Fun with 20 Horsepower

[Shorty]

Royal Enfield rider Dan rides his Classic 350 on a mountain road in NC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79EuIgioLDc

[moto]

Makes me want to buy a Royal Enfield 350!

Moto

[nc43bsa]

Makes me want to buy that camera.

[twowheeladdict]

Royal Enfield rider Dan rides his Classic 350 on a mountain road in NC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79EuIgioLDc

Interesting.   I wonder how the camera is mounted because it stays parallel to the road while the bike leans over. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Makes me want to buy a Royal Enfield 350!

Moto

You would like it, Moto.  Proof positive that is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. There are way too many mail boxes on that road to go fast, and the little Enfield is having a good time. They are *very* good handling bikes.. the chassis is by Harris..and the long stroke engine is enjoyable to operate. That said, if the trike hadn't pulled over, he'd never have been able to safely pass because of the low horsepower. If RE punches it out to 500 cc, I'll be on it like a duck on a June bug.
Classic Brit single looks, too. I've already had more compliments on it than any other bike I've had. 

[moto]

You would like it, Moto. 

I bet I would! Does it have a real stump puller of a first gear? I'm thinking I might tow one to Nevada next summer instead of my T3, which was too heavy for my car when I took it out to the Black Hills a couple of weeks ago on my MoTow hitch. I'm a slow and tenacious explorer of mountain dirt roads.

[SIR REAL ED]

You would like it, Moto.  Proof positive that is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. There are way too many mail boxes on that road to go fast, and the little Enfield is having a good time. They are *very* good handling bikes.. the chassis is by Harris..and the long stroke engine is enjoyable to operate. That said, if the trike hadn't pulled over, he'd never have been able to safely pass because of the low horsepower. If RE punches it out to 500 cc, I'll be on it like a duck on a June bug.
Classic Brit single looks, too. I've already had more compliments on it than any other bike I've had. 

Well said Chuck!  there are lots of roads out there where more than 20 hp is not required or even usable.

More pictures of your Royal Enfield 350 would be appreciated.  thanks in advance.

[SemperVee]

 Reminded me on our Kymco 150cc Spade motorcycle that  "Its more fun going fast on a slow bike than slow on a fast bike" .... Same idea on 24 HP RE Himalayan

[Chuck in Indiana]

I bet I would! Does it have a real stump puller of a first gear? I'm thinking I might tow one to Nevada next summer instead of my T3, which was too heavy for my car when I took it out to the Black Hills a couple of weeks ago on my MoTow hitch. I'm a slow and tenacious explorer of mountain dirt roads.

I wouldn't call it a stump puller, but you can just let out the clutch and motor off. No need to slip the clutch, etc. I would think it would putt down dirt roads just fine.

[9fingers]

I am sure that is a great bike and better in every way, except absolute power, than my Classic 500. I have some engine mods and probably have around 27 hp at the rear wheel. But we all know that it is not about absolute HP. My V7III is more powerful and more fun than my V Strom 650 in the range where I keep the engine. If I want to ride the Strom above 7,000 rpm all day it is faster, but who the heck wants to do that? I have ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway, and side roads, from Charlottesville to Asheville twice (and my V7III once) and it was fantastic and a conversation starter everywhere. Enjoyed that video that was posted, thanks.
Scott

[JJ]

QUOTE: 

Proof positive that is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. There are way too many mail boxes on that road to go fast, and the little Enfield is having a good time. They are *very* good handling bikes.. the chassis is by Harris..and the long stroke engine is enjoyable to operate. That said, if the trike hadn't pulled over, he'd never have been able to safely pass because of the low horsepower. If RE punches it out to 500 cc, I'll be on it like a duck on a June bug.

Well said, Chuck...but RE makes a capable 650cc INT which is also a cool retro bike!  Here is my friend Scott's Royal Enfield 650...which cruised along quite well on a recent Lake Havasu run

[9fingers]

Some of my friends have the 650 bikes, both Interceptor and GT, and they are great fun. Really nice engine and good handling. The seats suck if you are over maybe 150lbs, and the rear shocks are mediocre at best. I WAS going to buy the Continental GT till Moto Guzzi's promo add popped up on my PC back in 2021. I ended up getting my V7III Special for around $1,000 more than the GT.......and I consider that well worth it.
Scott

[MMRanch]

Yea , the RE 350 motor is wonderful machine !   

I've got the Meteor (2022) Version and it has become my "Go-To-Bike" for all the local ridding chores.

Durning the break-in period I was getting almost 100mpg , but now that I can let it loose  it only get in the 75 to 85 mpg area .   
Gearing for 85mph , power for 80mph and a speed-limiter that come's in at 119.5 kmph (74mph).  It likes running anything up to 65mph , but has no problem leveling off at 70mph .  Max power at 4,500 rpm Max HP at 6,100 (72mm x 86mm) and super heavy fly-wheel/counter-balancer.  Slick as a button !     

I'm keeping my Guzzi V-7II for  those weekends in the mountains. 

[moto]

You would like it, Moto...

