Royal Enfield Classic 350 Vs. Bullet 500 | Should you upgrade?

I love my ‪@royalenfield‬ | @Royal Enfield North America Classic 350 & Bullet 500 motorcycles! What is better? You will be surprised! Both have classic style is is bigger one is more modern. Classic motorbike showdown! #review #test #testride #oldvsnew
Thanks for the Demo Day #royalenfieldnorthamerica / ‪@HDBaltimore1‬ !!'
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[@hatchetjack1031]

I've got an Indian market 500 Bullet. It's '08. Classic Black, hand stripped by the Kumar bros. Iron barrel, no electric start. It's got Hitchcock pipe W/ Mikuni carb. Gets false neutrals downshifting uphill. It's a time machine!

[@MCCJustMotos]

Ha! That’s awesome to hear! Great images.

[@mebeasensei]

@@hatchetjack1031 false neutrals downshifting uphill? That must be handy, especially passing trucks! You get to wave a say hi twice!

[@akroguy]

Your false neutral is most likely an easy fix. The shifter shaft is sliding too far to the right through the case, losing proper engagement with the shift fork inside the ride side case cover. Dump oil, pull the case, install a wavy washer in the recess where the shift shaft sits and it will stay engaged properly from the constant spring tension of the wavy washer. This fixed mine. Or...there is an easier option. Remove shift arm from shifter shaft, pull shifter shaft firmly to the left, put on a few washers, reinstall shift arm and tighten securely. I bought it from a guy who didn't figure that out and sold it to me for cheap!

[@MCCJustMotos]

@@akroguy amazing!!! Thank you!!

[@Lee-70ish]

Lots of 500 owners dont change out the Bullet they add the 350 . Which for many they can afford to do. What amazes me is the secondhand prices of the 500 have soared since the end of production. In the UK they sell for more than the new price of the last model. Its intstantly become a collectors bike. I've got the 350 classic red and chrome. Its a real head turner and totally therapeutic to ride. Last Enfield I had was a 1967 250 GT Continental which was faster(85mph) but very endy and unreliable as hell. constantly requiring attention

[@MCCJustMotos]

That’s the thing about the new bikes! Smooth as butter, reliable and all and very comfy. Older, bikes has a bit more umph and more character…for better or worse.

[@mebeasensei]

was the '67 an Indian made?

[@fuelarjun]

@@mebeasenseino, the continental 250 was made and sold only in the UK in 1967 - also, it was the only factory cafe racer back then

[@richardyardley5127]

If you compare one of the final 2017-2020 Classic 500's to the all new 'Plastic' 350's, there is no competition. The Classic 500 wins hands down. 30+% more power and 30+% more torque for a start. Then there's the hydraulic tappets on the 500, which means they self adjust so you don't have to take the tank off at every service to adjust them, unlike the all new 'Plastic' 350. Then there's the the clocks and key surround on the 500. They are all polished alloy and real glass, They are chromed plastic and plastic 'glass' on the new 350. Then there's the back up kick starter as well as electric start on the 500. Only electric on the 350. Then there's the genuine sprung seat on the 500. There's only a fake spring seat option with the 350. The side boxes are all metal too on the the 500. They are only fragile plastic mouldings with metal lids on the new 350. The battery is inside the metal battery box on the 500. The plastic battery box has nothing behind it on the 350, the battery instead is hidden deep inside what was the air filter housing on the 500 and resides behind loads of wiring and plastic bits that need to spew out to get it. The throttle body cover on the 500 is all metal, it is just a bendy plastic lid on the 350. The list is endless as to how much better the the last of the line Classic 500's are compared to the All New 'Plastic' 350's.....

[@MCCJustMotos]

@@richardyardley5127 All great points…but I’m scratching my head, I actually forgot they used hydrolic tappets!

