ROYAL ENFIELD, The Battle of the Bullets (Part2) The 500

[@pinkiewerewolf]

I just picked up a used 2017 RE Classic 500 with a tad over 5 thousand miles on it. I'd wanted one for a long time. I think this bike might stay with me for the duration. I have a stable of modern motorcycles, riding this bike home today was a calming and satisfying experience.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@pinkiewerewolf Great stuff! They grow on you, the more you ride them.

[@pinkiewerewolf]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 I think you’re right VB. Charm & Character in a bike that is easy to ride.

[@gvinrad]

I started off my Enfield journey with a 1990 350 Bullet bought as a non runner, it had bent the inlet pushrod ! I fitted a new one purchased from the blue invoice company & away she went, it was never my intention to buy a 500 bullet but by chance again I was offered a non runner with just 7000 miles on the clock. After sorting it out & riding it I liked it much more than the 350 so sold that, eventually another 500 came my way so I now have a brace of 500 iron barrel bullets. I also picked up a cheap 1990 350 rolling chassis to put a diesel engine in, then I will have the ultimate slow Enfield ! Once completed I won't need a 350.

[@hughphillips1427]

Marvellous videos, thank you.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@hughphillips1427 Thankyou kindly!

[@dezmondwhitney1208]

Great video from a man who knows his Enfields. You have both the 350 and 500 models. I learnt a bit listening too. Thank You.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@dezmondwhitney1208 Many thanks for the kind words!

[@5dTraveller]

Well you obviously need both, the 350 to chill and enjoy the sound of that wonderful little engine and the 500 when your in a bit of a hurry or need to get over distant hills, but if the bailiffs were at the door I'd be keeping the 350 👍

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

If the Bailiffs were at the door, I wouldn't even let them see the 350!!

[@k1ckyscotland988]

I never considered a 500 because of the extra stresses on the other components of the bike,gearbox,brakes,tyres,chassis etc. Quite happy with my 350,and like you mentioned it gets attention,usually favourable,whenever you park it. Took mine to Thunder in the Glen,big mostly Harley rally. Parked it,started taking my camping gear from the carpark to the camping area,every time I came back for more gear the bike was surrounded by people taking photos. Wee thing surrounded by millions of pounds worth of Harleys and foreign riders all taking photos of a humble Bullet.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@k1ckyscotland988 I wouldn't worry at all about the extra stresses, They used the same gearbox right up to the interceptor 750's, it just had a longer mainshaft to cope with the extra width of the twins. The frames are super strong and well able to cope with loads more power, The brakes cope easily as the 500's only weigh a pound or two more than the 350's! I once went to a local bike show on a Raleigh Runabout. My mate was there on his immaculate Vincent series 3 Rapide, I parked next to his bike and it soon got quite a crowd round it. I said to my mate, Have you noticed how many people are around my bike and nobody is looking at yours? He said, Yes, I have noticed that! I think it's because folks remember the Raleigh's because they were everywhere, but not many remember the Vincent's as they were pretty rare even back in the day. Anyway, it made my day! The older Bullets do get quite a bit of attention from people, The first question they all seem to ask is How old is that?!!

[@markpercy4277]

You are a lucky guy to have all them lovely bikes and somewhere to keep them, i'd kill for a garage

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@markpercy4277 Yes I am very fortunate to have somewhere secure to keep them. But it has taken a long time to get the collection up to what it is now!

[@rodneygunn788]

Had mine 21 years ago still performs over 50000 mlles about ready for another valve job

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@rodneygunn788 That's what I like to hear!

[@b.titanillabiro2771]

ive been using a bullet as daily transport for 37 years and own both a 350 & 500 ,i couldn’t choose between them however the 350 gets used more often mainly due to it being easier to start

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@b.titanillabiro2771 That's good to hear!

[@basilwatson1]

ya beat me 25 years as a 350 bullet daily driver !

[@jonathanmellish4439]

I used to have a Ducati 900 back in the 80’s and once you got used it i could kick start it without it kicking back. At 65 i have my doubts i could kick start an Enfield although my Cub 90 is a piece of cake 😊

[@bjornjohansson4911]

Thank you for the nice ride sir. I happen to try a Bullet 500 today, and fell in love with it. It is from 2003, gone about 4900 miles ( 7800 km). Imported from India to Sweden. Indian plate still at the front., while swedish at the back. I have had thoughts about Enfields for quite many years, but never had one close enough to try. This one is very plain, with kick start, carburettor, just as should be. It looks and feels very "english" with all its classic beautiness, that I had admired since childhood times. Soon I get 68, and it feels like "Now or never". They want £ 2940, but I believe it can be mine for some £ 2200. Isn't that a fair price, or? Somebody may perhaps know. 😀

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@bjornjohansson4911 Hi Bjorn, The oldest Indian Bullet I have, is a 2002, 500 and has covered around 25000 km! It had only one previous owner and still runs as good as new! Prices can vary. Mine was £1600 with 20000km on the clock, bought last year, I bought a 350 Bullet, 2006, with 4100 miles on the clock for £2k. If the one you are after is pretty clean and shows signs of being looked after, then your price is not far off the mark!

