As I get older I find the desire for speed (driving or on two wheels) has evaporated tbh. I much prefer to take my time and enjoy the journey nowadays.
Here's what I did to my 2012 500 Classic to make it a really fun bike. I added 1 tooth to the front sprocket ,like you did,. I then put a bash plate, knobby tyres and a sidecar on it and it was a great adventure bike that never let me down and would go just about anywhere. The only thing I didn't like about it was it was chain drive and where the exhaust pipe sat made it just about impossible to adjust the chain without having to removing the tail pipe. They are great fun and as long as you're not in a hurry to get places you'll love it.
These are the most perfectly imperfect motorcycles in the world. I LOVE my Classic 500. It does nothing particularly well, but it puts a smile on my face very time. Simple, nimble, economical, great conversation starter, vintage yet with modern improvements (fuel injection, disc brakes). I might just have to take mine out today to take in some fall colors!
My W800 has a long stroke engine that makes 80% of it's torque at 2500rpm. Low end grunt makes motorcycles a pleasure to drive on normal roads with normal traffic. Not so good on a race track but racetrack bikes are no fun unless you are driving fast. Too bad RE discontinued the 500. I can pull off from a stop on my W800 without even touching the throttle. Love low end torque.
I test rode a couple of Ural rigs, decided I needed a sidecar (as long as there were still 2-wheelers in the garage). Then I test rode my buddy's Bullet w/Cozy and had my "ah ha" moment. Found a used '10 Bullet 500 w/Rocket and love it. Then RE came out with the Himalayan, I put my name in for the first white '18 our dealer had here in the States months before they were even available. Absolutely my favorite bike in the garage (I have choices). But then I started really wondering about a Bullet w/o a sidecar. Found an '18 Classic Stealth and love it, makes me feel like a Real Gentleman, you can imagine how tough that would be. Himalayan still my favorite but the 'Stealth is nipping at its heals, definitely in the 99th percentile. I understand. Thanks for your content Mr. Brown!
I agree with some of the other comments on here , as I get older I don't need to go fast 60 is plenty, roll with ease and watch the world slowly roll by . And get amazing mpg
Great stuff! I found my 2021 Classic 500 brand new at a dealer in Victoria in 2023, I snapped it up 😀 It was stealth black (not my cup of tea), so I gradually converted it into black and chrome. I did however retain the matt black mud guards.
Lovely looking bike you have there even though, as you know, I don't like spokes. Motorcycle happiness requires a combination of three aspects. The sound, the Feel and the Power. When all three match it is bliss.
Hi VB, It must be nice to have the cc range to choose from according to the job required. My 350 is my first " small bike" since 1975 ish. It's great for the B roads and urban work, which is probably 95% + where buyers would use it. Everything else said about this bike has been covered many times, BUT !,,, that bit more grunt would stretch its appeal to a much bigger old boys market. A 500 J Platform classic would in my opinion be a winner for us older coddgers. Personally, I like the bigger mileage days out, the 350 is excellent for half days and evening jaunts. That's just my opinion. So with your 500 Classic comments in mind, I tend to agree, it could be the best all round bike for todays seasoned riders. I just like the look of the J platform engine, it reminds me of the old Beeza 500 single ( An absolute Classic in it's own right) Come on Enfield, give us a J platform Classic 500, with a Interceptor style frame. Thanks for another great video: you dont want to get mixed up with all that sponsored nonsense, it would compromise your style. Stay true to your beliefs Regards Mike N
It's great to see content on the 500, it has been overshadowed somewhat by the popularity of the J platform 350, but to forget about the UCE 500 would be a big mistake. They are fantastic bikes and in my opinion superior to the J platform 350.
I also have one of the final Classic 500's and I think that they are way better than the new 350's. Royal Enfield have done their best to get people to either forget the 500 or to never even know that there was one. Fit and finish on the 500 is every bit as good as the 350, if not better! The performance is 30+% better in both power and torque and there's no 'tank off' job at every service to adjust tappets, unlike the 350. The seat on the 500 has genuine springs, not like the fake optional ones on the 350. The clocks on the 500 are glass fronted with polished alloy rims, unlike the 350 which has plastic 'glass' and chromed plastic dials. Even the key surround is polished alloy on the 500. It is chromed plastic on the new 350. Even the battery box on the new 350 is a fake one!! The side boxes are only metal fronted on the new 350, they are all metal on the 500. The list is endless as to how much better the 500 is...
My old girl still going ,, Its one of the early imports 1980? its my daily driver BEST money I have ever spent ! worth nothing cost nothing and all good ! Btw we need more like that cz fella that's the future !
I own a 2018 Classic 500, bought it new and the bike got 21000+ km (13048 miles) on the odometer by now. I have had no issues what so ever with this bike, it just runs and runs. I must say that this is a great bike! Thank's for the ride!
@duanetrivett750 Do you have an Enfield dealer anywhere nearby? The 500 classics are a great bike. I don't think you would be disappointed if you could get one!
