Royal Enfield Bullet 350: Should You Buy One?

If you’ve seen the Royal Enfield Classic 350 review, you might not need to read further. Take a test ride, be amazed at how small the difference is between the Classic 350 and Bullet 350, and pick the one you prefer.

Whether you choose the slightly more stylish Classic or the slightly more traditional Bullet, you can’t go wrong. There’s that moment when the sound, the pace, and the feeling softly click together—and you’ll catch yourself having fun on the Bullet.

The Short Version

The Classic 350 and Bullet 350 are mechanically identical. The differences are cosmetic:

Slightly different tank
Slightly different seat
Slightly different handlebar

These make you sit taller in a more open-chested riding position. Some will like this; others won’t.

Pricing Across the Range

Variant Range	Price Span
Entry to Top	~₹40,000 difference
Top Model	Similar to Chrome Classic 350

The top model features a nice interplay of gloss and matte black with hand-painted pinstripes.

Design: Old Made New

The challenge for Royal Enfield: make an all-new Bullet look exactly like the all-old Bullet. Fortunately, they’re already very good at this.

The J-series Bullet:

Looks great
Goes well
Feels absolutely amazing
Every panel is new (compared to old UCE)
Excellent finish levels
Good attention to detail
Build quality matches modern RE standards

Pro tip: If you’re exhausted by decades of black Bullets, the maroon-meets-brown color is a great alternative.

The J-Series Engine

The J-series throws a very slick party with no real surprises:

Characteristic	Details
Character	Smooth, torque-focused
Usable range	10-90 km/h effortlessly
Highway cruise	100+ km/h easy, though acceleration tapers
Fuel economy	Low 30s to mid-30s km/l

UCE vs J-Series: Don’t Bother Comparing

The results will sound like marketing, not engineering:

J-series is smoother
More relaxed
Faster
Bigger speed range
More reliable

There’s no planet where these two engines are comparable. The J makes the UCE look silly—as it should.

Comfort and Handling

Comfort:

Extra foam in the seat feels nice
The chassis is trustworthy and confident
Choose any pace you like—slow or swift

Handling:

Decent brakes (though less effort for same force would be welcome)
Not as light on its feet as Triumph Speed 400
Not as enthusiastic in twisties as Harley-Davidson X440
But perfectly adequate for what the Bullet is meant to be

Living With It

Service and Warranty:

Service twice a year
Oil changes every other service
Standard RE warranty coverage

Things to Know:

Polished engine cases lose their sheen over time (black cases easier to live with)
Fuel gauges on all 350s are iffy
Tripper navigation not standard
Most Classic 350 accessories transfer directly to Bullet

Classic vs Bullet: How to Choose

Many feel shortchanged that Royal Enfield made these so close to each other. But remember: the 2009 Bullet 350 is what became the Classic 350. They’ve always been cosmetic cousins.

From 2009 until September 2021, they remained cosmetic cousins, leaving emissions hurdles behind in a blur of nostalgia and vibration. The popularity of the Classic 350 and the cult following of the UCE Bullet probably delayed the J-series Bullet’s arrival.

Choose the Bullet if:

You prefer the more traditional, upright stance
The open-chested riding position appeals to you
Classic Bullet heritage matters to you
You want that specific Bullet character

Choose the Classic if:

You prefer the slightly more stylish aesthetic
The Classic’s seat and bar position suits you better
You want the modern interpretation of the icon

The Verdict

The difference between these two—apart from stories and history—has always been tiny. Both deliver:

That signature Royal Enfield experience
Modern J-series reliability and smoothness
Excellent build quality
The ability to make ordinary rides feel special

The choice comes down to taste. Neither is wrong. Both capture what makes Royal Enfield special while finally delivering the modern engineering these icons deserved.

What would you choose? The traditional Bullet or the stylish Classic?