of fork oil and the rear wheel out of alignment as issues as they are common in the Interceptor.

[@andrewjohnson6633]

When I saw the launch of the Bullet 350 on Friday, it was obvious that RE was catering to its domestic market in upgrading the Bullet 350 to the J series platform. I get the feeling that the next platform will be water-cooled and should there be a replacement for the Bullet or Classic 500 it will have some form of the 450cc engine that has been reported. I believe the Indian emissions regulations are very similar to the latest Euro ones and if there is a '500' (450 or derivative) it will have the water-cooled lump, possibly with some decorative 'fins' . To the International market, however, Friday was a non-event.

[@peterprior1]

Had a call from my RE dealer who said they know only what we have seen online and thought that most customers probably know more than they do. They also agreed that they lack of a new 500 was very disappointing for them.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Yay…105k subscribers already…well done Stu

[@vibhorgautam6219]

Nope, they had never said they're launching a 500; perhaps people saw what they wanted to see, not what they were shown. No one in India ever expected anything but a Bullet 350.

[@stuartfillingham]

yes they saw a Bullet 500 badge in 2 different versions!

[@vibhorgautam6219]

@@stuartfillingham in India? I don't think so. All the news was about Bullet 350 only. And I am quite sure that the countdown which showed 500 badge, was just a montage that covered the previous bullet models in history. From a purely business point of view, it doesn't make any sense for them to get a 500 (I would love to eat my own words, I have a Classic 500 myself), they'd rather have a 650 for the bigger capacity. They already have 2 proven engines, it'd be best to keep inventory small in the beginning (in the sense that these 2 engines are relatively new, less than 5 years old). And before the Hunter, Bullet was the entry level Enfield, everything else has always been a step up. So, they're keeping it the lowest priced retro. With the introduction of Classic 650, which is still to be confirmed, it'd make sense for anyone to upgrade to it, from a Classic or Bullet 350. Frankly, I'd have preferred if they had named the Classic as Bullet, and just had one retro in that design.

[@leemoreno7435]

Great review. I'm stuck between the meteor 350 and the Hunter. I tested both and I agree the Hunter is more comfortable. You sit more on top of it and it feels great. I'm leaning towards the Hunter because here in Tennessee we have tons of curvy roads everywhere. It's a motorcycle paradise. I guess you can't go wrong with either one.

[@peterwilson8797]

Warranty claims not being sorted. Parts not available. Some poor dealers. I am close to selling my remaining 2. Sold my 500 expecting a better version to appear with the J platform. I'd accept a water cooled one. Needs must now with power, emmisions etc. See what the spring brings.

[@hariunnithan9]

Whoever did that drone footage of the RE Factory is a genius!!!

[@William-0415]

I had a 2017 Bullet, and I thought it was gorgeous. It was black. I honestly always wished it was slightly smaller and had a more comfortable, plush bench seat. I did end up selling it, but I'm very much interested in seeing the new 350 version if and when it comes over the pond to the states. This new 350 version looks to have addressed some of the dislikes I had in the previous Bullet 500, and I like the overall look better. It looks very similar to the previous 500, but the design of the seat looks better and hopefully softer. It does have a similar look to the Classic 350, but it's part of the same family line, so that makes sense to me. Both the new versions of the Classic 350 and the Bullet 350 are really beautiful bikes on their own.

[@unsungtales3217]

Absolutely no idea why such expectations came up, i mean two logos from historical bikes don't mean anything if you actually think about it. Maybe because, over there in the UK it's difficult to get a grasp on what's going on in the company; but it was abundantly clear to those in India that it was just an updated Bullet model. The Bullet here, in India, is a brand in and of itself so RE would definitely make a show of it when it did launch. If a 500 was in development people would have known, there is no way to hide that.

[@stuartfillingham]

like I said it was clickbait!

[@billmassey2946]

The rear fender and fender brace on the new Bullit is just fugley!

[@Shady689]

I think the new bullet will sell as good as classic. It looks beautiful especially the maroon one (proper classic look). The reason it didn't sold well in international market is because it was lacking many things like - Electric start, disc brakes and it had very thin rear tyres. Now all this has been solved, expect the sales numbers to go high.

