I rode a friend's classic 500 and found the engine really enjoyable around town. I loved the torque and could see why people like them. Handling was also surprisingly nimble around town, you just kinda stay upright and tip it in, feels cool. I'm sure the handling runs out quickly when you're pushing it more...but who buys one to do that! The main issue for me is that it seems to be the last of the REs with shakey build quality, I think a new Classic 350 might provide a lot of the same enjoyable performance attributes with more modern reliability and build quality. Strangely my friend who owned it was a girl in her late 20s, definitely not your standard Classic owner.
Hi there, rode the new 350 found the character completely lacking compared to the 500 also the handling and extra power🤔 was better on the 500... Completely different bikes... 500 much better in my opinion..
Most people I’ve met who’ve owned them quickly out grow the bikes. They’re great for newer riders or old guys, but everything in the middle who has to occasionally take the highway, not the best ride. It’s a cool retro looking bike, but I honestly avoid riding my brothers classic 500. Yes it has some torque, as you say around town it’s a fun experience for a smaller person. But if you’re over 180lb and six foot, you’re going to look a little big for this smaller bike.
After 3 years and 27000km riding my 2018 (euro 4) Green Battle Classic 500, in North portugal and Spain, I go on feelling exactly the same as you. Every ride is a joy. Even after 500km non stop. I never had such a enjoying bike; it's my 16 th since 1968.
I've got three.....weeks!...on the same bike! (Same cool color too). I just took it out for a spin around the neighborhood in 100+F weather and it runs like a champ. Puts a grin on my face and takes me back to my early days on simpler machines. It just chugs along, makes no claims to being the ultimate of anything, but people smile and wave as I go by. It's an attention getter indeed.
Mate, a bloody top review of the Enfield. I've had my Classic 500 from new since 2015, done 24,000 miles on her and wouldn't swap or sell her for anything! Also, she attracts attention whenever I park her up. Top job!
@@roadblastmedia yess after one fuel module change few years back im only facing oil leaks will get new oil seals here n there the bike is really rugged n still strong 🙌
good job you didnt get unlucky and receive a broken dud on arrival as i did. Because Royal Enfield went silent and refuse to help, except send a mechanic to take my bike away, and keep the money. Threats of legal action are received with no answer. 3 weeks later i have no money back and no bike, and silence from Royal Enfield
I bought a used 2017 Classic 500 Battle Green with 1500 miles on it six weeks ago and have already put on an additional 1200 miles! It easily climbs the foothills here in rural Georgia, USA. Even dirt roads are fine with its swingarm suspension, though I will put on more knobby tires when these wear out. Riding position is very comfortable, it can cruise at 65 with fairly low vibration and it's averaged 70 mpg. No problems yet except bolts falling out of the muffler shroud. Non-stop compliments from the general public and other bikers. The perfect bike for me.
Probably the best and most accurate impression video on this bike I've seen yet. That's exactly how I felt when I took my test ride at the dealership on mine
I genuinely enjoyed your video!! This was an absolute blast and you perfectly captured the essence of a 500. I own one and it’s perfect for touring and riding around mountain roads. I’d love to see you do another one on the 500. Thanks for the video mate
Cheers mate! I love riding this beast! I will try get another video done with it but i am moving citys and this bike is my dads so i wont have too much access to it but i will be flying home now and again to shoot videos with his bikes!
I bought the 2021 500 Classic in Battle Green. The running in was a pain in the bum, 600 k's under 50 k's then 400 k's under 80 kph. Once that's done, next to no vibration until you hit 100 kph. The exhaust is still stock because the sound keeps getting better.
Lovely bike, great review. I've been riding for 45 years, it brought back the old days when motorcycling was more social. When we fixed our own bikes, when the biking community was one. Great days.