[@MrMomo182]

I ride a Bullet 500 but recently did a trip around Nepal on a Classic 350. The Classic is a very elegant, smooth ride compared to the Bullet. But the Bullet has the power to get up hills. I like them both.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Agreed! Well said

[@brettgazdzinski9477]

My classic needed more power and made loud knocking noises, but otherwise great. I think I would really love a 500 bullet. Thanks for the good review.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Thanks for the kind words! Yeah a 500 really has a nice feel

[@geraldtrumpp2340]

I have a fourspeed 500 Bullet from 2005 (kickstart only) and bought a 350 Hunter these days. True, the bullet has more torque, but the Hunter pulls good enough with a good sound - and is so much more cultivated. With the bullet I can only drive 90 km/h before she throws parts away (top speed 115-120 km/h), with the Hunter I can drive 100-110 km/h (topspeed about 125km/h) all day long. The chassis, the brakes and the tires are far better at the Hunter. So it's a save and relativly fast riding on narrow roads. I definitly enjoy the Hunter more than the Bullet in everyday riding.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Great points! Yes, you definitely have to keep on top of maintenance almost after every ride on the old iron barrel bullets/classics! I’ve had five of them myself, and they’re charming in their own right. Four speeds and five speeds. They all drove a little bit different, so I’m a lot faster. I’m a lot quicker.

[@user-hf6ok2tj5h]

English country lanes are perfect for this bike. Thanks for giving us a real world perspective of riding the RE350 Classic in the USA. Where I live in Alabama, I typically have to ride 45 minutes on 4-lane highways with endless traffic lights (lane splitting is illegal) just to get to the fun twisty roads. Love the looks and simplicity of the Classic 350; and for the price it's a clear winner, but would have be a round town bike for me. Maybe I should wait for the much-anticipated Classic 650?

[@MCCJustMotos]

Nice perspective….i actually found that the meteor could do highway..not perfect, but fine enough. But yeah the Classic 650 could be a neat bike!

[@jamesstephen7640]

I have a 500 bullit efi euro 4 2020 model just love it would never swap for that 350 it is a very good bike though a hell of a lot smoother than the 500 but lacks the power and the torque of the 500 great review by the way

[@MCCJustMotos]

Thank you! That is great to hear. Yeah there is defiantly a bit more umph on the 500’s.

[@akroguy]

I just love my '18 Classic 500! It's like gold now...can't find them easily in the US. I would not buy a 350...there is NO replacement for displacement.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Oh, I feel ya on that!! A bit more uumph and pep!!

[@GrampsD63]

Man you need to get that Bullet out on the road. I just took my Chrome/Bronze Classic 350 on a 475 mile jaunt from Orange County to the Central Coast of Cali and back in 1 day. Had 0 issues but I have done the standard mods of the DNA Stg. 2 air filter kit, the decat pipe and the FuekX piggyback computer. Those made a big difference in the mid-range where all the torque is from. I also have a cam coming from Hitchcocks that bumps up the power to 27 hp from 20. That'll put me in the 500 cc range yeah? These little 350's are so anemic because they're either Euor 4 or 5 and run super lean. I don't think I could ride a stock one anymore. And my other bike is a CBR1000RR so talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. Anyways keep that rubber side down and Cheers from Cali.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Woah, that’s a big difference on your CBR lol! I too have a few other bikes inclining some with HP above 150, so I feel ya. I also have a meteor and I dig it. 27 HP sounds ideal, I’d love to try! Thanks for the West coast love, lol 😎

[@GrampsD63]

@@MCCJustMotos I am waiting to see the Super Meteor. I need a bike that can get on the freeways out here to be able to get to the cool roads. Of course it would then have to have the 750 or 865 kit because no bike can remain stock in my garage 😁 Used to be a wrench at a local track for 6 years and helped out with the Smokin' Joe's AMA team at a few races. Been workin' on them for almost 40 years now. Keeps me outta jail I guess..

[@MCCJustMotos]

Haha I hear ya. I probably have the fastest (fwiw) Himalayan in the U.S. now. 40 HP And verified top speed over “the ton” lol

[@GrampsD63]

@@MCCJustMotos Hell the new 450 water cooled is supposed to be almost 50 hp yeah?

[@MCCJustMotos]

@@GrampsD63 40 hp I hear

[@werkedmoto]

I haven’t had the chance to ride a Bullet and I did enjoy the Classic 350. I think I like the Hunter the most of the 350s. Very informative comparison! 🙌

[@MCCJustMotos]

Thanks much! I was able to ride all the 350’s and one out a smile on my face more then any other, review coming..but you will probably know ;)

[@morini500dave]

I've a 2002 iron barrel kickstart only 500 Bullet and had a used 2022 Classic 350 which I had for 3 months,the 350 did everything it should with ease but it just didn't have the character of the 500,yes the 500 vibrates more can sometimes be unreliable which is mostly electrics but i just enjoy riding the 500 more so I sold the 350 and made a small profit on it.

