Royal Enfield Demo Days

[Dave Swanson]

I rode out to the RE demo days on my Ural with my lab Joey.

RE doesn't mess around!  Their huge tractor trailer was spit shined top to bottom.  Even the tires had dressing. 



I must admit that little 350 Hunter is a cool looking bike.

[inditx]

Nice!

[Brand X]

I don't know about the finish on the little 350, but the others have a ways to go..Maybe sell the fancy truck, and put it into the  fit, and finish on the rest of their machines.. They just turn my off looking at them in person. Does not mean they are not very nice machines..Half the joy is looking just how nice some machines are finished.. Guzzi seems to do it at a good price point..

[bigbikerrick]

Sweet looking Lab, Dave!
Rick.

[Dave Swanson]

I don't know about the finish on the little 350, but the others have a ways to go..Maybe sell the fancy truck, and put it into the  fit, and finish on the rest of their machines.. They just turn my off looking at them in person. Does not mean they are not very nice machines..Half the joy is looking just how nice some machines are finished.. Guzzi seems to do it at a good price point..

I agree even though I can't fault what RE has done for the motorcycle market I would never in a million years pick a RE over any of the MG V7 series.

[Brand X]

I agree even though I can't fault what RE has done for the motorcycle market I would never in a million years pick a RE over any of the MG V7 series.

I would not either. Although through a round about way picked this one up.. These are nicely finished too.. In fact both of them are.. I let my Stornello go for this BMW .Super nice Rotax Motors... 360 degree twin like the newest one.. The  BMW was just too similar to my Aprilia Touno Factory in how I use it..(Sport Touring ) Now all this happened in a week or so, and ended up with this one..It's always compared to the RE 650. I removed the fairing, (Dart Screen,Factory Cafe setup.. Two seats, Crash bars, and rear rack.. 2100 miles, and a little sweet heart.. Yes it vibes at 55 mph,, low vibes below that and about 75 MPH..Get similar MPG to the Guzzi, and maybe a bit better.. 60 MPG.  BMW gets even better..Anyway kind of like a 360 twin not trying to be a V-twin (90 degree) like the 270 degree models

Lots of really nice used bikes, if you want to go the budget route. That way you can get the Fit, and Finish your money deserves. Yes, I do think there is a place for the RE ine, just not me at this time..My KTM 390 made in India was excellent in fit, and finish. Lower cost machine too

To be totally fair Kawasaki saved a ton of money on the tires fitted to it..Pretty old school, and quite exciting on rain groove/painted lines etc..
BT-46 are on order .available in the correct size..Probably good for certain Guzzi's  too..


 

[kingoffleece]

Having had a 790 and several 865 Bonnevilles that I liked I'd take a R/E every time for that style of bike.  Two very extended test rides were an absolute blast.

That does NOT mean I'd take the R/E over a V7 of any size.

[Brand X]

These are a  a real blast 75 MPG at 70 MPH.  All day too..If there are any corners involved, then that is when the fun starts..Funny, would spank a V-7, RE, and a the Kawi.. Even  being just a 373 cc



I will still stand by the build quality of the others..Hands down..

[dlapierre]

I agree with the comment about picking a MG V7 over a RE any day, but I picked up a '22 RE Continental GT with under 150 miles on it a couple of weeks ago on a deal just to see what it was like. It is exactly like the one in the bottom photo above with the black and white tank. I think the fit and finish on the bike is just fine and it handles well, though I'm still riding it according to the break-in instructions, which is to not rev it over 4K rpm for a while yet.

What I especially like is, like the MG, is the ease with which one can check and adjust the valves, which I did while also giving it it's first oil change. I dunno how to do this shim-in-bucket thing, so my bike preferences remain narrowed to those with adjustable tappets.

The downside of this little RE is that I seem oversized for it. It feels small under me. I'm a hair over 6' and a bit over 200 lbs. And, I'm not so used to riding a bike with clip-ons anymore, the sport-bike type, though I did have a really good time with the MG 1200 Sport while I owned it. My son has it now.

I'll likely trade this RE for something else come spring.

[Brand X]

Bikes like the Duke 690, and Kawasaki W-650/800 have a simple design on adjusting the Shims for valve lash adjustment .Main thing is just having a shim kit on hand.. No pulling the cams/etc..  I really like bikes you can work on yourself , being it's the software/etc.. With about $100 total you could do that BMW I had..I do like bikes like the 1200 Sport with GuzziDiag.