[@willg4944]

I was so depressed that I immediately ordered a brown tourig saddle for my chrome and bronze classic 350.😢 I guess if I can't get a 500 thumper, I might as well make myself as comfortable as possible until RE comes to their senses.😅 BTW, another good video.

[@paulfitzpatrick9231]

Hi Stuart ,Thanks once again for an excellent appraisal of the situation with 'RE and your are right,very lamentable situation has developed with all the hype and anticipation over the so called new models ?I for one,waited eagerly for the possibility of a j platform 500 to go alongside my Harley, boy was I disappointed!I'm sure you would agree that a 500 single to blokes of a particular vintage(I'm 70 next year),especially here in the U.K, is a nice thing to behold.Oh Dear!!

[@graemewillgress3780]

Confused? I certainly was. Turns out it was all fur coat and no knickers as my Mother-in-law used to say. What a shame. Thank for posting Stu :)

[@HornyBrad]

I've been saying this for months now. I don't think the Himalayan 450 engine is enough development on Enfield's end. I really feel like we need something that isn't the 650 twin or the J platform... In fact that sums it up there doesn't it? The J platform? When you refer to your engine as a platform then it seems you are building it with the aim of achieving modularity. You'd assume that means you would have a 350cc, you'd try and make the Himalayan 411cc on the same platform and then you'd expect the beautiful 500cc. There has never been a 350 without it's 500 companion. I think I'm just bored of seeing Royal Enfield push the 650 twin and the J350 engine into every single model. A year from now and you will have the following lineup: 350 meteor, 650 Super Meteor 350 Classic, 650 Classic 350 Bullet, 650 Bullet Hunter 350, Hunter 650 Now whilst the Himalayan hasn't caught the 350 bug it does look like it's getting a 650 twin model alongside it's new 450cc engine. The most polarizing moment that is defining my current thoughts was when the Meteor 350 was coming into showrooms, the last Classic and Bullet 500s were being sold off (which is when I got my Classic 500 Stealth) and then the KX838 was unveiled and I was sold then and there. I thought I will keep the Stealth 500 until the KX was released. Then Enfield done the biggest backtrack I've ever seen and since then it's only been forcing the 350 and 650 into everything they make, don't get me wrong, they're lovely engines but I just want to see something mechanically new. Even Triumph have 4 engines across their range and one of those is the 2500cc Rocket 3! When you see all the 865cc aftermarket kits for the 650 twins and the articles recently gasping at the rumor of a 750cc model and then this week as we all collectively held our breath for a new 500cc single I think it tells you enough. The bikes are beautiful, and handle as such however in the engine department we want more. Thanks Stuart!

[@josephenfieldrider4513]

The brand BULLET in 2023 resonates more with the Indian community more with other countries. This launch I believe is for the India market even though in sales numbers this might still be the lowest selling model for Royal Enfield. Let’s not forget this is what transpired the company to become what it is today. I feel it’s a homage Royal Enfield is paying to keep the Bullet brand alive and make it reach the 100yrs mark. Cheers.

[@direktorpresident]

A new tank and seat...some launch. I am glad I kept my B5, but a J 500 is like that heartstopping bird who winks at you in the opposite train carriage and then pulls out of your life forever.

[@KRAM-zb2vc]

Brilliant video as always Stuart and good to hear your thoughts on the prospect of a 500 bullet 😃👍🏻

[@neillawson4252]

I think the 350 bullet looks absolutely spot on ,still has the old bullett looks but withwith modern technology what’s not too like 🎉

[@steveh8658]

Stuart, there are two 500 pages on the Australian website. One just has text and says, "CLASSIC 500. For those who want it all. The power, the fuel efficiency, the reliability and simple, yet drop dead gorgeous classic styling." The other page simply says Bullet-500 and has a picture of the black Bullet-500. Nothing else, and you can't get to those websites from the main Royal Enfield (Aust) webpage, but they are there when you google "Royal Enfield" in Australia. I'm disappointed that they have handled it this way, seems under-handed.

