Royal Enfield Bullet 350 : The unmistakable thump reverberated through the winding streets of Old City Jaipur as I chased the Royal Enfield rep to the location.
Even though I was wearing a helmet, I couldn’t miss that distinctive drone – the Bullet had returned and was making some noise.
I’ve spent a couple of days with the new Bullet 350, riding it through city traffic, open highways, and even some punishing off-the-beaten-track sections, and I can tell you the wait has been worth it for its thousands of fans on the road; this is not merely a cosmetic makeover of an icon, it’s a proper sequel, retaining its legendary character, while making progress – the way it should be.
“Bullet kabhi marta nahi, sirf behtar hota hai,” (The Bullet never dies, it only gets better) said a grizzled Royal Enfield mechanic I met outside the launch venue, his calloused hands a testament to decades spent nursing these machines to health.
His saying pretty much sums up the ethos of the new version of India’s most iconic motorcycle.
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Royal Enfield Bullet 350 The Dhakad Look: Menacing But Not Strange
The new Bullet 350BLF retains the iconic shape – that teardrop tank, the rider’s triangular handlebars, and the swept back style of fenders that characterizes the motorcycle at a mere glance.
What is different is the quality of that execution, and the eye for detail which makes the bike’s presence felt.
However, the most eye-catching part is still the fuel tank which gets bolder pinstriping with gold accents on the premium models now.
As I pedaled through the bazaars of Jaipur, the light would hit these trinkets at an angle, casting a colorful gleam that elicited approving glances from the locals and the cyclists alike.
“Design mein thoda modernization zaruri tha, par Bullet ki pehchan kho nahi sakta tha,” (Some modernization in design was necessary, but the Bullet couldn’t lose its identity) said Vijay Singh, a Royal Enfield designer who accompanied me during part of the test ride.
This balance is clear in the way the company has evolved parts such as the headlamp (now with LED daytime running light around the traditional circular housing) without sacrificing the iconic silhouette of the motorcycle.
The dial set also employs the same line of thought bundling in a small digital guage for your essential info and a triumph of an analog speedometer that the Bullet purists love.
The exhaust, mirrors, and other touchpoints have been tastefully adorned with chrome accents, giving the bike a higher-end feel without going overboard.
The most striking thing about the design is how powerful it looks from any angle. Park outside a cafe in Jaipur’s posh C-Scheme area, the Bullet drew a group of passersby, including a few young riders who rode around it to pose for photos.
“Ekdum dhakad dikhta hai, par abhi bhi Bullet jaisa lagta hai,” an onlooker had quipped, neatly encapsulating what Royal Enfield had accomplished.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Engine: Give the Heart a Transplant
While incremental the design changes are styling, the mechanical changes are far more radical.
The new Bullet 350 takes a walk in that department as it gets the J-series engine which comes from the Meteor and Classic models and is much better than the previous UCE (Unit Construction Engine) that was being offered with the Bullet 350.
The air-cooled, 349cc, single-cylinder engine makes 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of torque is churned out at 6,100 and 4,000 rpm respectively -not earth-shaking figures on paper, but the right amount for the Bullet’s persona.
These numbers don’t relate what the power feels like, however – which is to say accessible, linear and tractable and incredibly strong at urban pace.
And while cruising at 80-90 km/h along the highway stretch between Jaipur and Amer, there was sufficient power in reserve for overtaking, along with a relaxed engine.
The vibrations long associated with the Bullet’s “character” have thankfully been lessened a great deal – especially at the footpegs and handlebars, so longer rides are less taxing.
“Hum thump ko maintain karna chahte the, par vibration ko control karna zaruri tha,” (We wanted to maintain the thump, but controlling vibration was necessary) said Arjun Mehta, an engineer engaged with the engine calibration.
Preserving the Bullet’s unique, growly acoustic signature, while increasing refinement, is the focus here and is immediately obvious – the motorcycle still needs to announce its arrival, but no longer jars your fillings in the process.
The increased accuracy, however, is donated by the 5-speed gearbox.
In its place are gone the vague, and occasionally awkward, shifts of the old Bullets and in comes a shifter that feels like it actually does some work, it’s also easier to find neutral with, a small thing yes – but existing Bullet owners will love that small but tangible quality-of-life improvement.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Ride Feel: Rock-Solid Stability
Planted on the Road, as Always The Bullet has always been known for its planted feel on the road, and the new model does little to dispel this reputation.
The double downtube chassis gives fantastic confidence especially at highway speeds and on broken surfaces.
On my test ride through some tougher sections on the outskirts of Jaipur, with recent rain saving some of the road damaged, the Bullet felt stable and predictable.
Both the front 41mm telescopic forks and the twin rear shock absorbers have 5-step preload adjustment so you can haul a pillion or luggage, while they act on all but the biggest bumps and never lose sight of what the wheels are up to.
Braking gets an appreciable improvement with a 300mm disc up front and a 270mm disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS.
I liked one of the bumpers designed for braking efficiency especially when I had to emergency brake on the highway to avoid one of the unexpected obstacles that can spring upon a rider – A cow crossing just now!!!
And the braking system gave me utmost confidence to bring the motorcycle which weighs in at a hefty 195 kilos to a very standard stop without any drama.
The riding posture continues to be the tradition-laden erector set it always has been, with a “thigh grip” tank design that only a Bullet fan can love.
“Bullet chalana sirf riding nahi, ek experience hai,” (Riding a Bullet isn’t just riding, it’s an experience) the fellow scribe told me when we sat down for a chat in between the test ride, and there is some truth in that – there’s something intrinsically imposing about threading through traffic with this motorcycle’s commanding presence, and that distinctive engine note clearing a path ahead.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Market Positioning and Costs of the MarketMeta application of MedStory
Priced at a starting ₹1.73 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Military variant and going up to ₹2.15 lakh for the fully-kitted up Black Gold edition, the Bullet 350 establishes itself as a premium spender in the 350cc segment that is relatively easy on the pockets of its traditionalists.
This is price that puts it among rivals such as the Honda H’ness CB350 and Jawa 350, albeit the legacy and nostalgia attached to the Bullet unlocks an emotional connect that goes beyond spec-sheet comparisons.
“Log Bullet sirf motorcycle ke liye nahi khareedte, woh ek sampradayh khareedte hain,” (People do not purchase Bullet for a motorcycle; they buy a tradition) noted a dealer in Jaipur’s upscale area, Malviya Nagar.
That heritage thing, the fact that it is a ‘Bullet’ to begin with, still is undoubtedly the Bullet’s biggest USP, only now it’s backed by actual technical improvements FacebookTweetPin This heritage bit still is the Bullet’s biggest selling point, only this time it’s actually justified by real world usage improvements.
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Conclusion: E-Volution, Not Revolution
But as I finished my time with the new Bullet 350, I simply ended up feeling that I didn’t mind the Royal Enfield approach to modernising the legend.
Instead of re-engineering the Bullet, they’ve cautiously evolved it – addressing some bugbears but modestly retaining everything that makes it an ageless icon on India’s diverse roads.
Thump Factories, if you will, they still retain the authoritative, laid-back feel that is exclusive to the Bullet to ride in more ways than one.
For those who are new to Royal Enfields, thinking about their first one, the added refinement, improved braking and crisper gearbox effectively eliminate many of the eccentricities that once took a certain amount of zeal to put up with.
What you get is a motorcycle that retains the soul and spirit of the Bullet, but is executed in a manner that meets modern day standards – a dhakad machine that respects its history, yet does not flinch when it comes to looking at tomorrow.