[@MCCJustMotos]

I fell you 100-% on the character. I’ve had bullets of all types and the Iron Barrel are my favorite.

[@chrisshumate9769]

hey dave; would love to chat with you about a 2006 RE bullet with sidecar I'm considering. thanks

[@stevenmiller184]

I have a classic 500 and an Interceptor 650. I like the seating position of the 500, the power is more than adequate. I like the looks of it. It is painful to ride for more than one hour esp on the freeway. Your hands go numb, your feet go numb, the seat is hard... but it will pull up to 80mph. The interceptor is powerful and smooth. It has a glorious clutch and transmission. The seat was bad (i replaced it.. good move) It zooms down the freeway without breathing hard. It looks boring. The riding triangle gives me a backache. My feet are forever getting tangled in the foot pegs. I test rode a Classic 350. It was aesthetically correct. The riding position and the saddle, the smoothness of the engine... The comfort was unbelievable. I took it up to 60mph and saw the problem. It needs at least 2 more horsepower. Nearly broke my heart to walk away from it.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Super insightful thoughts and I agree with all. I think the way reduced weight of the Hunter helped on that area, and there was no speed governing either, like there is on the classic.

[@stevenmiller184]

@@MCCJustMotos Hunter bores me, just like the 650 which I think they tried to emulate. I think the best move is to get the 350 classic and get some bolt-ons. From what I have seen on You tube, simple things like a DNA filter and a De-Cat pipe add more than 2 hp. In extremity add a performance cam and you've added 6hp. Put a larger tooth sprocket on it and you have a 65-70 mph bike. The 350 is a very de-tuned engine. I had a 250 Vespa that put out 22HP and cruised at 70. The 350 begs for modification and I find such projects a lot of fun.

[@GrampsD63]

Hitchcocks has a new cam for the 350 that bumps it up to 27 hp. That work for ya?

[@MCCJustMotos]

That would probably make a world of difference . I’d love to try it.

[@tirantloblanc3391]

​@@GrampsD63​That's right, you can get more acceleration with all that however you'd have the limit electronic speed no more than 120 km/h. I see the huge problem is the ECU. Thanks.​@GrampsD63

[@kunalchiplunkar]

try using the royal Enfield semi synthetic engine oil should solve the false neutral problem.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Really?? Sounds like a great suggestion!! Thanks!!!

[@mockbattles]

The “blue one”, Halcyon Grey.

[@MCCJustMotos]

Yup..powder blue is called halcyon grey lol

[@mebeasensei]

Why won’t they are a 500 version of the new 350!! It would sell!!!

[@MCCJustMotos]

For sure! Probably, it can’t meet global emissions.

[@mebeasensei]

@@MCCJustMotos Really? How come the BSA can make a 650 single?

[@MCCJustMotos]

@@mebeasenseithey kinda can..low low production numbers

[@dct124]

Now the bridge is gone 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@MCCJustMotos]

@@dct124 I know..it’s terrible

[@mitreshsrikarunya9484]

Hey... Watched your videos on the Himalayan big bore kit... I'm running a similar kit which was made locally... If you wouldn't mind could I try your powertronic map?... Having bad issues with my standalone ECU and hating life ,got a powertronic but too broke to get a tune 😂😢

[@MCCJustMotos]

Sure, reach out to [e-mail] and I'll send it over. But to be honest, the stock tune should get you in the ball park. If you hate how it runs, something else may be up.

[@mitreshsrikarunya9484]

@@MCCJustMotos I have a standalone ECU which is an absolute pain, it idle surges like crazy but it probably makes 26-27 wheel hp ,runs great high rpm... The powertronic which has a map for exhaust and airfilter (19.5hp) doesn't seem to make more than 22-23 hp(imo, not dyno'd) but runs perfect... Thanks for helping out! Appreciate it a lot!

[@rajb5595]

Good decision ... The 500 AVL has more character than this smoothie

[@MCCJustMotos]

Yessss!! Exactly.

[@clayfarnet970]

Careful, KZbin may give you a copyright strike. 😂😂

[@MCCJustMotos]

I’ve had that happen with music playing in the background

[@dorthymorton8163]

Promo>SM 🙄

[@MCCJustMotos]

Thanks