here's a site with more info.
http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/

 

here's my buddy's bike in classic trim

I know it's not for everyone in today's Japanese/HD lead market, but for vintage guys this is almost irresistable.

 

5.5/1 compression ratio (runs on mud) with a 9-ish/1 piston available and all kinds of hot rod parts in the catalogue.
sidecar available (no reverse) and 75+ mpg.
when gas prices get out of sight, this may make more sense and gain a market share.

my preference would be in scrambler trim with the quick disconnect hack.

 

Gees Modre, I've been drooling all over this website since you posted it! That is exactly the kind of bike I've always wanted since I was a teenager. Never got interested in the big touring bikes, and have no need for a crotch rocket, just simple transportation with classic British styling. I was always envious of my cousin's Norton that he had in the early 1970's, but it seems the major manufacturers don't make a machine similar to this. Most make either a fiberglass 200 MPH monster machine or a Harley wanna-be.

 

ROF ROF Well Modre,
It's been a month, are you still thinking about one of these? I've been spending a dollar a week on the lottery in hopes that I'll win enough $$$ to get one. (I know, I'm the last of the BIG gamblers ROF ROF )

 

When In was high school a buddy of mine had one of those in scrambler or maybe TT trim(I don't remember). It was a fun bike to ride and cantankerous to start. And in the true tradation of large Britrish singles, one could tell the path it took by the trail of parts left behind. However, I have also heard great reviews of the retro bikes made both in India and China as being of excellent quality since 21st century manufacturing techniques are being used instead of 19th century techniques.

 

Hey Ya' ll ! OK, I'm D.B. and I found this message board brousing the web. I am the proud owner of a 2001 R.E. Bullet 500 EK Deluxe named Wanda. She is a wonderful machine, and just like riding an old timer without as many break downs.
Alright they still break down. Just not as often. LOL But what is the big deal about an occasional break down ? They are simple to wrench on. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work on one.
These bikes are not just transportation. Far from it...... It becomes a way of life. I actually look foreward to adjusting my valves, and tinkering with her. Its more like a bonding thing. We are best friends. I know Wanda better then I do my wife. LOL
There is a sence of pride that comes with the involvment. These are OLD SCHOOL machines. She brought me back to my roots. I'm 45, and feel as I did when I started riding at age 4.
Oh well, I could go on all day about my baby, but I'll not... LOL If any of you nice folks want to know more about them ? Just ask. I can talk about mine all day. LOL

Take CARE, be BAD ; ), and ride SAFE..........D.B.

 

Bullet...

:Welcome1:

How about posting some pics? How did it get the name Wanda?

Uncle Greg

 

:Welcome1: bullet Im with Greg post some pictures of Wanda.

 

Hey Ya' ll ! OK, I'm D.B. and I found this message board brousing the web. I am the proud owner of a 2001 R.E. Bullet 500 EK Deluxe named Wanda. She is a wonderful machine, and just like riding an old timer without as many break downs.
Alright they still break down. Just not as often. LOL But what is the big deal about an occasional break down ? They are simple to wrench on. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work on one.
These bikes are not just transportation. Far from it...... It becomes a way of life. I actually look foreward to adjusting my valves, and tinkering with her. Its more like a bonding thing. We are best friends. I know Wanda better then I do my wife. LOL
There is a sence of pride that comes with the involvment. These are OLD SCHOOL machines. She brought me back to my roots. I'm 45, and feel as I did when I started riding at age 4.
Oh well, I could go on all day about my baby, but I'll not... LOL If any of you nice folks want to know more about them ? Just ask. I can talk about mine all day. LOL

Take CARE, be BAD ; ), and ride SAFE..........D.B.

Welcome DB!!

I know this motorcylce post brought you hear, but you will see a true kinship here. Working with old tractors is a lot like old bikes. Ya, theres better, and faster out there, but thats not the point. As they say, its not the destnation, its the trip that counts!!!!

 

I'm curious as to the power of this bike. Seems like 27 HP is a little light to accelerate quickly on the on ramp of an interstate. How well do they ride with 2 decent sized folks on top?

 

A buuy of mine opend a dealership in a small city I use to have a shop in. I had the pleasure of riding a 500 bullet. At that time I was riding a worn out 86 883 Harley sportster. The Royal enfield was surprizingly tourqy. It didnt sound fast. The thumps just got closer togather but you could feel it. It accelerated nice at any speed.
The only thing that I could say against it was that being a little shorter wheelbase it was a choppy ride and the stock seat was hard. A couple inches added to teh swingarm and a softer seat I would tour anyplace that my harleys would go.

 

bontai Joe,

The Enfield would be a bit underpowered for much 2-up riding, especially on the interstate.
A better choice would be the new Triumph Bonneville. They started making them in 2001. Modern technology that looks vintage rather than vintage technology that looks vintage.
The Bonneville is quicker, faster, and has better reliability than the Enfiled. Also more $$$ to buy, though used ones are readily available.

Bill

 

Hi Bill , :Welcome1: I was thinking that the engine on the enfield looked alot like the s-10 and tr6 engine, When I was in my 20`s I worked for a Trimph dealer in Quincy Il. Oh , I love them , just like I love these tractors now. I had a 30 incher that put down several big bikes . them days are memories now , Im 62 now. I stoped rideing about 3 years ago.
Welcome aboard bikers !! We like varity here. :hide:

 

drbailey,

Thank you for the welcome.

I used to post a bit over at GW but got tired of the bashing. I almost signed up here as fbeard. Good to see many of the same names here that I used to see there.

I have owned a JD LT150H for 3 years now. I grew up on a Michigan farm and all Dad would use were Deere tractors. Guess it got in the blood.

I also ride motorcycles. Right now a Suzuki Bandit 600. I like most any bike, ask my wife.

Bill

 

I was just out your way last week ( Portage ) to pick up my new used scooter.
Rodster

 

Hi Bill , :Welcome1: I was thinking that the engine on the enfield looked alot like the s-10 and tr6 engine, When I was in my 20`s I worked for a Trimph dealer in Quincy Il. Oh , I love them , just like I love these tractors now. I had a 30 incher that put down several big bikes . them days are memories now , Im 62 now. I stoped rideing about 3 years ago.
Welcome aboard bikers !! We like varity here. :hide:

:fing20: :bonk: I don`t think that Triumph made a s-10 ,, that was General motors, What was the triumph ? was it a T 1 10 or something like that.?
Its ok to laugh at me .Some times I look at me and wonder and other times I just look at me. :hide:

 

In the 50's and 60's, Triumph made a T10, T100, T120, and T150, among others.
Here is a link to a pretty comprehensive list.

http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/triumph/models.html

Bill

 

I'd stay away from the spotty reliability from any bike made in India. Especially one which still uses points,which were eliminated from most bikes over 25 years ago.A used(early 2000s- no longer sold new) Kawasaki W650 would probably be the most reliable retro bike. Triumph also has a few retro bikes in their lineup,the new Scrambler being the coolest IMO!

www.chuckhawks.com/w650.htm

www.triumph.co.uk/usa/760.aspx

 

I agree that the Kawasaki and Triumph are probably better bikes, but they are copies of a classic, The Royal Enfield is a continuously made classic from the 1950's design essentially unchanged, and that makes it kind of special. Kind of like the difference between the 2005 Mustang that looks like the late 1960's version vs. having a newly made 1969 Mustang.

 

Those new Enfields are such a vintage unit that new ones are eligible for some AHRMA vintage racing classes.

 

I agree that the Kawasaki and Triumph are probably better bikes, but they are copies of a classic, The Royal Enfield is a continuously made classic from the 1950's design essentially unchanged, and that makes it kind of special. Kind of like the difference between the 2005 Mustang that looks like the late 1960's version vs. having a newly made 1969 Mustang.

Well if you mean 'classic' as leaking oil right out of the box,they probably are classics then! People take the reliability of modern cycles for granted now and forget what junk the old ones used to be.You can't compare a 65-69 Mustang ,which was a fairly reliable car then and now,to 60s era Britbikes which were total junk!Horrid Lucas electrics,lights going out at night,new batteries going dead,speedo,throttle,and tach cables fraying and breaking with regularity,finicky leaking Amal carbs,lousy brakes and handling.I still remember bikes stalling out due to damp points when caught in a rainstorm,plugs fouling and carburator jets clogging for apparently no reason at all.When given a choice of retro looking modern bikes over actual retro junk,I'll take the modern bike every single time. The Enfield may be the Yugo of modern bikes,but I wouldn't want a POS Yugo either!

 

Well if you mean 'classic' as leaking oil right out of the box,they probably are classics then! People take the reliability of modern cycles for granted now and forget what junk the old ones used to be.You can't compare a 65-69 Mustang ,which was a fairly reliable car then and now,to 60s era Britbikes which were total junk!Horrid Lucas electrics,lights going out at night,new batteries going dead,speedo,throttle,and tach cables fraying and breaking with regularity,finicky leaking Amal carbs,lousy brakes and handling.I still remember bikes stalling out due to damp points when caught in a rainstorm,plugs fouling and carburator jets clogging for apparently no reason at all.When given a choice of retro looking modern bikes over actual retro junk,I'll take the modern bike every single time. The Enfield may be the Yugo of modern bikes,but I wouldn't want a POS Yugo either!

Not sure that I agree with you there...My opinion of Classics include the evolution of their styling, popularity and all their faults.

I can remember lapping cases on a few British bikes, Triumph and BSA especially as they were prone to leak/drip. Also tuning their spoke rims with an axle jig and dial indicator. Keeping them stock (outwardly appearance) but improving the manufacturer's standards was part of the personality of the machine.

My all time favorite motorcycle (Classic & Reliable) is the 250, 500, 600 and R750 boxer engines on the BMW's. It would be a tough argument to find a more dependable and comfortable motorcycle. I dropped my 1957 500 in Belgum, where the crash bar swung back hard enough to crack the cylinder away from the block...It took me 5 hours and 7 liters of oil to make it back to the base in the Netherlands. New cylinder, rings and a day later it was good as new.

 

Well most motorcyclists aren't mechanics or machinists and buy their bikes to ride,not constantly fix.You'd think building the same bike at the same factory for 50 years they would have all the bugs out of it by now.I never got the charm or appeal of bikes that break down when you need them most,but I guess for people who want a garage queen to look at and take out occasionally on short rides ,these Enfields would have some appeal. I got curious about these bikes and wanted to actually see one to check out the build quality,but the nearest dealer is well over 100 miles away.Too bad ,but now it's a possible riding destination for the spring anyway.

 

Well most motorcyclists aren't mechanics or machinists and buy their bikes to ride,not constantly fix.

these days anyone with credit and a pulse can pose in leather...but that certainly doesn't mean everyone carries a cell phone to call for help.

When my 02 BMW state of the art spaceship fails, after a couple checks, I'm at the mercy of a trailer same as anyone else...because it's techno meters and parts numbers...whereas I can always limp back home on points and a carb with naught but a Swiss army knife, pliers, and some bailing wire.

so, something may be gained, but something very valuable is also lost.
that may not mean much to you. but it takes a big chunk of confidence out of me. I see a certain ethic in vintage and simplicity.

 

Well most motorcyclists aren't mechanics or machinists and buy their bikes to ride,not constantly fix.You'd think building the same bike at the same factory for 50 years they would have all the bugs out of it by now.I never got the charm or appeal of bikes that break down when you need them most,but I guess for people who want a garage queen to look at and take out occasionally on short rides ,these Enfields would have some appeal. I got curious about these bikes and wanted to actually see one to check out the build quality,but the nearest dealer is well over 100 miles away.Too bad ,but now it's a possible riding destination for the spring anyway.

Then there are those (like my wife and daughter) who want to ride and drive their "classics" because they are somehow emotional attached to that JUNK, as long as someone else (me) fixes them.