Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 500 reviews

I think the reason so many people here have gien this a bad review is that they are comparing it to modern Japanese bikes. The Enfield is how ALL bikes used to be! It is a classic bike for true motorcycle enthusiasts who know how to work on their own bikes, and who are looking for something more unique and classic than a plastic rocket on wheels. If you actually maintain this bike and ride it like it was meant to be ridden (nice steady cruising), then it is great. If you are comparing it to a goldwing or a Ninja, it is hardly a fair comparison -- the two styles have different purposes. This bike, a single cylinder 500cc, actually has plenty of power for a thumper, and the brakes are more than sufficient. Again, this is a classic bike, not a modern plastic bike. It is like comparing a 1956 Checvrolet Belaire to a 2003 Ford Taurus. Sure, everything on the Taurus is better, cleaner, smoother, more reliable and efficient, etc., but man, the chevy is a classic! See what I mean? You cannot honestly compare the two. People buy a 1956 Chevy Belaire for different reasons -- they are classics, they have a great feel, they are cruising machines, etc. But for a moden day business commuter, I would say go for the Taurus. this bike is to modern bikes what the Belaire is to modern cars. Trust me - if you are a classic and vintage motorcycle enthusiast, you will absolutely love this bike. If you prefer modern plastic rockets, you will hate it. You should decide which type of bike you want. Show less

This is essentially a 1950s motorcycle -- literally! The engine is purely mechanical, with pushrod, adjustable valves, manual point ignition, kickstarting, etc. Let me put it this way: if you are a true motorcycle enthusiast, and WANT to do ALL the repair work and maintenance yourself, then this is the bike for you! If you want to ride without any hassles and maintenance-free, then go for a Japanese bike. But if you enjoy motorcycle maintenance, then you cannot go wrong. This is a classic, British thumper -- 4 stroke, single cylinder 500cc engine. The compression and vibration are enormous. It is quite solid on turns, feeling like you are riding a brick. The drum brakes are MORE than adequate, and I am a large person. I have never found braking to be a problem, if you properly apply rear and front. I have had to jam on the brakes twice, and never found it to be a problem. The acceleration is very good for what you would think a single cylinder would be. Common problems are leaks (some call it the Royal Oilfield, though mine does not leak) and electrics getting vibrated out of place. Stock seat is ok, but many prefer the spring loaded solo seat. Pegs are in good place for cruising, and the bike will lean reasonably far before scraping. Gearing is pretty good..1-3 are fine in town, and 4th is a straight 1:1 gear for highway use. Top speed is supposedly 70m.p.h. although I would be...wary. The feel is totally 50s retro. Suspension is pretty good, with some nice Hagon upgrade shocks available. Chassis is stable, and engine is SUPER easy to work on with basic tools. Headlight is sufficient, though certainly not like a Goldwing or something. What else can I say? It is basically a single cylinder mounted to a chassis with a seat, with classic British styling (meaning quirky shapes and not much else). Imagine a seat on an engine with wheels, and you have the Enfield. Again, if you want a truly classic bike, not just a replica, that you can (and must) work on yourself and maintain at regular intervals, you will LOVE the Bullet as I do. If you are not interested in retro elements and do it yourself work, you will hate it. Oh, one last thing: people who ride these are enthusiasts, so there is no lack of support and advice on the internet, and parts and accessories are very readily available, and VERY cheap compared to other brands! Show less

Ok, so mine is a 2000 and not a 2002. However, it is the EXACT same in every way. In fact, 99% of this motorcycle is the exact same as the 1956 model. It is built using the same technology, processes, and materials, by hand, as the 1956 model. This is a modern-made, vintage classic bike. It is British, but is now made only in India. For the true motorcycle enthusiast, you will be thrilled with this gem. For the average pleasure-rider, you may go insans. This very simple engine requires regular maintenance, and you should do it yourself. It can all be done with simple tools, but requires some effort. Nothing on the bike is that complicated, and the average man can really learn alot about mechanics and engines through the Enfield. It is a true joy to ride, with the literal feel of a classic 1950s bike. It handles beautifully, and there are countless modifications and accessories you can add. This bike is NOt for the casual rider who prefers no maintenance, or who does not know much about his bike. Hint -- if you have never taken apart your carburettor, for example, then this is not the bike for you. Go Japanese. However, for the person who really wants to be one with his bike, and who is interested in performing minor and major maintenance and repairs himself, and who appreciate a true classic, this is a true pleasure to own and ride. I would highly recommend for anyone who is serious about motorcylcles. Show less

