Royal Enfield Classic 350 - 2022 - 5 Things I Love About It After 1000 Miles Of Ownership ! 

Thanks Jonathan, it may not be the bike which does all you’ll ever need ( for me it does, I don’t want to be doing long distances on motorways, I have a car for that ) but as part of a stable of motorcycles, it can be the one bike you have which reminds you why you got into motorcycling in the first place. And that is something which is really worth its weight in gold ! Cheers Jonathan, I hope lots of people read your comment, so I will pin it ! Cheers, ER 👍

Congratulations Stephen. Many of us seem to have faulty speedos which fail after a while but other than that these bikes seem to be trouble free ( as are the Meteors pretty much ). It seems as though RE are happy to swap out dodgy speedos under warranty, so just make sure you keep your warranty protection and you should have nothing to worry about. The fuel economy is also excellent as long as you are cruising at about 50 mph and below. Beyond that they do drink a fair bit more but are still pretty good. Good luck with yours and enjoy ! ER.

Cheers Lorne, appreciate you taking the time to say that 😛 ER

Hi Paul, yes the handling is good, the more even weight distribution means that the rear shocks don’t struggle when leant over on a bumpy surface, which is a bit of an issue with the Meteor, which would really benefit from a shock upgrade. The Classic’s suspension is also plusher than the Meteor’s, which feels quite stiff and crashy over bumps. The brakes on these REs vary a lot bike to bike in terms of feel. A recent YammieNoob video suggests that RE’s cheap master cylinders are to blame for this and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover that these master cylinders also vary a fair bit in terms of their quality, which would explain some bikes having better brakes than others. My Classic’s brakes have a much nicer feel to them than the exact same setup on my Meteor. But both bikes stop quickly enough if you give both brakes a good heave. Since you have dual ABS as a safety net, in an emergency you can just hit both brakes as hard as you like and the bike stops really well, however good or bad the feel is at the lever ! With its slightly better brake feel and more stable chassis, the Classic always feels sportier than the Meteor and encourages me to ride in a more enthusiastic manner 🤗 Both bikes are also extremely stable in wind as well. It takes a lot of wind to shove one of them off line, which makes riding here much more enjoyable ( always strong, gusting winds here ! ). Cheers Paul, good observations 👍 I hope your speedo keeps working 🤞 ER.

Interesting you mention handling. I just bought a Chrome Bronze C 350 a few months ago. My other bike is a CBR1000RR and I do ride it as hard as my 59 yr old body allows through the canyons and mountains here in Southern California, which is definately not for the feint of heart. I find myself pushing the 350 with somewhat the same fervor and am absolutely amazed at how composed it is through the twisties. No I can't hang off of her. Yeah you best have the correct gear selection but still sitting in the saddle she really goes when I want her to. I cannot believe how well RE engineered the chassis and steering geometry. She is so light and turns in quite well. And the brakes are adequate even kicking the spurs to her. Enjoy!

Thank you RevDave ! It was my first attempt at one, maybe I will do some more 🤔 With the speedo problem I'm having, I already have something for the "5 things RE could improve" list 😛 Cheers, ER.

Thanks Jonathan, yes, it feels as though, apart from the speedos, the Classics are very solid and reliable. The speedo problem is just unfortunate, RE quality in general is excellent and I don’t envision any major mechanical issues with these bikes. It sounds as though you are using your Classic A LOT Jonathan if you already have 3000 miles on it ! Well done ! Glad you enjoyed my first ever list video. Maybe I’ll do a “Five things which RE could improve to make me like my Classic 350 a little bit more” ( catchy title ! ) video, featuring the speedo, as a follow up 😂 Cheers Johnathan 🥃 ER.

Yes. Unfortunately I had to sell mine because I can't start a bike collection here 😂 but I really enjoyed my 13 months with the Classic 350 and would definitely by one again, should my circumstances and needs ever change 👍🏻 A soulful, simple motorcycle. Royal Enfield did a fantastic job with the design and engineering of the bike but most importantly of all, they gave it a ton of character, which is the part you fall in love with ! Cheers, ER 👍🏻

Thanks Julian, very kind of you to say so ! I’m glad you enjoyed this video. In Tuesday’s video I finally take the Classic off-road and compare it to the Meteor. I have actually just this moment finished washing the dust and dirt off it ! But it came back up as good as new fortunately 🙂 Cheers Julian, enjoy the rest of the weekend ! ER

Thanks 240 Z, it’s always good to hear that others derive pleasure from what I am doing here. Thanks for the motivation boost 240 Z 🙂 Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a nice comment 👍 Cheers 🥃 ER

Thanks QPB, yeah the traffic was an absolute nightmare, I was worried that the speedo might overheat and stop working 😂😂😂 Thanks for watching Quinn, looking forward to your next magnum opus 😉 Cheers buddy 🥃 ER.

Thanks Dave, great to have you onboard ! Yes, there is content on the Classic from Feb 2022 onwards. Before that a load of Meteor 350 content. If you have any queries regarding the Classic, ask away, I've been riding mine for six months now, so know a fair bit about it. Cheers Dave and thanks for the support ! ER.

@@economicalrides Thanks very much for your great reply.

Thanks IVAN, glad you enjoyed it ! 👍🏻 Cheers, ER.

here in the u k my first service cost £170 for my meteor. main royal enfield dealer. also on the invoice it states that if anyone has a warranty job looking at,they must pay £70 up front, non refundable. they wont do nothing for nothing in other words.

Hi Hqmpest, yes, the 350 engine is definitely designed for torque rather than outright power and therefore copes surprisingly well with extra weight on the bike. It's good to hear that you were able to load yours up and it still coped admirably. Thanks for sharing ! Cheers, ER.