Lovely little bike there Vinney what a gem looks great too more power to ya mate luvin your enthusiasm too great roads out there well not to crowded nice one . : )
For me it’s the kind of thing that would be fun to have a ride on but the vibration and marginal performance would get old pretty fast. I’m planning to ride the 350 classic just for the hell of it. For me the interceptor level of performance is really the floor of what’s practical unless you just want something to put about on Sunday arvo. Good on you though Vinny for fully embracing the RE lifestyle
Most people agree with you there morri03 but I reckon the new 350 j motor in the Meteor & Classic is a beauty & real smooth with limited to almost no vibrations.Great little bikes & in countries with a 100-110kmh speed limit is adequate enough.Be more at home on the back twisty roads or small town to small town runs.A great bike & be good for wife,girl friend,son, daughter for a first bike & I guarantee you that alot people will be sneaking rides on their wife's or child's 350 while not riding their 650's which is a more practical bike.
The sound (through an aftermarket pipe with no baffles) and the vibration are THE reasons to ride a bike like this. Sadly they have ruined it with all the modern computerized garbage that has no business being on a REAL motorcycle. Ride old or go home.
Who was that 13 year old boy riding that motorcycle?? 😅 That was one happy little kid!! I always wanted a chrome tanked RE, but I gotta say that one in matte black is gorgeous. AC/DC in my head the whole time I was watching. I want one!
The Classic 500 is a fantastic machine which also benefits from electric start as well as a kick start. One of the benefits of this bike over the newer 350 is that it has hydraulic tappets, so servicing is simple and no tank off manual adjustment, like you have to do on the all new 350's.
Great enthusiasm Vinney!! The locality where I live, there are a lot of RE enthusiasts, I can hear the thumping of their bikes whenever they cross my home😃
Gorgeous bike....... bloody well right ! I miss the thumper I had in 2009, 500 Classic Bullet military green. Enjoy mate. Grandfather John Pennsylvania USA
Thanks for the video RBM. I’m considering buying the 350cc classic. I’d typically use it for highway riding to work. About 80-100 kmph for about 30 mins stretch and possibly some weekend riding through the hills. Do you reckon the 350cc should suffice or should I go in for the 500cc?
G'day Vinnie, l have to teach you how to kick start a motorbike, firstly not while sitting on the seat, if the motor back fires you will go over the handle bars or a broken leg, stand and push down hard with whatever leg feels best, that attempt you carried out was so funny to watch, cheers mate, Neil 🤠.
Haha yeah mate thought itd be a bit of a laugh putting that clip in first time kick starting a motorbike 😂 cheers for the advice mate ill have it sorted from now on 😉
I had a good laugh too about the kick start.Anyone over 40 who rode bikes as a kid can kick over a bike,or ride dirt bikes otherwise they've only ever had electric start.Wasn't to long ago I was kicking over that MZ 250 2stroke,but the kick start was on the left side of bike & you kicked it with right foot standing beside bike not on it using left foot like a traditional kick.Very quirky bike that MZ 250. Another Classic 500 video was Freddie Dobbs who was really excited about kick start & was calling it a kick stand instead of kick start & had never seen one in person never kicked over one & tried & succeeded in the end.It was funny when HE said "what is this,what as this" pointing to kick start.
You know your alive when they stall at the lights in the middle of a busy town and you have to kick start a belligerent Ducati before the lights change .
@@daintree2455 I remember as a boy a a friend of the family had a 1981 Triumph Bonniville with kick start & electric start & was the big topic of the day.One slow kick to release tension then a strong kick then a smooth strong kick & should turn over.Hard not to like a vibrator definitely let's you know you're on a rowdy bike with no rider modes a real time warp bike which will increase in value.Lucky enough there's 2 brand new one's in NZ but after Vinny video like that be surprised if they still available buy end of the weekend.
@@ruahinesrider before I got the Interceptor I had my nephews '72 T120rv Bonnie to ride around on ,high compression and wild cams. Had to put some thought and weight into kicking that old girl over. Great bike.
Cheers colin its quite interesting actually it is fuel injected but a very basic system and uses the choke to keep the revs higher in cold conditions it is the same on my himalayan works well though!
The hydraulic valve adjustment and Kickstarter as well as 10 more hp than the RE 350. The 500 hydraulic valve adjustment means almost no maintenance. Just change the fluids and oil the chain. Much less maintenance than the RE 350. Something to think about when it comes to the cost of maintenance. Less work is always better.
Hahahaha mate :D , listening to your laugh and the thorough enjoyment you are getting from riding this classic is why I love riding any motorcycle but I look forward to giving this bike a try sooner rather than later. crack up for reals!!!
For starting, be sure to get the bike on the center stand and the engine to top dead on compression stroke....the kick starter will get stiff/hard. then follow through with your kick. There's quite a few videos on RU-vid for this procedure. I would hate to see you drop this beautiful bike starting it because the bike community here would spank you hard if you did that and we found out....Lol! Congratulations and enjoy!! BTW, you are the first reviewer that said there is tingly foot vibrations from this bike. Get proper motorcycle footwear, your feet are the closest to the ground and can get injured quite easily in casual/athletic footwear. Don't be a squid, small bikes will bite you faster than bigger ones.
Ill make sure to do it right next time mate haha it was my first time ever kick starting a bike i included the clip for a bit of a laugh but cheers for the advice mate!!
My Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto is a first kick bike. So are my BSA C-15 250's. They are much easier to start than large singles. 60 mph 2 up on the highway 🛣️. My Triumph TR25W with high pipe and knobby tires goes 60 mph down a fire road. Quick enough for me.
WOW! Gotta hand it to ya vin this is a brilliant video your enthusiasm is second to none mate you summoned it up perfectly SMILES & FUN! Be great to see you out with all ya mates on the 500! Wot do they think of ya growing Enfield bikes? Also vin wot does dad think of it? Keep up the great work mate luv it👍🏻😎
Cheers mate! Such a cool little bike dad loves it! Its his bike though so he should do haha hes got the classic and interceptor i have the gt and himalayan and we just change iver with each other now and again! Will get out for a group ride with it soon!
A real head turner bro & the 500 singles are torque for days as you says.🤣Imagine that HRD Rotary hoe engine 810cc singles torque be like on Jeff's bike.
@@roadblastmedia so sad to hear the old school design is getting extinct slowly , tbh the classic reborn is good but the feel like og classic is not there .
Unfortunately it is nothing but a modern bike under the looks. EFI, ABS, disc brakes, does it ride itself too? I have a 2013 B5 Bullet 500, bought new, put an aftermarket non cat con pipe on it, converted it from government EFI to an Amal Concentric MK1 carburetor, and installed an Iron Barrel front end on it, with a drum front brake. NOW it is a proper old school British bike. Which I don't believe ever came completely dipped in matte black paint. Mine is gloss dark green with gold pinstriping.
Nice one mate your one sounds like its a beauty i still think royal enfield does a great job blending modern with classic! It looks and feels pretty old school to me apart from the obvious requirements of being a 2020 bike
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so excited doing a bike review, kinda scary! Definitely need to change the silencer for better performance and sound, also consider a 19 tooth front sprocket. Great bikes with more character than most.
I hope the upcoming Classic 650 is not going to be the standing twin engine of the Continental GT. If it's a single cylinder I'll def. go for it - it looks so much fun to ride!
@@roadblastmedia oh no, I double checked now and I was wrong. it's a Super Meteor 650 and a Shotgun 650, both with twins. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Pp8b1tVFc1c.html
@@roadblastmedia looking at the Hitchcock motorcycles restyleing kits is pretty amazing. I love the one that turns it into an old style grandprix bike. You can even get an engine kit that takes it out to 612cc and gives it 40bhp in road trim. 45 for a race engine
@@andybryant1772 Good time to get one at moment.They will drop in price for couple of years then they'll increase fast cause they stop making them, especially the last year's they were made for.
Over here the classic is mostly ridden by middle aged group people. Young men mostly ride the interceptor or the continental GT. Himalayan gets a mixed group of riders from different age group
@@roadblastmedia yeah and I think we have more two wheelers than cars here also we don't mind lane splitting over here although it's really annoying if someone lane splits instantly and you're the guy riding a two wheeler. But at the end of the day we just get on except for a few instances here and there.
I'm one month away from securing a classic 500 in the Battle green. It's been my dream bike for as long as I can remember and I am a completely brand new first time rider. I'm a little nervous, but also excited. What do you think about the C500s for first time, brand new riders?
@@roadblastmedia Thanks for the insight man! Any tips on how to get past initial nervousness? I'm waiting to take a riders course in about a month before getting mine.
@@krishm16 just take your time with it bro no need to be nervious the riders course will help alot with the nerves and getting confidence it doesnt take long before youre ripping around on the road!
2022 and a classic 500 am all over it. Still gonna test ride the 350 although the Interceptor with that extra oompf for a heavy bloke.. Maybe could look for 2020 model..
Glad you love your new C5 Vin. They are awesome little bikes, but I disagree…riding mine definitely did ‘get old’ once I realised the anaemic power deficiency on long distance rides
Yeah mate this one is to blast around town and for small local rides we will use the 650s on long distance so im sure the little beast wont get old for us
@@roadblastmedia Ah ok that explains the occasional exotic-looking tree. I just bought this exact same bike used yesterday, I almost thought it was the very same bike (except the mirrors are slightly different)
man top speed is 140 kmph once u get free flow exhaust this engine roars .. and sound part from singles this is the only best sounding chopper machine .. u will come across i have this for almost 3 yrs classic 500 2019 redditch red version ....
I have a 2017 in stealth black. These bikes have to be properly and patiently run in or they will rattle like fuck.. Mine took about 2,500 miles to be vibration free. I've now done 11,000 miles as a daily ride in all UK weathers and it never misses be beat. I fukin love it.
Yeah this one had over 4000kms on the clock when we bought it the vibrations arent a bad thing and i wouldnt say its rattly it has a lot more vibrations that most other motorcycles out there just because of what it is big old school style thumping single. An amazing bike and captures the old school feel perfectly cheers for the comment mate
Lose the bosch spark plug for a ngk, change the exhaust and fit a decent air filter. You will see a big difference. If you need any parts, Hitchcocks in England have the lot and will ship anywhere.
@@yashindane2844 no worries man hearing from my USA subscribers theyre gaining in popularity over there! And in NZ we love them! Very popular already up there with the best selling bikes seeing more and more on the roads every day
@@daintree2455 Got me 4 Classic Bike mags for $26 about R.E.Constellation 700,Super Meteor, Interceptor.The Interceptor mk 2 from late 1968-70 is the most like the new one.Oil cooled,wet clutch,195kg dry,52.5bhp,736cc. The new one is 202kg dry,48bhp,650cc.Considering the Mk 2 1968-70 is lighter but more HP & 88cc more the new Interceptor (mk3) is actually period correct statistically & probably better especially if you added 88cc to it to 736cc it would produce more power than 52.5bhp be more like 56bhp but 7kg heavier.
@@daintree2455 Loaded up with heaps more info now Dain.I'll be a real know all now.😆😁🤣 Can't beat a good mag to read. There was a mk 2a prototype that came out in 1970 a 800cc.They tested at the track at the same time as a Triumph Trident & was shadowing it round the track.The Trident team was impressed that a twin kept up with their triple & was just as fast they took note of it.Not long after owners of R.E,Norton Villiers closed the doors.Norton was probably scared of the 800cc & the 750cc Interceptors were more preferred in the American market because of their torque.No British bikes could match them for torque.R.E was first to do 700cc & then 750 & would of been first to 800.The 800 Probably would of gone on to outsell Commando. 800cc was racier & 60bhp & prototype was a 4speed so if released would of evolved to 5 speed a few years later. Even the USA Indian Motorcycles bought 600 engines of R.E & put in a Italian frame with models like Apache, Trailblazer, Tomahawk & a police bike a Indian Big Chief.
