The Bullet is the last Royal Enfield model to be upgraded to the J-platform which currently underpins the Classic, Hunter and Meteor 350s.
Royal Enfield’s legendary Bullet 350 is all-set to get an overhaul very soon and we’ve now learnt that the price announcement for this motorcycle will take place on September 1. Chief among the updates is the move to RE’s more modern J-platform, with the much smoother 349cc engine that’s already present in the Classic, Meteor and Hunter 350s.
- Shares engine and chassis with Classic 350
- Will continue to get hand-painted pinstripes on the tank
The 349cc J-platform engine replaces the longstanding 346cc UCE motor that’s been doing duty in the Bullet 350 since 2010. The current Bullet 350 is the last bike to use RE’s older UCE motor. Output figures are yet unconfirmed but expect the new Bullet 350 to produce roughly the same 20hp and 27Nm, like all the other J-platform models.
Like it was the case earlier, the updated Bullet 350 will share a lot in common with the Classic 350. The engine and chassis will be the same between the two but there will be some smaller design differences, with the Bullet getting a single-piece seat, a different tail-lamp, a rectangular battery box, and the removal of the hood over the headlight. We’ve also learnt that the Bullet 350 will continue to get its traditional, hand-painted pinstripes on the fuel tank and side panels.
Coming to the pricing, sources in the know have indicated to us that prices for the new Bullet 350 will be hiked by around Rs 10,000-12,000. However, it remains to be seen if RE wishes to go more aggressive with the price in response to new threats from Triumph and Harley-Davidson. Before the introduction of the Hunter 350 last year, the Bullet 350 was the entry-point to the Royal Enfield range. However, expect the updated Bullet 350 to be priced somewhere between the Hunter 350 (starts at Rs 1.50 lakh) and Classic 350 (goes up to Rs 2.25 lakh).
All prices are ex-showroom, Chennai
Also see:
New Royal Enfield Bullet 350: Clearest spy shots yet
2023 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650 review: Retros refreshed