Author Topic: Back To The Future- New Old Bikes .... (Read 10053 times)

leafman60 · « **on:** July 17, 2015, 07:13:57 AM »

A very magnanimous take on the gentle, Indian-made, Royal Enfield. They look a lot like my 1953 Matchless.

Some of these comments may apply to Guzzi models....

This was on the MSN Home Page today!

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/research/the-coolest-motorcycle-in-the-world-has-come-to-america/ar-AAd4Hcr?ocid=HPDHP

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leafman60 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2015, 07:38:23 AM »

I think this is my favorite model of RE-

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2015, 07:55:26 AM »

I'd look good on that. Will you maintain it for me?

nick949 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2015, 08:22:21 AM »

Over the last few years I have rented modern Royal Enfields to ride in Britain. This June's RealClassic magazine (to which I heartily recommend you subscribe) published my review of the bikes based on about 3500 miles of riding, mostly in inclement conditions.

Click the image for the PDF of the article

Nick

leafman60 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2015, 09:43:10 AM »

Nick, Chuck insinuated terrible maintenance issues with the new R-Enfields. What's you take on that? Are they reliable? I'm sure things like valve adjustments etc are easy but how do the bikes hold up?

nick949 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2015, 10:01:47 AM »

Quote from: leafman60 on July 17, 2015, 09:43:10 AM

Nick, Chuck insinuated terrible maintenance issues with the new R-Enfields. What's you take on that? Are they reliable? I'm sure things like valve adjustments etc are easy but how do the bikes hold up?

I only have the experience of my two rental tours to go from. Other than the chains, which were crap, I had no problems at all with the bikes.

They are not well suited to long hours of droning along on North American highways and a definitely unsuited to the Interstates. For trips where the roads are slowish and twisty, nobody is breathing down your neck willing you to go faster, and enjoyment of the scenery is more important that making distance, they are fine and positively pleasant.

A modern day Nuovo Falcone - if you like. Charming, enjoyable, pleasant - but with limitations.

Nick

PS If you check the on line forums, they don't seem to be plagued by any more issues than any other bike - including Japanese ones.

leafman60 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2015, 02:01:39 PM »

Whenever possible, I hope you will allow us to post, on our ADV NF thread, your R Enfield tour report that was published.

akcapwild · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2015, 03:47:50 PM »

The persistent reports of persistent stalling with the Continental GT are discouraging... I'm not sure I'd pay $3500 for one... but what a neat looking bike.

prof_stack · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2015, 04:29:33 PM »

Quote from: leafman60 on July 17, 2015, 09:43:10 AM

Nick, Chuck insinuated terrible maintenance issues with the new R-Enfields. What's you take on that? Are they reliable? I'm sure things like valve adjustments etc are easy but how do the bikes hold up?

I had the "new" Royal Enfield with the UCE motor, it was the 500cc version called the C5.

It was one problem waiting to happen while I was sorting out another. Wiring gremlins, stuck brake calipers, Sprag clutch disintegration, wobbly above 55mph, fractured/fatigued cheap metal from the vibrations, including the ground wire plate on the battery terminal, fuel sensor failure, fouling plug if idled too long, and I could go on.

I sold it 20 months are buying it new. It looked a whole lot better than it ran.

LowRyter · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2015, 04:33:12 PM »

I don't get it. I know folks that have them.

If I wanted a little nostalgia single I might consider an SR400. If I was going to buy a single, I'd more likley look at the Super Duke which has no nostalgia value.

kirkemon · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2015, 04:45:59 PM »

Quote from: LowRyter on July 17, 2015, 04:33:12 PM

I don't get it. I know folks that have them.

If I wanted a little nostalgia single I might consider an SR400. If I was going to buy a single, I'd more likley look at the Super Duke which has no nostalgia value.

Absolutely! I looked in the the RE because it looked cool. Now, I've never ridden one, but I read many reviews about the vibration.
Other rides that I'd go with first would be the SR400, GB500, and Honda 400four (which has almost 10 more hp).

Penderic · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2015, 05:17:00 PM »

Whats in your basement?

AGRO! · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2015, 07:05:22 PM »

Quote from: Penderic on July 17, 2015, 05:17:00 PM

Whats in your basement?

The old Triumph Hurricane didnt really work for Triumph in Australia...

LowRyter · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2015, 07:26:59 PM »

damn. No one is going to ever take that Hurricane out it's crate.

that's sad.

leafman60 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2015, 08:10:45 PM »

Quote from: prof_stack on July 17, 2015, 04:29:33 PM

I had the "new" Royal Enfield with the UCE motor, it was the 500cc version called the C5.

It was one problem waiting to happen while I was sorting out another. Wiring gremlins, stuck brake calipers, Sprag clutch disintegration, wobbly above 55mph, fractured/fatigued cheap metal from the vibrations, including the ground wire plate on the battery terminal, fuel sensor failure, fouling plug if idled too long, and I could go on.

I sold it 20 months are buying it new. It looked a whole lot better than it ran.

Wow, I didn't know they were that horrible!

Ground wire problems, fuel sensors and fouling plugs are the sorts of things that frequent this and many other bike forum sites but the fractured/fatigued metal is something to worry more about.

I know several who have the recent models and they don't report such terrible issues with them.

Nick, how in the world did you make your way through Scotland without that RE crumbling beneath you!?

