Royal Enfield efi 500 classic - need info from owners

[6myth]

Hi, I'm taking my DAS in April and wish to upgrade from my Honda CBF125 immediately.

I dont want a jap powerhouse bike as I have no self restraint and if a machine will do 130 you can bet that's what I'll be doing right to the moment I hit a tree/lamp post/wall/truck.

With this in mind I've started to think about other touring or classic bikes.

I saw a Royal Enfield efi 500 classic recently and can't get it off my mind. It's exactly how I think a bike should look.
However before buying one I need some questions answered. I've trawled through forums and watched alot of reviews from Indian TV on youtube but none clear up my questions.

Are the cheaper parts switched once imported to the UK (soft metal screws and nuts - my cbf's rusted quick)
Are the electrics reliable (lamps, indicators, ignition)
What exactly is it's top speed (some say 65 some 85)
Will it stay above 65 for prolonged periods on motorways?

I'm very close to putting down a deposit, but I really need to know the above first

Thanks- Rich

[cretin box]

Where are you based?

There's a second-hand one in the independent dealership near me in damp Surrey for a seriously reasonable price right now. I love the looks of it, but I have to ask myself why it's so cheap. They'll probably let you test-ride it if you've got your licence.

EDIT: Sorry, checked your profile - you're not coming to Surrey to look at a bike. Worth looking at local dealers/free ads etc though maybe?
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1985 Honda Vision

[moppy]

Will do 60 and stay there, but I wouldn't want to ask it to do 65 or 70 all day.

They are utterly gorgeous, Ive been tempted by the Bullet 500 in the past but decided the speed and low level tinkering that will be necessary to keep it going is just not my cup of tea.

Bit of a shame. If it could do 80 and had bulletproof reliability, I'd be all over it

[stinkwheel]

It's a pile of poo. Buy a 10 year old pre-unit bullet instead. It'll be just as slow and unreliable but you'll forgive it because it was designed in the 1950's.

I would consider 500 enfield to be downgrade from a CBF125. The enfield will probably do everything (other than climbing steep hills) more slowly and less effectively.

This is not a reason not to buy one. They are fantastic bikes and my 350 bullet has never left me stranded.

I rode mine from Cumbria to the top of Hellfire Pass in Wales and back last weekend. In snow, torrential rain and gales. It gave not a single fuck.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/dragon2014/CIMG1496_zps06af63b4.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[slowlydoesit]

[6myth]

Thanks for the fast replies guys.

I'm in the Northwest so surrey is abit out the way ha. Local dealer has them for £4799 brand spanking new with 5 years (so I assume 5 years warranty) finance avaliable for £99 a month. (Bonnie or HD883 would cost upwards 8K)

I'm not to fussed about high performance, I can pick up a used dirt cheap Kawasaki or Honda 600 to thrash about on. And as far as tinkering, I'm happy to have a new hobby.
I intend on using it for commuting and touring, I ask about doing above 60 mainly for occasional motorway use (safe overtakes etc)

It seems everyone that owns a bullet says this "it's pretty naff and you can do alot better, but I love mine" which is an odd thing that I reckon you could only understand if you own one.

I think I'm going to have to bute the bullet (cheap pun I know) and go for it, it's literally been on my mind everyday ha.

Ps. Great pic, that ride sounds fantastic. I've been out in the wind and gail on my Honda doing a 34mile round commute everyday. That CBF is a fantastic little bike and I'll be sore selling her in a few months.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Robby]

If a Harley 883 is also on your list, I would go for the Harley.

The Enfield is a 1950s bike with 1950s foibles, and modern parts added when necessary to get through emissions regulations - hence EFI.

The Harley is a 1950s bike which has been going through continuous development since the 1950s. The metal is good, the oil stays inside, the fuel injection has had a decade of development.

I had a Harley 883R, it was excellent, then it got stolen. I'll have another when I have a garage and can afford it. I paid £4.4k for a 3 year old model with very few miles and all of the important work done (exhaust, air filter, remap). I rode it every day and it worked.

Neither are bikes that I buy new. Both are bikes where you want someone else to take the initial depreciation hit, spend the money on necessary upgrades, and run it in. If the bikes survives to 3 years without grenading, it will last another 20.

They also both hold their value quite well after the initial depreciation, so buying a 3 year old model makes sense - you can sell it on after another 2 or 3 years and not make a massive loss. I ended up with a slight profit when my Harley was written off.

Do test ride before you buy. Ride it for a few miles before looking at the speedo, you'll find that you're going a lot slower than you think. The combination of noise, torque, and riding position makes 45 feel like 70.

Best enjoyed away from motorways with an open face helmet. Plodding along at 50 using very low revs is enjoyable in a way that just doesn't happen on Japanese bikes.

[6myth]

I would love a sportster, getting hold of one is the problem. I'd need to pay finance rather than lump sum so second hand could be tricky. New itd cost 10k on finance and stage 1.

