OK, 5 things you hate about the 350 is my vote. 1800 miles in there is nothing I hate about it, this being my 4th RE bike. By 800 miles the engine is starting to come together and at 1200 miles you will see why 1200 miles is the run in period.
A - I’m clocking in about 600 miles on mine and I sure feel that the engine is still getting better, more powerful and responsive with each ride. I absolutely agree that the 300 miles point is not the end of the running in period.
A. - First week of ownership of a bronze Classic 350 Chrome and what a great little bike this is. Sadly I had to trade in my 2020 Classic 500 Trials as I was getting "white finger" with the vibrations on any journey over 20 miles. I can report that after the 36 mile ride back from the dealer I had no issues, as the 350 is so smooth. No regrets in swapping (made easier with your videos and comparisons to your own Classic 500, thank you)
Hi STU I am another one of those awaiting delivery of my Halcyon Black 350, you are partly responsible ,along with many of RU-vidrs for my choice, I am confident I will be more than happy.As I already own a 2018 Himalayan ,and previously a 500 Bullet Electra,the wait is now almost over, just waiting for Transport Malta to register and make the number plate, have a good break, I shall as usual be watching all content. Cheers DINO.
A - Your videos played a huge part in me buying one and I've had mine for just over a week now (Chrome Bronze) Took the pillion straight off and honestly its just a stunning bike. Already clocked about 200+ miles on it as its immediately become my commuter. I've had no issues with it at all. I've probably run it a little harder than I should, largely because I am commuting into Birmingham and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I have found it hitting false neutral a common problem but I suspect thats just me! I'd say its an excellent B road basher. It lives for the country lane. Its fine in a town, A roads it just about manages but you can feel a tad exposed if Audi's are bottling down at 80 when you join the carriageway. Only real issue I have is the mirror vibrations at 50+ but I have gotten used to it. Definitely no regrets at all though. Its the envy of the car park at work.
I just had my first service done here in Thailand. I checked the oil before it was dumped, very clean, no metal, I was shocked! This is indeed, a great in town bike, it works well in Pattaya traffic. If you have ever been here you know it's hot, but I don't suffer from engine heat. The gearbox, smooth from day one as mentioned. I have a little over 700 Km on it now, looking forward to adding more.
Just a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate you, Mr. Fillingham. Your perspective is pure and sensible, and actually gives me quite a lot of hope. I grew up reading Peter Egan's work and, as one does, dreamed of a "one-day" bike. My first moto was a used '90's Yamaha FZR 600, which was a mistake. I pretty much had a bipolar relationship with it: I either love/hated it or feared it. After blitzing down a desert two-lane in Southern California at 140, I decided I'd been stupid. I've been out of the moto scene since 1997, when I sold the thing and bought a car. But I'm coming out of my caged stupor lately. I've been poking around, looking at the possibilities. And then I found your channel. Now, as a result of your (most welcome) influence, I feel I have the ability to make a good decision about my next ride. It's going to be a Royal Enfield Classic 350 or nothing. Wish I could say more because there is more, but for now just know that you're appreciated Stateside. Thanks for all you do, friend.
Picked mine up a couple of days ago, loving the ride, it’s so comfortable and smooth. Keeping it to about 40-45mph depending on steepness of hills as it creeps up going down! Looking forward to the first service so I can push it a bit more, but not rushing…….much 🤪 great video again Stu, appreciate your perspective.
Changed the oil here at 285 miles. Just had the valves done by a proper mechanic. Said they were a "little loose" but not too much so. Bike now has 425 miles and runs fabulously. I know I'm getting over 90MPG (US). Never rode a 500, but I LOVE this bike, so the 350 is it for me. It runs so well, esp after the valve adjust. Using Motul 5100 15w50. Also just installed the Beeline Moto GPS puck. Great iece of kit! Ride Safe 🙏🏼
A - Had my Halcyon Green for 2 months and just clicked over 800 miles, just gets better every time I take it out. Love the channel Stu keep up the great work.
A! I'm saving for a 350 classic and I am nearly there! Next week I will book my first bike lesson and licensing test, I'm really excited. Keep up the great work!
B. That level of smoothness you mentioned is exactly what I felt on a recent test ride. I even took it up to 70mph briefly, it took a while to get there, but again once the speed levelled off it started to feel smooth again. And like a lot of your other comments, I too am in the process of buying one. 👍
definitely one of your better reviews :) love the positivity. normally you're very tough on bikes, tough but fair. exactly why I enjoy your channel, so when I hear about a bike that you are more complementarity of, I know its a beautifully made bike. there's always bikes that can be made better, always ones with special high quality material. but a quality bike with a great gear box, an engine with proper character that isn't just a loud hunk of metal is what this is.