I have the same bike and same mods exhaust up one tooth and I also fitted the carberry extra crank bearing when changing sprocket, when it reached 7k miles it really started to go well, and because of the hydraulic tappets I change the oil extra soon.
Thanks mr. Brown for this. I am loving my classic 350 but what i miss is that little bit of extra caracter wich the 500 has. I will look for a good used one or wait a little longer for the classic 650. Hope you had a good burger with lots of vitamines ha ha. Greetings from Holland
@berryslokker8949 I think you may be waiting for a long time for the classic 650! The burger was pretty rank and the vitamins were completely absent!!!
Nice 1, I have one of the Redditch C5's (2018 plate) ones, Watching your video and you mentioning sticking an extra tooth sprocket on there, I thought, I fancy doing that, Now the question is, did you do it and did you do a video to cover the process by any chance?
@paulhoughtonhhoughton9188 I did the work but didn't video it. Right hand footrest off, disconnect rear brake at the footrest, right side engine case removed, You can then get at the sprocket, 47mm socket for the nut, fit the 18t sprocket and refit everything in reverse order.
Grand video Mr Brown . What a shame that RE didn't balance the 500 engine like the 350 . I suspect it's because the demand in India for 350s is so strong . The 500 would certainly be my choice . I see that TAYM took your bike for a test drive . Did he give you a couple of quid for petrol ? Nah , I thought not . ( typical Yorkshireman 😅 All the best .
@dungspreader You probably won't believe me, but that 500 is as smooth as the classic 350's! TAYM didn't give me a couple of quid but he did by me some chips which were nearly double the price!!
Great vlog. Proper rock &roll, mcd’s for breakfast, lol. I wonder if the care taken during running has a big effect on vibes & performance? Stu F’s classic also seems to run well at speed with no intrusive vibration. Hydraulic tappets, is there a fix if they go faulty or just strip & replace? Also, do you know what year they were introduced to the Bullet/classic? Looking forward to further adventures.
@martinowl Nothing wrong with McD's if you drive past it! The hydraulic tappets were fitted to all the UCE models both 350 and 500. The motor has to be half stripped to replace them. If one collapses their done.
My Sportster has hydraulic valve adjustments like all Harleys and it is 45 years old and has 400,000 mi on the original engine. I have never had a problem with the valve train at all in 25 years.
It's great to see content on the 500, it has been overshadowed somewhat by the popularity of the J platform 350, but to forget about the UCE 500 would be a big mistake. They are fantastic bikes, they have a kick start as well as electric start, and are in my opinion superior to the J platform 350.
Hello, I'm 60 and enjoying your videos, I've recently part exed my interceptor for a classic 350 and love the bike. It's getting so much more use than the interceptor. I have a mechanical background and intend to service it myself. Do you have any problems making claims on the warranty having servicing the bike yourself? I have an intermittent speedo problem when it's very sunny, so I might have to claim at some point.
@Lynt144 I don't ride either of my 650 Inters very much and prefer my 350's. No prob with warranty claims when you service the bikes yourself. My first Inter had a brand new engine and box under warranty and I had serviced it myself. The speedo claim is common place on the 350's, RE just give you a new one!
Looks and sounds very nice ! How do you rate the leg room? I know you're an above average tall rider and wonder about adapting to this seat to footpegs distance? Also, would any of your other motorcycles layouts more suited to a tall chap?
@FrokieKlarth-qe3ei I don't have any problem at all riding any of my Enfield's, old or new. I don't have to adapt as they are all much of a muchness and all feel pretty much the same, with the exception of the 650 Interceptor. Pegs way too far back for my liking.
Hi , your 500 is gorgeous, I have a 350 classic, can I ask some advice? I’ve put the free flowing filter on from Hiscox which is fine but should I put a different cog on once I’ve run it in ? I have to ask as I haven’t rode for over 40 years 😊
@MsDenver2 Fitting the 16 tooth engine sprocket does bring the revs down some and , I think, makes it a bit nicer to ride. It's a matter of choice really!
It is a good looker for sure and pretty certain my wife would not let me have a 4th bike but would certainly like one. Why do you think it vibrates less without the bar end weights? Nice review of a lovely bike.
😍 Love your content. Riding through terrain I’m very familiar with. Look! ending up where we met tonight. VB I had a lovely time chatting bikes and TH-cam (I’d only popped in for a quick Big Mac). Would be great to meet up with you again soon so that perhaps we can help each other with filming content. If anything, I offer a different angle 😉 Thanks for the Heads Up on the film Two-Lane Blacktop 👍
They are great bikes, I also did the 19th tooth sprocket, carberry reduction plate, dna filter and hitckocks exhaust... also hagon rear shocks and semi off road tyres, it Can cruise at 70mph and go anyware 7000miles now and getting better the morecit does. Would never sell it...