Well, Chuck, 



I just bought this bronze one with chrome tank panels! So far, I like it a lot.

(That's the Yerkes Observatory in the background, on my way home.)

By the way, where can I find those saddlebags you have?

Moto

[tris]

In my garage is a complete dog of a motorcycle  -  it's a Yamaha TW125 bought as - lock down kicked off to play on the green lanes with my stepson. But that didn't happen

I had such a laugh on the back roads round home.
Don't need to brake for corners because it never got above 47 MPH
And if I did drop it into a ditch I could pull it out on my own

It was instrumental in my getting rid off the Breva 1100 and getting the smaller V9

Small / low power bikes are fun

[s1120]

WOW moto shes a stunner!!!  Enjoy!

[grebmrof]

Interesting.   I wonder how the camera is mounted because it stays parallel to the road while the bike leans over.

Seems like a nice bike.  The rider is a pretty prolific poster to the "Royal Enfield USA" Facebook page.  WRT the camera, I think that is a GoPro or one like it that has stabilization that I think takes care of keeping the horizon level.  Anyone? 
Pretty road and a match for RE's 350.

[Navydad]

I had a 2001 RE 350 Bullet. It's primary role was to get me to work and back home. It was a seven mile commute that could be stretched out to ten miles by taking county roads which I did. The bike was happiest below 55 mph and probably couldn't get out of it's own way if need be. The brakes were terrible and a good pair of boots to drag worked better. For some reason I had a lot of fun on that machine. It was replaced after 10,000 miles with a Suzuki DR350 and the last time I saw the RE it was in a truck bound for Queens, New York.

[JJ]

I was recently joking with my cousin that I was going to buy a little "TIDDLER" in the future, like this Honda CT125...

He reminded me that I am not 16 years old and 90 pounds anymore....

[SemperVee]

  I test rode a 2021 RE Himalayan.   It was a very easy fun ride and comfortable but only having 24 HP was not enough for me. It's a good thing it is easy to work on as it does require  maint more often then other bikes with much shorter intervals and recommended part replacements. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Well, Chuck, 



I just bought this bronze one with chrome tank panels! So far, I like it a lot.

(That's the Yerkes Observatory in the background, on my way home.)

By the way, where can I find those saddlebags you have?

Moto

Great minds travel the same paths.. The bronze/chrome version was my first choice. I had called Mike, the dealer and old Guzzi Guy, and he had one, but didn't offer test rides. I found a Hawg dealer in Lafayette that did offer test rides, and I fell in love. Being a Hawg dealer, though, there was a $500 "market adjustment" tacked on to the price.  I would much rather buy from a mom and pop shop anyway.. and went to Indy the next day with money in hand. He'd sold it the day before to a guy on the V11S list.  Said he had a green one coming in so I said I'd take it. I like my greenie just fine. You'll find it takes some miles to break in. Mine is still loosening up at 900 miles, now.
The saddlebags are off Etsy, direct from India, and cost roughly $65 for the pair. Delivered.  They're lined, and have a zipper pocket inside, along with a plain pocket. Goat hide. Cow hide would be better.. but.. 

[steven c]

 zdo you have a link for the saddle bags? I think a set of leather bags would look great on my 74 Eldo.

[moto]

Great minds travel the same paths.. The bronze/chrome version was my first choice. I had called Mike, the dealer and old Guzzi Guy, and he had one, but didn't offer test rides. I found a Hawg dealer in Lafayette that did offer test rides, and I fell in love. Being a Hawg dealer, though, there was a $500 "market adjustment" tacked on to the price.  I would much rather buy from a mom and pop shop anyway.. and went to Indy the next day with money in hand. He'd sold it the day before to a guy on the V11S list.  Said he had a green one coming in so I said I'd take it. I like my greenie just fine. You'll find it takes some miles to break in. Mine is still loosening up at 900 miles, now.
The saddlebags are off Etsy, direct from India, and cost roughly $65 for the pair. Delivered.  They're lined, and have a zipper pocket inside, along with a plain pocket. Goat hide. Cow hide would be better.. but.. 

Great minds, indeed. My second choice was the green one! I went down to Randy's Cycle in Marengo IL to get a better trade-in deal on my SSR/Italjet Buccaneer 250i. Sorry to hear about your close miss.

I bet your bags came from seller Bharatarts, right? I'm about to click the button for my own pair. Just ordered em.

Steven C, here's a link to the ones I ordered, that seem like the ones Chuck got:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/864604215/motorcycle-saddlebags-saddle-panniers-2?click_key=2d963bc617608127b11ad3f0dba838650b1dd25d%3A864604215&click_sum=2438c80c&ref=hp_opfy-1&frs=1

I added a Royal Enfield logo for five bucks, after confirming with the seller that it was available.

Moto

[steven c]

 Thanks for the link, those look nice.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I added a Royal Enfield logo for five bucks, after confirming with the seller that it was available.

Big spender, eh? (Guzzi content) 
We visited Yerkes with The Kid and Nora several years ago, and got a ride on the movable observatory floor. Kool place.