Enfield 750 at EICMA?

[oldbike54]

Turns out it's a 650.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/bikes/royal-enfield-unveils-650cc-twin-cylinder-engine/articleshow/61529456.cms

 Oh ,  I don't want one then 

 Dusty

[scura283]

More info here https://royalenfield.com/motorcycles/twins/

[Waltr]

Royal Enfields are great little bikes. The problem is they are worth nowhere near MSRP. I ended up getting my dealer leftover 2012 C5 Bullet for less then $3,000 OTD when the MSRP was something like $6,500. At $3,000 dollars it was feasible. In fact I rode it for 4 months and 1,000 miles and had to take a $600 hit to sell it.

When I went to sell it the market was limited to very frugal Indian folks who though because a Royal Enfield could be bought in India for $1,000 the same should happen here. I heard the story in almost every email when they scoffed at my price.

The RE's are a niche bike in the States and they will always be a niche bike in the States. Most folks do not associate quality with Indian manufacture so that is only one of many uphill battles RE needs to win.

 

  So you are saying you spent $150.00 a month to own a new bike.  Did you really expect to make money buying a new bike and selling it used?  Guzzi is shitting up the market themselves by selling holdovers through Natl Powersports Auctions. 
   

[Perazzimx14]

 

  So you are saying you spent $150.00 a month to own a new bike.  Did you really expect to make money buying a new bike and selling it used?  Guzzi is shitting up the market themselves by selling holdovers through Natl Powersports Auctions. 
 

You do realize I paid less than 1/2 of MSRP OTD (tax and tags included) and still lost $150 per month of ownership. If I would have paid at or close to MSRP cost of ownership would have been around $900 per month.

Did I expect to make money, no! But I'm darn glad I was smart enough to buy a properly priced dealer leftover. Is Europa Macchina still considering selling Royal Enfields?

[Waltr]

This day and age people looking for a deal will by a bike hand have it shipped across the country.  Prices and deals are with a click of the keypad.  Everybody knows everything. 
The same deals you got could have been had to someone else.  I can only imagine selling bikes in the boom time of the 1990's. 
Peoples incomes have been flat for a decade .
It is probably easier selling Maserati's than Toyota's - those buyers have all the money.

[jas67]

Peoples incomes have been flat for a decade .
It is probably easier selling Maserati's than Toyota's - those buyers have all the money.

THAT is the problem with the economy in this country, that is for sure!

These new RE Twins are good looking motorbikes.  I sure hope that the quality has improved over their previous models, and wish them well.

[Testarossa]

In 1972, MSRP for a CB500/4 was about $1400, and the average hourly wage was around $3.50. So the bike cost about 400 hours of work + whatever they took out in payroll tax etc.

Today you can get a much more capable bike with more displacement, more power, ABS etc for $9,000, and average middle-class hourly at mid-career is maybe $25, so the bike costs 360 hours.

I think the buyers' market is doing pretty well for us.

[ohiorider]

THAT is the problem with the economy in this country, that is for sure!

These new RE Twins are good looking motorbikes.  I sure hope that the quality has improved over their previous models, and wish them well.

Thanks for the pics of the upcoming Royal Enfield twins.  I was prepared not to like them if they didn't use the mid 1960s bikes as the basis of their styling.  However, these pics show a very attractive family of bikes.

[Huzo]

Yeah I've seen worse..(a lot worse).
If you squint through one eye, the motor is a bit reminiscent of the old TX 750 Yamaha.

[oldbike54]

 As someone who rode Meriden and Small Heath twins for years , I really hope these new Royal Enfields are up to modern standards . They are lovely 

 Dusty

[Huzo]

Yeah, it's good to see someone get up off their arse and try something.
They are pretty and nicely styled. I wouldn't rule it out. Are they British or Indian or a bit of both ?

[fossil]

Yeah, it's good to see someone get up off their arse and try something.
They are pretty and nicely styled. I wouldn't rule it out. Are they British or Indian or a bit of both ?

A bit of both. Eicher bought not only Enfield, but the British company Harris also: https://www.harris-performance.com/ . They made the Continental and were involved in the Himalayan.