What is 19th tooth sprokect, carberry reduction plate and dna filter.. I have a 11 years old classic 500 and I would like know if I can make it any better with these? Can you kindly help me please
Nice bike,you'll have to get out on it more often!, does that model have a kickstart?, I'm pretty sure the previous 500s did ,and if so being a big single what are they like to kickstart, do you need to use the valve lifter?(if they have one!) Great video, thanks for sharing VB!
@patrickgreenman8248 The later ones all have a kickstarter, some of the earlier ones don't as the factory deleted them. But buyers kicked up such a hoo ha that they had to put them back on! No valve lifter fitted on the UCE models but they all normally start first kick as long as the throttle is kept closed. There is something built in to the ecu which prevents the engine from starting if the throttle is open.
They must be well behaved with no valve lifter ! I've seen a wary Peter Ransom be most careful starting big singles on many videos!,which is one reason I've not got a Velo yet ,(I know I need to man up!),my Trident is easy to start with three cylinders!
@@patrickgreenman8248 Peter did his leg in a while back and is wary for that reason.That is why sometimes he kicks with his left leg. The secret to starting Velo's is to just ease it over compression, carry on depressing the kickstart to the limit of it's travel, let it return to the top and one fast kick will have them running! (Most times!)
You make it sound easy!,my elder brother told me that back in the late 1960s he'd just bought a Gold Star,he was showing off outside a coffee bar when he was trying to look casual when starting it ,he ended up halfway over the handlebars!,that's another reason for me being wary!, maybe you could do a video about starting awkward bikes!!😁
I would buy one of the old style 500 Royal Enfield if they were still in production today. I don't like the little 350 it's heavy underpowered expensive and it's not as well equipped as the 500 is. I like the fact that the 500 can be converted to a carburetor from fuel injection as well as it has a Kickstarter all retro motorcycles should have a Kickstarter
@frankmarkovcijr5459 Well the 350's certainly are not expensive or heavy! They are slightly better equipped than the 500's as you get a fuel gauge, clock etc etc A kickstarter just adds to the cost. Cars haven't had starting handles for decades! it's a bit like saying all retro bikes should have flathead engines!! The classic 350's can also be converted from fuel injection to carburettor too. Just sayin!
@@Volcanicbrown1878 the Royal Enfield 350 meteors are selling for $3,000 lb on the road. Everyone who wants an overpriced underpowered fake British motorcycle has gotten one and has been disappointed with it which is why Facebook marketplace is drowning in Royal Enfield 350 for sale at giveaway prices. In England you have curvy little roads that are barely wide enough for two cars fast one another and so you can use a low-powered 350 single in America a low-powered 350 single on the highway makes you roadkill and someone's hood ornament. Western sales were not enough to continue production of the 500 which were a drop in the bucket compared to the 350 sales in India. It was good that Royal Enfield still had a Kickstarter on their bikes because this way you can still start the bike if the battery was low just like the Euro still has a Kickstarter on their bikes. My 1998 and 1/2 Euro tourist is one of the first ones made with an electric starter after 60 years of making them Kickstart only. I like kickstarting my URL in front of all the Harley people to show them how to take start a real motorcycle. Flathead engines are very good engines cool running and long-lasting, they only make half of the horsepower of a overhead valve version of the same displacement but with low compression half a kick and the bike will start and after working all day you don't want to fight with kick-starting your motorcycle in order to get it to go take you home. A place that starts with half a Kik in walking shoes is much better than a high horsepower bike that is a pain in the ass to start. Of course my Triumph is a 1 or 2 kick starting bike. I wanted to put a Kickstarter on my 1999 883 Harley-Davidson Sportster but my mechanic refused to do it. They made a conscious decision not to make hydraulic valves adjustments with the 350 in order to make you take it to the dealer or to make you have to do it yourself instead of not having to do it at all. The 500 also had 10 more horsepower and was never considered underpowered in everyday riding and could get to 85 mph. Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on two wheels. That's what I like about my vintage motorcycles they don't have any regulations at all
Hi. I am going to pick up on your camera repair. My 91 year old mothers call entry box is faulty despite yearly “services” and has been quoted £1000 for a replacement. Would your friend be willing to look at it ?
I love the hydraulic valve adjustment of my Sportster that means for maintenance all I have to do is change the engine oil and the transmission fluid and the oil filter and I'm done. 30 minutes in my driveway and I don't need any expensive dealer servicing and I don't have to adjust the valves manually I guess because I'm lazy. It's one thing not to have to do something and it's something else when you have to do something and you put it off. The only thing to bite needs is felt final drive. Belt drive lash 100,000 mi + or more. I have 400,000 mi on my Sportster and I am on the third belt and on the original sprockets.
Chains are more efficient and nowadays last well.Belts break when a rock flies up in there .Chain drive allows final drive gearing mods.You can have your belt.
