Royal Enfield 350s - any experience?

[slowside]

Anyone got any first hand experience of the newish crop of RE 350s? The reviews are so gushingly positive I thought I'd ask here for a bit of balance.

They seem to fit my fairly restrictive criteria of something that is fun to ride at pretty modest speeds, has ABS and can be picked up for sub £3000 (used).

Probably be the Hunter that I'd go for, but I'm going to see if I can get a test ride on that and the Meteor as they are on offer for £2999 brand new.

The absence of power and poverty spec don't bother me, I'm much happier with a distraction free bike at a pedestrian pace. Take in the sights and work a slow bike hard etc etc.
____________________
Triumph Sprint RS 955i - If I don't reply to your post, I'm probably busy fixing it.

[Bhud]

That makes absolutely zero sense.
You're right it's a pov spec bike with little power.
There is no reason to get one. Is this another attack of the mental lurgy?

[stinkwheel]

I did a 2 week tour of Portugal on the NR2 on one last Summer.

They are entirely without vice, comfortable to ride and dead neutral in every respect. Very good fuel economy and it never missed a beat riding with luggage all day long in temperatures in the mid 30's, also in monsoon levels of rain. It was particularly well mannered on poorly surfaced roads.

Dog slow though. 65 tops for cruising and expect to change down a gear going up steep hills. 125 levels of performance with a bit more grunt. No quicker than my pre-unit iron barrel 350 bullet on standard gearing. Motorways and dual carriageways are a boring slog. Happiest on B-roads.

I'd have preferred a 500. Ridden one before, not much quicker but better at climbing hills and a bit more go about it at the cost of more vibration and noise (not a bad thing in my oppinion).
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[slowside]

Cheers stinkwheel. The gruntier 125 description is what I was expecting. I’ve often missed my old YBR as I used to enjoy wringing its neck through the back lanes in all weathers.

Conversely I found my Sprint a bit dull and bland and haven’t missed it once since flogging it.
____________________
Triumph Sprint RS 955i - If I don't reply to your post, I'm probably busy fixing it.

[Bhud]

New Enfields are bought by the sort of clown who wants to be mistaken for a rider of a classic bike, but they don't have the patience or the mechanical skills to ride an actual vintage bike. They just want the attention of other old bluffers and to be seen as something they're not. "Oye 'ad one a them in the sixties, me."

Also by people like the guy down the road from me, who has a 2022 Enfield Meteor, almost had it stolen at night, and says on social media that the thieves gave up because it's too big a bike for them.

Both the above type of people want a certain type of cred with ignorant people. Just what I observed. But no, not you. What YOU want is the blistering performance of a 125 on country roads. That's what you're saying.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Are you on the blob?
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[slowside]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[Bhud]

[stinkwheel]

They were primarily designed and built for the Indian market where reliability, low fuel consumption, the ability to do at least 45mph and a good loud horn are the metrics for a desirable motorcycle.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bhud]

Exactly. But now they've found a new market.

Just today, on one of the classic car pages on Facebook, there was a discussion about which classic cars were fairly priced and might appreciate (the usual sort of discussion). A guy piped up and wrote: "Don't buy a classic car - buy a classic bike!"
I thought, great, someone who knows more about bikes than I do. So I clicked his profile and he'd displayed photos of 3 bikes (no other pics at all), all of them new Enfields. They had little leather bags with studs on them and everything. So I thought, maybe this guy's trying to get in on classic bikes. I asked, "When are you getting one?" His response, "I've got one". I asked, why haven't you uploaded any photos of it? He got angry, said it's none of my business, etc. Ah, OK, I thought. I get it 100%.

[Easy-X]

I was also after a lighter bike, something more suitable for my commute into the City. I was attracted to the Husky 401 / Duke 390 due to minimum weight, maximum power. With all due respect, the RE 350s seem like maximum weight, minimum power

That being said, with a line of bikes chained up in a side street the 350 would be the last one to get stolen. That's something I suppose
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[WD Forte]

I'm surprised the Meteor has almost the same power and torque specs of my old 250 majesty.
There was a youngish woman down the mens shed who ran the pottery course had just bought one as her first 'big' bike.
She wasn't interested in being a real biker and all that boring old shite, she just wanted something to tootle about on so fair enough, hope she enjoys it.
I dont care what people ride, if they're enjoying riding it then fine by me.
The guy who rode to Stornoway and back on a YBR 125 with L plates
gets more respect from me than some boastful twat with a garage queen
who'll do anything to it but actually get on ride the thing.

Some do look a bit posey though
I saw two guys on three headlight Harleys with CHIPS helmets, jodhpurs, the whole schmeer the other day and gave them the customary GAY!! greeting as I past the other way legs akimbo on me scooty
had a 'YMCA' earworm all day after that.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[slowside]

[Easy-X]

[Prawny]

I had a Meteor for a year as an emergency replacement commuter when my ER650 died only a few months after I passed my test.

I enjoyed it, it was like riding a motorbike but at the sort of speed as a normal car. Tootling around locally on a sunny day was lovely, trying to get anywhere with a deadline was horrible. I once ride it from Cannock to Shrewsbury down the M54 and it was grim, trucks were frustratingly that little bit slower than I wanted to go, but it took a while to get past and pissed off the audi drivers because it's only 2 lanes.

Didn't have any faults with it though, and sipped fuel, was getting 90 to the gallon with no thoughts given to economy.

It got nicked though by thick kids from Walsall, I replaced it with an old Vstrom 1000 which with another 18 months riding under my belt was more enjoyable than I expected, I miss the fuel economy. but I'd happily ride the V Strom anywhere, which I could' say about the Enfield.

I'd have another though, if I had room for 2 bikes. Also despite my initial thoughts when the hunter was released, I'd probably go meteor again, the hunter looks tiny in real life.
____________________
Yamaha Vity 125 (gone) Kawasaki ER6N(dead) 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (nicked) 2003 DL1000 V Strom

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[to v or not to v]

the new 450 engine theyve put in the Himalayan seems to be getting good reviews.
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[slowside]

[Easy-X]

tl;dr If you want good fuel economy and a low stressed engine, go Royal Enfield. If you need any sort of excitement, look elsewhere.
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[om15]

I bought a new 350 classic reborn as a reliable run about, light weight and modern.

It was heavy, under powered, uncomfortable to ride and drank oil, Royal Enfield said the oil consumption spec was 150ml per 1000 kg, it was double that.

Got shot and bought a Bonneville which is what I should have bought in the first place. I also had an Interceptor which I didn't like, however I had a Himalayan which I thought was pretty good, and currently have a Bullet 500 which I do like.

I think that Royal Enfield produce cheap bikes which are very popular, but being traditional they don't have the quality of Triumph or Jap bikes.

Depends on what you want.
____________________
Alcohol doesn't solve problems, but neither does milk