Added an RE to the garage

[21SC]

Pick it up Tuesday.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Congrats. It is one of the most "pleasant" motorbikes I've ever ridden.

[Dave Swanson]

That's a sharp bike.  RE is running roughshod over much of the competition (except Guzzi of course    )

[faffi]

Congrats, I think you will be very happy with it

[JJ]

Congrats and good for you! 

I too, am thinking about a lighter bike like that in my near future...

Royal Enflied 650INT / Triumph Bonneville T100 / Kawasaki W800 - I like the retro look!

[21SC]

Congrats and good for you! 

I too, am thinking about a lighter bike like that in my near future...

Royal Enflied 650INT / Triumph Bonneville T100 / Kawasaki W800 - I like the retro look!

A couple months ago I also added a new Z400, delightful, 360# bike. Getting older and shorter, I've arrived at the next stop on this ride!

[Shorty]

Nice! I hope it serves you well. 

[Gliderjohn]

From 21SC:

A couple months ago I also added a new Z400, delightful, 360# bike. Getting older and shorter, I've arrived at the next stop on this ride!

You may be on to something. I may be going full circle eventually. I started my street riding on a GS400 and something along those lines may be my last bike.
GliderJohn

[MMRanch]

I've got the Meteor version , but it' ain't a perty as that Classic ! 
Yes, got it in July of 22 and in July of 23 I had almost 12,000 miles on it , they are wonderful bikes to ride ! 

[s1120]

That is such a cool color! One day I want to ride one of those. Looks like it would be a blast on my 45-55mph back roads around home.

[9fingers]

Congrats! Tons of fun and really beautiful. Best of luck! Here is a pic of my 500. 10,000 miles on this one. I ride Sophia probably 90% of the time.
Scott

[Chuck in Indiana]

That is such a cool color! One day I want to ride one of those. Looks like it would be a blast on my 45-55mph back roads around home.

It is a perfect tool for that mission. 

[MotoGuzzi750]

Pick it up Tuesday.

Beautiful motorcycle ! and beautiful picture.
Is your a 650 or ..?

[Chuck in Indiana]

That is the stump pullin' three fiddy. 

[moto]

I’ve got a bronze/chrome classic 350 like the one in the picture. It’s about the same dimensions as my former 1966 Triumph 650, but weighs at least 40 pounds more. Good torque. I don’t find my rides are as viscerally memorable as those on my T3. (Yes I think with my viscera. You should too.) Have fun! It gets stronger as you use it.

[MMRanch]

Hay Moto is right  saying : " It gets stronger as you use it. "

I've got over 12k-miles now and for the first 5 or 6 thousand miles it just kept getting better ... now it's staying the same , and that's OK ! 

[Gustav]

I had a R.E. Himalayan, great bike. Sold it when I bought the Guzzi. Thinking about selling the Guzzi and getting a Honda Rebel 500. Paul

[kingoffleece]

To each their own, but that sounds like a downgrade.

[Moparnut72]

That's what I thought.
kk

[faffi]

I had a R.E. Himalayan, great bike. Sold it when I bought the Guzzi. Thinking about selling the Guzzi and getting a Honda Rebel 500. Paul

I lusted after the CL500 when it came out earlier this year, but I got my V9 with less than 3,000 miles on the clock for a bit less than that of a new CL (same engine is the Rebel) would cost. Simple choice for me, but I would most likely have been very satisfied with the Honda as well.

[Gustav]

Hondas start, stop and get you home. I've wanted a Guzzi for forty years, got one, niggling problems. Just want to ride. Paul

[SIR REAL ED]

I’ve got a bronze/chrome classic 350 like the one in the picture. It’s about the same dimensions as my former 1966 Triumph 650, but weighs at least 40 pounds more. Good torque. I don’t find my rides are as viscerally memorable as those on my T3. (Yes I think with my viscera. You should too.) Have fun! It gets stronger as you use it.

As an Engineer, I always find the excess weight of these supposedly "simple" motorcycles to be a disappointment.

But, it terms of being true to form, it is the correct thing to do.  Back in the day, they were not designed as performance vehicles.  The goal was much more to be dependable, reliable transportation.

So if one wants to be true to the original design intent, the pursuit of lighter weight, and higher performance would not be historically accurate.  The main area to make an exception, of course, is in the braking system.  Everything else on the road has brakes better than they were half a century ago.  Fitting 50 year old brakes to satisfy the purists would be a very bad manufacturing decision.

