New Enfield 350

[croyde]

Just been on the Ducati, only bought a few months ago, for the commute to work. Nearly all of it is now 20mph limit and the poor Monster does not like it.

2nd gear and it needs clutch slip to stop it stalling, no fun at all and a small movement of the throttle and I'm doing a death defying and licence busting 36mph.

Bought with my heart after a fantastic test ride on great roads down near the South Coast. But reality is work and hardly any days off plus a within London commute. My Vespa 300's voltage regulator has gone and will need a virtually total strip down to swap out.

Saw a fella on a new Enfield 350 in a WW2 paint scheme the other day and thought it looked and sounded great. The fact that I'm now 60 might be the reason Plenty of space to strap things to it and not fast enough to get me into trouble with the cops plus apparently 100mpg.

Reviews on YouTube all seem to rave about it so I just wondered if anyone here has got one and how are you finding it?

[Onelastattempt]

I don't own one but know two guys who do own one. They both love them as a practical bike and use them to go around visiting places with railway steam engines. One of the bikes is in red and chrome , ( my personal favourite ) , whilst the other looks like an old army bike complete with khaki coloured panniers. They reckon to get about 100 mpg. As you say it is probably an age thing as they are both knocking on 70. I have done something similar myself, having sold my MT09 and Z650 and bought a Triumph Street Twin as I found myself being drawn to retro style bikes. Again probably an age thing as I am now 66. These retro style bikes are a lot more relaxing to ride and to my eye more pleasing to the eye, when you open the garage door you smile !

[hiccy18]

Sub £4k for the Hunter 350 sounds amazing to me. No chrome to polish, less weight and sharper geometry than the Classic, looks like it'd make a decent 20/30 limit commuter.

[Blackpuddin]

I had a bronze Classic for three months last summer until it got written off (long story). In 50 years of motorcycling, with a lot of different bikes ridden in that time, I can't think of a bike I liked more. If I was replacing it it would be with a Hunter for the reasons stated in the earlier post. Weight was one of the few minor shortcomings with the Classic and the Hunter addressed that plus others, including making it easier to adjust the gearlever thanks to the different frame design. Recommended at any price really, but especially so at under £4k.

Edited by Blackpuddin on Saturday 12th August 14:48

[croyde]

This has made me look at the Hunter, nice looking thing, like a little Bonneville.

I'll have to try both. I do like the look of the old army dispatch paint job on the Classic but not sure I'd find the feet position comfy.

[Blackpuddin]

I found it OK once I'd adjusted the gear lever, they come from India in an odd position and you can't get the lever off its splines without loosening the front downtubes. It's not a big or difficult job, just a bit daft. Hunter doesn't have a full cradle frame so it's not an issue there.

[carinaman]

I've done about 150 miles on a Meteor 350 loaner. Despite the feet forward riding position at at least one left turn it seemed like a powered push bike in the way it just responded and made the turn. The first 80 miles used two segments on the fuel gauge, but returning it on a shorter, faster NSL route it seemed to use more fuel leaving two segments of fuel left, which would seem to concur what Zak Courts said about fuel consumption on faster roads on his Revzilla review. I tried a bit of filtering on it and it was OK for a unconfident filterer like me.

I think it was limited to 70 or 75 but once there it was singing along behind a car at that speed OK. I thought a couple of times it could've pulled a sixth gear. I liked the finish but some of the paint or powder coating on cable clamps and brackets seemed to show some marking, possibly surface oxidisation. The flap for the fuel filler key was a bit low quality. I am not smartphone enabled so I couldn't try out the google maps turn arrow navigation system. I used the centre stand once.

I'd not considered one as a purchase but having ridden one and easily wheeled it around in a garage and got it width ways across the garage I was surprised. The image of the Meteor 350 is naff to my eyes, but having ridden and experienced one I did look to see how much they went for used. My road can be gravel and mud strewn so full length mudguards and twin shocks not inline with the rear wheel appeals. Not having a radiator and coolant to check has some appeal to. It's like a motorcycle from my youth.

Many NSL roads are now 50 limits so whizzing about at lower speeds when it's warm and sunny with less risk to the driving licence has some appeal. Let me play on someone else's almost new motorcycle in warm sunshine and I'm probably going to be happy. I thought perhaps I'd get an RE 350 as my next bike in the future but from the perspective of getting around and getting things done a Super Scooter or a PCX125 would probably do.

I am confident I'd like the Hunter with the steeper forks and 17 inch front wheel more than the Meteor. I imagine it would be as flickable as a Duke 390 but with less go and better fuel economy. I think my inner knob and inner snob would be checking lightly used Husqvarna versions of Duke 390 if I was about to buy a Hunter 350 and a possible 100mpg wasn't too important.

[spoodler]

A mate (who is also in his 60s) who has a ten mile, or so, country commute bought a Meteor when they were first available. His commute, country lanes, some dual carriageway and through a town seems ideal territory for this Enfield. His previous commuters have been GS500s and NTV/Reveres. He had the opportunity to try something else, as it was written off by a dozy van driver. After mending, he took the insurance money and bought another Meteor exactly the same as the first...
It's a nice bike, surprisingly well built (mate never cleans his bikes and they usually look pretty rough in short order) but the meagre 20 b.h.p. wouldn't be enough for me.

[Dan17]

Following with interest, particularly in the Hunter 350..

[Biker9090]

I've been watching a YouTube channel by a guy called Rob Little. He's gone around the coast of Ireland and currently uploading the NC500 all on an old YB100.

Interestingly, in another of his videos he complained about the Meteor 350 being too underpowered. Since sold his for a T100.

I guess as an only bike it certainly would be for many, but as a second one for plodding about they seem great.