Ouch ! Sounds pricey. So far I have paid 45 EUR for the first one at 500km. With the Meteor I paid about the same for the six month service. Next week I have the 12 month service for the Meteor and this will be the first time that they do the valves, so am expecting it to be a bit more expensive. I will report back. But I have heard from many folks who are upset at the cost of servicing in the UK. It does seem to be a bit steep. It's not a V4 engine for crying out loud, it could barely be any simpler. With a bit of practise I am sure that checking the valves can be done pretty quickly too, once the engine is cold. Sorry to hear that John but we know that the UK has form for this sort of thing. Nobody would accept that over here, so they don't even try it on ! Cheers, ER.

Hi NorWay Rides, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, I like getting to know who my viewers are ! I’m glad that you have enjoyed my videos and I will check out your video when I get the chance, sounds very brave of you 😉 In Tuesday’s video I finally take my Classic 350 off-road 🙂 I’m sure that you have some great forest trails in Norway and I think the Classic will do very well on them ! Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care and enjoy your new baby ! Cheers 🥃 ER

@@economicalrides Looking forward to the offroad video🙂. Havent been to any forrest trails as of today, but made one with some local backroads in Bergen the other day.

Thanks for noticing K.E.B. I upgraded my video editing software a few weeks ago and now have way more possibilities than before. It definitely elevates the production quality from "homemade" to "moving towards semi-professional". The software is working well so far, no crashes, just the odd little bug. If I were to spend a month editing my videos I am sure that I could make them look much better but since I am knocking out one video per week ( minimum ) and barely have time to do that, at some point I have to say "that's good enough !". I'd like to have the luxury of spending more time on each video but then I would probably only manage one video ( an awesome one ! ) per month, which is not great for the channel ! So it's always a compromise between volume and quality, unfortunately. I was pretty happy with this video in the end, so thanks 🙂 Take care buddy and thanks for your continued support ! ER.

Thanks for watching and leaving such a lovely comment Kev 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the video and will give you a longer reply tomorrow, when I am back in front of the computer ( typing on a phone does my head in ! ). I just wanted to get back to you briefly to say thank you for your lovely comment. Stay tuned, I’ll get back to you tomorrow ! Cheers Kev 🥃, ER.

Hi Kev, so here goes, my long answer ! The crucial thing, as to whether or not a 350 will be enough, in my opinion, is do you have fairly direct access to nice twisty roads ? In the past I have lived in countries where I had to ride for an hour on fast roads to reach the twisties. In that scenario, I think you would get fed up with the 350 fairly quickly. Riding one on a fast road for an hour is not exactly grin-inducing ! BUT, if you have nice roads right on your doorstep, where you are unlikely to exceed 55 mph anyway, the 350s are more than adequate, a ton of fun and confidence inspiring. For me there are two groups of riders who should give the RE 350s a miss. a) those looking to do big miles on fast roads ( obviously ! ) and b) those who have to travel a long way on fast roads just to reach the places they like to ride ( less obvious but I genuinely believe that the "hour getting there" will quickly become tedious on a 350 and you'll soon be looking for something quicker ). Of course the same also applies to the current Himalayan, which is slightly faster than the 350s but isn't nice to ride at higher revs either. So for me, if you have access to nice roads outside your doorstep ( as I do ), the 350s are absolutely all you will ever need. They have enough power to enjoy riding at 50-55 mph and use very little fuel in doing so. I never find myself wishing that I had a bigger bike. But if I had to ride for an hour to get into the mountains, I suspect I would want a bike which would get me there quicker and in a less frantic manner. So, there you go, my heartfelt and honest opinion. In the right personal circumstances, these Royal Enfield 350s will do everything you need. You just have to weigh up what kind of roads you will be riding on it and base your opinion on that. If you have any further questions or I can help you in any way with your decision, just get back to me, I'm here to help ! Cheers 👍🏻 ER.

Thanks Phil, I appreciate your kind words ☺️ Unfortunately, because of the Tripper pod ( which the current state of the app renders useless ), all models are going to end up with a lopsided arrangement from here on in I fear. If the Tripper was at least useful, it would be easier to deal with the off centre looks. But I really, wholeheartedly recommend the Meteor, if you can see past the instruments. You will love it, such a great bike to ride and really enjoy riding. Cheers Phil, ER.

Thanks Mark, yes, if you can get it, higher octane fuel is usually better. One of these days I want to work out how much it would cost to always fill up on 98 instead of 95 octane ( i.e. the difference in cost ). For that I would need to have a record of my annual mileage and then work out an average price for the two fuels. Unfortunately with fuel prices changing as they are at the moment, it's hard to get a true idea. Given the fuel economy of the RE 350s and the generally low mileage one does on a motorcycle per year, I doubt that the cost difference would be THAT high. If it isn't I think I will switch to 98 all of the time for both bikes. Despite all of the gizmos to make them run on lower quality fuel, I still think modern engines are happier on better quality fuel. Cheers Mark, ER.

Got mine yesterday, chrome bronze, absolutely delighted with it and the other half says it's the best bike she's ever pillioned on. Shame my insurers - Bennetts, one of biggest UK bike insurance companies, if not the biggest - do not have the bike on their list so I have to wait up to 5 days for a 'decision' by their referral team. Ludicrous.

@@tonymiddlehurst8438 Devitt did mine instantly, gave it the same spec as the Meteor, and that was 3 months ago

@@petejones1957 Took me an age to even get thru to Bennetts, none of their phone numbers were working and nor was the webchat. When I finally did get through it took their aggressive operative 40 mins to tell me she was going to refer it rather than quote on it. 'We are here for you' they say!