A simple bike with lots of character. I get comments EVERY time I ride it. Always lots of fun. However, needs frequent maintainance that can be done at home. Not very fast... it won't make it on the interstate. Plan to spend some $ on much needed accessories. Show less

These bikes cost $1300.00 retail new in India. For that amount it is a good deal. The importer either has large stones or astronomical warranty costs to charge $4200.00 in the US. Obviosly the Canadian importer is better off as they are only $3200.00 US up there. If you are really intent on having one do this, go to India buy two, one to ride and one for spares to replace all the parts that will fall off. with duty and freight you will still be about $500.00 to the good. Show less

Having owned the bike for a summer, I am very happy with the purchase. It is a simple bike with lots of character. If you buy one, be ready to make some minor modification... new lights and a solo seat really makes a big impact. If you plan to ride on the highway, invest in a new sprocket to boost your top end by about 10 mph. This bike gets noticed because it is so unique, but remember... we are talking about 1950s technology. It will need some tinkering now and then... it will need some time to 'break in', but if you are looking for a fun,inexpensive, weekend bike that gets you noticed- this is it. Show less

This bike reminds me of my involvement with the Vintage Motorcycle Club. If you enjoy greasy and oily hands, sitting on your knees on the side of the road, loading motorcycles onto trucks and hitchhiking home, then of course this is the right bike for you. If you want to keep your faith in God, don't buy this thing because you will swear yourself right into hell. They should make it illegal to import this motorcycle because it's an insult to the citizens of this country. Anyone who gives this thing more than one star has no clue what a motorcycle should be. I would not give it ONE star, buyer beware! Also stay away from that Russian made Ural, same pile of junk as the Royal Enfield. Show less

I rode Blaine Newell's 500 while staying at a common friend's house last July. I rode it slowly, gently in widing country roads with only a couple of farms as signs of civilization. I was riding with no helmet and the Enfield's gentle thumping and pleasant feel made me go back in time to what it was like in the 50's. If you're looking for a "way back machine" to relive the past or see what it was like, this is the bike for you. Look elsewhere if you value speed and sophistication. Manny Show less

My dad bought his Bullet 500 in '97 and immediately started to have problems with it. The coil went bad and was only fixed by replacing it with a unit from a Chevrolet car because the ones from Enfield are useless. It leaks oil, the baffles in the muffler came loose, you have to be a magician to crank it, everything on it vibrates, I have been totally disgusted by it ever since he bought it. I have ridden it twice. It is terribly slow. I have a 1970 cb350 Honda that outperforms this bike in every category. The brakes are terrible, it is incredibly hard to shift, I JUST don't LIKE IT, There are 2 things that I like about this motorcycle: the way it looks, and the way it sounds (Dad cut the muffler open and removed all of the guts). Oh yeah-there is one more thing I like about it: It's not mine. Let me add for its benefit that my dad loves this bike. It is different than anything else on the road, and I guess he enjoys having to work on it every time he rides it. Show less

I'm afraid I'm cheating a bit here...I'm writing about the 2000 Bullet 350cc Standard 12 Volt model. I'm from India, and these bikes are made there...the bikes available in India differ from the export models, the main difference being that the brake lever is on the left side and the gear lever is on the right. Yes, people, this was the original design of Royal Enfield England. I bought my bike in Feb 2000, and made a 1200KM trip after the initial engine break-in of 500KM, and in fact the complete break-in happened on this trip. Following which, my bike has been through 4 river fords, innumerable forest and hill trails, and gets a constant workout on the highway. Admitted, the top speed is not much (105Kmph is just about absolute top for a 350cc) but this bike kicks some ass! On one trip, i suffered a head-on collision with a truck which was in the wrong lane, and the front forks were mangled. In that state, my baby carried me, my pillion rider and our luggage a further 200KM to our hometown at an average speed of 95Kmph with no weaving or instability despite mangled front forks. Any other bike and i'd have been history, just a smudge on the truck's radiator...but the sheer ruggedness of the bullet saved my ass. And maintenance...spares and servicing cost less than half as much as they do for other bikes in India (mainly Japanese 100cc - 175cc pocket mosquitoes). But the best part, you never need anything major done to the bike...just keep topping up the oil, keep the battery in good shape, and some occasional grease now and then, and that's about it. Suffice to say, it's been a year and a half since I bought her, and I've already put 35,000KM on her. And this is just the beginning of a long, beautiful relationship. Show less