LowRyter · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2015, 10:42:00 PM »

I wouldn't mind having one of these

oldbike54 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2015, 10:49:17 PM »

Quote from: LowRyter on July 17, 2015, 10:42:00 PM

I wouldn't mind having one of these

For about $60K you can have one built from new parts . Of course it won't be the real thing , and at the race track , some guy with an overbored and stroked 305 Drixton Honda will make you feel bad

Dusty

Doppelgaenger · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2015, 10:52:09 PM »

There's just one thing I don't like about the Royal Enfields: The Price.

They overprice them here in the US because they know the hipsters will buy them so they can "be different". But for 6 grand after taxes I'd rather buy an SR400, a Honda Grom, or basically almost any used bike of any kind and have money left over.

Hell, a new TU250 is probably a better deal and looks the same part.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #18 on:** July 18, 2015, 12:57:56 AM »

Geat story. I agree that at this point how a bike "feels" is much more important than anything else.
Thanks for the treat.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #19 on:** July 18, 2015, 06:23:40 AM »

Nice article, Nick.

And you're right. Just because it has one cylinder that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a thumper. Apparently the RE *is* a proper thumper.. extra points for that.

guzzisteve · « **Reply #20 on:** July 18, 2015, 06:29:27 AM »

I worked on them at a dealership and was not impressed. The oil filter is held in place w/tin disc and an oring to stop oil escaping, junk. When the hop-up parts come from England it becomes a much nicer machine, better quality too.
If you do a search, there are many for sale at a good price.

blackcat · « **Reply #21 on:** July 18, 2015, 06:40:02 AM »

Brand new, 50HP and 322 lbs.
http://www.stevetonkinclassics.com/showroom.html

John Ulrich · « **Reply #22 on:** July 18, 2015, 08:30:52 AM »

Quote from: Penderic on July 17, 2015, 05:17:00 PM

Whats in your basement?

WOW....tell us more. Is that a current photo? There were a lot of those for sale in MN back in the early 80's. Now you only see one at a show.

Antietam Classic Cycle · « **Reply #23 on:** July 18, 2015, 09:01:06 AM »

Quote from: leafman60 on July 17, 2015, 08:10:45 PM

I know several who have the recent models and they don't report such terrible issues with them.

Nick, how in the world did you make your way through Scotland without that RE crumbling beneath you!?

Do you think maybe the ones Nick rented might have been upgraded/fettled/sorted by the agent he rented them from? I'd imagine that they want their customers to be happy and safe, nothing worse than a bike broken down in the middle of nowhere to make someone unhappy. Sending out a recovery truck gets expensive too.

nick949 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 18, 2015, 09:22:01 AM »

Quote from: Antietam Classic Cycle on July 18, 2015, 09:01:06 AM

Do you think maybe the ones Nick rented might have been upgraded/fettled/sorted by the agent he rented them from? I'd imagine that they want their customers to be happy and safe, nothing worse than a bike broken down in the middle of nowhere to make someone unhappy. Sending out a recovery truck gets expensive too.

I didn't get that impression Charlie. They were low mileage bikes that didn't seem to have had anything but the most basic servicing - but of course, how would I really know?

Nick

blackcat · « **Reply #25 on:** July 18, 2015, 11:23:46 AM »

Quote from: John Ulrich on July 18, 2015, 08:30:52 AM

WOW....tell us more. Is that a current photo?

If my memory is correct those bikes were auctioned off a few years ago somewhere in England. Of course, ex-dealer who had been sitting on them or some such story. They were a staple on the Norton list and may have been posted over here too.

malik · « **Reply #26 on:** July 18, 2015, 02:16:33 PM »

For what it's worth, in Enfield circles, the EFI versions have a reputation of being generally trouble-free, much more so than the previous carbureted versions. I'll be riding with the local Enfield club today; I'll canvas them & get some more feedback. It's only a day ride and it's mid-winter, so a big roll-up is not expected. Those models built in the new factory (the Continental GT) appear to have even less problems.

BTW, that Tornado looks very tasty. Pity the price puts it beyond reach.

Mal

Penderic · « **Reply #27 on:** July 18, 2015, 05:28:01 PM »

You know, new Retro is fine, as long as she don't leave you stranded!

Oh! all right. Its OK then.

malik · « **Reply #28 on:** July 20, 2015, 04:43:11 PM »

Had a good run with the Enfield club on Sunday, met up at Windsor, down to the Sackville ferry, then the Webb Creek ferry at Wisemans & lunch at the Settlers Arms at St Albans. A dozen bikes; 5 interlopers and 7 Enfields - a 612, an old iron barrell, an Electra, and a Carberry (all carburetted) and 3 EFIs. the EFI riders are happy with their mounts, one very much so now that he's sorted the correct spark plug, another on his new B5 is still expecting something to go wrong. The Electra has 140,000 km on it, by the way. A good ride on some good roads - a general consensus that we don't do the Webbs Creek - St Albans road often enough - 20k of bends, hills, straights through bush & farmland beside the river, with BEER at the end.

Waiting for the ferry

a happy EFI

The 140,000k Electra (check ouit the goofy mirrors, Nick)

Another of the EFI's

the 612

the Carberry

A couple of the interlopers

A good day had by all,

Mal

leafman60 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 20, 2015, 06:12:04 PM »

Thanks for posting that, Malik.

Are you guys having problems with the reliability of those machines??

Good to see the V-twin conversion.

An Indian-American chap here was developing what he called the "Musket," a similar effort.

http://www.musketvtwin.com/home.html

.

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Author Topic: Back To The Future- New Old Bikes .... (Read 10053 times)

akcapwild

prof_stack

Penderic

AGRO!

oldbike54

Doppelgaenger

Penderic