@@deltabluesdavidraye change nowadays are expensive as hell and they still don't last as long as a belt does and you can go on about a rock getting caught in a bell well I don't go off-roading with my Sportster. It also smoothed out the power pulses from the engine making the bike smoother. Changing the gearing that's only for guys who go racing. If my bike was chain drive I would have paid more for change and sprockets over 25 years than what I paid for the bike. When a chain breaks it goes right through your engine cases when a belt breaks it just ends up on the ground you can keep your chain. A drive belt lasts 100,000 mi Plus , show me a chain that will last a hundred thousand miles plus. Belt drive is much cleaner than a chain and you don't have to spend all of those hours lubricating and cleaning the chain and the back end of your bike from all of the chain splatter from the chain lubricant.
@deltabluesdavidraye @frankmarkovcijr5459 All the HD's I had in the past, Evo FatBoy, Twin cam Heritage Soft tail, and 53C 883 Sportster, all had belt drive. The problem is over here, is that they spray Tar on the road and then put a layer of Granite chippings on the surface. As you ride over the "New" road surface, the tyres pick up the chippings which have tar all over them and the back wheel does a great job of throwing them at the belt. The ones that land on the inner surface of the belt really stick and as they go round the rear belt pulley that it, they punch through the belt. Game over! All three of my HD's did it on more than one occasion.
@@Volcanicbrown1878 I love shaft drive on all of my BMW motorcycles and my Honda CX500 that I had back in the 90s. I can't put a shaft drive on my Harley but the belt drive is just as close. I had to replace the belt drive three times on my Harley Sportster. The shaft drive on my CX500 Honda outlasted the motorcycle it was attached to. My URL two-piece drive shaft I had to replace with the one piece driveshaft which was twice as much work. But I did it myself because nobody would do it for me. Shaft drive is the way to go I only deal with chain drive with my vintage British motorcycles and my JAWA Perwak 250 2-stroke twin. I love the hydraulic valve adjustments and the belt drive on my Sportster which make it almost totally maintenance-free outside of changing the fluids and the oil filter periodically.
Good video. I agree with you completely. I have three, an iron barrel 500ES, a 350 red chrome and one of the very last 500 trials replicas. The Trials replica is easily my favourite for all the reasons you give. Edward
So they discontinue the 500 but then bring out the Guerrilla 450. Why not just leave the 500 an option. A 350 classic as a 500 classic would be perfect for slightly heavier riders.
Because enfield have to move with the times and there going to use the new 450 water-cooled platform in a few bikes. Hopefully we will see the 650 classic later this year 😉
@jjstuartonwriting8150 They dropped the 500 because they couldn't get it to meet the emissions. That 450 "Guerrilla" looks very generic and doesn't interest me one bit.
I would have thought that your number of subscribers and views etc would have qualified you to be monetised, it’s a poor show, unlike your videos which are great ! 🇬🇧
As I get older I find the desire for speed (driving or on two wheels) has evaporated tbh. I much prefer to take my time and enjoy the journey nowadays.
Here's what I did to my 2012 500 Classic to make it a really fun bike. I added 1 tooth to the front sprocket ,like you did,. I then put a bash plate, knobby tyres and a sidecar on it and it was a great adventure bike that never let me down and would go just about anywhere. The only thing I didn't like about it was it was chain drive and where the exhaust pipe sat made it just about impossible to adjust the chain without having to removing the tail pipe. They are great fun and as long as you're not in a hurry to get places you'll love it.
@davidrochow9382 Even if you are in a hurry, you will love it!
These are the most perfectly imperfect motorcycles in the world. I LOVE my Classic 500. It does nothing particularly well, but it puts a smile on my face very time. Simple, nimble, economical, great conversation starter, vintage yet with modern improvements (fuel injection, disc brakes). I might just have to take mine out today to take in some fall colors!
@briand4000 Couldn't agree more!
My W800 has a long stroke engine that makes 80% of it's torque at 2500rpm. Low end grunt makes motorcycles a pleasure to drive on normal roads with normal traffic. Not so good on a race track but racetrack bikes are no fun unless you are driving fast. Too bad RE discontinued the 500. I can pull off from a stop on my W800 without even touching the throttle. Love low end torque.
@Bob-xc2us I agree!
i look forward to your easy going vids. keep them coming.
@arthurpendragon7224 Thanks, will do!
Love your videos, it's not about speed it's about enjoying the ride! My best wishes to you from the Philippines ❤️💪👍😉😀😁🏁🏍️🛺🐑🇵🇭🏴
@gordonsuddery4635 Thankyou! It's not what your riding, it's where you are going to that matters!
I test rode a couple of Ural rigs, decided I needed a sidecar (as long as there were still 2-wheelers in the garage). Then I test rode my buddy's Bullet w/Cozy and had my "ah ha" moment. Found a used '10 Bullet 500 w/Rocket and love it. Then RE came out with the Himalayan, I put my name in for the first white '18 our dealer had here in the States months before they were even available. Absolutely my favorite bike in the garage (I have choices). But then I started really wondering about a Bullet w/o a sidecar. Found an '18 Classic Stealth and love it, makes me feel like a Real Gentleman, you can imagine how tough that would be. Himalayan still my favorite but the 'Stealth is nipping at its heals, definitely in the 99th percentile.