Bike is lovely though. As noticed by others the left boot doesn't fit under the gear lever, so will probably have to go through the procedure for moving it round a spline on the shaft

@@tonymiddlehurst8438 Crazy isn't it. the Bike's spec has been known since last September, so the insurance companies have had plenty of time to add to their list, I ordered mine last December, and was really frustrated trying to get a quote from then 'til I got the bike in March, Devitt were excellent though, got straight through, and it was the same cost as a quote I'd had for a Meteor., plus a discount code for Sportsbikeshop! Good luck with the new bike

You’re welcome Wavis 👍 I’m hoping to have a 3500 km review up by Christmas, so maybe come back for that. Don’t worry though, I can still totally recommend it to you, no major issues, holding up well and very easy to live with 👍 Cheers 🍷 ER

@@economicalrides No worries mate. I moved up to Durham from Oxford about 4 years ago. There's some amazing roads up here. The 350 classic was made for them. I'm 57. Pretty old to start riding but it's great fun. So many roadtrips planned. Keep up the good work mate. I'll be keeping an eye on your channel from now on. 👍

@@jez6208 Thanks Wavis and good luck with your test and purchase 👍🙂 Look forward to hearing about your first ride when you pick up your own Classic ! Cheers Wavis, ER

Thanks Ajay, glad to be of assistance 🤗 Cheers buddy 👍 ER

Well I am a law abiding citizen Andrew….. ….most of the time 🤗 Cheers, ER

Thanks John, yes, the Classic has that 50s single sound, whereas the Meteor just sounds “nice”. It’s a matter of taste but it made sense for RE to give the Classic a classic sound. It’s a carryover from the Bullet days and is what customers expect of these sort of bikes. Take care and stay safe too John ! Cheers 🥃 ER.

Thanks James ! 🤗 Take care out there and I look forward to checking out your latest videos asap....still very stressed out here at the moment ! Cheers, ER.

Wait until you hit 2000 miles or so ! By that time the engine will have freed up nicely and it will feel significantly more powerful, it's like a different bike 👍🏻 I've since traded my Classic in because I really wanted to ride some trails and needed a Himalayan for that. I really enjoyed my 13-14 months with the Classic 350 though and would buy another one if I had the space. It was freeing up nicely towards the end, felt plenty powerful enough for all of my needs. Cheers Mischa, good luck with your own Classic, a lovely bike ! ER.

Congratulations James, I'm sure you will enjoy it. Nice colour too ! Cheers and good luck with your own Classic 👍🏻 ER.

Thanks Tony, after nearly a year of having a static image as my intro, I decided that it was maybe time to make a bit of an effort 😂 That is a video filter called Cubism and I thought it looked very different to the usual and decided to keep it. Thanks for noticing that I finally made a bit of an effort 😛 Cheers 🥃 ER.

@@economicalrides I can see why they called it Cubism, it's artistic.

@@tonymiddlehurst8438 Yes, actually it is mesmerising to see how all kinds of footage comes out with the filter applied. I did spend a while applying it to some of my other videos and it always came out looking great. Very clever stuff ! Cheers 🥃 ER.

@@economicalrides It has the right Mediterranean vibe.

Thanks Simon, yes, I think those speeds must be for HGVs because I find I can usually take the bends "somewhat" faster 😛 But ssssshhh, keep it under your hat 😉 Cheers, ER.

Thanks Jeff 🙂 I just make it up as I go along but it seems to work for me 😂 Tonight I will be catching up on my RU-vid queue ( hopefully ). Really tight for time at the moment, everything is a mad rush and I haven't been watching YT much at all. Take care buddy, lots of love from the two of us ! ER.

See, I would have to have that all planned out. Been struggling myself ER. Don’t feel obliged to watch mine. Just drop a like on it if you’d be so kind 😊 Thanks El Otro, and to you two 🙂🍻

@@Saddlebags73 Oh no, I WILL watch all of yours, you are one of my "must see all" subs. I have about five of those and then a bunch I watch when I can. Besides, I can't leave a like if I haven't watched it. Surely that would result in the RU-vid Police knocking on my door ? 😱 I'm sure I will catch up tonight and tomorrow, that's the plan anyway ! Cheers SB El Outro 😛 ( Quinn says ER does it on purpose, by the way. Apparently it's a thing he does. Like he always refers to QPB as Quinn Peaks Rider and not Biker 😂 - he is a cheeky chappy that one ! )

@@Saddlebags73 Hmmmm.....just been thinking 🤔 Do you think I should start calling ER Exmouth Rider ? I think it would be only fair ! 😂😂😂

You are on my same list. Ah yes, the RU-vid police might frown upon that 🤣 Yep, that wouldn’t surprise me with Exterminate Rider. See the fun he had with “El hombre marinio” 🤪

Thanks Smart E.R. not only do I appreciate your comment but you also have the best two letters imaginable in your RU-vid handle 🤗 Thanks for dropping by and come back soon ! ER

@@economicalrides you are soooo welcome buddy. Keep it going I’ll pick my new classic 350 in December. Red/Chrome. Be well and best wishes

@@smarte.r.1450 Best colour combination by a country mile ! You’ll love it ! Ride it at night through a town or city !!! The reflections in the chrome of the tank are mesmerising ! Good luck Smart E.R. The only big issue so far is misbehaving speedos but RE seem happy to deal with the problem under warranty, so don’t worry about it ! Cheers buddy 🍺 ER