Once I pass my DAS I'll be keeping an eye out for an Iron.

Your input onbthe Enfield is appreciated, and it's looks alone make me want it. Suppose money and availability will be the decider.
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Own - Honda CG125 - Honda CBF125
Want - Royal Enfield Bullet - Harley Davidson 883 Iron

[stinkwheel]

[slowlydoesit]

[Robby]

[evoboy]

A friend has a 350 Bullet on a '96 plate.

He has had nothing but problems with it not working and leaking badly.

We did a 1300miles round trip from Coventry to Inverness and back. The Enfield made it 120miles before it snapped a rocker arm. All the other bikes made it, including a 1980's 250 2 stroke and a 60's Triumph 650.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[numpty2]

Would you consider a Kawasaki W650 for the vintage look? They look the business, yet they are pretty solid for quality. For instance:

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/bikes-for-sale/searchresults/detail/kawasaki/w650/ej650/2002/_/R-NXGN-7610071

or

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/bikes-for-sale/searchresults/detail/kawasaki/w650/2002/_/R-NXGN-3118652

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

The Dub rocks.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[lorus]

I would have a test ride on an Enfield before buying,a mate of mine test rode one and thought it was painfully slow,but horses for courses.numpty2 has come up with one of the best retro looking bikes around,not cheap but a cracking bike,a much better bet than an Enfield

[moppy]

Or a Moto Guzzi V7. The best looking one.

[6myth]

The Kawasaki is very nice, reminds me of a Bonneville looks wise, and a quick view on reviews is positive from owners and so so from mcn (then again mcn has some miserable gits reviewing at times).

I love the classic style, the Brando/McQueen era bikes make me drool and modernisation is always a positive in my books.
I've looked at Bonnies but the new ones dont quite do it for me and the price puts me off. The 883 Iron looks freakin beastly, and the bullet is beautiful but sadly I think I may get bored/frustrated with the lower power output.

The Guzzi looks great, but a quick insurance check costs more than I could afford ha.

I think I'll take a good look at the Kawasaki. Does anyone have any experience with them? Handling, reliabilty, customisation... (I'm under the impression Jap bikes are built to out live human civilisation)

I do want to customise any bike I get to some extent, and I think I wouldn't do the RE justice. A second hand Kawasaki however...
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Own - Honda CG125 - Honda CBF125
Want - Royal Enfield Bullet - Harley Davidson 883 Iron

[lorus]

The W650 is a good all round bike,handles OK,reliable and easy to service yourself,the early 1999/2000 models with the high handlebars suffered from a bit of weaving at higher speeds but Kawa fitted lower bars to later models which improved the handling.These bikes tend not to have a hard life and there are some low mileage ones out there,nice softly powered engine 48HP with good spread of torque,build quality is very good,check exhaust link pipe under engine and under rear mudguard for corrosion,very early models suffered from cracks in the rear mudguard due to the taillight bracket vibrating,Kawa fitted stiffeners on later models.Look here for more info https://thelonelyones.forumcircle.com/index.php

[6myth]

Thanks for all the help and advice so far guys, unfortunately im now in a tougher place than before haha, stuck for choice.

The Kawasaki looks great and a quick look around sellers on net shows me its affordable, spec is on the ball for what I want too, enough thump to have good fun but not something ill get banned or worse on...can get my hands dirty on it without worrying about dealer service only warranties too.

Few years and ill get a Bullet for the shear hell of it too
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Own - Honda CG125 - Honda CBF125
Want - Royal Enfield Bullet - Harley Davidson 883 Iron

[koolio]

[numpty2]

I've just had a better idea. Old age is making me forget things. For around £5k you could get a new single cylinder after all:

https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/sport-heritage/sr400.aspx?view=featurestechspecs&mode=colors#gallery=color|image=https://cdn.yamaha-motor.eu/product_assets/2014/SR400/2014-Yamaha-SR400-EU-Yamaha-Black-Studio-002.jpg?width=950&quality=75

Perhaps the SR400 tickles your fancy? I think they are actually made in Japan as well, so the quality should be much better than a lot of other stuff around.

400cc might be cheaper to insure & run. I think these bikes have a cult following as well. It's got a kickstart & fork gaitors. To me it does look very lovely. I want one, in black obviously.

[slowlydoesit]

[6myth]

Been smashing the net looking at Kawasaki W650 and I'm sold. Looks good, jap built and reliable, can be modded and maibtained easily can do a ton if I feel like it and is great for touring... winner winner chicken dinner.

Bullet can wait a few years it seems ha.
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Own - Honda CG125 - Honda CBF125
Want - Royal Enfield Bullet - Harley Davidson 883 Iron

[Wonko The Sane]

I commute motorways each day which is why I've not joined the queue for a Bullet or GT as I'm convinced I'll kill it.

If I change jobs and working closer to home then might as well get a BSA and do it properly for the 40's / 50's re-enactment stuff I do from time to time.
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