[@philroberts5537]

Whilst I’m fully appreciative of some peoples desire is for a 500. RE said when they withdrew the 500 Bullet they would not produce another one. Having ridden about 500 miles in India every Feb for the last 20 years . Two things are noticeable. Firstly that car sales are growing massively , secondly bike sales and use are largely small japanese style bikes produced under license. Enfield ownership is seen very much as a status symbol and despite dealerships having the full range of RE models. It’s clear the 350 bullet is the preferred RE model in the majority of sales and vehicles seen in daily use.They are literally on every street corner. Based on this although I share the disappointment of no new bullet 500 , I can understand why this might be so.

[@mikaelpettersson2389]

I firmly believe that the teaser was real. They will launch a 500, a 650 and an electric Bullet in the coming years, but they will keep the launches separate in time. That's a good way to maintain brand awareness, always come up with something new that keeps people talking about it.

[@bikernate8902]

I agree with your thoughts regarding a 500cc Classic. I feel the new platform is perfectly suited for it and it is the most logical, and to me, desirable prospect. The new Bullet is what I expected it to be and it should sell very well in India. Here in the states, I can see the Classic continuing to be the most appealing option. I dig my REborn Classic 350 and I will keep it forever. But, should a 500cc single be offered by RE, I'd buy it immediately.

[@stonemarten1400]

To me, I like the idea of having the lovely Royal Enfield Classic 350 to putt-putt around the backroads in classic retro-style, but then a Bullet 500 with a bit more oomph for the faster roads.

​@stonemarten1400 500 would be for both, you can put put and hit a highway. The issue, the only issue really with the 350 is that it's limiting in what you can do. Bar that and its perfect imo.

[@JohnTanner61]

I didn't get it wrong! and I am REALLY surprised at what you were expecting!!! Squeezing all they can out of the J series as I would have thought. There's a Classic and I was fully expecting a Bullet!

[@googlecontrolled]

I don't think you did get it wrong Uncle Stu. I by accident met a uk RE tester and developer once at a garage refueling in Pickering who was on what is now known as the Interceptor. He told me he lived near Scotch corner/ Richmond. Today whilst travelling down the A1 near Scotch corner I was overtaken by an all black sit up style RE bike with Trade plates on and wires from the rear topbox ( telemetrics was in there on the prototype interceptor I saw in Pickering years ago) It also had a wire Indian style rear wheel guard ( the type that stops pillion ladies dresses getting caught in the rear wheel). Any way, at 80 plus miles an hour on the A1 while trying to catch up with this thing for my van passenger to get a pic this RE in disguise left me for dead! Something new and something fast is coming

[@stuartfillingham]

Intriguing!

[@toneppenhof7192]

I am very happy with the new 350 Bullet. Finally the Bullet has returned. I owned a 1990 350 Bullet years ago and the new 350 Bullet is the closest to it. I prefer the seat and the slightly higher seat height. I am in fact so happy that I have decided to go from the Interceptor back to the Bullet. I love the new tankbadge and the black with gold pinstriping.

[@motormikeb1047]

I'm glad I have a 500 in the stable... it's a keeper.... hung a sidecar on it... great all day rider.. 50-55 mph... solo camping trips.... as for a 350.... not my cup of Earl Grey .... If they bring back the 500 I think the price would be at or near the cost of the 650 twins..... 😎

[@sankalpthakur8622]

Hey uncle stu here in India we were never expecting them to launch a bullet 500. A 350 was what we were expecting and perhaps a 650 twin but even that seemed far-fetched. I guess their promo video was misunderstood or misinterpreted? Hopefully we'll get the himalayan 450LC in a month or two. Cheers!

[@stuartfillingham]

Or intended to drum up more attention than it would have got otherwise?

[@sankalpthakur8622]

@@stuartfillingham maybe. All we can do is speculate.

[@sourevdahl2362]

@@nicholasfox3670 Having fun at the speculators expense is a dangerous game to play when your business relies on their cash. Games like this can lead to disinterest and speculators spending their cash elsewhere.

[@JustJayPs133]

This is what’s hurting Royal Enfield in the US. Every bike is underpowered except the two cafe racer style bikes, and this isn’t a cafe racer country. We like touring/cruisers, sport/super bikes, and Dirt/Enduro bikes. The super meteor 650 would do great here, yet it hasn’t been released in the states. I have a Himalayan and love it, but most others want more power in an off road capable bike. If they cannot figure out how to put out higher than 350 cc /411 cc bikes in the US, they will fail here fast.