Hi Dude how do you think it would go two up I was thinking if I did get an Enfield because o take my son and luggage the interceptor would be better ....and no I don't ride fast I'm more constant ....your thoughts please
I think itd go great for two up as long as the passenger is smaller i took my mum on the back no worries at all in saying that iy might pay to have a sit on both with your son and get a feel for them
@@roadblastmedia ha ha he's 6 ft 2 and us only 13 towers above me now ...plus we have a shit load of luggage when we do go on a trip ...will try one out but think the 650 maybe the go cheers for Reply mate
Hey Vinny. Grant here from over in Te Puke. What do you reckon of the little 350 classic. Have you done many Klms on one. I'm looking at getting one from Pete
Haha well theres a few points bro what if someone wants to buy second hand or one of the last new ones plus it was fun to make and people seem to be watching it sooo....
Doesnt seem to be in new zealand have had no problems at all with any of our bikes but have heard storys from other countries that would back that claim up depends on where you live and whos selling the bike i guess
@@roadblastmedia I'm in Australia, do love my custom 2020 black and cream 500 but lots of nuts and bolts were loose, the side stand sensor shit itself after 20 klms and the battery died after 100klms.
@@roadblastmedia it will protect the bike even from a simple tip over . Keeps expensive damage from occurring. It fits the old time look of the bike as well.
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 yeah we prefer a more naked look to the bike plus My Dad and I are both Qualified spray painters if anything were to happen we can fix paint work etc pretty easily at minimal cost. But so far nearly 150000kms between us and still no drops. Hopefully it stays that way haha
@@roadblastmedia I saw a guy at a bike party who dropped his bike in the driveway. We helped him get his bike up. He cried over his $7,000 gold leaf paint on his gas tank. I came out of IHOP to find my Triumph Tr-6 laying down on the crashbars because the summer 🌞 heat softened the asphalt and my kickstand sank into the asphalt.Made a great big hole when I straightened it up. I have never dropped my Sportster in 25 years but I have one anyway.
Love it ! , that matt black is awesome . Well done guy's . I hear you on the torque , my Norton 500cc ES2 was the same , just went well and the sound ! sweet . Have a look at my channel , I will post the only photo I have here in OZ of my Norton , a 1952 so you can see how Royal Enfield have nailed this .
Not if you are me and experienced the crap service of Royal Enfield and be sold a brand new broken DUD they won't take back.. i got one broken on arrival cut out at 3500 rpm moving or standstill.. Royal Enfield refuse to exchange it for a working one, they took my money, and cme to take the bike (to 'fix' not exchange for ne) and did not give me a bike to use whilst waiting to fix.. 3 weeks later they are still bulllshitting me and 7 mechanics later, and ask me for one week more till the mechanic from India flies to Thailand. I lost my money and didn't even get the bike. SCREW royal enfield after purchase service, as it is ZERO. DO NOT BUY AN ENFIELD support is nonexistent. Also it is only 26 BHP and rides like a honda wave/dream.. its a moped inside a 2nd world war chassis roytal Enfield Thailand is corruot, dishonest, AND their mechanics dont know what they are doing it took 6 mechanics and one zoom call to india and 2 hours over my classic 500, and they could not solve it, and had to take my bike away. Now they went silent since 2 weeks and neither return the bike or the money
That sucks bro we have amazing service at our dealers always very quick and helpful and have not had any problems with all 4 of our enfields i hope that your problem gets sorted out soon!
They go forever when theyre well looked after. Some materials might be on the cheaper side but all in all its a solid cool looking fun bike for the money. Weve owned for over a year and a half and have had no issues at all with it.
The hydraulic valve adjustment and Kickstarter as well as 10 more hp than the RE 350. The 500 hydraulic valve adjustment means almost no maintenance. Just change the fluids and oil the chain. Much less maintenance than the RE 350. Something to think about when it comes to the cost of maintenance. Less work is always better.