I understand. Thanks for your content Mr. Brown!
@TheCoopdway Your welcome!
I agree with some of the other comments on here , as I get older I don't need to go fast 60 is plenty, roll with ease and watch the world slowly roll by . And get amazing mpg
Great stuff! I found my 2021 Classic 500 brand new at a dealer in Victoria in 2023, I snapped it up 😀 It was stealth black (not my cup of tea), so I gradually converted it into black and chrome. I did however retain the matt black mud guards.
@felixVanDiemen Wow! That was a late find!
@@Volcanicbrown1878 Sure was! I was very lucky 😄
@@felixVanDiemen I have the same, here in Aus as well, stealth black 2021. Polish the matt black and it gets quite glossy. That's what I've done.
Lovely looking bike you have there even though, as you know, I don't like spokes. Motorcycle happiness requires a combination of three aspects. The sound, the Feel and the Power. When all three match it is bliss.
@brockett Yep! There is more to bikes than spokes!
Hi VB,
It must be nice to have the cc range to choose from according to the job required.
My 350 is my first " small bike" since 1975 ish.
It's great for the B roads and urban work, which is probably 95% + where buyers would use it.
Everything else said about this bike has been covered many times, BUT !,,, that bit more grunt would stretch its appeal to a much bigger old boys market.
A 500 J Platform classic would in my opinion be a winner for us older coddgers.
Personally, I like the bigger mileage days out, the 350 is excellent for half days and evening jaunts.
That's just my opinion.
So with your 500 Classic comments in mind, I tend to agree, it could be the best all round bike for todays seasoned riders.
I just like the look of the J platform engine, it reminds me of the old Beeza 500 single ( An absolute Classic in it's own right)
Come on Enfield, give us a J platform Classic 500, with a Interceptor style frame.
Thanks for another great video: you dont want to get mixed up with all that sponsored nonsense, it would compromise your style.
Stay true to your beliefs
Regards
Mike N
A very classy looking bike: No question and what fuel economy. Its a Winner. Thanks for showing us this bike.
@dezmondwhitney1208 Glad you liked it!
@@Volcanicbrown1878 I did indeed. I have just returned to biking on a CBF1000; Having got used to the 'Fours' for years. Great Channel fair play.
It's great to see content on the 500, it has been overshadowed somewhat by the popularity of the J platform 350, but to forget about the UCE 500 would be a big mistake. They are fantastic bikes and in my opinion superior to the J platform 350.
Beautiful bike and loved the commentary. They are a thing of beauty and a pleasure to ride. Thanks for the video.
@Johnnywestoz Glad you enjoyed it!
I also have one of the final Classic 500's and I think that they are way better than the new 350's. Royal Enfield have done their best to get people to either forget the 500 or to never even know that there was one. Fit and finish on the 500 is every bit as good as the 350, if not better! The performance is 30+% better in both power and torque and there's no 'tank off' job at every service to adjust tappets, unlike the 350. The seat on the 500 has genuine springs, not like the fake optional ones on the 350. The clocks on the 500 are glass fronted with polished alloy rims, unlike the 350 which has plastic 'glass' and chromed plastic dials. Even the key surround is polished alloy on the 500. It is chromed plastic on the new 350. Even the battery box on the new 350 is a fake one!! The side boxes are only metal fronted on the new 350, they are all metal on the 500. The list is endless as to how much better the 500 is...
@richardyardley5127 And that my friend is why we own them!
My old girl still going ,, Its one of the early imports 1980? its my daily driver BEST money I have ever spent ! worth nothing cost nothing and all good ! Btw we need more like that cz fella that's the future !
I own a 2018 Classic 500, bought it new and the bike got 21000+ km (13048 miles) on the odometer by now. I have had no issues what so ever with this bike, it just runs and runs. I must say that this is a great bike! Thank's for the ride!
@tompas11A3n52KkX Thankyou!
Just have to say I love your channel! Keeping it real always! Thanks ❤
@Thruxtonrider21 I appreciate that!
This was a killer Video ! That is a great looking Bike . I am really thinking about a 500 now .
Thanks for the video.
@duanetrivett750 Do you have an Enfield dealer anywhere nearby? The 500 classics are a great bike. I don't think you would be disappointed if you could get one!
I have the same bike and same mods exhaust up one tooth and I also fitted the carberry extra crank bearing when changing sprocket, when it reached 7k miles it really started to go well, and because of the hydraulic tappets I change the oil extra soon.
@dozerblade I did consider the Carberry plate but this bike runs so smoothly, I didn't bother.
Just a beautiful and great bike ! 👍🏼👍🏼
@sergemoreillon1236 Thankyou kindly!
