2023 Royal Enfield Bullet 350: Everything you need to know

Royal Enfield has sent us a Block Your Date invitation for August 30-September 1, 2023, hinting at the launch of an ‘old’ motorcycle. This is most likely the new Bullet 350, which will finally get the smoother 349cc engine from the J-platform that powers the Classic, Meteor and Hunter 350.

The Bullet has been around since 1931 and is the last model to use the 346cc UCE engine that saved RE from bankruptcy and made it a leader in the middleweight segment when it debuted in 2010. The UCE engine will be retired once the Bullet gets the J-platform upgrade.

What’s new in the 2023 Bullet 350?

The new Bullet 350 will be very similar to the current Classic 350, except for a few minor changes like a single-seat, a different rear light, and no headlight cover. The engine output and chassis will be the same as the other J-platform models, with 20hp and 27Nm of torque.

One of the significant improvements in the new Bullet 350 is the addition of a fuel gauge, a feature that was missing in the previous models. The fit and finish of the bike has also been improved tremendously. The bike will continue to have its traditional hand-painted pinstripes on the fuel tank and panels, maintaining its iconic look.

How much will it cost and who are its rivals?

The pricing and positioning of the Bullet will be interesting to watch, as it used to be the most affordable and basic RE model before the Hunter took that spot last year. The Hunter costs Rs 1.5 lakh, while the Classic costs Rs 1.93 lakh, leaving a big gap in between. We expect the 2023 Bullet 350 price to start at Rs 1.95 lakh (ex-showroom). It remains to be seen where the new Bullet fits in this range. The Bullet 350 will compete with the likes of the Jawa 42, TVS Ronin, Royal Enfield Hunter 350, etc.