[@nikitis13]

Yes, disappointing. I was mislead by the RE count-down advert as well... So RE where is it? All you gave us was a classic with a bullet seat and tank and virtually nothing else Whoopy-do.

[@BlazinBlades]

I think I am a Yamaha fanboy almost as much as you are an RE one…🤣😝 It’s human nature to think we understand something far more than we really do 😄 As long as we enjoy our hobby thats all that really matters Cheers 🍻🍻

[@shardlake]

Checking the RE site for the UK the 350 Bullet is shown in the line up, stating available at the end of the year. Not an RE owner, yet I found myself disappointed with the new Bullet. RE have some great updates in the pipeline if all the spy shots are genuine, would love a single cylinder bike the 350s just too much of a downgrade for what I need, looking forward to see what they do with the 450LC plant. The Bike shows should be interesting this year :)

[@julianroberts7116]

Hi Stu, from Julian in Barnsley. Forgive me if I ramble.... In the late 90's I think, the VW Golf became the highest production car in the world, taking over from the old style Beetle with its 28,000,000+ units. However, the mk1 Golf was quite different to the mk2, which was quite different to the mk3, etc. By the time there was a mk4 Golf it shared zero parts with the mk1, it was a totally different car just with the same name. The beetle however was pretty much the same car. I could fit an engine from a '48 or a '76 Beetle into my '62, with zero modifications. I could have a door from a '51, or a '67. This RE Bullet is definitely in the VW Golf mould, here. These are just very, very different bikes, sharing absolutely nothing but a name, and this "world record holding motorbike with the longest production run" is complete nonsense . This new one looks like a Classic with a longer seat and a few other cosmetic differences to me.

[@johncranwell3783]

Well you're absolutely right as far as every country outside of India the launch of the 350 bullet was a bit of a bum note.... I've been following you and a few others with great interest the last year in anticipation of buying myself a new motorcycle.... the Old me with definitely have gone for the 650... in my youth I had so much joy on my BSA 650 A65 (full devimead conversation) and my Norton feather bed along with a BMW 800 which I still have.... I really like the look of the 350S but the only thing that's holding me off is I'd rather have a 500 thumper..... I really can't quite bring myself to go for a 27 brake horsepower plod. We'll see

[@bilco1010]

I remember when I had a bullet 500 in the 90s thinking a single sprung seat on this and it would look like a classic. Now I just want the original bullet 500. I'm raging there not being made anymore, I have a Himalayan and love it but might have to hunt one of the last bullet 500s

[@tholman2671]

Like you Stu i had got quiet excited the last few days. When I saw your video with the countdown on I was also hoping for something very exciting. I own the Himalayan and Interceptor and have been holding out for a classic 500 or 650. I teach students and while the 350 is perfect for me, it’s just not quite up to what I need on some of my courses. Disappointment is the right word, but RE still ticks all the right boxes and here’s hoping for st least the Classic 650 in the not to distant future

[@muttineni03]

Hi Stuart, hope you are doing well, just wanted to share with you that my Int Mark II just arrived and you're videos really encouraged me to get it. Love your videos!!

[@stuartfillingham]

Cool, thanks

[@zrecz7957]

I remember the bullet 350 on the website had a Kickstart and looked like a classic bullet, the new one looks nothing like the one they showed on the site before the release

[@JohnSmith-xw5qe]

Some very interesting points made Stu but I don’t think RE would be stupid enough not to introduce a Bullet 500 I get it there home market comes first but I think they will make a 500 bullet at least for the western market! Good video 👍🏻

[@rafaelcobo9112]

Great content! Keep it up! Pulled the trigger on a scram 411 in part from your reviews and couldn’t be happier ! Saludos! All the way from Argentina

[@rafaelcobo9112]

Must mention that this is my first bike at age 45

[@andrewhartley8781]

I was disappointed with the RE announcement last Friday, but on the other hand somewhat relieved that a larger capacity Hunter wasn’t announced as I was due to collect a new Hunter 350 on the Monday; now last Monday. Keep up the great videos

[@edwardhunt8061]

Speedo trouble? The Speedo on my Bullet 500 failed at 13,000 miles and I've had to replace it. Re the new Bullet, my local RE dealer, Manhattan Motorcycles, were moaning that the new machine is a 350, not a 500, and couldn't see the point of making another 350.