[@frankboff8185]

Interesting videos, the 500 looked a lot fast on the road over the 350, bit like you I think the 350 was a nicer bike. Thanks for sharing.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

Thanks 👍

[@edwardwest5035]

Hi Volcanic. I enjoyed your video very much. I have three Enfields, a 2005 500 ES bought new. Been a great bike only trouble a loose multi pin and a broken throttle cable. It still looks like a new bike but my right leg has gone wrong and I can't lift my foot so it is very difficult to change down. The last time I rode it I fell of on an uphill hairpin when I could not get it to change down quick enough and it stalled. The other two are a Classic 350 Red Chrome and a green Trials Rep from 2020. I prefer the 500 but only just. I like the extra grunt and the feel of the motor. Sounds daft but I prefer to feel the bit of vibration it gives, just feels more alive to me.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@edwardwest5035 I know exactly what you mean about the 500's Edward! I think Hitchcock's may do a left hand conversion for the 4 speed boxes which could be a solution to your changing down.

[@benrobertson7855]

Thanks as always.just about to jump on one of my preunit 500… regards from New Zealand.,by the way,one of my manuals say the gearbox’s have different gear ratios(pre unit350/500)

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

Thankyou Ben, The gear ratios can vary a bit!

[@billellis6538]

Excellent video again. Regarding the Albion box, I found the gap between 3rd & 4th a bit too big so fitted the Hitchcocks close ratio gears (not cheap), Raises 1st 2nd & 3rd slightly and removes the jump to 4th. Absolutely transforms the riding experience with 4 equally spaced ratios and the 500 easily pulling a higher 1st. Given your collection you;d need a mortgage to sort them all 😀

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@billellis6538 Yes, I looked at that pair of gears on Hitchcock's site and thought Ouch! I bought a new 5 speed box and clutch for the 350, just haven't got around to fitting it yet!

[@56Model30]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 lovely sounding machines. The Hitchcocks CR conversion for the 4-speed box makes the bike much more rideable, especially in hilly areas like the Yorkshire Dales where I live. The 5-speed box is in a completely different league, it would be wasted on the 350 - I would fit it to the 500 for max benefit!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@56Model30 If anything needs a five speed box it's the 350! far more so than the 500 me thinks! The 350 soon gives in on steep hills and then you have to resort to revving it hard in third The jump between third and fourth is far more noticeable on the 350 over the 500. There is a nine HP difference between the 350 and the 500 and only one tooth difference on the gearbox sprocket.

[@Tonyv1951]

I hesitate to argue with you - since you have the bikes, and I don't, but I thought the iron barrelled 500 was 22 hp, which if true, would put it 4 hp up on the 350. Sorry if this is wrong - I am sure I read it on a spec sheet somewhere. The unit 500s are about 28hp I think, but they are about 9:1 compression ratio.@@Volcanicbrown1878

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@Tonyv1951 Tony, I stand corrected! they are indeed 22hp with a 6.50 compression ratio! I have no idea where I got 27hp from, I must inform the other residents of the old peoples home, when they catch me!

[@dungspreader]

Good videos , your Bullets are just as I remember my old Bullet 350 , way back in the mists of time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth . But I think the Redditch 350s had a bit more pep . If I was to get a RE single it would be a Redditch one , not fussy regards 350 or 500 . Of course a pre war bike would be the cat's whiskers , maybe with some modern adaptations . Nostalgia is a wonderful thing ,especially through rose coloured goggles .

[@zedcharlie]

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be ! 😁

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@dungspreader Dinosaurs are still roaming the Earth, My vids prove it! I think the Nostalgia is a massive market, not just with bikes, but with all things!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@zedcharlie Nostalgia is great illness to have!

[@zedcharlie]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 I.ve had 2 pre unit Indian 500.s. one 350. 2 uce 500.s and at present have 500trials. Just traded my 350classic against bsa goldstar 650. I never really bonded with 350classic although it was a lovely bike. Much prefer 500 trials. Also 350 matchless as seen on taym a few times

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@zedcharlie That's ok! The classics aren't for everyone! I have seen the pics of your Matchless on TAYM's channel, Nice! Last year I sold my 37 Matchless model X after owning it for many years. I have an Electra x trials which I will move on as I just can't get on with off road!😁

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Problems with a single is that the bigger they are the harder they are to start which is why I prefer my 250 BSA singles to my441 Victor. Half a kick and they're running.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

Half a kick and the Enfield's are running .....(Most of the time!)

[@Tonyv1951]

Believe it or not, back in 1972, I had a BSA C15, 250 single that I could start with one push with my hand. I only weighed about ten stone at the time.

[@GapBahnDirk]

Th 500s seem to be a cult bike and they sound great 👍. I enjoyed waiting for your verdict on the 500 versus the 350. I used to think that motorists were far better in the west, but thoughtless corner cutting is just as prevalent as it is out here 😂🤣.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@GapBahnDirk We have some appalling drivers over here, especially if they are in German made cars.

[@martinowl]

Ignoring traffic lights on red seems to be the latest craze on UK roads.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@martinowl I have seen plenty of that over the years.

[@Kaybe-i6f]

The benefits of a multi cultural society! Every Nation’s habits rolled into one little country’s roads.

[@basilwatson1]

I had to Dyno my 350 Due to stupid Japanese MOT laws, I can confirm 15 HP rear wheel probably near 19 hp IF in tip top condition Back in the day Yahoo groups Bulletmods Dan Holmes ama race bike ( I have the article somewhere ) got near on 40 Hp rear wheel had a little bit to do with that !

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

I know that the export 500 Fury, based on the ''Big head'' Motor was putting out 40hp at the crank.

[@jonathanmellish4439]

I find it curious that VED is done by cc rather than hp especially on the classic bikes which developed such low figures.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@jonathanmellish4439 Hp can be easily altered, CC's cant so easily!