Sounds like you have enough material for your own video there Gerald 👍 None of the things you mentioned bother me in any way but if you feel that strongly about them, maybe you should make a video with that title, could be fun 🙂 Good luck with it and of course you are entitled to your opinion. ER

Finally ! Hopefully you’ll find it worth the wait Mr. Jones. Good luck and let me know how you get on ! Cheers Mr. Jones, ER

Danke Stephan. Das gleiche Video über die Meteor WIRD eine Lovestory 😂❤️😂, garantiert ! Sollte ich eigentlich, auch wenn Listenvideos nicht wirklich mein Ding sind. Ich bevorzuge ganz unstrukturiert diverse Dinge über die Motorräder zu labern, Listen sind anstrengend 😂 Ich warte ab ob das “Listenformat” bei den Zuschauern gut ankommt ( angeblich ist das so ). Wenn das Video erfolgreich war, mache ich garantiert so was ähnliches mit der Meteor. Dir hat mein Versuch mit Listen also gefallen. OK. Notiert 🙂 Danke Stephan und Cheers 🥃 ER.

@@economicalrides Stefan ist Deutscher. Du weisst doch das wir auf Listen und genaue Erklärung stehen.

@@robertplassmann8400 Ja, vielleicht ist das Video deshalb so gut gelungen ! Ich habe einen Talent für Listendenken entwickelt, da ich zu lange in Deutschland gelebt habe 😂😂😂. Mir wird auch oft vorgeworfen dass ich "zu Deutsch" bin, was ich aber immer als Kompliment empfinde 🥰🇩🇪 In dem Fall, könnt ihr sicherlich bald mit mehr Listen rechnen 😛 Cheers Robert 🍺 ER.

Hi Pete, thanks for the compliments, I am trying to up the quality of my output. I can do better but if I am determined to get out a least one video per week, which I am, time constraints mean that at some point I just have to say “That’s good enough !”. Maybe some day I will have more time for these things and can really go to town on a video production 🙂 Please let me know how you get on with those new pads. The front brake on my Meteor could still use more bite and I am convinced that all it will take is a change to some quality pads. I don’t think the Bybre cylinders and callipers are bad, pretty sure that budget friction materials are the main cause of a lack of bite. Thanks again Peter and yes, apart from the speedo problems it seems as though the Classics will be reliable. Oh, yes, La Vuelta often has stages around here, I have seen many years of graffiti on the roads where I ride ! Cheers 🥃 ER

@@economicalrides I'll certainly keep you posted on the pads, the front brake though, is excellent, Maybe it's me not pressing hard enough? The only other "niggle" I've had, which I think I mentioned before, was the engine management light staying on, they sorted that at the first service, and it's not happened since, there's a new firmware upgrade in the pipeline to fix that,, aparently the one for the Meteor is out, but not yet ( a couple of weeks back} for the 350, The dealers. don't do it, the bike is connected to the internet, and it's done from India, Amazing! Cheers....Pete

The brakes on my 11 mile old bronze clearly need a bit of bedding in as they're next to ineffectual! All part of the retro bike fun.

@@tonymiddlehurst8438 That’s how my Meteor was from new and still is ! The front brake on my Classic feels more or less normal though, so there is an inconsistency between bikes. Since the quality of the callipers and master cylinders is unlikely to be so variable, I really do wonder whether these differences are down to inconsistencies in the budget brake pads RE fit to their bikes in the factory. So if Pete’s Ferodo pads deliver better performance, changing from the OEM pads could be an essential upgrade. I was planning on doing that to my Meteor but simply don’t have the time. But now Pete is doing it for me, so it’s all good 😉 I’m pretty sure that the brake pads RE buys in are not consistent in their performance. The brakes on the Meteor have always felt wooden whereas the brakes on the Classic felt fine right from the start. Similar inconsistencies seem to appear across all models in the RE model lineup. Some Himalayans, Contis and Interceptors have brakes which seem ok, others seem to have wooden brakes with no feel. Over to you Pete. Tell us if new pads are the answer ! Cheers Tony 🥃 ER.

@@economicalrides The only bike I remember riding with worse brakes was a drum-braked Moto Guzzi Falcone from the 1950s. Hopefully things will improve as the miles accumulate but I'd be interested in Pete's thoughts too.

Hi Vic, well apart from the speedo issue ( which is hopefully being resolved ) the Classic 350 is a great little bike. It definitely delivers on smiles per mile and bang for buck. It's not bad looking either ! I'd recommend it as long as you don't have to ride on fast roads too often. It's happiest at 50 mph really and struggles to hit and maintain 70 mph. Because I live in a very rural area, there are no shops with motorcycle gear anywhere near to where I live, so I have to order all of my m/c gear online. This is the jacket : www.xlmoto.es/equipamiento-de-moto/ropa-de-moto_c11/chaquetas-de-moto_c20/chaqueta-de-moto-course-vento-mesh-verde-oliva_pid-PM-4920733 The gloves I bought from amazon, you'll probably find the same ones, or something very similar, there if you do a search for motorcycle gloves. Let me know if I can help you with anything else. Thanks for dropping by and supporting my channel ! Cheers, ER.

Thanks Gene, I agree of course 🙂 My one year review of the Classic 350 is coming out tonight and hopefully next week my big comparison video Meteor/Classic 350. So if you are interested in the Classic 350, make sure you come back and check out those 🙂 Cheers Gene, take care, stay safe ! ER

I think the Goldstar will be at least 6500, pretty sure it will be a bit more expensive than the Interceptor because they will try to sell the BSA brand as a bit more premium. It will be interesting to hear what the reviews say because I’m a bit sceptical about the Goldstar. The Interceptor is likely to be smoother and cheaper, the only thing the Goldstar has going for it is nostalgia for the original Goldstar. Not sure a big single will prove very popular these days, I expect the BSA to be much more niche than the Enfield twins ! Cheers Arachnophilia 👍 ER.

