Overview
This motorcycle needs no introduction. It is the iconic 'Bullet' by one of the oldest manufacturers which are still in production 'Royal Enfield'. The Bullet was first introduced in India in early 1955 under the name Enfield India and was the first motorcycle to be assembled in India. It soon became famous, and the first model we got was Bullet 350. But hey we aren't here to discuss the history. Instead, we are here to talk about what are we getting in the 21st century. The brand has gone under many changes which makes them still alive. In 2007 all the CI engines were replaced by Unit Construction Engine (UCE), and it allows royal Enfield to increase the displacement and introduce some excellent machines. One of which is the royal enfield bullet 500..
Aesthetics
We are first going to talk about how the motorcycle looks rather than performance because most of the buyers bike because it is a symbol of class from the early era.This royal enfield bullet 500 is a charm for retro fans. It looks the same as it did decades ago. It is beautiful and still relevant, even in 2019.Starting from the front, the motorcycle gets a round headlamp which is precisely from the '50s with two tiny pilot lamps which are called tiger lamps. The headlight gets a polarised glass on the front, and we could barely see the bulb through it. The tiger lamps are also halogens and polarised too.Moving forward we can see the retro-looking massive front fender made purely from metal. The headlamp housing is such that handlebar-T is hiding in there. Housing extends below to hide the front forks. This gives an apparent look. Each and every part of this motorcycle is made from metal just like in the past. The beauty lies in the 13.5 L teardrop-shaped tank. The tank is sported with a 3-d Royal Enfield wing emblem with honey-com details in it. This badge gives a royalty feeling from the king's era. 
Moving forward we can see rectangular metal covering for battery and air filter both sides followed by a triangular utility box where we can keep our tool-kit. The most beautiful part I like other than the tank is this utility box. I mean just look at it how beautifully it has been crafted out.Above this, we get one-piece bucket type retro-style seats that match with the personality of the motorcycle. The seats are supremely comfortable for both rider and pillion and offer a plush ride.
On further moving to the rear we see metal rear fender with square wheel arch for Bullet and round arch for the classic model. The square arch feels very retro. On the rear, we get a round shaped halogen tail lamp incorporated in the very same housing from the early bikes. On the sides of tail-lamp, we get two large round turn indicators with chrome finish on the back with a bullet-like design.I can talk about its looks all day long, but I am sure you don't have that much time.
Another advantage of being a long-stroke engine is that the manufacturers are still able to produce nearly the same 'thump' out of the exhaust. The exhaust also looks the same as old school and is a chrome-plated one with the chrome heat shield on top of it. But sadly, due to strict norms, the sound of the thump has been reduced. This engine is the reason why people buy this bike either for its thump or for the punchy performance.
The punchy motor produces an ample amount of torque to move this 200kg beast along with our weight. The seating height is enough for both tall riders as shorter ones with 800mm, but the rider must have strong legs to balance it in traffic. The handle-bars are almost straight, and the rider's triangle is well maintained, offering a comfortable ride. The seats are well cushioned and wide enough. The motorcycle is most suitable for highway cruising rather than city ridings. The only drawback we will feel on the highway is that the engine hasn't got any top-end after reaching a hundred km/h the engine stresses out and vibrates like hell. It feels like the engine will tear apart from the vibrations, but below 4000 RPMs it can cruise all day.
On further moving to the rear we see metal rear fender with square wheel arch for Bullet and round arch for the classic model. The square arch feels very retro. On the rear, we get a round shaped halogen tail lamp incorporated in the very same housing from the early bikes. On the sides of tail-lamp, we get two large round turn indicators with chrome finish on the back with a bullet-like design.I can talk about its looks all day long, but I am sure you don't have that much time.
Powerplant
The Bullet 500 is powered by a single-cylinder, air-cooled, 500cc UCE. This engine is a low revving as one seen in the past. This 500 cc torquey engine produces 41.3 Nm of peak torque just at 4000 rpm and horsepower of around 27.2 bhp at 5250 RPM. The performance is just punchy and doesn't require much downshifting in traffic. As we are in 2019, we get an Electronic fuel injection instead of an old carburettor. This engine is a twin spark engine with spark plugs on the left and right sides of the head. The motor is a long-stroke one and produces tremendous torque at lower RPMs and doesn't rev much.Another advantage of being a long-stroke engine is that the manufacturers are still able to produce nearly the same 'thump' out of the exhaust. The exhaust also looks the same as old school and is a chrome-plated one with the chrome heat shield on top of it. But sadly, due to strict norms, the sound of the thump has been reduced. This engine is the reason why people buy this bike either for its thump or for the punchy performance.
Ride-ability & Comfort
The suspensions on this motorcycle are well-tuned according to our Indian roads. The front ones are a little soft, but rear feels adequate. Rear shockers are nitrox one and springs are chrome plated.The chassis used is a downtube chassis using the engine as a stressed member.The wheels on this motorcycle are spoked steel rims for added visual appearance and to make it 'go-anywhere motorcycle'. The front wheel is a 19incher wrapped in 90/90 radial tire, and the rear one is a 17-inch wheel with 120/80 section tire.
Accessories
From the accessory point of view, we don't get much in this motorcycle.We get a big analogue speedo dial in the middle with an odometer. On the bottom right side, we get a low fuel indicator and an ABS light. The rearview mirrors offered are circular in profile and chrome garnished.The braking is done by a front 280 mm disc and rear drum. It gets a single-channel ABS. The grabrail of the motorcycle has been redesigned and chrome plated. We also get a chrome-plated headlamp cap for visual appeal.
Colours and Pricing
Royal Enfield Bullet 500 is currently available only in two colours, jet black and forest green. On the black colour, we get silver stripes while on the green colour we get golden stipes. Both colours stand out beautifully.For the pricing, the motorcycle is currently available at Rs. 1.9 Lakhs ex-showroom. |
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