Mr slendiferous recommended you. Excellent channel and adding one of these to Daytona
Thanks mr. Brown for this. I am loving my classic 350 but what i miss is that little bit of extra caracter wich the 500 has. I will look for a good used one or wait a little longer for the classic 650. Hope you had a good burger with lots of vitamines ha ha.
Greetings from Holland
@berryslokker8949 I think you may be waiting for a long time for the classic 650! The burger was pretty rank and the vitamins were completely absent!!!
it looks really comfortable, a very easy going experience.
@robbie2awesome Very comfortable indeed!
Like the single seat,great looking machine
Nice 1, I have one of the Redditch C5's (2018 plate) ones, Watching your video and you mentioning sticking an extra tooth sprocket on there, I thought, I fancy doing that, Now the question is, did you do it and did you do a video to cover the process by any chance?
@paulhoughtonhhoughton9188 I did the work but didn't video it. Right hand footrest off, disconnect rear brake at the footrest, right side engine case removed, You can then get at the sprocket, 47mm socket for the nut, fit the 18t sprocket and refit everything in reverse order.
Grand video Mr Brown . What a shame that RE didn't balance the 500 engine like the 350 . I suspect it's because the demand in India for 350s is so strong .
The 500 would certainly be my choice .
I see that TAYM took your bike for a test drive . Did he give you a couple of quid for petrol ?
Nah , I thought not . ( typical Yorkshireman 😅
All the best .
@dungspreader You probably won't believe me, but that 500 is as smooth as the classic 350's! TAYM didn't give me a couple of quid but he did by me some chips which were nearly double the price!!
I really like that 500cc you have . I see them sometime here in Tennessee. I would like to have one .
@duanetrivett750 Go for it!
Great vlog. Proper rock &roll, mcd’s for breakfast, lol. I wonder if the care taken during running has a big effect on vibes & performance? Stu F’s classic also seems to run well at speed with no intrusive vibration.
Hydraulic tappets, is there a fix if they go faulty or just strip & replace? Also, do you know what year they were introduced to the Bullet/classic? Looking forward to further adventures.
@martinowl Nothing wrong with McD's if you drive past it! The hydraulic tappets were fitted to all the UCE models both 350 and 500. The motor has to be half stripped to replace them. If one collapses their done.
My Sportster has hydraulic valve adjustments like all Harleys and it is 45 years old and has 400,000 mi on the original engine. I have never had a problem with the valve train at all in 25 years.
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 That’s not bad going, is it. 👍
I have lots of bikes,including a Classic 350,- but still tempted by a UCE 500. ;-)
@CrowsBrother Highly recommended!
It's great to see content on the 500, it has been overshadowed somewhat by the popularity of the J platform 350, but to forget about the UCE 500 would be a big mistake. They are fantastic bikes, they have a kick start as well as electric start, and are in my opinion superior to the J platform 350.
@felixVanDiemen Very true!
Hello, I'm 60 and enjoying your videos, I've recently part exed my interceptor for a classic 350 and love the bike. It's getting so much more use than the interceptor.
I have a mechanical background and intend to service it myself.
Do you have any problems making claims on the warranty having servicing the bike yourself?
I have an intermittent speedo problem when it's very sunny, so I might have to claim at some point.
@Lynt144 I don't ride either of my 650 Inters very much and prefer my 350's. No prob with warranty claims when you service the bikes yourself. My first Inter had a brand new engine and box under warranty and I had serviced it myself. The speedo claim is common place on the 350's, RE just give you a new one!
Enjoyed your video today, Brown. I’m looking at my first classic 500. It’s a 2011 bullet 500 Electra. Any thoughts on that year /model? Cheers.
@johnc6165 The later, the better.
Looks and sounds very nice !
How do you rate the leg room? I know you're an above average tall rider and wonder about adapting to this seat to footpegs distance?
Also, would any of your other motorcycles layouts more suited to a tall chap?
@FrokieKlarth-qe3ei I don't have any problem at all riding any of my Enfield's, old or new. I don't have to adapt as they are all much of a muchness and all feel pretty much the same, with the exception of the 650 Interceptor. Pegs way too far back for my liking.
Hi , your 500 is gorgeous, I have a 350 classic, can I ask some advice? I’ve put the free flowing filter on from Hiscox which is fine but should I put a different cog on once I’ve run it in ? I have to ask as I haven’t rode for over 40 years 😊
@MsDenver2 Fitting the 16 tooth engine sprocket does bring the revs down some and , I think, makes it a bit nicer to ride. It's a matter of choice really!
It is a good looker for sure and pretty certain my wife would not let me have a 4th bike but would certainly like one. Why do you think it vibrates less without the bar end weights? Nice review of a lovely bike.
@blearyview2254 Just don't tell her! Regarding the vibes and bar end weights, I have no idea!