Also, lets face it, heft adds to the feel of robustness.  Let the other OEM's pursue modern motorcycling.  Modern is not what the Royal Enfield buyer desires.  Rather an ability to experience the "good ole days" on every ride.

Real men like real steel.  Old John Deere lawnmowers vs new John Deere lawn mowers.

"Wet behind the ears young whippersnappers" need not apply!!!   

"I was riding motorsickles with coal oil fired headlights when you young punks was still in diapers!" 

It would be cool to tour some of these plants where the old still bikes are made to see if any of the original production tooling is still in use.  I suspect not.  Humans with the right skill sets might not be available.

 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Also, lets face it, heft adds to the feel of robustness.  Let the other OEM's pursue modern motorcycling.  Modern is not what the Royal Enfield buyer desires.  Rather an ability to experience the "good ole days" on every ride.

This. It reminds me of when I was a kid on a long stroke thumper. The brakes? Yeah. I've had one panic stop, and it was drama free. No skill required. 

[SIR REAL ED]

This. It reminds me of when I was a kid on a long stroke thumper. The brakes? Yeah. I've had one panic stop, and it was drama free. No skill required. 

Amen.  Often when I roll on the throttle on my DR650, my first ride on a very early Honda SL100 comes to mind.  Probably age 14 and every other motorcycle I had ridden prior to that was a two stroke.  Still remember thinking "What a tractor!"  It wasn't the quantity of power, it was the very different feel of power.

When you think about it.  Royal Enfield are brilliant.  Who wants just another mere high performance motorcycle, when you can have a time traveling machine?   

[SIR REAL ED]

IIRC, I don't think it was here, but that I first saw these video's on another forum where we were discussing art.

https://duckduckgo.com/?va=a&t=hp&q=youtube%2C+hand+pinstriping+royal+efield+gas+tank&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dnx0O5JagW-k

https://duckduckgo.com/?va=a&t=hp&q=youtube%2C+hand+pinstriping+royal+efield+gas+tank&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUsTIMxeO_ng&ia=videos

I have often thought about getting a Royal Enfield 650, but maybe I need to try out a 350 before taking the plunge.

[Shorty]

I find my 350 Meteor to be great fun in the hills and backroads of the Ozarks or Appalachia, but it's not a bike to ride to take with a group of Guzzi riders out in the Oklahoma open spaces. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

IIRC, I don't think it was here, but that I first saw these video's on another forum where we were discussing art.

https://duckduckgo.com/?va=a&t=hp&q=youtube%2C+hand+pinstriping+royal+efield+gas+tank&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dnx0O5JagW-k

https://duckduckgo.com/?va=a&t=hp&q=youtube%2C+hand+pinstriping+royal+efield+gas+tank&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUsTIMxeO_ng&ia=videos

I have often thought about getting a Royal Enfield 650, but maybe I need to try out a 350 before taking the plunge.

You have to realize the 350 wants you to have a different mindset about going somewhere. It is electronically limited to 74 mph, and really isn't happy doing that. It will get right up to 60 or so, though, which is where it likes to be. Relax, notice how comfortable you are, enjoy the torque.. you can really short shift it without issue..and enjoy the scenery. 

[faffi]

I would not mind having a 350 Classic for meandering the narrow roads around the farming district. The videos indicate it is a very relaxing ride.

[SIR REAL ED]

You have to realize the 350 wants you to have a different mindset about going somewhere. It is electronically limited to 74 mph, and really isn't happy doing that. It will get right up to 60 or so, though, which is where it likes to be. Relax, notice how comfortable you are, enjoy the torque.. you can really short shift it without issue..and enjoy the scenery. 

Can't argue with any of that.

I don't think I would want the RE 350 to be my only bike, but as a second or third bike, I can easily see myself reaching for the RE key more often than not.

Especially given I live only about 20 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains, and 25 mph roads are everywhere.  The biggest impediment I have to buying a RE 350 is my DR650 is a versatile machine.

To my simple mind, the huge indicator is how often you reach for the key for any specific bike.

Does it say more about the bike or the rider?

I doubt that question will be answered any time soon......   

[faffi]

I agree - if you own more than one bike, the key will tell volumes.