Thanks James, most definitely ! Take care, I will catch up with your videos asap, just crazy busy here at the moment 🙁 Cheers, ER

@@economicalrides Don’t worry I’m well behind as well 🤣🤣👍

@@Ainsworth-Rider 🙂👍

Hi Mark, the Meteor has a 2L larger tank and it’s quite possible to get 500km on a tankful. With the Classic it looks as though 400km should always be fairly safe. I just enjoy not having to fill up the bike every time I jump on it for a ride. My previous experiences were similar to yours, at 160 km I would start looking for fuel again. Bear in mind that over 80kmh these bikes drink maybe a third more. Significantly less range at 80-90 kmh but at 70 kmh and below, on twisty mountain roads, 400-500 km per tankful is achievable 🥰 Thanks for watching Mark and take care 👍 Cheers, ER.

Hi Chan Park, great news, well done, you will not be disappointed. Yes, this was actually the first time I tried my new summer jacket, so it was brand new in this video 😛 It's pretty light but I have to say, at 35+C any kind of jacket is going to be too warm at a standstill. Once moving though, the mesh material does let a lot of air through so you do cool down very quickly. The jacket has an inside pocket and two waist pockets and of course CE protectors. I bought it here : www.xlmoto.es/equipamiento-de-moto/ropa-de-moto_c11/chaquetas-de-moto_c20/chaqueta-de-moto-course-vento-mesh-verde-oliva_pid-PM-4920733 You might be able to find it somewhere else, possibly the same jacket under a different brand name, if you can't buy it from xlmoto. Cheers and good luck with your new Classic 350 ! ER.

@@economicalrides Thanks so much ER!

@@chanpark3088 You’re welcome 🙂 👍 ER

Hmmmm…thanks. I think my BuyMeACoffee page might be slightly more convenient for me than flying to Oz and riding through the outback for 16 hours 😝 Cheers though you cheeky rascal 🍺 ER

@@economicalrides I'm actually living in West Africa now...so if you would like to send me all your bank account details, I can transfer 100,000 million pounds to you account straight away. Cheers. P.s. the RE Classic 350 really is the dog's doo dah's btw. Tally Ho old chap.

@@gtan431 I like the cut of your jib young Brett ! Transferring the funds as I type, will let you know when your funds finally arrive ! Pleasure doing business with you ! Didn’t realise I had relatives working in your government 👍 Cheers, ER.

Hi Peter, thanks for watching and congratulations on your new Classic ! I shall tell Ruby ( my dog and arch-enemy of all sossidges ) that you named your bike after her 😜 That will make her day, whether it's actually true or not 👍🏻 If Ruby wasn't my dog, I would probably have called my red/chrome Classic Ruby too, but having two Ruby's in the family would be just too confusing ! With regard to running-in. Heat cycles are very important apparently. Very long rides should be avoided, the engine should expand and contract multiple times in the early days. Unfortunately that doesn't work for me, so I just rode where I wanted to and the bike just had to deal with it. But if you live somewhere where short rides are possible, I would definitely recommend doing the first 300 miles with multiple shorter journeys rather than with one or two longer ones. Other than that, keep the engine where it's comfortable, don't let it lug and don't rev it too hard for any length of time either. And of course, vary the engine speed if you can, don't run it in at a constant speed, keep the engine guessing. After the first service at 300 miles, I just kept the revs down and made sure I was in the right gear to avoid the engine labouring, which is not good for the big end. Since I rarely ride on roads where I can go faster than 50mph anyway, the 300-1250 miles after the first service I was able to ride totally normally really. I'm never going to rev the nuts off it, even now that it is fully run in. That's not the point of these bikes. I took my Classic up to its top speed once it was run in, just to make a video, but I very much doubt I will ever take it there again ! In your case, just avoid the engine labouring, stick to the max speed recommended by your dealer and try to do the 300 miles with as many heat cycles as possible, i.e. do shorter rides rather than very long ones if possible. Cheers Peter and good luck with your new baby ! Oh and maybe don't leave it parked out in the sun. That seems to cause the speedo to stick, a very common problem by all accounts ! ER.

Thanks so much for your advice. I previously had the Classic 500 and running it in was quite frustrating with all the traffic to contend with. So I know what to do, but with this more refined engine I wasn't too sure. Great advice thank you. I am thoroughly enjoying riding the bike, only wish I had the opportunity to ride it in Spain! Roads just north of Barcelona in the Mid - Pyrenees around Solsona and Coll de Nargo are amazing. I am so jealous. Fingers crossed I don't have any problems with the speedo. Thanks again. Enjoy your riding. Great video's. 👍

@@peterwillis4239 Thanks Peter and you're welcome, it's what I'm here for ! If you have any further questions just ask away. I think my Classic 350 is heading for 1800 miles or so now and apart from the speedo issue ( the dealer is going to swap it but there are currently no speedos available in Spain ! ) the bike has been really good. From 600-1200 miles you really start to feel the engine getting stronger with every ride, so you can look forward to that ! Cheers Peter 👍🏻 ER