[Perazzimx14]

This day and age people looking for a deal will by a bike hand have it shipped across the country.  Prices and deals are with a click of the keypad.  Everybody knows everything. 
The same deals you got could have been had to someone else.  I can only imagine selling bikes in the boom time of the 1990's. 
Peoples incomes have been flat for a decade .
It is probably easier selling Maserati's than Toyota's - those buyers have all the money.

So you object to having a more level playing field as a consumer?

Honestly this can also help dealers move vehicles without expending a whole lot of labor which saves them money. Back in July I was in the market for a new truck. I researched online what I wanted including color and trim level. Once I decided on exactly what I wanted I emailed every dealer in a certain radius with exactly what I wanted and gave them 3 days to get back to me with a price. I explained that the dealer with the lowest price OTD sold a truck. Once the bid date/time was over and the truck arrived at the dealer I walked into the dealer I walked in with my cash down payment and an autodraft check for the remaining balance and within two hours was on my way.

Sure I could have wasted 4 or 5 afternoons going to each dealer test driving the same vehicle over and over listening to some talking heads sales pitch or do it the simple way where both parties win. The dealer sold some inventory w/o a lot of time invested ad I got what I wanted w/o a lot of time invested.

[ohiorider]

Re Royal Enfield 500cc singles:  I've often wondered when RE totally redesigned the 500cc single a few years ago, why they didn't include a counterbalancer?  Cosmetically, several of their singles are quite attractive.  My objection is that the singles are reputed to vibrate quite a bit at speed.

Anyone here own one and care to educate me on this?

[Perazzimx14]

Re Royal Enfield 500cc singles:  I've often wondered when RE totally redesigned the 500cc single a few years ago, why they didn't include a counterbalancer?  Cosmetically, several of their singles are quite attractive.  My objection is that the singles are reputed to vibrate quite a bit at speed.

Anyone here own one and care to educate me on this?

One of the quirks of the Royal Enfields is its a case by case basis. My buddy had a 2009 RE with the UCE engine and he said it vibrated horribly at anything over 55 mph indicated. When he rode my (2012 same motor) he was amazed at how smooth it was even at top speed about 75 mph indicated. If you ride 5 of the exact year make/model RE's you will have 5 different experiences.

[Waltr]

So you object to having a more level playing field as a consumer?

Honestly this can also help dealers move vehicles without expending a whole lot of labor which saves them money. Back in July I was in the market for a new truck. I researched online what I wanted including color and trim level. Once I decided on exactly what I wanted I emailed every dealer in a certain radius with exactly what I wanted and gave them 3 days to get back to me with a price. I explained that the dealer with the lowest price OTD sold a truck. Once the bid date/time was over and the truck arrived at the dealer I walked into the dealer I walked in with my cash down payment and an autodraft check for the remaining balance and within two hours was on my way.

Sure I could have wasted 4 or 5 afternoons going to each dealer test driving the same vehicle over and over listening to some talking heads sales pitch or do it the simple way where both parties win. The dealer sold some inventory w/o a lot of time invested ad I got what I wanted w/o a lot of time invested.

I do not object to anything, I am merely stating what I believe is the status quo. 

[roadscum]

Jeeeezzz, that 750 is UGLY, one quick peek and now my eyes hurt and my stomach churns, I think I may to vomit
Yuck!!!!

Paul

[Kev m]

Jeeeezzz, that 750 is UGLY, one quick peek and now my eyes hurt and my stomach churns, I think I may to vomit
Yuck!!!!

Paul

Really?

Meh, guess it takes all kinds.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Jeeeezzz, that 750 is UGLY, one quick peek and now my eyes hurt and my stomach churns, I think I may to vomit
Yuck!!!!

Paul

What 750? Spy shots of the supposed 750 showed a pretty homely bike, especially the engine (all squared off and rather weird looking), but the production ready 650s are very nice looking IMO.

[Kev m]

I just posted much of this in the comments of Lemmy's ZLA article on these bikes:

For me it's always been about combining timeless design and simple (honest?) traditional lines with modern components and reliability.

