Royal Enfield

MartytheMartian

MartytheMartian

Legendary Knight
Thanks for the links to the vids @Don the Don I can't deny that I am very conflicted on how I feel about the Royal Enfields. When they talk about how vibration has been reduced, things have been 'refined' etc. it actually puts me off. I want something that I have to keep tightening bolts up on that thuds along rattling my fillings loose and actually feels like the two wheeled equivalent of flying a Sopwith Camel rather than a Eurofighter Typhoon. That draws me towards the earliest, nineties models but I don't know how 'rough' the build is or how their reliability compares to an old British built one (which, when they come up for sale aren't actually particularly that much more expensive). All I know is I would like a nice 'big single' for not too much money which has a kickstart and the Royal Enfield is the most affordable option. Hmmmmm I suspect I'll be puzzling over this one for a while.
 
Don the Don

Don the Don

Legendary Knight
MartytheMartian said:
Thanks for the links to the vids @Don the Don I can't deny that I am very conflicted on how I feel about the Royal Enfields. When they talk about how vibration has been reduced, things have been 'refined' etc. it actually puts me off. I want something that I have to keep tightening bolts up on that thuds along rattling my fillings loose and actually feels like the two wheeled equivalent of flying a Sopwith Camel rather than a Eurofighter Typhoon. That draws me towards the earliest, nineties models but I don't know how 'rough' the build is or how their reliability compares to an old British built one (which, when they come up for sale aren't actually particularly that much more expensive). All I know is I would like a nice 'big single' for not too much money which has a kickstart and the Royal Enfield is the most affordable option. Hmmmmm I suspect I'll be puzzling over this one for a while.
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"No" @MartytheMartian All the Bullets vibrate including the last one made, The difference is the toleration of the person riding it, you can find untold vids on youtube that tell you the things are the next best thing to a sex aid, The vids I chose give a mature view and yes you do have to check nuts and bolts and there are several mods that folk purchase to help curb them like adjustable head supports and additional engine plates but I find it no different to my old Arial Red Hunter a thump every lamp post and all the vibes a unbalanced single will produce, Try one for a road test, spanner wise they are the same as an old Brit machine simple, but require care and attention, the very old ones are very rough the late carb and EFI are a lot better made do your home work that's why I put the Hitchcocks webb site for you to look at and as @smib pointed out Hydraulic tappets on the EFI
 
MartytheMartian

MartytheMartian

Legendary Knight
There is actually one of those Diesel Enfield's for sale in Fife @Don the Don

When I was talking about the 'lack of vibration' I was talking about the 350 Bullet that was reviewed and compared to the 500 Classic in the vids you shared. The reviewers commented that they were so much 'smoother' and more refined which is a negative for me. If I want smooth and refined I have my Bonnie's and I'm after rattly and raw. One of those vids also stated that the maximum rider and passenger weight for the 500 classic is given as 95kg and I am rather north of that myself it made me wonder if the thing could even support my weight without bending in the middle.
 
Scrappy

Scrappy

Legendary Knight
MartytheMartian said:
I'm after rattly and raw.
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Simples... get a Moto Guzzi 😂

They vibrate (not excessively), rock from side to side, sound old (in a good way), not massively powerful or fast. However if you're after a good looking bike with good handling and character, then a Moto Guzzi has it in spades. They maybe a bit agricultural (clutch and gearbox), but they have good torque, accelerate at a decent rate (faster than a 790 Bonnie), with good brakes. They are also easy and relatively cheap to maintain, dead simple to check and adjust valve clearances for example, no chain and sprockets to clean and look after. The exhaust note is great even with stock silencers, but put a pair of Mistrals on and they sound sublime 😄

If you hadn't guessed, I love my Guzzi :love: ;)
 
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Don the Don

Don the Don

Legendary Knight
MartytheMartian said:
There is actually one of those Diesel Enfield's for sale in Fife @Don the Don

When I was talking about the 'lack of vibration' I was talking about the 350 Bullet that was reviewed and compared to the 500 Classic in the vids you shared. The reviewers commented that they were so much 'smoother' and more refined which is a negative for me. If I want smooth and refined I have my Bonnie's and I'm after rattly and raw. One of those vids also stated that the maximum rider and passenger weight for the 500 classic is given as 95kg and I am rather north of that myself it made me wonder if the thing could even support my weight without bending in the middle.
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Mine supports me [better with new shocks] and still pulls okay, go try one.
 
Doc Strange

Doc Strange

Legendary Knight
MartytheMartian said:
Nope I can't find anything bad to say about them and Christ that price is 'reasonable' for one of them let alone the pair! If I only had the cash in my hand I would already be on my way to buy them.
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Tell you what, I'll lend you the cash to buy one at that 'reasonable' price and take the other myself as 'interest', how does that sound - you'll only have to pay back the original sum and can have two or three years to do so if you like?

I'm a fool to meself sometimes.

DS
 
chas

chas

Legendary Knight
Doc Strange said:
Tell you what, I'll lend you the cash to buy one at that 'reasonable' price and take the other myself as 'interest', how does that sound - you'll only have to pay back the original sum and can have two or three years to do so if you like?

I'm a fool to meself sometimes.

DS
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I was *this* close to making the same offer.
I've not the storage space at home and I've been caught out leaving bikes in borrowed spaces before, when 'leave it there as long as you like' turns into 'I need it gone this week' it's a pita
😁
 
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