Yipppeee... I picked up my Classic 350 Signal in Marsh Grey yesterday... and what did I do as soon as I got it home??? I started tearing it apart... replaced the shifter with a toe and heel shifter, engine guard, larger foot pegs, sump guard, rock shield for the headlight, and Himalayan handguards. Now I just have to do the painstaking break-in period starting with only 5 miles on the clock. I have to say this Classic has a buttery smooth shifter. Just having a lot of smiles per mile.
B. I have had a few occasions where my new 350 would not change gear going up, condensation in the digital part of speedo which disappears after a wee while and the petrol gauge warning me of low fuel when there is still plenty in the tank.Having said that I love my R.E.
I'll probably get slated for this. I like riding a bit slower, these days. About a month ago, I did a little 3 day tour on "Something else" on the B roads of Western Brittany. A lot of villages in this area, now have a 19 mph speed limit in the centres. A "Classic RE" would have been just perfect for this sort of riding. I'd have REALLY enjoyed the ride If I'd had one for the trip. BTW, The instant I got back from the trip, a sold the "Something else" I had been riding.
Hi stu had my meteor 6 weeks booking my first service any day now absolutely love my meteor ,keep it up stu your doing a great job also love your vids 👍
Followup on a couple things... OIl indeed was like new to the eye at 285 miles in the pan. I get Neutrals all the time, but it's not the bike, it's me. I get so lazy and comfy riding that I kinda get out of my head and don't pay attention! It is a great gearbox. Also, since I moved the shifter up one notch, the boots I wear makes all the difference in my shifting. Thinner, narrower boots are worse than my Moc Toe boots and engineer boots which are thicker and larger. We're running the new DNA filter/caps and Motul 5100 15w50. At 500 miles, she feels better than new! The comments on this I was unsure of, but it is indeed true! Loving our Royal Enfield Classic 350 more than I ever could have expected! Ride Safe 🙏🏼
I'v had my classic 350 for 2 weeks now and riding every day . I'm in Palawan Philippines and it's a perfect size for here. I'm very happy with the bike
I have just put 2k miles on my chrome/red 350 and the engine just seems to get better and better. Took the Scram out for a test ride yesterday and I can only describe the engine as agricultural compared to the 350 - even the RE dealer on return must have read my face and said 'go on your going to tell me the engine is agricultural compared to the 350' - bloody mind reader!! At 1300 miles speedo went haywire and currently waiting for replacement on warranty, other than that the bike is faultless. I also have a 2021 Euro 5 GT650 which is now on SORN at 1.3k miles as it just doesn't get a look in. After 53 years of riding and countless bikes both classic and modern, this 350 is the best bike I have ever owned for a variety of reasons. Having recently sold on a Moto Guzzi V7iii which at best was only returning 45 MPG I find it impressive that the 350, which is no light weight, is now averaging 100 MPG. I am now waiting to see if it will be joined in the stable by the 650 Classic which should arrive after the UK launch next year of the Super Meteor 650. Until then it looks like the GT650 will be gathering dust whilst the 350 continues to rack up the miles.
B it is not the end of Wednesday in Canada but you are probably dreaming of your next ride as i write this. Can’t wait to see which option you get to present. Have a blessed day.
As I have aged my confidence has let's say slowly lessened , as has the size of my motorcycle engines , the classic 350 suites me , at where I am in my life , where you are is purely personal, stay safe enjoy the ride !
Totally agree Anthony. I've been riding since 1981. I'm 60 next year and my confidence has wained a little lately as has my ability to move a heavy bike around. The last ride on my T100 I was actually questioning myself as to why I was doing it and if I was enjoying it. Bimbling along at 50 is where I'm happiest these days and the Triumph feels wasted. Plus, if I keep it any longer there's a very large balloon payment to find. We (Fiancée and I) took two test rides on the Classic 350 and were smitten. We'd obviously adjusted our expectations coming from bigger bikes but the numerous positive reviews meant we just had to try one. Engine, brakes, handling and ride comfort were everything other reviewers had said. Build quality was outstanding. Weight-wise it felt like a 125 after some of our previous behemoths too. Got one on order now and it's the most excited we've been in a very long time 😁👍
A. I have done 1600 km, the average consumption is 2.9 litres per 100 km. And yes the engine runs better the more you ride it. And by the way, i ordered the trip machine leather bag a couple of days ago😉
A As thinking of pulling the trigger on one of these Get better soon Stuart great content and eye to detail with that all important ingredient common sense approach
A - Owner of one myself, at the 500 mile mark. Experienced some slight burps at 40/45 and false neutrals between 1st and 2nd gear, but all seem to have sorted out since the 250-ish mark. Finally taking her out on 50 roads, rides lovely and seems more powerful/smooth. Very interested in your take of the negative points so far :)
B. If there were no modern classics to choose from, I would be seeking something from the 70's or so. The older bikes rev my heart but are usually a bit disappointing to ride. I find that in cars as well. I've apparently gotten soft...
