Q. Planning to purchase a royal enfield, but am confused between the 350cc and the 500cc variant.i want to buy the standard variant for any of the model, as the classic series is too common on the streets these days. the new standard 350cc comes with electric start and disc brakes as per few videos on YouTube. however, loved the forest green colour of the standard 500. heard the 500cc is very expensive to maintain in the long run and unreliable compared to the 350cc.I'll be using the bike for mostly for daily commute as well as occasional weekend rides. please suggest.

Go for standard 500 CC bullet. Engine is the same as classic 500. Now abs is standard for all bikes. I am using 500 cc classic model for last 8 years on a daily basis and that too in a crowded Mumbai Traffic. Engine is quite reliable. Well as said 500 cc comes with its own set of issues such as oil leakage. vibration at high speeds, low mileage between 25 to 30 that too post 9k KMS of running. Engines becomes free post 9k KMS..However in new models vibration issue stands sorted to some extent. Mirrors need be changed for better rear view. Go for avenger mirrors. Electric fittings are good. However instrument cluster is an old analogue one and no refinement in it, also the same gets disfunctional after sometime, Post that install a German made analogue console which comes for around 1500. Overall a good bike, highly stable on highways, good body balance, u can drive with both hands off the handle. If u r ready to shelly out 20k a year on maintenance, it will give you a pleasurable experience life long..Even after 200 KMS of running in one stretch u won't feel wired out at all.I will strongly recommend 500 cc bike

Only difference is 350 dont use efi and 500 does. Efi is handy if you understand fuse system and even if it blows up u can change with spare one and you are ready to go. Maintenance is same not much difference. Use motul 5100 instead of topgun which is water provided by RE as your engine oil. Do PDI checks throughly as build quality is going down compared to old RE. Test drive both bikes as 500 have extra power so decide after test drive. I owned 500 ds 5 years back. When i went to buy i was looking for 350 but other guy took it for test ride so i took 500 for test ride and till date i never ride 350. So deside after test ride. Best of luck.

1. Daily commute - 350 cc2. Standerd looks unique these days 3. Reliability both are the same 4. Cost of ownership more or less same. 15k kms u will have to replace the fuel filter. Which is 2.5k added ro the service. 5. Milage it depends up on how we ride it. I get around 40 avarage when i drive it casually. Same way i have got a milage of 24 when i was in a hurry.6. If u need a nimble bike with all power like a 200 or 250 cc bike take the 500. Fond of dhug dhug dhug music go for 350. 7. One more thing tyres wears off like 5k kms before 350s. 20k kms tyre life on 350 and in 500 u will wear it of withing 15k kms.