ROYAL ENFIELD CLASSIC REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 30 сер 2011
- A short review of the Royal Enfield Classic EFI. Lots of fun in a slower package.
Not much ground clearance and the gear change is a bit hit and miss,but still a very nice bike to ride.
It prefers slower roads and shakes its head in protest when you go much over 70mph. The suspension works well and the front disc brake is ok,,but the rear drum doesnt work at all. I could sort these small issues with little effort and would be very happy to own one of these pretty little bikes... You can now follow me on PATREON it offers rewards to Followers and Creators alike. / deanwaters - Авто та транспорт
Thanks for watching. We now have 1600 miles on the Enfield with no trouble from the engine or the cycle parts. It always starts first time and returns around 80mpg with a mix of normal and spirited riding. I dont even think about the rear brake since it was modded,and you soon get used to shifting gear without finding all the false neutrals. Forget about speed and think about fun.
- In India it has a cult following, I got one classic 500 and two RE Thunderbird's .. Amazing bikes and amazing sound!!
Sweetness For Sure! Love the color combo! Thanks for the video!
The Enfield Classic EFI model is also available with 18" and 19" wheels in the UK. After a few thousand miles the Enfield has proved that it has nothing to prove, it is a great all rounder, just as we knew it would be. Thanks for watching..
Best review I've seen so far by someone who sounds like they actually know what they are talking about rather than just stating the blindingly obvious. Thank you.
This is the bike that needs to be in every bikers collection. Lucky man
Great review of this bike. They get better with time. Engine and ride becomes smoother as you put in more miles. Easy to maintain and lot of fun to ride ! Also enjoyed your other videos.
I have a G5 EFI (US model, equivalent to Electra EFI in UK) and have a silly grin on face every time I ride it even after 18,000 miles on it !
Cheers from North East of USA.
The 350 Enfield Bullet doesnt have much more go than a modern 125,and would die trying to keep up with modern traffic, but it is still a historic vehicle and would be a fun project to restore.
The sound of fire makes me carzy!!!
Proud to be a bulleter
I bought one Royal Enfield 350 cc recently and proud to be have one. It's simply magnificent and gives you a nice feeling. I have tried different brands including Honda Shadow 750 cc bike in the past but then this one is the best and a cut above all the rest. Nice video. Thanks.
Nice bike, mate! I like the silencer upgrade in the other video as well. Nice review as well.
i love the exhaust sound !!
Thank you a lot sir, my local mechanic had told me that there could be loose connections under the seat, however i didnt let anyone touch it until now as she is resting now. i shall keep your advice and when i go home probably after 10 months i think i will look into your points. Once again thanks for the precious advice and wish you all the best in your experiments. its really satisfying to see people still value the good old days...... to cherish, bye now
I have to agree with you about the sound. We took the bikes through the Scottish mountains last week and the echo was just amazing.
Thank you for your interest in my review. I am afraid that I cannot say what your starter problem is,you can try looking at the fuse holder first,to make sure of a strong contact. The starter draws very high amps and a loose fuse will make a weak connection,also you should check the neutral switch,clutch,and side stand switches as these are all connected to the safety circuit to prevent accidental starting.
hai boss, nice to see you back. recently i was in India and tried my classic for cruising. its fantastic
Maurice, you are one of the luckiest bikers in the world today to have ridden two British classics: a Triumph and an Enfield! I get to ride my brother's 1992 Bullet 350 whenever I please, and would love to own a Triumph, which is set to come into India in 2013. But I cannot understand why the world has abandoned the long-stroke touring single. The simplest pleasures of life seem to have been forgotten after the Brits left off motorcycles.
RE is an Indian company
@tra5he....
thanks again, it was very helpful. i remember the 80s when i had the chance to be the Outrider for many presidents, pm, chief of staff and VVIPs. it was dreadful those days, the bull would stop and stall at any minor mistake, not a day without soiling the hands and uniforms in oil, gas. but these twinspark efi thing seems a lot more trouble free ride. and your video was very helpful. now no more big brasse v v ips but my wife at the rear and what a nostalgic feeling! thanks again
Thanks. I was trying to put across what would make me buy one and what might put me off, even though my girlfriend had already bought this one. The bike is still looking like new despite my initial resevations about build quality and is still reliable and dependable. Wherever we park up, the Enfield draws admireing looks.