[@jamespaige7129]

I have been considering buying a Himalayan, but the idea of a 500cc Bullet gave me pause. Back in the day, I owned a BSA Gold Star 500cc single. It was a "do anything" bike, and I rode it on the street, raced it in TT, flat track and road racing, changing bits and bobs to suit it to the tasks. The bike was capable in more skilled hands than mine - Dick Mann comes immediately to mind - of winning races. It was a '63, the last year of production and I got a very good deal on it, since most people wanted 650cc twins. (I later owned a BSA Lightning, so I understand the appeal, but the Goldie owned my heart.) So, although there is a "new" Gold Star from a revitalized BSA, made, for the nonce in India, it is a liquid-cooled 650+cc bike with a lot of the "desirable" mod-cons like ABS. So, a more elemental Royal Enfield 500cc Bullet single tickled my interest. Alas, not yet. Will there ever be one? I wonder. If there was and it was as simple as most RE offerings have been, I'd be interested, for sure.

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

After watching your pre-launch video I was interested to see what was announced on Friday. I was left with a bit of a feeling of 'Is that it?'. I guess it's not a huge deal but there is a tricky line to tread between whetting the public's appetite and over hyping something. If RE did overcook the marketing and build too much anticipation for the 350 launch it might make it harder to get attention next time they have a new model to announce.

[@davidshort8070]

Great video and overview Stuart. Thank you.

[@travisperkins100]

I own a classic 350 and i love it. However, another 10 to 15 mph would be very nice thankyou. You would get this with a 500 version, but it would kill a lot of the 350 sales overnight.

[@ronnronn55]

Perhaps this was a clever way of assessing the strength on interest in the 500? I would love to see the 650 engine in a 398cc version. Ronn

[@colinmartin2921]

Maybe it would not be possible to get a Bullet 500 through the emission tests? Possibly a 650 Bullet is imminent instead?

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

I think you're onto it. Big singles are struggling with emissions regs. Here in Au the 500cc+ single market has only Husqvarna, Kawasaki and KTM left (and those three are all adventure bikes).

[@WaterDR-tw8re]

RE just had a record year. 834,000 bikes sold. Whatever they are doing, is working. Of those bikes, 100,000 were sold outside India. Most of the export growth is in Italy, Germany, Greece and Poland. The big market opportunity for them is NA. How do they make bikes that adhere to the interests in India while also focused k on exporting growth? In 2019, they sold 619,000 which was a huge drop from 2018.

[@stuartfillingham]

Thats not a record year. Their sales have actually fallen in recent years.

[@jaewolf0_o]

Great video, please do a video about the rumor of a scram 440/450! I really want a scram 411 but will wait if a new version is coming out late this year/early next! Keep up the good work !

[@sameer_dhingra]

All the 350cc RE motorcycles in India are on backorder for months in my state of Goa. So adding another model could perhaps bring down the wait times?

[@stuartfillingham]

They still only have the same production capacity so..... In theory it wont affect waiting times, may even lengthen it for some models.

[@stonemarten1400]

That’s it then, it’s the Royal Enfield Classic 350 for the backroad trips and the BSA Goldstar 550 for the A roads, a nice green one and a red one, covering all the retro bases.

[@rupertmarlow4668]

I don’t know what they were thinking. Seems it’ll likely just cannibalise Classic 350 sales!!

[@stonemarten1400]

Yes, it does seem very odd when the Classic 350 is rightly so popular. It seems so obvious that a Bullet 500 would sell like hot cakes.