😍 Love your content. Riding through terrain I’m very familiar with. Look! ending up where we met tonight. VB I had a lovely time chatting bikes and TH-cam (I’d only popped in for a quick Big Mac). Would be great to meet up with you again soon so that perhaps we can help each other with filming content. If anything, I offer a different angle 😉 Thanks for the Heads Up on the film Two-Lane Blacktop 👍
@roadtestpilot Awesome! Thank you! Great meet up with a fellow tuber. I'm down there most weekends!
They are great bikes, I also did the 19th tooth sprocket, carberry reduction plate, dna filter and hitckocks exhaust... also hagon rear shocks and semi off road tyres, it Can cruise at 70mph and go anyware 7000miles now and getting better the morecit does. Would never sell it...
@pauleckett6713 I would never sell mine either!
What is 19th tooth sprokect, carberry reduction plate and dna filter.. I have a 11 years old classic 500 and I would like know if I can make it any better with these? Can you kindly help me please
@@rahulsamaddar7275 you can all of the above from "Hitchocks" also fited there silencer to, trasforms the bike.
Nice bike,you'll have to get out on it more often!, does that model have a kickstart?, I'm pretty sure the previous 500s did ,and if so being a big single what are they like to kickstart, do you need to use the valve lifter?(if they have one!) Great video, thanks for sharing VB!
@patrickgreenman8248 The later ones all have a kickstarter, some of the earlier ones don't as the factory deleted them. But buyers kicked up such a hoo ha that they had to put them back on! No valve lifter fitted on the UCE models but they all normally start first kick as long as the throttle is kept closed. There is something built in to the ecu which prevents the engine from starting if the throttle is open.
They must be well behaved with no valve lifter ! I've seen a wary Peter Ransom be most careful starting big singles on many videos!,which is one reason I've not got a Velo yet ,(I know I need to man up!),my Trident is easy to start with three cylinders!
@@patrickgreenman8248 Peter did his leg in a while back and is wary for that reason.That is why sometimes he kicks with his left leg. The secret to starting Velo's is to just ease it over compression, carry on depressing the kickstart to the limit of it's travel, let it return to the top and one fast kick will have them running! (Most times!)
You make it sound easy!,my elder brother told me that back in the late 1960s he'd just bought a Gold Star,he was showing off outside a coffee bar when he was trying to look casual when starting it ,he ended up halfway over the handlebars!,that's another reason for me being wary!, maybe you could do a video about starting awkward bikes!!😁
@@patrickgreenman8248 Panther's are good at that! If I did a video on starting awkward bikes it would feature a rolling road!
I wonder if the bars will fit a classic 350, I prefer the slightly lower position.
@l0ner1der Yes, they will fit.
@@Volcanicbrown1878 thanks
Thought I recognised the area. I live in TSM.
@4crevis Yes, I recognise the area I live in too! (Not TSM, but close!)
I would buy one of the old style 500 Royal Enfield if they were still in production today. I don't like the little 350 it's heavy underpowered expensive and it's not as well equipped as the 500 is. I like the fact that the 500 can be converted to a carburetor from fuel injection as well as it has a Kickstarter all retro motorcycles should have a Kickstarter
@frankmarkovcijr5459 Well the 350's certainly are not expensive or heavy! They are slightly better equipped than the 500's as you get a fuel gauge, clock etc etc A kickstarter just adds to the cost. Cars haven't had starting handles for decades! it's a bit like saying all retro bikes should have flathead engines!! The classic 350's can also be converted from fuel injection to carburettor too. Just sayin!
@@Volcanicbrown1878 the Royal Enfield 350 meteors are selling for $3,000 lb on the road. Everyone who wants an overpriced underpowered fake British motorcycle has gotten one and has been disappointed with it which is why Facebook marketplace is drowning in Royal Enfield 350 for sale at giveaway prices. In England you have curvy little roads that are barely wide enough for two cars fast one another and so you can use a low-powered 350 single in America a low-powered 350 single on the highway makes you roadkill and someone's hood ornament. Western sales were not enough to continue production of the 500 which were a drop in the bucket compared to the 350 sales in India. It was good that Royal Enfield still had a Kickstarter on their bikes because this way you can still start the bike if the battery was low just like the Euro still has a Kickstarter on their bikes. My 1998 and 1/2 Euro tourist is one of the first ones made with an electric starter after 60 years of making them Kickstart only. I like kickstarting my URL in front of all the Harley people to show them how to take start a real motorcycle. Flathead engines are very good engines cool running and long-lasting, they only make half of the horsepower of a overhead valve version of the same displacement but with low compression half a kick and the bike will start and after working all day you don't want to fight with kick-starting your motorcycle in order to get it to go take you home. A place that starts with half a Kik in walking shoes is much better than a high horsepower bike that is a pain in the ass to start. Of course my Triumph is a 1 or 2 kick starting bike. I wanted to put a Kickstarter on my 1999 883 Harley-Davidson Sportster but my mechanic refused to do it. They made a conscious decision not to make hydraulic valves adjustments with the 350 in order to make you take it to the dealer or to make you have to do it yourself instead of not having to do it at all. The 500 also had 10 more horsepower and was never considered underpowered in everyday riding and could get to 85 mph. Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on two wheels. That's what I like about my vintage motorcycles they don't have any regulations at all
Hi. I am going to pick up on your camera repair. My 91 year old mothers call entry box is faulty despite yearly “services” and has been quoted £1000 for a replacement. Would your friend be willing to look at it ?
@jonathanmellish4439 I can ask the question.
Much appreciated
It's certainly a pretty looking bike.
@BulletBeena That's why I bought the chrome version!
I love the hydraulic valve adjustment of my Sportster that means for maintenance all I have to do is change the engine oil and the transmission fluid and the oil filter and I'm done. 30 minutes in my driveway and I don't need any expensive dealer servicing and I don't have to adjust the valves manually I guess because I'm lazy. It's one thing not to have to do something and it's something else when you have to do something and you put it off. The only thing to bite needs is felt final drive. Belt drive lash 100,000 mi + or more. I have 400,000 mi on my Sportster and I am on the third belt and on the original sprockets.
Chains are more efficient and nowadays last well.Belts break when a rock flies up in there .Chain drive allows final drive gearing mods.You can have your belt.
@@deltabluesdavidraye change nowadays are expensive as hell and they still don't last as long as a belt does and you can go on about a rock getting caught in a bell well I don't go off-roading with my Sportster. It also smoothed out the power pulses from the engine making the bike smoother. Changing the gearing that's only for guys who go racing. If my bike was chain drive I would have paid more for change and sprockets over 25 years than what I paid for the bike. When a chain breaks it goes right through your engine cases when a belt breaks it just ends up on the ground you can keep your chain. A drive belt lasts 100,000 mi Plus , show me a chain that will last a hundred thousand miles plus. Belt drive is much cleaner than a chain and you don't have to spend all of those hours lubricating and cleaning the chain and the back end of your bike from all of the chain splatter from the chain lubricant.
@deltabluesdavidraye
@frankmarkovcijr5459 All the HD's I had in the past, Evo FatBoy, Twin cam Heritage Soft tail, and 53C 883 Sportster, all had belt drive. The problem is over here, is that they spray Tar on the road and then put a layer of Granite chippings on the surface. As you ride over the "New" road surface, the tyres pick up the chippings which have tar all over them and the back wheel does a great job of throwing them at the belt. The ones that land on the inner surface of the belt really stick and as they go round the rear belt pulley that it, they punch through the belt. Game over! All three of my HD's did it on more than one occasion.
@frankmarkovcijr5459 Shaft drive is the way to go!
@@Volcanicbrown1878 I love shaft drive on all of my BMW motorcycles and my Honda CX500 that I had back in the 90s. I can't put a shaft drive on my Harley but the belt drive is just as close. I had to replace the belt drive three times on my Harley Sportster. The shaft drive on my CX500 Honda outlasted the motorcycle it was attached to. My URL two-piece drive shaft I had to replace with the one piece driveshaft which was twice as much work. But I did it myself because nobody would do it for me. Shaft drive is the way to go I only deal with chain drive with my vintage British motorcycles and my JAWA Perwak 250 2-stroke twin. I love the hydraulic valve adjustments and the belt drive on my Sportster which make it almost totally maintenance-free outside of changing the fluids and the oil filter periodically.
Good video. I agree with you completely. I have three, an iron barrel 500ES, a 350 red chrome and one of the very last 500 trials replicas. The Trials replica is easily my favourite for all the reasons you give. Edward
@edwardwest5035 I have the 500 AVL engined trials replica. I bought it as a none runner and it is still that way now!
Moments before you told us that you get paid nothing by youtube your video was interrupted by an ad. How crooked are they?
@54macdog That doesn't surprise me and in answer to your last question, Very!
Wow, a motorcyclist who actually uses top gear before 80mph!
@stevetaylor8698 I tend to ride on the torque and not the revs, but I know what you mean!
So they discontinue the 500 but then bring out the Guerrilla 450. Why not just leave the 500 an option. A 350 classic as a 500 classic would be perfect for slightly heavier riders.
Emissions
Because enfield have to move with the times and there going to use the new 450 water-cooled platform in a few bikes. Hopefully we will see the 650 classic later this year 😉
@jjstuartonwriting8150 They dropped the 500 because they couldn't get it to meet the emissions. That 450 "Guerrilla" looks very generic and doesn't interest me one bit.
@JIMWSMITH I wouldn't hold your breath on a 650 classic!
@Volcanicbrown1878 why ?
The worstmistake Enfield did was to stop the 500......nice review though.... Don't buy 650 relish what u have
@gsoni79 I have the 650 but much prefer the 500!
I would have thought that your number of subscribers and views etc would have qualified you to be monetised, it’s a poor show, unlike your videos which are great ! 🇬🇧
@stewy62 TH-cam, Hmmm, Don't get me started!