B I agree with your review 100%. what is clever about this bike is Yes it is modern but they have managed to give it similar characteristics to the Bullit.
The 350 is beautiful, I'm still not over the fact that they've cancelled all production on the 500's, one of the ultimate, most coveted and beautiful bikes ever made. The perfect bike in my opinion. Especially on North American roads.
The 500 could not meet the new bs6 pollution standard introduced in India in 2021. The 500 had poor sales volume and it's parts are over twice as expensive compared to the 350, so rather than invest in the 500, they have focused on improvements to the 350, eliminating the characteristic vibration that shook the bikes to bits in a short time at highway speeds. As the roads in India improve the speed has increased from 50mph to 60, which is where re engines really shake. The long stroke, low compression 350 is going up against 300 to 400cc engines from TVs and Hero in India, which are higher compression liquid cooled and putting out more hp that appeal to the young population. Re has had to move and will soon release a 450cc liquid cooled engine that will replace the 500 in a cleaner and more powerful format. Hopefully it will keep the characteristics of the 500
@@barryobrien1890 Perhaps a 650 Classic would be better considering they have such a large range of 350's floating about. Thanks for the breakdown though.
@@krishm16 Agreed. RE will introduce a bobber and shotgun 650 as well as the 650 supermeteor in the next few months, so there will be more choices in this format soon. They just released a 1500 pound re 350 hunter for the budget conscious indian market, so they are very serious about expanding the line and appeal. Not sure if they will ever tackle 5he superbike segment as it's not their forte and there is lots of competition there. BSA and Jawa/Yezdi are competing in the low cost classic bike space so they have to keep innovating. They have made huge progress in modernizing and automating the factory, and the uk design center is really improving the design of newer bikes to meet safety and pollution standards worldwide.
Thank you for another enjoyable video. If I hadn't bought my very much loved C500 last year, I'd be on a 350 now. A two hour test ride tempted me but logically it would be silly to lose so much money on my pride and joy so soon. Especially as its kept me safe on a 460 mile round trip from Devon to East Sussex last week. Such a great bike! The 350 is the better bike IMO but I'm not allowed to have both I'm reliably informed by the boss and I don't want to sell my 500. Re the next video I choose: B
A. Just reached 1000 miles 🥳 I ran it in like you said, the engine certainly improves as the miles clock on. Touch wood ive had no issues so far and my first experience with an RE dealer has been excellent. CMS Exeter. Its a great little bike made for round Devon. I was told the ECU does something after 1000 miles.
Dave I have just clocked 1200 miles and notice only a noisy tappet. Bought the bike in Watford and oil filters at CMS; did my own change as I am touring and there was a three-week wait. Am in Durham now, no problems
I got to test ride the new classic 350 and I loved it, thanks for the tour through the Victorian town you were in, great architecture and liked seeing all the Union Jack flags flying in the villages. Watching from the states.
B. Love to hear your perspectives in your videos. I don't agree with everything you say, but that's why I come here: to hear another perspective. Thanks!
You have the Interceptor 650 for a smooth experience. So, I think you should keep the Classic 500, for a bit of character, hehe. And of course, I've watched your video on your reason for getting it, and how you've wanted to have it for 30+ years. So, an obvious choice for my money :)
B: If you ask me, I'll take the Classic 350 any day. No doubt. I don't want to ride a two-wheeled tractor... The 500 Bullet had its charms and it was a quality product in the end, but time eventually caught up with it. I prefer a modern classic and enjoy every single mile on a new 350 here in Norway!
I’d choose the 350. I just got mine last week. Its the Signals version, sand color. Everyone who sees it goes crazy over it. I’m loving it although I did have to add an inflatable cushion on the seat to increase my leg room. Maybe they’ll make a taller seat someday?
They do a pair of very high quality touring seats with a very nice ribbed stitching pattern. The rider seat adds at least an inch in height. Stu on here does a fitting guide on them which might be worth you checking out 👍
Hi and thanks. I'm watching a lot of these reviews, because I'm thinking of buying a 350. In fact I'm a little worried, because on German country roads you sometimes stick behind a slow truck... You have to overtake sometimes. Maybe the 350 will be too slow in these cases :(
A for me , ref running in , my mate has now put over 2,5k on his 350 , he has done all the up grades , Air filter , zorst ect . He says the bike now performs great , with just that extra edge due to the upgrades and the only issue which seems not uncommon , the speedo has failed , not a biggy . He said once the full run in is done the bike just seems to get better with each rideout , he`s an impatient type so that period was a real bind for him , but worth every careful mile now he said.