[@frankysworld]

It was a bit of a disappointment that the launch didn't include a Bullet 500. So I guess that the last series of Classic 500's are the last remains that will scratch that itch. For those still owning one, like myself, if even further consolidates the feeling for the 500 as a forever keeper and an eternal head turner as there will never be like on again. Even as I have my Pegasus out of commission at the moment (replacement of the swing arm bushes and chain stay) and have the fall back to puttering on my Interceptor 650 (don't pity me too much - its a great bike 😀) I don't think a Bullet with the 650 engine would "replace" the old 500. It would look good though - no doubt - to see a 650 model that ties back to the old Bullet days. I have been customising my own Interceptor to to push the overall look back with another decade (shocks, exhausts, tail light) so I am hoping for a Bullet 650 utilising the same front end as the Interceptor 650 so I can snatch up myself a front end cowling that would fit my Interceptor and i have the vison I have for the bike done 😁

[@tomdelozier7206]

Strange, I saw no evidence of a 500 on the way and usually these things don't just appear out of nowhere. The rumors were relentless though. Like the rumors over the years of a Himalayan 650, it doesn't seem to fit in with their platform strategy.

[@stuartfillingham]

Really!?

[@jonyoung6405]

I own 2008 RE 500 Classic 500 AVL purchased new. Fun motorcycle. What left a bad taste for me was the introduction of RE North America(RENA) . RENA did not want small motorcycle shops selling the RE. I lost support as they closed down these shops.RENA also sold off ( destroyed)many parts/spares of older REs . RENAs plan was to have high end shops like Harley Davidson ( no thanks) .Now I have to purchase parts from India or UK ..if I cant find them on Ebay. I will think twice if I ever purchase another new RE.

[@eriksnel6461]

My wife was just on the verge of getting a meteor or a hunter but i told her to wait until friday, it may then have been worth it to wait for a 500 cc j platform bike. Well, long story short, she bought a brand new meteor last saturday. But its still an awesome bike nevertheless. And yes making a classic a bullet with only changing the seat… seems lazy but it could very well be that they will sell a lot more in india then the classic

[@sculpt79]

I believe that Bullet is really aimed at the Indian market, and would have always been a 350cc J platform machine. Having a 500cc would involve developing a new engine/platform that meets emission requirements, and because of the niche popularity, it would not make sense to develop a platform for one machine. Royal Enfield is really waiting to launch its much anticipated 450 Himalayan.

[@Blort440]

I have a hard time thinking of the Classic and the Bullet separate models. I’ve always called my Classic a Bullet. Hmm.

[@dv9239]

Nobody was waiting for a 500cc bullet in India We all knew it was going to be a 350cc

[@BobfmBali]

Stu,IMO it's the time of year, know one is buying over winter in Europe, so RE have released this model as an interim to hold off a potential threat until next Spring then bang, hit Triumph for 6 with a 500. As you say the Triumph explosion has all but fizzled out and by next Spring it's arrival impact will have been lost.

[@henryhartley9993]

Nice one Stuart, I still think RE are just teasing us and a 500 will be coming. Congratulations on the 100,000 subs plaque and the Rolex of course, both thoroughly deserved....

[@terrybaxter9280]

Hi Stuart. What was the point in RE scrapping the 500 bullet then replacing it with a 350. 500cc engines are more suitable to motorway traffic. RE need to give customers some middle ground between the 650, and 350.

[@IndigenousSteed]

It seems you have failed to mention the elephant in the room with Harley-Davidson collaborating with Benelli for this new Harley-Davidson 350 . as always thank you for the great content

[@bethnglenn]

Cousin Stu, regarding RE Bullet (not to be confused with the RR Bullet of singing cowboy fame) wouldn't it make more sense to hold an international launch of a 500cc Bullet best kept for a centennial launch? I would suspect an engine with more surprise (I have a balance thingy to offer) than just 500 cc should make headlines on down the road. The journey matters.

[@mickmockett9031]

If as you say you've lost 100 supporters from your channel, then it's there loss and they are blinded by a guy who is obviously jealous of your success. Don't let this idiot dampen your enthusiasm for the very informative and true full renditions you provide. Long may you continue to spread the word to the motorcycling community.😊

[@joolz4848]

Don't thank us, you are the guy doing the work.

