The Royal Enfield Bullet has aged like fine wine. It’s gotten better with time and promises to be its best self for its 92nd continuous year of production. Credit here goes to the recent update announced by its maker, where the motorcycle has become faster, more contemporary, and more premium than its previous avatar.
However, these changes all take inspiration from the Classic 350. Add to it the old-school charm of both bikes, and you end up with two rather similar offerings. So much so, these will compete for the same thing - your hard-earned money - when you go to pick up an old-school thumper. Which one of these do you take home, then? Well, allow us to help.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Classic 350 - Design
From afar, the two Royal Enfield 350s might seem similar to a layman. But it takes one close look to see the differences. Starting outback, the Bullet flaunts an all-new square-ish fender to set it apart from the Classic 350’s curvy unit. Same goes for the tubular steel braces that trace the fender’s shape. Then, the Bullet flaunts a curvy fuel tank with 3D emblems (in mid and top variants), complete with the iconic hand-painted pinstripes. Whereas, the Classic misses out on these and instead features rubber knee pads (in some colorways). Another noteworthy detail is the new thumper’s rectangular panel right between the engine and battery cover, which is oval on the Classic.
Coming to the front, the Bullet misses out on the headlight cap on most of its colorways, while the Classic has it as standard equipment. Similarly, alloy wheels (and tubeless tires) are not available for the former, but the latter has them for some of its liveries. Speaking of which, the newbie comes in Military Red, Military Black, Standard Maroon, Standard Black, and Black Gold (with blacked-out mechanicals). Whereas, the old RE gives you more options, as you get it in Halycon Green, Halcyon Black, Redditch Red, Chrome Red, Chrome Bronze, Redditch Grey, Dark Stealth Black (alloys), and Gunmetal Gray (alloys). There are also two ‘Signals Edition’ colors.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Classic 350 - Ergonomics
Next up, ergonomics. The Bullet 350 promises to be more comfortable than the Classic. That’s because you get a long single-piece saddle on the former, compared to the split saddle on the latter. This should ensure a comfier and spacious ride on the Bullet, especially for two-up riding. In addition, the new cruiser appears to have a taller handlebar than the Classic to seat you in a more upright position. However, there’s no denying the Classic has a more premium-looking saddle. Some colorways also have a contrast seat cover, which isn’t available on the new Bullet.
Once atop, both bikes greet you with the same bits. A semi-digital instrument cluster (with chrome housing) sits in the middle, paired with RE’s staple rotary switchgear. There’s also a USB port under the clutch lever, so you don’t run out of juice on your beloved phone. RE’s Tripper Navigation is available as an accessory for both.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Classic 350 - Dimensions
The new Bullet borrows its engine and underpinnings straight from the Classic 350. The former comprises the J-series 349cc single, while the latter includes a double-cradle chassis, 41 mm telescopic forks, and dual shocks. Same goes for the new 19/18-inch spoke wheels and the bigger 300 mm disc brake they wear at the front. As a result, the Bullet’s dimensions mostly measure the same as the Classic 350. The focus word, though, is ‘mostly’ because the Bullet has 6.2 inches of ground clearance–0.4 inches less than its sibling. Similarly, the new bike has a smaller overall length.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Classic 350 - Price
Last but not least, the two motorcycles will differ in terms of price. The starting price of the Bullet 350 is about 10 percent less than the Classic’s starting price in India. So if we take that into account and consider the latter’s $4,599 MSRP in America, the Bullet 350 should cost around ~$4,200. If so, it’d be a delectable and unmatched prospect in the small-capacity vintage bike market.
But which one of these should you pick? Well, that depends. If you’re on a tight budget and just looking for simple retro vibes, the Bullet 350 will be perfect for you. But it’ll arrive here in the next six months, so you’ll have to be patient. On the flipside, if you want more bling and don’t mind a few extra hundo, the Classic 350 is any day a finer product. It’s been on sale in America for a while too, so it should be ready for pickup at your nearest RE dealer.