Hi Nadir, 1500 miles and over six months now and my Classic still looks brand new. I have never ridden it in the rain though and I do wash and polish it regularly. If you are going to ride one in all weathers, I’m sure that the chrome will need more care to keep it looking nice than paint. So far I haven’t heard any complaints about the chrome and the Classic 500 chrome models I know are all still looking fine. I think if you take care of your bike and keep it clean, the chrome should last reasonably well. To summarise. I think the chrome finish is one for real motorcycle enthusiasts, who cherish and really take care of their motorcycles. If you are getting one for daily use and all weathers, maybe go for one of the paint finishes with the black painted engine etc, because these will be easier to take care of 🙂 I hope this helps. I haven’t heard of any problems with the chrome but I can imagine that it needs more care to keep it looking nice. Cheers Nadir, ER

@@economicalrides 😊 thank you . Yes I do love the chrome ones - both colours look quite lovely and I do keep my bikes well. Am not a fan of the blacked out engine and exhaust :) I am looking for a second bike - a run about town and maybe quick longer ride. Cheers

@@nadirkaranjia3407 In that case I would say that you don’t need to worry. If you look after your bike, the chrome should hold up well. There are many older Classic 500s out there in chrome and all of the ones I have seen and which have been looked after, still look like new. We can only really be sure after the Classic 350 has been out for a few years but if they use the same chrome as they used on the Classic 500s, with care the chrome should last a long time. Cheers Nadir 👍 ER

@@economicalrides Thank you ... now I have to agonise over the Bronze or Red 😄Both lovely but my eye is on the red

@@nadirkaranjia3407 A most excellent choice 😜

Hi Ferkuzuel, given that the GPS measured absolute ( and electronically limited ) top speed of the 350s is 72 mph, I would say that 65 mph is pushing it ! I think realistically the "cruising" speed is in the range 55-60 mph, which is adequate for back roads IMO but not sufficient if you need to ride on faster roads. I hope this helps. Sustained cruising speed of the 350s is definitely anywhere between 55 and 60 mph IMO. Beyond that it all gets a bit "thrashy" ! If you have any further questions, just ask ! Cheers, ER.

@@economicalrides thanks for the reply, a few years ago I rented a RE 350 while I was in India, I went on a 4 day trip, it was a pleasant ride at the time 🏍️ But am all for the modern version Cheers

@@ferkuzuel Oh right. Well I think you'll find the modern version to be very different. A lot quieter mechanically and significantly smoother. Unfortunately with more electronics too but as long as everything is working, the new ones are much nicer to ride. On back roads at about 55 mph the Classic 350 is in its element. Beyond 60 mph it starts to feel as if you are thrashing it a bit ( a sixth gear would help with that but unfortunately they don't have one ! ). I really enjoy both the Classic and the Meteor. The Classic is also much nicer to live with than my old Bullet 500 whilst still having a similar vibe. REs have come a long way in the past ten years ! Cheers ferkuzuel, ER.

😂😂😂

Hi David. congratulations, it's a nice bike ! I hope you are enjoying yours. After an enjoyable 13 months I've decided to trade mine in to buy something else. I still have a Meteor in the garage after all. Apart from a slight issue with the speedo, my Classic 350 managed 4000 km in 12 months without any problems, I really enjoyed it, so much so that I might buy another one, further down the road ! Cheers David, ER.

Nope....that’s Buddy Hauly’s job 😂😂😂 The Classic’s job is to just look pretty whilst the speedo dies 😛 Thanks as always for the unwavering support William 🥃🥃 Cheers 🍺 ER

@@economicalrides It just came to my mind. like can it play Crysis 😛 Cheers & you are welcome 😀

Hi William, I think in this video I do mention that it is 100+ Imperial mpg. That equates to 83.27+ US mpg. I don't have the figures for a 500 Bullet but I think my old Bullet 500 with carbs used a fair bit more, I think the modern engines are better, they have to be to pass the current emissions standards really. But 80+ US mpg is achievable without really trying, if your speed is 50mph and slower ( so on mountain roads or in an urban environment it's easy to achieve ). They use a fair bit more when you pass 50mph, maybe about a third more would be my guess. Up to 50mph is the sweet spot for the best fuel economy. Yes, correct, this is in Spain. Great roads and as I am discovering, great trails too ! Cheers William, ER.

Thanks for the reply.greetiogs from the US

@@williamgregory6684 No problem William, always glad to help my viewers 🙂 If you have any further questions about these bikes, just ask away. Greetings back at you from Spain 👍 Cheers, ER.

I think the US gallon is about 3.75 litres, as opposed to the U.K. gallon approx 5 litres (8 pints)…

@@philtucker1224 Yep. 3.785 litres in a US Gallon and 4.546 litres in an Imperial one, so the Imperial Gallon is about 20% larger 👍 Thanks Phil. Cheers 🍺 ER

Thanks Ruahines Rider, I decided to make a bit more of an effort 😂 Thank you for noticing ! Cheers, ER.

@@economicalrides The whole video was well presented & that intro was fantastic.

@@ruahinesrider Thanks again. I recently invested in some new video editing software in an attempt to up the quality of my videos a little bit. It does give me possibilities which I never had with the old software. I will continue improving the quality of my videos as time and finances allow. I really don't have much time at the moment, so to get a new video out each week means that I can't spend as much time editing the videos as I would like. Considering that I managed to edit this video in one evening I was pretty happy with how it turned out 🙂 Thanks again, I'm glad that you are seeing an improvement because I am consciously trying to up the quality 👍🏻 Cheers Ruahines Rider ! ER.