[@sussexbikerpillion]

Your welcome! I think it’s a very smart looking bike in black hand painted tank etc. would probably have considered it had not bought classic recently. It’s probably more classic than classic. A bigger single would have been lovely but to tool up for a smaller production run what else would they put it in? Sticking with a cross range of fit all engines and frames probably an account thing. Whatever flavour you pick it’s still a great bike.

[@say2merohit]

Correct it was mellow, cold I would have loved if they some how could have maintained the character for at least one bike rather than all feel the same

[@wp9409]

I'm in the US, and despite there being a RE dealer about 40min east, I don't see a lot of them around. Harleys/baggers, old Hondas, various flavors of adventure bikes and crotch rockets seem to be the most prevalent in our area. My previous bike (I'm on a ST1300 now) was an old Honda 650. While it made more than adequate power (72hp) for local highway use, it was not the best suited for that application, versus something heavier, with fairings and wider tires. Not sure what RE sales figures are here, I'd be curious to know.

[@nathanhenry.]

It just makes sense that RE would take care of their local market first. They want the focus to be on the 350. I did find a website claiming to know the schedule for all of the upcoming RE bikes. A bullet 650 was on the list. And sadly the classic 650 according to them is scheduled for December 0f 2026. Hoping that's not correct and we see it released sooner.

[@stuartfillingham]

Thanks again Nathan!

[@chrisaris8756]

I have spent a very long time in various parts of India in the last 20 years and I love the place. But one thing struck me was how few Royal Enfields you saw. By a ratio of at least 30:1 (a total guess that fugue!) the most popular bikes were 125s like the Hero Honda and small scooters. To see an Enfield was rare. My business partner had one but according to him they were expensive and had limited appeal - a bit like the Hindustan Ambassador in the car world - used by taxi drivers in some towns and govt officials, but no one bought them for private use. This was particularly so in the more modern areas like Noida and Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi. There everyone drove modern bikes and cars. So one wonders just how important the domestic market is to RE. My perception from the outside was that the resurgence of interest in places like the U.K. has saved them from following the Hindustan Ambassador into a slow death.

[@SkysaxonDragonslayer]

I‘ve heard someone said that the friend of his uncles cousin… Take the absolute numbers of what they sell on their domestic market (800.000) and compare them to their exports (20-30.000) So no one outside India saved RE and they don’t care for this minority!

[@davideastwood1993]

You need to realise a 350cc bike in India is a luxury item - the daily riders of 125's and small scooters aspire to owning a RE 350 as a sign of affluence in the same way bikers in the west dream of the big Harley or Ducati. Though the numbers on the street compared to the small bikes seem few- there are still huge numbers compared to Motorbike sales in the West. My own bike - the Honda Highness CB350 was brought out by Honda to challenge that market. When people buy them in India it is a huge deal with the Honda sale room putting bows and flowers on it and recording a video of you collecting it and the manager presenting you with the key. (When I got mine in Taiwan it wasn't like that). Given the 350 is already a luxury item for riders who are mainly riding around dense packed cities (so no need for more power) the 500 will not be a priority in India.

[@phoenix3580]

I was bummed too, all of us were looking for that 500cc single cylinder thumper.

[@BrianMartin-iz4vt]

They've badly missed a trick here Stuart if there's no 500 model. I Had a 350 classic from new last year - lovely bike but not enough guts, especially on dual carrigeways as 55 seemed it's cruising speed & faded a bit on small climb's. I sold only it due to being a bit disappointed with the performance My ex 1959 G80 500 Matchless would eat it for dinner & sit at 60 - 65 all day - just like your 500. Keep up the good work Stuart 👍

[@npg68]

I was let down by the Bullet launch but I soon realized that the 350 is 100% for the Indian market. I think if you take the seat off the Bullet and put a single seat on it - it looks quite similar to the Classic. I hope they also release a 500 version with the single seat and a two up configuration like the Classic - I think it would look quite minty. Time will tell.

[@preonmodel9906]

Had a Royal Enfield Clipper in the garage when I was about 14, my stepdad offered it to me for peanuts but I didn’t have 250 quid… what a shame..

[@amitabhbhosale1522]

I can understand what the western world is feeling uncle stu but in india bullet has a cult following and particularly in villages where RE sells more the old school bullet then the classic ..