I do understand what Enfield's are about I have an Electra 5s , however that being said the old Enfield's were around 700cc wud be nice to have that kinda powa
great ride.. the way it was with out plastic...mod the intake and ex... loads of fun
Your early Honda was an engineering marvel in it's day,with oversquare engine,overhead camshaft and selfstarter. It used the best technology of it's day to produce a machine that teenagers lusted after. It was aimed at customers that had no desire to repair their own bikes . The Royal Enfield was aimed at enthusiasts that loved to tinker,and those that wanted a gentle low powered bike. The bikes still have a long stroke,but with more inherant reliability to satisfy a greater customer base.
thanks for the video. I have looking to an Enfield like this one for over a year. Black one. New Classic design, unit construction motor. Funny, I see a lot of buells in the back ground. I too have a lot of buells, and love the royal enfield. Cannot wait till I get one...Almost have the triumph paid off. when i is, the royal enfield will fall into triumph monthlypayment plan, I hope.
Very nice review! :) Hi! I had commented on your BUELL classic ace bar earlier.. I was wondering whether it is possible to shift the brake and gear pedals further back as in Cafe racers on R.E Classic, elctra or bullets. Do you have any idea if it is possible and how it might be done?
Have a great day! :)
This just popped up in my video feed, probably because I have a 500 C5 and have been looking at videos on them. Errrmm. Good review, has your shaky shaky camera work since you posted this (without looking) improved ? 🙂
These bikes were built in India under license in the fifties, when the parent company stopped manufacture the Indians continued with production. Until recently the engines were identical to the fifties models with a few minor tweaks such as self start, 5 speed gears, and a lean burn engine. Now Euro 3 regs mean that this old style motor is no longer available. The new motor has been designed by an Austrian company but retains the long stroke and traditional characteristics of the old thumper.
live to ride - ride to live!!!
I cant notice any whistling through the basic speakers on my computer. I can hear a slight sound from the fuel pump I think that might be what you can hear, also there is a factory behind my house that makes noise all the time.
I am afraid that Hitchcocks do not make a race kit for the efi models. The race kit only fits the iron engine models. You can look on their website for details of the many accessories and which models they fit. Thank you for your interest.
when you refer to it as having no acceleration, is this in comparison to your 100bhp+ bikes? if im coming from a 125 intruder what is the difference in power likely to be like? cheers
wonderfull classic bike...best wishes from polish biker.
i love royal enfield !!!
I have a 1960 royal endfield 350 bullet still parking inside the garrage , waiting and thinking whether to restore it or not.
I have changed the pipe on my 2012, Put on a more retro looking tail light and rear turn signals. A better headlight for the front and clip on windshield. Once it has a thousand miles on it I will put a litle taller gears for less vibration at highway speed. The new pip[e is louder and shorter and makes the bike look more astetically pleasing!
Hi, i was thinking of buying one of the new enfields. I noticed you wrote this great review some time ago, so just thought to ask:- Would you still be happy to purchase this bike & if not your reasons? would much appreciate any updated pro's or con's you may have as your experiences over your period of ownership...
Many thanks.
thanks for that info...these bikes are awesome but i might go with the triumph thruxton
I've had mine for about a month now. I absolutely love it. I'm currently living in New Delhi and here they cost 150,000 rupies. That's what a 50cc moped costs in Norway where I'm from :)
hai, my c-500 does not self start sometimes, starts when u press the clutch lever, its only done 900 kms. i love this new efi but i could not go for long trips so most of the time shifting up to 4th gear only. thats only my worry because all our roads are crowded and the max speed limit is 50kmph. the c-5 coughs when u shift under 55kmph speed, anyway she is now resting in my porch with weekly idling run by my inlaw, bye the bye what would be the cause of the self stsrt trouble, thanks Dean.
Nice Buells.. I got 2 of the 03 XB12R and a 07 XB9SX... the XB is one of the best street bikes ever made..FUN to ride, super nimble and tough.
Fun is what Buells are all about. I like primative air cooled bikes.
thra5herxb12s yeah its like the most advanced "primitive" air cooled bike... advanced chassis, with a rock solid, street oriented motor.. best of both worlds.