Hi skillfuldabest, well I can't speak from personal experience obviously but so far folks in the UK seem to be happy enough. I guess we will have to wait until these bikes have experienced their first UK winter to know for sure. I suspect that the chrome will last ok if you are somebody who really keeps on top of things and likes cleaning their bikes. Most likely it won't do so well if you leave salt and muck on there for any length of time. The UK chrome Classic 500s all seem to be lasting well though, with appropriate care, so that's a positive sign. If you have doubts, maybe wait until next year and see how the chrome Classic 350s coped with a UK winter ! Cheers, ER.

Hi Alfred, I have a few such videos on my channel. Engine sound comparison: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--U1wKEu9hvI.html First impressions comparison: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LK8em3UZjJs.html A big overall comparison should be coming soon, so subscribe to my channel to get more information ( it doesn’t cost you anything to subscribe, by the way ). Overall I think the Meteor is the better bike and is better value for money. I prefer mine to the Classic but the Classic is of course great looking ! If you have any further questions, just ask away. Cheers Alfred, ER

@@economicalrides Cheers for the reply (I had already subscribed- seemed a bit rude to ask a question and not do so 😁)

@@alfredthegreat9543 Haha, ok Alfred. Well no, subscribing is not obligatory, I try to answer all comments anyway but thanks for joining the channel 👍 I have two playlists, one for the Classic and one for the Meteor. I think the comparison videos then appear in BOTH lists. So if you browse through the playlists you might find videos about a specific area of the bike which may be of particular interest to you. Although I mention that the Classic might fit taller riders better because of the higher seat height, I’ve had plenty of Meteor owners on here who are over six feet tall and have no issues. I think a lot depends upon how fit you are. If you have hip or knee joint pain and long legs, you might find some of the angles uncomfortable. But tall, fit and healthy riders seem to be comfortable on the Meteor, so you should be fine 👍 As always, test ride or at least sit on both bikes before deciding, if you can. Cheers Alfred and welcome to the channel 🤗 ER

Why, thank you Dave ! It’s people like you who make the hours spent planning and making these videos worthwhile 🙏 Thank you so much for the sub and welcome to the ER community ! If you have any questions about the RE 350s, just ask away and I’ll be happy to answer. These list videos do indeed seem to do well, I should probably do another one 😉 Cheers Dave 🥃 and welcome aboard ! ER

Hi Ahmed, I know, when out on the Classic I do miss the gear indicator. Usually I only need to know whether I am in fourth or fifth gear. In any other gear it is usually pretty obvious which gear you are in. Unfortunately the LCD part of the instrument is very small on the Classic and presumably they felt that there just wasn't enough space to incorporate a gear indicator. It is a shame because the LCD panel is there and it would have been nice if they could have squeezed the gear display in there somewhere, even if it would have to be pretty small. It's things like that which make the Meteor the better bike overall really. It's cheaper and just has more nice features which make it easier to deal with. But of course the Classic sells itself with its looks. If you like classic looking bikes then it is definitely one of the best out there ! Cheers Ahmed, I totally get your point and agree with you. ER.

@@economicalrides Thanks for kind reply, Do you have any idea to have gear indicator even third party OR advice during riding to make shifting easy ?

@@Ahmed-fz1rz No and no unfortunately Ahmed. Is your Classic fitted with the heel/toe shifter or the standard shifter ? Cheers, ER

@@economicalrides Standard shifter , is toe shifter better ?

@@Ahmed-fz1rz Yes, the standard shifter is pretty bad, the heel/toe shifter they fit as standard in India is easier to use. The standard shift lever is fitted with the wrong angle, has the wrong shape and the wrong length but other than that is really very good 😂 What problems are you having when shifting Ahmed ? Cheers, ER.

Petrol is almost £2/litre now in the UK so Chris has a point. I don’t know the cost in Spain but it’s probably lower. I’ve just worked out the average fuel consumption on mine over 950 miles, it’s 115 mpg. I really enjoy riding this bike - looks good - sounds good and very comfortable

I suppose it depends on how many miles you do Chris. For me I'm looking at less than 30 EUR a month for fuel for my hobby, which I don't think is too bad. We are paying nearly two pounds per litre here too by the way. Compared to any other transport I own, the fuel cost is the one thing I don't really worry about with the Classic. Cheers, ER.

@@johnb7855 Hi John, no, we're also very close to two pounds per litre here too. With the low fuel consumption of the Meteor and the Classic, the increase in fuel prices has the least effect. I am still riding whenever I can and probably only fill up one of the bikes per month. Yes, filling up is slightly more expensive that it used to be but for less than 30 quid I usually have another month of riding ahead of me, so that definitely helps in the current climate ! Cheers John, ER.

Hi Terry, I think it is clearly a better engine, the J series 350. Smoother, quieter and in the Classic it also makes a particularly awesome exhaust sound. I was intending to buy a Himalayan when the Meteor was announced. I decided to wait and buy the Meteor instead and am delighted that I did. Get the Himalayan by all means if you NEED the off-road capability, otherwise I think you would enjoy the Classic a lot more. A 21” front wheel can feel pretty vague in the twisties and can get scary in the wet. It takes some getting used to, having little feel for what the front tyre is doing. The Scram 411 with the 17” front rides more like a normal street bike, so is a nice option for some. No issues with the 350 engines so far ( just the odd ECU warning light due to sensor tolerances in the early days - harmless and rare these days) although of course so far nobody I know has put 50,000 miles on one. But by all accounts I think they will last as well as any other modern engine. I hope this helps, if you have any further questions, just get back to me 👍 Cheers, ER

@@economicalrides it does, thanks! Now I just have to decide on the color..... 🤔

Sorry Terry ! 🤗 No, seriously, glad to have “helped” 😂 Good luck and just ask if there is anything you are not quite sure about ! Cheers, ER.