The size/weight/HP of this bike screams fun. Yeah, think of it as "fun size" like the smaller Halloween candies. There are a lot of people who think that's the ticket. Minimalism, tiny houses, do more with less, Zen, or just plain I can wring the crap out of it and probably not kill myself.

If reliability is there, they're gonna sell. If they can expand dealer networks, they might even sell well.

But then again I look at the world from the skewed perspective that Guzzi should do the same if they could only build their dealer network. Then again RE is already selling at such a ridiculously higher number than Guzzi I might as well be comparing Guzzi to Honda.

I hope these bikes prove to be great!

[Arizona Wayne]

Maybe these new RE 650s will sell good in other countries but I don't see that happening here in the USA.  Visually they're a time warp of decades past and have 6 hp less than a comparable Yamaha 650 twin of the `70's.  Past 650/800 replica twin versions from Kawasaki never sold that well prior, even tho they were not believed to be of poor quality.

[DorsetBlue]

Maybe these new RE 650s will sell good in other countries but I don't see that happening here in the USA.  Visually they're a time warp of decades past and have 6 hp less than a comparable Yamaha 650 twin of the `70's.  Past 650/800 replica twin versions from Kawasaki never sold that well prior, even tho they were not believed to be of poor quality.

That is what they said about the UK a few years ago......and then the Retro/Hipster scene took off.

Personally I love the look of the 500cc Continental GT but apparently it vibrates like something from an Ann Summers catalogue (Copyright Bike Magazine).  Just realised that the Ann Summers reference might be UK specific? 

These new bikes look nice and if the price is right, I might be tempted.  The irony is, it used to be Curry that was the most famous Indian import in the Birmingham/Leicester/Coventry area but it is now becoming the motor industry.

[steven c]

" have 6 hp less than a comparable Yamaha 650 twin of the `70's. " Hopefully they don't shake like a XS650 at speed!

[rodekyll]

No, I think the Ann Summers reference is universally understood whether you're familiar with it or not. 

[Rough Edge racing]

 Less power than a 650 Yamaha? Or less power than a vintage Triumph Bonneville? Is that also about the same power than a new 750 Guzzi? A lot of guys enjoy the 750 Guzzi....
 I suppose it all depends on how the bike performs overall.....The bike looks ok but the engine is bland and lacks the "character" of vintage British  engines....

[Arizona Wayne]

Less power than a 650 Yamaha? Or less power than a vintage Triumph Bonneville? Is that also about the same power than a new 750 Guzzi? A lot of guys enjoy the 750 Guzzi....
 I suppose it all depends on how the bike performs overall.....The bike looks ok but the engine is bland and lacks the "character" of vintage British  engines....

750 Breva has 48 smooth hp, goes up to 105 mph,  and I'll bet it's lighter than this 650 Royal Enfield.   Breva also has a comfortable seat.

[Gino]

My wife and I spent two weeks riding in the Himalayas in Nepal in May (a bike each) on RE500's, the latest ones. Now to be fair we were on some extreme trails but these things were junk imho, poor brakes, electrical issues, and my frame snapped at one point, suspension was rubbish as well. I wanted to like them being a Brit bike fan as well as Guzzi but We both agreed they were sh*t

[bonkers]

My wife and I also spent over 5 weeks riding in the Himalayas in India on RE 500's. Now to be fair we were on some very, very extreme trails and these thing were so incredible good in everything and we had so much fun. We did enjoy it even more than on any other motor bike over  the last 35 year off motorcycle riding.

"THIS WEEK I SAW THE NEW 650 CONTINENTAL GT AND CAN'T GET INTO SLEEP ANYMORE!!!!!!!"

[bad Chad]

The hP numbers from the 70s are highly suspect. 

46 hp for the type of bike it is sounds fine.   The newest Guzzi 750s are now making 52hp, so it all seems in the right orbit.

I'd like to learn what the v7III is putting down at the rear wheel?
The v9s are rated at 55hp, but several media outlets have published dyno numbers at the rear wheel of 51/52hp!   Might the v7III be laying down 48/49 horses to the road?

I road a Breva 750 when they first came out, I got on it pretty hard and it charged ahead pretty quickly, it certainly had more juice than my v65sp!     I realize all things are relative.