Royal Enfields (Indian made)

[Suitor_Stu]

Hey, this is my first bike related post on the forums and - surprise surprise - its another 'should I buy this bike?' kinda one!

*warning, fairly large amount of waffling ahead*

Basically, ive been wanting a bike for a while (ive had my 125 Piaggio for 2 years now on my full license) but haven't had the cash!

I'm not into sportsbikes or harleys (and have the use of a crf100 for some offroading) which leaves...well not much really! I love stuff like Triumph Bonnevilles and Kawasaki W650s ('classic' british style bikes), but as I do the majority of my riding around town (and don't do long distances on motorways) I thought that they would be a bit excessive (in terms of fuel, tax, insurance etc.) and heavy - and more to the point I couldnt afford them new! So i basically resigned myself to my scooter till a later date when I can justify having a Bonnie.

Then I went to the Royal Highland Show in Ingilston a few weeks back and stumbled upon the Royal Enfield stand. I remember reading about these bikes when I was doing my test but discounted them for various reasons like the low power/speed, maintainance requirements and basically them being old technology (ironically most of the things that are drawing me to them now), but seeing these things up close changed that!

Im very interested in the Bullet 350 classic now, and basically I'm looking for any info on what its like to live with these bikes. Ive searched this and found that a few of you here run or have run Indian Bullets and other similar singles (read LoneWolf's page about his one which was really good, but didnt answer my specific questions), so it would be a great help to find out stuff like how hard exactly is maintaining them? And reliability wise, If you keep on top of the servicing are they fairly reliable? Theres a few more things i'd like to ask about too, but that will do for the time being!

Cheers, Stu

Oh, and heres a few photos of the one I was looking at at the RHS, forgive the attire, I was trying to blend in with the farming set...honestly!

[jackw72]

ok well this is my small guide.

they are just a bit nippier than a 125 probably a bit faster than your piaggio then.

i think they are mostly made with nowadays technology to a certain limit so i dont think that it would be too bad to maintain but im not really an expert.

they look awesome no doubt about that, dont buy one for performance or to just sit and rot in the garage either.

ps. dont be shy about your attire.
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08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[Suitor_Stu]

cheers jackw72. Im not expecting performance tbh, however I would like a a wee bit of an increase from my scootay (then again at a whopping 9bhp and 9nm torque i could prob get that on a pushbike!) to make stuff like taking a pillion or getting up hills a bit less of a chore.

As far as I am aware, the classics have the same tech as one from the 50s (newer ones have a more modern - but still pushrod - aluminium engine, leccy start, disc brakes etc) but like I said, thats part of the attraction.

I would by no means be letting it sit in my garage! Id use it for running about town on with the occasional blat around the fifeshire countryside - ie what i use my scooter for, just a bit more exciting and involving - the whole CVT malarkee is all well and good, but sometimes you just need gears and a clutch!

Stu

[Ariel Badger]

Go for it, Smashing machines.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[mr.z]

The guy i bought my bike off has got one recently since this was too heavy for him, he seems very pleased with it

(thing is theres a huge market for them so even if you don't like it you wont struggle to sell it, if you can buy it in winter, flog it in summer if you don't like it in the end)
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[.Chris.]

Only thing that would put me off the original-engined ones is the gearchange being on the 'wrong' side of the bike, with an upside-down shift pattern. As you're currently not used to gears that might not be too much of a problem.

I also remember reading the 350 version isn't going to be imported much longer as it doesn't meet the Euro 3 regs, so be quick!

They are very cool bikes
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[hmmmnz]

i would look towards an old honda twin with overhead cams to be honest
the old cb360/350 sort of thing
or mabee a cb550 (4 cylinder)
or mabee a suzuki gt500 (2 stroke)
all cracking bikes.
i have a classic cb250 which is fine, but really a kid on a ped got blow me away from the lights
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[TheShaggyDA]

If you keep on top of maintenance, it'll last. Although the bike does require more maintenance than a modern jap bike, servicing is simplicity itself. A worthwhile mod is fitting electronic ignition - if you buy from F2 Motorcycles, they do this for you as standard. If you go for a 500 over a 350, then upgrading the oil pump is advised too, so that the bike can handle more modern cruising speeds. Going up a tooth on the front sprocket puts the bike in a more relaxed cruising rev range when in top gear too. Spares are cheap, and there are a number of goodies out there for you to personalise the bike - Hitchcocks is a good place to start.

If I didn't commute so many motorway miles, I'd still have mine.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[LeeWat]

A friend of mine rode one back to England from the dealer she bought it from in Nepal, so the reliablity thing shouldnt be an issue
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Simson S51 Enduro, Kawasaki AR80, Yamaha RD125LC, Yamaha XV535, Yamaha XJ600N, Suzuki GS1100G, Kawasaki KLR250, Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog (4/4/08 Deceased). Suzuki XF650 Breakwind.