[@borderlands6606]

One commenter noted some time ago that he doubted RE would make an air-cooled big single, because difficulty in passing emissions legislation was what lead to the demise of the previous model. So unless Royal Enfield had some unusual strangulation technology up their sleeve, a big single would require a water jacket. The Goldstar hasn't as far as I'm aware set sale figures on fire, and I would guess that's because water-cooled suggests the modernity classic motorcyclists are trying to get away from. So a bigger single in the Hunter's 21st century clothing makes sense.

[@stuartfillingham]

Well you do need to consider the previous single cylinder iteration was designed 14 years ago, and was never designed to meet the current regulations.

[@borderlands6606]

@@stuartfillingham I agree, but as the much newer 350 J-class engine is stifled for what one can only assume is emissions protocols, an air-cooled 500 seems a stretch. Which is a shame as I think there's a big market for a big single in the British tradition. We can but hope.

[@wardroland270]

Thanks Stuart. Great job. Good info. God bless. Happy trails.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

There is a big difference between a export 350 and a homemarket350 in quality and dependability. The current 350 is a Bullit in name only no a pre- unit. They did not even have the name until they bought the trademark.

[@onemanhisdub1969]

Fair play to Indian for making a good motorcycle. But what a sad, sad country we have become. The way our society is going motorbikes are either going to be... Banned, electric only or cc restricted. We will not be allowed to ride them for fun and we will be tracked and charged per mile. I'm quite happy to stick with my 1974 honda and unfortunately watch the demise of motorbike culture. Great video as usual. All the best David.

[@terrycavender]

I was disappointed as well, but, your logic makes sense, especially when they have a base model with single channel ABS. Disappointment aside, I like the black on black, with gold/copper accents, very much, it just needs to be a 500. Comparing my current Himalayan to the 350 Classic Reborn I had in Thailand, the J series engine needs more power, the extra displacement might do the trick.

[@RebelCowboysRVs]

After your video I went to the RE website an could not find that count down. I assumed I was on the US website an whatever was happening was not related to the US market. This makes sense from that aspect. But though RE is doing better than they historically had in the US, 350s are not going to gain them more ground. Not in a market that commonly tells new riders a 650 is a waste of money because they will outgrown it to fast. How hard US riders push 1500cc bikes on new riders an discurage anything 3 digits is shocking an sad. But thats the nature of the US market. Even us small cc riders have a hard time recommending a bike that may not keep up with traffic in a lot of states.

[@matthewbenjafield5470]

The US is a tiny, tiny market for Royal Enfield. I doubt very much that the company will be overly concerned. As we know, bigger is by no means always better. Ride safe, the fact that you ride is the thing that’s important, not what you ride ! 👍🏻

[@Geshmaal]

Royal Enfield messed up by going for the new Classic 350 before the Bullet imo. "Bullet" is a stronger brand for Enfield than "Classic" if you're not already an Enfield owner. They could have released a Bullet 350 with the J-series engine last year and added the option of the Classic split-seat as an aftermarket accessory...

[@KelapaLima]

Hi Stuart, thanks for this. I can appreciate you are cross, but I would have been surprised had Royal Enfield rolled out so much in one launch. I think your take on the bullet as being primarily an India focused model is more or less correct, but if it was not for that market then we would not have the Royal Enfield models we have today. I am certainly one of those wanting to see the new 500 classic, also keen to put my money down on a 650 twin classic as long as is not so tight a fit as the interceptor. Another obvious variation is the trails, which I am really surprised they had yet to do. It is great that RE is speaking to a new generation, and riders of smaller stature, but not all of us are under 5’ 10”, and 40 years. Regards Peter

[@alank.2245]

I too was quite disappointed. A bit of a marketing botch IMHO especially with the new Triumph 400 coming out. Was looking forward to the 500 which I believe will fair better here in the US than 350. I recently spoke with a RE dealer here in NE Ohio and was told that the 350s are not selling and that many who did buy them are returning them for larger cc bikes which perform better and safer in American traffic.

[@ChadWinters]

I keep trying to tell the difference between it and the Classic

[@versebyverse4168]

I just want them to release the classic 650. Classic 350 styling with 650 power would be perfection.