A- Got about 600km on my classic 350, so far I have had a few times where it didn't want to get up in second gear from first, overall the bike is a joy though :) also had the common speedometer issue but that was swiftly replaced under warranty by the dealer.
Try lifting the gear lever position by a spline or two (you'll need to loosen two frame bolts to get enough clearance to pull it off). Of the two Classic 350's we tried, one had the lever at the factory setting and I had trouble getting my toe underneath. The other had it adjusted as mentioned and it makes a massive difference 👍
A- I'm drawn more to this bike as a possible future buy, to get back to motorcycling, so the more I hear from you on it, can only be of benefit!- cheers Stuart!
The comments in this video are spot on. My 2022 classic 350 is in the shop for the 300 mile service. I have been riding for 50 years and have owned close to 30 different bikes. H-D, BMW Ducatis ETC. After my last ride I came to the conclusion that this bike is just as entertaining as any bike I have ever owned. The price and cost of accessories are really unbelievable. Thanks for posting and I really enjoy your reviews. Ride Safe.
Great looking classic thumper. Thanks for the reports. I had a 2010 C5 Bullet. It was a very unreliable bike, my worst ever. I would quickly choose the 350cc version.
A Great video as usual mate, hats off. Regarding the preference between Classic 350 and 500, I should let this be known, I learnt motorcycling on my uncle's Royal Enfield Classic 500 (not sure about the year of manufacture), and as an Classic 350 Reborn owner myself, I crave for the essence of motorcycling which I got from dear old 500, it may be the vibes not so refined engine and especially the exhaust etc. I'll lean my preference towards 500. Adding icing on the cake, Royal Enfield stopped manufacturing 500, and many people miss classic 500 from what I hear from forums.
I miss too the Classic 500. I am waiting still if RE will make Classic 500 reborn model, since they are going to manufacture a bigger cruiser a big brother to Meteor and they will have a Indian british competitor BSA Gold Star 650cc single. 😌👍
They will soon introduce a new 450cc based on the 350, that meets the bs6 pollution standard in India, which are equivalent to the uk standards. This should replace the 500, and will come out in the Himalayan this year. It should then go into the classic and provide a more powerful 40hp engine to compete with the current 400cc bikes from bmw, jawa, TVs and Bajaj. Just give it another 6 months for re to finish out the engine playforms
@@pr7049 yes, and if a 650 twin is in the budget, a bobber, shotgun and supermeteor are in test and will arrive soon. This should give you a lot to test ride. They just released a 1500 pound hunter here in India for the cost conscious 350 buyer, which may be launched globally soon
A Have a 650 Interceptor, break-in period is the same, 1200 miles, I'm at about 800 and finding that bike quite competent. Am thinking about a 350 Classic. Thanks for your videos & information.
B. As a long time viewer and follower I know that you have a lot of appreciation and affection for the Mule. In fact, it was your videos that had me seriously considering picking up a C500 a while back, and before the 350 was announced. So, I suppose that now that you own both it and the Mini Mule, hearing your preferences between the two would make for a more entertaining and informative video. Somehow, I feel that if you made a "top five things I hate about the 350" video it just might be an exercise in nit-picking, and not as informative, nor interesting. Looks like I lose in the voting, but that's my thoughts on the matter.
Good video and content. I ordered my new classic 350. It will be in next week. It's red and chrome like yours. Five things you hate about your classic 350
To be honest those run in stats seem a little ridiculous. I'm not saying don't abide by them but from personal experience of rebuilding a few engines (I'm not a professional) and gearboxes over the years there is no such thing as "running in". Modern lubricants and engine tolerances are so good that there's little relation to the old concept of wearing things in to tolerance etc. The main thing with anything that involves friction and bearings is loading (or as we Brits would say "labouring"). Don't labour gearboxes with too much torque at any given RPM for the ratio. Likewise don't grind along at tick-over in 5th gear or harshly accelerate in any gear. Beyond that, just ride the damn thing. RPM has little bearing on the "run in" process anyway..
8500 miles on the clock now. Use the old girl every day now. Definitely needs a good 1200 miles to loosen up fully. Mine jumps out of top occasionally. She just needs a very positive prod into 5th. all other gears fantastic. No regrets and really can’t blame Stuart for forcing me to buy the old girl :):):)
