Royal Enfield, pros and cons?

[Polarbear]

I quite fancy an old British bike but without the reliability issues and the stupid price tag. (In addition to rather than a replacement for my Trophy)

I know a few have or did own them. Are they worth persevering with? Which is the best model? Are they fun to ride?

Or will it end up gathering dust in my garage and me regretting not buying an actual classic?
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Matt B]

I had one of the carbed 350s.

Pro - Loved the look of it and it was easy to mod and bolt shiny bits on if that's your bag. Sounded great with a Goldstar style silencer on. Generally easy to work on and cheap for spares.

Pro/Con - they attract a lot of attention from old men and odd balls.

Con - Right hand gear change on mine was annoying. I got fed up of the lack of power and plodding nature of it within a matter of months (this may be better on the newer 500).

Edit - obligatory "here's mine" pic.

https://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w462/MattB70/IMG_2005_zps27afba1b.jpg

I think it's one of those bikes that is either the bike for you or not. You need to spend some time with one to find out though. I loved it on the test ride, and tried to love it for a while after but it soon wore off. Alas it was more a one night stand type of thing and when I look at the two bikes I own now I wonder what possessed me.
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Andy_Pagin]

Never ridden one, but I see the odd one in London and though they look ok, the engine note is somewhat disappointing.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[pepperami]

From what I see in the mags and on teh net, a genuine old classic is probably easier to keep on the road.
It seems to me that there is not one part of almost any old Triumph that is not being re-made or unobtainable.



____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Northern Monkey]

If you get a 4 or 5 year old EFI one, you probably wont loose any money on it keeping it for a year.

I like mine, although it's not MOTs

Be prepared for everyone telling you that they used to have one of them in the 60s
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[stinkwheel]

I'd go for a late 90's/ early '00s 350.

Mainly because they are "proper" bullets. If you're wanting a classic bike, they have an OHV engine, points ignition, carburettors, a kick start and a dry sump with a seperate gearbox. It's a 1950's motorcycle.

Mid to late 00's ones are available but have certain emissions related modifications that make them undesirable. I wouldn't get one aftger 2003. The 500 isn't apparently much faster and is more vibey but has more tuning options.

Pros.: character, ease of servicing, simplicity, appearance, sound. Cheapness and availability of parts. Wide variety of options for customisation.

Cons.: Poor build quality (materials and finish), lack of performance (15bhp-ish, we're talking 125 levels of performance.)

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/dragon2014/CIMG1496_zps06af63b4.jpg
____________________
“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.

[Rogerborg]

Yes, codgers will flock to you, as will anyone who's been to India.

Reasonable comparison of cast iron vs AVL vs UCE engines here:

https://vargiskhan.com/log/royal-enfield-old-vs-new-one-better/

Is my AVL a good bike? No, it's ghetto. It's twitchy and unsettled and anything over 70 on the speedo is a fiction. In addition to the fantasy speedo, it's got an odometer and an ammeter and that's your whack for equipment. Not even a trip meter.

But it gets 80mpg+ (depending on how accurate the odometer is), has a usable wristful of torque, and is actually a perfectly decent commuter, narrow, with a great turning circle.

I wouldn't have one as an only bike, but on a nice day, when you're in the mood for getting involved with your ride, chortles can be had.

Pros: cheap to run. Involving.
Cons: cheaply made. Crude.

It's very subjective. You'll really have to try one to see.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Of the iron barrelled models, I'd echo Stinkwheel's take on the 350 - it's less stressed than the 500. I'm happy with my 2007 AVL engined 500 over the 2004 Classic 500 I had, although looks wise the iron jobbie is more the real deal. The AVL is more suited engine wise to modern roads; I used to commute Northampton to Dunstable down the M1 dailiy on the Classic, but it really wasn't ideal for the job (which is why I switched to the CB500). I feel with the Electra it'll shrug that journey off.

On both, Loctite and regular checks are your friend. You can't ignore maintenance on them, but the maintenance is part of the ownership package.

EFI on an Enfield is just not natural.

2004 Classic 500 :-
https://www.bikepics.com/pics/2004/12/02/bikepics-252773-full.jpg

2007 Electra X :-
https://www.bikepics.com/pics/2015/04/25/bikepics-2738190-800.jpg

[edit] The 5 speed left hand change gearbox is sooo much more of a joy to use over the 4 speed right hand change Albion jobbie.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Rogerborg]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Aye, the valve noise spoils the experience. I sold the classic in 2006, so my memory of the thump is lacking. I can say that I prefer the Electra's thump over the Savage; both have pretty much straight through pipes but the Savage seemed weedy in comparison, even though it had a 150cc advantage.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Shaft]

[stinkwheel]

I should also have put that I really enjoy riding the enfield. Probably more so than I enjoy riding my VFR750.

Obviously if I want to go 450 miles up to the North of Scotland for an overnighter, I take the VFR but for anything shorter/local/less time dependant, I get the enfield out of the shed.

Just had to do some work on it though! Two faults to repair this weekend. Damping spring has failed in the ammeter making it bounce from side-to side at idle and the lock has broken on the battery box...

I had a choice of four styles of Indian made Ammeter at £9.50 each. A higher quality Lucas one at £26.50 or a cheapy one with no backlight for £6.60.

The battery box had a choice of a straight replacement (plastic) lock at a fiver or a high quality screw-fitment at £10.50. Or I could have had a complete battery box sent over from India, in solid brass for £20.

The nature of these breakdowns and the cost and variety of solutions could be considered typical.
____________________
“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.

[Rogerborg]

[RhynoCZ]

What Roger says, there is a huge difference between building a retro bike and building what you've been doing past 50 years. Plus the W's were never cheap. The SR400, Yamaha does, is bit more reasonable priced, I'd say.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Mudshark]

I like the idea (I think) of a classicy bike, but I'm not sure I could live with the reality
____________________
R1250RS
XT660X

[stinkwheel]

[Rogerborg]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I would have liked a W650 or SR400, but stupid price is stupid.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[RhynoCZ]

[Rogerborg]

[stinkwheel]

[Northern Monkey]

[stinkwheel]

[Rogerborg]

[Polarbear]

Thanks for all the info.

I certainly don't want a retro bike like the WR or modern Bonnie. I have a modern reliable bike so this would be just for Sunday afternoon sunny rides.

I thought the Enfield would be a reasonable balance between an old brit, which I want but not at silly prices.

I would want one with carbs, points etc, not the modern stuff like EFI which I really don't know much about, or I'm back to dealers.

So an older 350 seems the only choice. hmmm

I'm really not sure. That, or do I push the boat out for an early Japanese stroker. Decisions, decisions.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition