New Royal Enfield.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Well, that's not new as in "fresh design-never seen before" but new as in "fresh from the factory-to it's first owner".

For those who don't know the "Bullet" was a 1950's design from the Royal Enfield Co of Redditch, Worcestershire, England.

When the parent company ceased trading in 1970 the design drawings, tools, jigs etc were passed on the the "Enfield India" Co of Madras, India.

They've been merrily making them ever since, with only minor upgrades along the way. In India they are regarded quite highly, a man who can afford one is clearly a man of some substance. It go's without saying, I think, that in a poor country such as India motorcycles still perform the transport role and not the leisure toy one that they have become used to elsewhere.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/134560990-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/134560998-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/134561017-L.jpg

A friend of mine has just bought this machine.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/134561026-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/134561034-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/134561038-L.jpg

Notice the starter motor on the front of the cases and the left foot gear lever..
This is about as modern as Enfields get. It is getting about 80 mpg at the moment and sounds like a "real" motorcycle. Or an "old" motorcycle, depending on your viewpoint.

Si.

[Promethean]

I've seen some of these around in India. They're probably more popular because they have more engine displacement than the other bikes available in the market. However, one does not see them too often....atleast not in a city like Bombay.

Some of the ones that I have seen elsewhere, had been radically altered to run with kerosene instead of petrol/gas.

The more popular bikes in India are 150cc - 250cc Hondas and Suzukis due to their high gas mileage. Vespa scooters like the ones Dean prefers are the rage over there. :)

Per my knowledge....about 4 years out of date.....none of the bikes back in India have an electric ignition....with the exception of scooters.




Well, that's not new as in "fresh design-never seen before" but new as in "fresh from the factory-to it's first owner".

For those who don't know the "Bullet" was a 1950's design from the Royal Enfield Co of Redditch, Worcestershire, England.

When the parent company ceased trading in 1970 the design drawings, tools, jigs etc were passed on the the "Enfield India" Co of Madras, India.

They've been merrily making them ever since, with only minor upgrades along the way. In India they are regarded quite highly, a man who can afford one is clearly a man of some substance. It go's without saying, I think, that in a poor country such as India motorcycles still perform the transport role and not the leisure toy one that they have become used to elsewhere.

Notice the starter motor on the front of the cases and the left foot gear lever..
This is about as modern as Enfields get. It is getting about 80 mpg at the moment and sounds like a "real" motorcycle. Or an "old" motorcycle, depending on your viewpoint.

Si.

[Sir Limpsalot]

You're right of course, the 500 Enfield would be thought of as quite "thirsty" at 80 mpg when a smaller model will do considerably better.

The electric start became an option on the "deluxe" models about three or four years back. They also get a five speed gearbox and disc front brake.

The "standard" model is kickstart only and has four speeds and drum brakes.

Si.

[DarthRider]

Si, have you seen the custom and speed parts catalog the US importer offers?
They have all manner or Trials, Clubman and race bodywork, suspension, motor parts, etc. Some *really* nice stuff. Most of it imported from Jolly Olde, I'd expect.
The importer's personal bike was timed faster than a DBD-34 Goldie! He didn't say how often he changes top ends...bottom ends...trannies...that sort of thing.

[vintagemxr]

For an amazing Enfield journey read (the very attractive) C.L. Stambush's blog.

http://www.edgeofindia.blogspot.com/

I've seen some Enfields here in AZ and they look very cool but in the end it's still and ancient single cylinder 500. I think it would be a great "Saturday night bike" but I admit that I'm too spoiled by modern technology to want to live with an Enfield every day.

Doug

[Sir Limpsalot]

The importer's personal bike was timed faster than a DBD-34 Goldie! He didn't say how often he changes top ends...bottom ends...trannies...that sort of thing.


About as often as he changes the oil, I expect.

Si.

[socalrob]

Simon,

Thats a really nice bike. Is it yours? I think it would make a great commuter. I also would have thought it would be great for a nice cruise up Angeles Crest Hwy, that is until I saw the demolished Norton. I guess I'm a modern brakes / tires guy these days afterall.

But as I said, looks like such a sweet bike to cruise along at about 55 - 60 mph on a sunny day. Damn, I may have to look at Triumph Bonnies. A more gentlemanly Enfield I suppose.

[Sir Limpsalot]

No, not mine. It belongs to a friend who's always had a hankering for the "simple" life. In the past he's owned a few beemers, an R100RS, an R100RT, a K100RT and a K1100LT but now fancies something different.

Me? I'm with you, for a taste of "classic" style riding but without the hassle I'd opt for the Bonnie T100. Or maybe the Thruxton, there's a company over in NZ that does a neat conversion to raise the Thruxton clip-on bars up some.

Si.

[BobFV1]

I've seen some of these around in India. They're probably more popular because they have more engine displacement than the other bikes available in the market. However, one does not see them too often....atleast not in a city like Bombay.

Some of the ones that I have seen elsewhere, had been radically altered to run with kerosene instead of petrol/gas.

The more popular bikes in India are 150cc - 250cc Hondas and Suzukis due to their high gas mileage. Vespa scooters like the ones Dean prefers are the rage over there. :)

Per my knowledge....about 4 years out of date.....none of the bikes back in India have an electric ignition....with the exception of scooters.

Abhijeet's right - you see these bikes in India, but maybe about one in a thousand. There are SO MANY locally built small displacement Hondas and locally built Vespa-inspired scooters that the occasional Enfied Bullet catches your eye. I had one on sort of "long term lease" when I was there - it belonged to a merchant in Old Delhi who did his business renting them to foreigners. The advantage to riding an Enfield Bullet was that you could have a part manufactured for it just about anywhere. A typical foreigner route in North India was the five hour ride from Delhi to Rishikesh, on the shores of the Ganges river, right at the base of the Himalayas. A more challenging route would be the road up into Kashmir, the Manali highway. It was the first part of the ride chronicled in the video "Riding To The Top Of The World."

To be honest with you, during my close to three years in India, I rode very little. I make my living assessing risk, and while there are many risky activities I think are fine, I just was never comfortable with the combination of lack of medical infrastructure, poor driving discipline, and and poor road conditions in the country - all coupled with a culture/religion that believes in reincarnation. I even stopped driving myself after a few months, once I found a reliable and trustworthy driver.

The Bullets are classic-looking, rugged bikes - utilitarian and sturdy. Well suited to the harsh conditions on the subcontinent.

[Promethean]

I have to agree with you there. I learned to ride when I came over to the US. I have no doubt in my mind that I would have been seriously hurt if I had started riding back in India.

I drove a car for a while, when I worked in a city about 100 miles from Bombay. I was a truly bad driver and a menace on the road.....no different from the other drivers back there. I count myself extremely fortunate to have lived as long as I did. :)

As to the re-incarnation theory....someone must have been messing with you. Not many educated folks think about stuff like that these days. The simple truth is that life is cheap there.



To be honest with you, during my close to three years in India, I rode very little. I make my living assessing risk, and while there are many risky activities I think are fine, I just was never comfortable with the combination of lack of medical infrastructure, poor driving discipline, and and poor road conditions in the country - all coupled with a culture/religion that believes in reincarnation. I even stopped driving myself after a few months, once I found a reliable and trustworthy driver.

The Bullets are classic-looking, rugged bikes - utilitarian and sturdy. Well suited to the harsh conditions on the subcontinent.

[Spider-eyes]

Some of the ones that I have seen elsewhere, had been radically altered to run with kerosene instead of petrol/gas.

.

Now, that makes a lot of sense!!

Please tell me how to make BMW motorcycle run on kerosene. Machine makes much noise when run on benzine and even more when run on distillate and then will not accelerate to even 80 mph.

Kerosene would be much cheaper and I could also save money by using this for lighting in house. More money would be good for save to pay for future BMW parts and service.

[jamming]

I see one all the time here in Phoenix. He must be commuting on it. We wave at each other about the same time everyday. I'll have to hook a youy sometime and talk to him.

Personally I think the're pretty cool. The're different.

[Promethean]

That is funny. :)



Now, that makes a lot of sense!!

Please tell me how to make BMW motorcycle run on kerosene. Machine makes much noise when run on benzine and even more when run on distillate and then will not accelerate to even 80 mph.

Kerosene would be much cheaper and I could also save money by using this for lighting in house. More money would be good for save to pay for future BMW parts and service.