Very nice..
What's that whistling noise at 2:40?
How about spare parts? they will be easy to find on the UK?
thanks for the video. I too have been looking at that exact same model. Black. I see that you are a Buell enthusiast. Great. Are you on badweb? Again, thanks for the review. I had to laugh when you mentioned the rear brake...rear braking power, nothing. ahahahaha. Kind of like the Buell back brakes.
@theamazinbagman I love the look of the white Fury. Hitchcocks race kit for the Fury claims 140mph. The kit is around £2000 and includes longer stroke crank,bigger bore cylinder,high comp piston,high lift cams,ported head,everything you need to go faster but nobody does a steering damper,shame because it gets quite a shake on at about 85.
@karlbaudoin They are a bit ponderous when new.Give the engine time to bed in and you will be very happy with the performance.
Thanks for this.
Just passed my 400cc test where I live in Japan.
Learned on a Honda CB400 Super-Four Vtec Revo. Wanted one since before I started learning.
However...
Caught sight of a Royal Enfield Bullet 350cc on goobike.com and thought maybe...
Sounds as though you know plenty about bikes and gave a simple, honest and unbiased view. Thank you.
You will need to make up a linkage for the levers and weld them back on a bit further back, or you can buy the rearset kit from Royal Enfield and bolt it on in place of your standard levers.
Let me tell you, I hate this electronic start. Nothing like kicking a bullet to start it. I remember when I bought my new bullet, I got reverse kicks few time, but those were fun too :)
why did u select 350 over 500?
I wondered what was causing that. Thanks...
Please compare and contrast to the nouveau falcone.
Your reservations of build quality are justified, because even though people from India are gushing about how wonderful 'their' Bullet is,It's let down by quality control.I must admit this later EFI, UC model, having a more automated construct seems to have fewer problems but still they exist.I bought a 2006 classic, still have it, & thought I was the luckiest bastard in the world with all the problems but wasn't, Found I was one of many.The most bizarre a thrust washer loose in the timing case
"A well-tuned British big single turns over lamppost to lamppost" and, in top gear, that is just about what they do!
Yes this is a fair comment. Of course the Enfield has more acceleration than your intruder, but not much more. The difference you will find is that the Enfield will have strong takeoff and strong pulling power all the way through the rev range without having a narrow powerband like the intruder. For a first bike after a 125 it would be great fun, and thats what this bike is all about, fun, If got off of a 600 sportsbike you would be dissapointed. Book a test ride if you're not sure...
The C15 is a revvy little 250. The 500 Bullet is much smoother. The other makes you talk about are two cylinder bikes so they will be smoother, but not much.
@sumittechkgp I had my old Ariel 500 kick back and ripped a heel clean off my new cowboy boots once. But this is my girlfriends bike and she has an artificial hip so this is the nearest thing to a classic she will ever own.Thanks for watching.
Cool
wat about 160 and why the hell it vibrates wen reaches to 120kmph..........
Ok it's been 7- 8 years since this video, how about an update, do you still own it, has it been reliable, how many miles on the clock, did the efi give any problems. Would you buy another, ect
Like you say it's been 8 years, but no it was no trouble at all. I sold it many years ago with about 3000 trouble free miles on the clock with no corrosion etc. No I never buy the same bike twice, but if this is the sort of bike that appeals to you I would say you would have fun with it.
Hey Maurice, I hope you had a speedy recovery. Glad that your wife didn't have to suffer (I hope the police got the Pulsar swine?). Take things easy; you will have all the time in the world once your leg heals completely.
Had a 58 and 62 crusader and sport 5 gear...Great little bikes till a drunk driver decided to take a short cut through me..messed me up but the bike pretty well got away with it!!! If I told you the prices in 72 you'd definitely call it B.S.!!!
A good non misty eyed review. Thanks. Seems kind of a shame that these bikes performance is so strangled off the forecourt. Seems kind of crazy cruising at 70mph on a 500, when I can do that very easily at 65 on my 125cc at £8 for 145 miles. (I know this is missing the point).
you should try the old bullet classic 350 for their sound and thump
Well, I'm about to buy one (and my wife too). We're quite excited about it and can't wait to ride them. We'll let you know what we think and what it feels like...