@@economicalrides well, now that you ask..... Actually going back and forth between the Halcyon Green and the Signals model in Marsh Grey. I'm just a bit concerned about the all black engine looking bad after a few trips in the rain. I'm currently living in Thailand and it rains a lot here.

@@terrycavender Haha, no problem Terry ! The black engine on my Meteor Fireball comes up like new and seems very easy to clean. The bike is a year old now and the engine in black still looks brand new. It’s probably a bit easier to clean than the polished engine on the chrome versions, which can end up looking a bit smeary unless you give them a right good polish. So if it is the same crackle matte black coating they use on the Meteor Fireball, I don’t think you need to worry about it ! EDITED TO ADD: Ok, I don’t really ride in the rain but I have plenty of folks in the UK who do and so far no complaints about engine paint ! 👍 Anything else ? 🙂 Cheers, ER

Hi Herve, this is Almería, Spain. I mainly ride in the Los Filabres mountains here in Almería province. Cheers, ER 👍

Hi Tony, I've heard various prices in the range of 150-250 pounds. I think a lot depends upon whether they actually physically check the valves ( takes a good hour ) or whether they just listen, decide not to touch them and just change the oil. I think MOST folks pay about 150 pounds on average. Why not give your local dealer a call and ask ? Prices seem to vary so best to ask the dealer you are dealing with. Oh and they will almost certainly tell you that doing it yourself voids your warranty but then there are laws in place which contradict that, so..... Cheers, ER.

@@economicalrides Thanks, yes I saw Mr Fillingham's video about those laws. The chap who delivered my bike from Motorbikes4All in Malvern reckoned they would do it while I waited as I live quite a way from there, or anywhere really :-) I'll give them a call.

I had mine done recently, They did a tappet check and charged me £167.

@@charliewhittaker1454 Thanks Charlie, that sounds about right if they go to the trouble of checking the valves because after that it’s pretty much just an oil change. Thanks for helping Tony out 👍 Cheers Charlie 🥃 ER

@@charliewhittaker1454 They've told me it should be £200 but they'll do it for £150.

Hi Rider of the North, yes, in theory the 350s are basic but of course because of Euro 5 there are a TON of electronic gizmos under the side panel. I imagine that if any one of those dies, the bike will not run. So home spannering is limited to routine mechanical maintenance with these bikes. That is all as you know and love it. But if something in the electrics dies, we have no chance of fixing it ! So in that regard, your Kawasaki is definitely more basic ! I will be taking the Classic off-road very soon, it is one of the next videos I have planned. I have stood on the pegs on the Meteor and found it not too bad and on the Classic of course it is much easier. I already do it riding over speed bumps for example. I'll try to cover it when I do my first Classic off-road ride RotN 👍🏻 Oh and thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad to hear that people enjoy my videos ( from time to time ) and that my channel isn't just a vanity project ! It makes the hours of planning, filming and editing seem worthwhile, so thank you ! Cheers, ER.

Hi Gene, now that I know both bikes more or less equally well, my final verdict should be coming soon. But since you asked, for various reasons, I do actually prefer the Meteor and if I could only have one of them, it would definitely be the Meteor 😉 But it’s purely subjective, the Classic is not a worse motorcycle, it just doesn’t float my boat as well as my Meteor. There you go, I just gave you a sneak preview of my final verdict 😎 If you have any specific questions, ask away and I will reply ! Cheers Gene 🥃 ER

@@economicalrides Thank you so much for your reply. I have a friend who just bought a MotoGuzzi V7 Special but wishes he would have bought a RE Meteor. I'm a bit older than my freind and I would choose the Classic 350. Ride safe and enjoy every journey.

@@genegoodwin8925 You’re welcome Gene, thanks for dropping by. And if I can help you or your friend in any way, you know where to find me 👍 Cheers 🥃🥃 ER

I suspect that video might well be coming, the list is getting longer by the day 😂 Cheers LE, ER.

@@economicalrides oh crikey... Well I look forward to seeing that one! Absolutely torrential rain here this afternoon. So heavy I couldn't see and pulled over. Never known anything like it!

@@Lanes-Explorer5733 😬😬😬 Me no likey dirty bikey ! But I know you see things differently 😉 Sounds grim, hope you didn’t get too wet 🤞 Cheers, ER

Actually, apart from the performance they are completely different. Glad you got drunk ! 👋

P.S You are probably unaware of this but there is also a Royal Enfield Classic 500, hence it is important to stress that I am reviewing the 350 you tube.

@@economicalrides youtube algoritme shows me every enfield on the planet, but thats ok. I like the bike, the scenery and the talk. I like the older looking bikes, only thing is, they are so popular now they might become common.

@@wboeren1 Hi Wajang, you make a good point, both 350s are very popular, so that could happen. But ultimately I bought the bikes because I like their looks and how they ride. That won’t change, even if these models become very common. I was at a big bike meet on Sunday and was the only Classic 350 there and they didn’t have a Meteor at all, so these bikes are not too common yet 🥳 Cheers Wajang 🥃🥃 ER

Haha, you can post as many comments as you like Andrew, the more the merrier actually ! I'm glad you are enjoying yours, it is overall a really fun, economical bike to own and ride. I think the Meteor represents better value for money but obviously it's not going to be everybody's cup of tea with the custom styling. I'm really glad to have them both, they each have their own specific charms. Cheers Andrew, ER

Hi Andrew, thanks for watching. So why do you put it on the side stand when filling up ? I always put my bikes on the centre stand ( if they have one ) just to make sure that hte fuel level is actually level, otherwise it changes as soon as you take the bike off the side stand. Cheers Andrew, ER