[Jamie S]

Iv got an Ariel colt (1956) , so what you need to remember is that the gears and brake ar on the wrong side , and also its one up 3 down, speed wise , well you wont be braking any word records but fast enough to keep up with normal traffic , they are quite heavy but once you get used to them the are fine , keep on top of the oil changes and they should go for ever.

https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/Me001.jpg

[mr.z]

[stinkwheel]

I do like some of the 'specials' they do at F2 too. I have heard nothing but good things about those guys too, it is apparently well worth visiting them for a poke about and a chat.

They do a lot to the bikes they sell before you ever get them in terms of setting them up so the new owner is getting the bike they want and replacing parts that are not quite up to scratch. They also realise that many owners like to do their own servicing and are very flexible about this. After-sales backup is reputed to be top-notch.

I always liked the scrambler version they did although the newest 'scrambler' they have on their website seems a lot less minimalist than the previous one and suffers aesthetically from not having a high-level 'cigar' style exhaust.
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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.

[abs]

I own a 2006 enfield 500 classic, personally I really love it. If I go on ride other with modern bikes I get left behind but of course still enjoy the ride. If you want to do the twisties quicker I think the standard tyres are a bit scary especially the rear. On the motorway I normally cruise at 60 and it seems fine above that and the vibration becomes extreme and it doesnt gain much speed but till 60 its very enjoyable. My bike has only dont 3000km so is a bit rough in the gearbox side of things. At the beginning shifting up through the gears it went into neutral a lot (inbetween most gears) now after 3000km it is fine just downshifting it can find neutral but that should fix itself with usage. Reliabilty wise, nothing so far just loose bolts with vibration. Looking on royal enfield forums I started to get nervious about reliability but I first fell in love with the bikes when I was in India and Nepal and I can tell you they dont treat the bikes like babies. I rented one for a while and drove 2up throught the mountains the bike was not in good condition but I had no problems what so ever. I thought with it being a hire bike everything would have been checked on it, but along my rides I thought to check the oil and it was just touching the dipstick and no more, I had been riding for 2 days so not sure if it used the oil. The Nepali guy I was with just said oh it has oil its ok. Then drove another 300km before getting oil and no problems. The gearbox was no problem, no idea how many miles the bike had done the speedo didnt work. They do not take care of their bikes in general the road are unbelievably bad its very hot and dusty or in the mountains very cold and wet. Basically hammers the bike and had no problems.
Must admit have thought of a modern bike for ride-outs or the likes but the ride, vibration, and sound of the enfield are just so great. Only thing, I feel stupid sometimes is when people always ask "what year it is" and I saw 2006 then they look a bit disapointed.

https://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w59/abhay109/Royal%20Enfield/l_8e036a456bb288f7da8866eea14a3fe6.jpg
Nepali bike

https://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w59/abhay109/Royal%20Enfield/sideb.jpg
Current bike, old picture now has a 22ltr tank so perportions are better with the seats.

[map]

[TheShaggyDA]

[nrml76]

The bullet has the loveliest sound ever produced by any bike imo.
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Everyone who lives dies, yet not everyone who dies has lived. We take these risks not to escape life, but to prevent life from escaping us.

[Spoon261]

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

I really must update this page ( I keep saying that )

BULLET 500

I like mine - still use it as often as I can. In fact I went to the tramway museum at Crich last Sunday. All in all, they ain't a bad bike if you like that sort of thing.
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Cheers.
^..^
L.W. - www.moonshiners.org.uk

[Spoon261]

[TheShaggyDA]

[Spoon261]

[map]

[nrml76]

[Suitor_Stu]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

With regard to the w650, I would prefer to be buying a 'new' machine for my £2k and the attraction of something being so simple I can work on it myself (rather than have to get it dealer serviced) is a major plus point! With regards to the weight issue, Ive ridden a VN900 (which is a bit heavier than the W650 iirc) and although i got used to extra weight quite quickly, it still felt too much of a chore around town compared to the scoot

But back to the enfields again, I have a few more questions please.
How do they fair around towns? Ie i take it the power occurs at low revs, so is thus fairly useful range around town. And what about that front drum? I know the one on the crf100 I ride is gash, but thats not a problem because i'd prob lock up a lot more if it was a disc!

Obviously I am going to try and get a test-ride at some point so that I can answer all of these things for definite. From what I gather from the RE site, there is a dealer just outside Edinburgh (Im in Dundee), but their website doesent seem to be working - dont know if theyre still in buisness or not. Nearest after that is in the borders somewhere I think!

Cheers again, Stu

[bish777]

Buy it from F2 motorcycles if you get one. Dave Angel is a good bloke.

Now if i can get good money for my liver i'll get one of those Ural Sidecar rigs.
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GSXR1100J