Karl Baudoin
You will love it
No your comment isnt missing the point. It's all to do with power to weight ratio and a 125 has good power to weight ratio. However the 125 will not haul big loads such as passengers and camping equipment into the wind or up mountains as easily as a bigger engine. A 500 will pull strongly for years whereas a 125 that is ridden hard all its life wont live long. Remember that a lot of riders still choose big singles for round the world tours. The Yamaha Tenere Paris Dakar being very popular.
Classic 350 reddich Red ♥️
okay whats the milage? my 500 classic gives between 32-35 and the EFI is fantastic and no other Indian bike could beat me on the highway except a crazy wego scooter, and i let him!
good luck, pls keep the thumping normal to prevent scaring old people!
I just that exhaust note
@bedouin73 I,ve heard that the Enfield is quite a status symbol in India. Over here it gets lots of looks and admiring glances. So far nothing has gone wrong with it and it gets better every time I ride it,although it belongs to my Girlfriend I wish it was mine. I have posted a few more vids on my channel. Thanks for watching.
@buellv I have to agree about the Buel rear brake,although this is in a league of its own as the pads dont even touch the brake drum. I had a pair of Buell rear pads re-lined at my local speed shop using a soft green compound. They most definately leave black lines on the road. Too many idiots on my local Buel forum,but I am on Buell facebook in the uk as well as the Aussie and the South African club sites. In South Africa they call it a support group.(they obviously have mental issues)
r u planning to sale it..?
I have a 1965 BSA C15 and it gives me the rattling engine sound just like this endfield500. Feeling quite uncomfortable with it since i am riding a Japanese 1973 Honda CB350F which is very smooth and a 1980 Yamaha Rd350LC which is entirely different experience.Anyway, i still love the classic bike very much.
Vijay, Royal Enfield Bullet 350 cc is powerful and enough for those who want to cruise on 120 kmph speed. I do not want more powerful bike with extra power unless I need to cover very long distance on a single day. I have purchased this for leisure and to ride during my free time.
Hi mate, I'm thinking of buying one of these after getting bored with my Japanese plastic clad bike, now you've had it some time would you buy one still?
I would but if you have been brought up on Japanese bikes you might be disapointed.
Thanks for your reply, having had only Japanese except one BMW, I know this is going to be a very different bike but I have now reached the point in life where I need a lighter bike than my big Pan and fancy a quirky no- frills one instead. I have had a go on one so am very aware of its limitations, I really just wanted your opinion as to whether you regretted buying it reliability- wise. One the subject of your very interesting Megaphone video, did you have any issues getting it through the subsequent MOT due to the noise? Once again, very many thanks for your help, much appreciated. Happy New Year to you, Sir.
I think once you start riding at the posted speed limits then you will grow to love the Enfields charm and it has never broken down or left me stuck anywhere. You wont be able to load it up with as much camping gear as you would the Pan, but you can still get some on. Also dont think about a pillion, that might be a bit too much up the hills. As for the exhaust volume, that falls under the descretion of the tester and no other legal requirement. If however you do piss off lot of neighbours with the noise, you could get an ASBO.
What do you think about its reliability?
Starts first time and completes every journey without any problems.
I've been driving a much smaller semi-automatic motorbike for more than 12 years. I'm considering purchasing a bigger motorcycle and I think RE classic 500 is the deal. Not too "fierce" motor, 500cc seem like enough to me. But what's going on with the rear brake? Would it be a problem?
And what motorbike would you advise me to look for?
+msxoin If you get a used bike the brake may have been sorted already. Have a look at a few different models to see which one you like the look of.
+thra5herxb12s Man, I have found some very interesting deals on used Bullets and Classics which are definitely a go. What do you mean "sorted"? You mean changed?
Any problems with a new bike are usually sorted or fixed by the 1st owner under the warranty. If a bike has had many owners some might have carried out repairs and modifications badly. If you live in a city a 350cc will be enough but out on the open road it might over rev if you try to keep a high speed. If you ride between cities and towns on big roads then a 500 is the one you need. When you go to look at a bike take your time to look very carefully at what you are buying.
I will use this as a second motorbike. My everyday moves in the city will be done by the 125cc but I plan having the 500 for Sunday rides, not too long or too speedy. I usually don't go over 100 km/h and I find it reckless to do it even with the 500cc. On the other hand, I believe the 350 will be too small (I'm 6'4'').
The 350 has the same size frame as the 500. If you find the Classic a bit too cramped you can move the bars forward and the seat back a little.There is a bigger wheel option also for the classic. There is a trials type Bullet that has more ground clearance. Steer clear of the very latest Super moto style Enfield, it has a modern high revving engine and lacks the character of the older Bullets. Post a video when you get it.
though in India the bike you know as Bullet is known as Classic, and the RE500 Bullet in India is a little less premium as well 70s-90s era in terms of looks one could say, although the chassis and engine are same in both. The ones sold in India do have bigger tyres, 19" ones
Probably with all the freeways and highways and all the good road networks in the UK this bike will probably fall short on speed, but in India, this bike is perfect for touring, cruising around or even commuting daily.
Good words - I do have to work my bike pretty hard (and I'm not too heavy), and it will never look as beautiful as one of these which I guess is the point. Quite nice that in a world where cars seem to be getting uglier each decade, there are bike manufacturers looking back to when machines were pretty.
true! and the thrill of the thumps u wont get in the new ones, in my place Kerala old bullets are as costly as the new showroom ones! peoples are crazy for just the chromes and the deafening thumps. but they wont run like the UCEs.
you might need this silencer !
In indian version the handle bar is not good like foreign
Nice Indian bike bro
Is it diesel or petrol?
+eraldorh its petrol ,long ago there was a diesel model but that was a failure coz the sound of that diesel bike was like tractor
i heard that these are made in india??is that true?
DEROCK72
Yes it’s true
I shot this on an aged Flip Ultra HD2. It's not a very good camera but I wanted a reasonable camera that is pocket sized. Although I do notice that you havent posted one single video in the five years since you opened your You Tube account whereas I have had over a quarter of a Million views in two years.
i would go for a handmade classic one rather than those super perfect cosmetic bikes lol
It is a great shame that the single cylinder has been left by the wayside. World motorcyle racing was dominated by bikes such as this well into the 1960s.
Love your other bikes, not sure about this one though.
It would be nice if they built an all new engine and 'cloaked' it in the classic outer air cooled casing to keep the true retro look. Love the polished casings!
That rear drum ought to be a discrete disc too, or a larger drum that actually works.
I'd love to see a chromed tank version ( or polished alloy ).
I prefer the GT's seat to this classic twin sprung unit, but like the bars on this classic.
You've spent a pretty penny on your other bikes, please invest £100 in a gimbal for your camera :) it'll pay dividends and improve your already good vids.
well i just DON'T like that they have launched a bullet without a kick start, i think after shifting gears to left side, this is the second most damaging and unnecessary step royal enfield designers could take...would you prefer the same bike you have, with a kick starter and gears to the right....
I have a rule about my bullets, I NEVER share it......
Indian made . You can see millions of such bikes in my country India.
i am stripping it down already .
one day you will be mine bebe.
you sounds like harry potter
@thra5herxb12s Yeah when I was growing up(early 80's) they were looked upon in India and I guess still are as the two wheeled hummers! The kind of the big but not so bad bikes, if you will. No self respecting MAN would be seen on anything else.
Change the exhaust
I did.
The most beautiful bullet is classic 350...........next gen is not so beautiful
Whats happened to Royal Enfield in Canada?
I tried to buy one here but the 2006 were unavailable.I got this from the main importer
"Thank you for the opportunity to give you a quote. I wish I could help you however we did not receive our Royal Enfield shipment this year.
They are getting bigger and are currently in a transitioning period. I currently have a extensive list of people awaiting there return.
Would you like to join the list? "
If they want my business they need to be available for purchase.
I wanted a Cozy sidecar being 64 but I can't get the bike to put it onto.That is so frustrating. I loved the 1996 bullet I had and regret selling it in 2010. Now i would do almost anything to get it back
Man i want to buy one of these so badly and dress up as a Nazi in a ss long coat with the goofy googles and go cruising around :D too bad i live in western Canada though and all the traffic moves no slower than 110 Kmph....