Riding the Royal Enfiel home

[FastDoc]

Originally Posted by culcune

Wow! Beautiful bikes, and one of them is even yours!! I liked the fact that the Enfield has a slight resemblance in things vibrating off like Chinabike!

There are many things about the RE that are similar to CB's.

Although they are light years better than the original English construction, and miles better than the earlier Indian construction, they are not at the quality level of a Honda. Similar to CB's they require more owner involvement with proper setup, research, and maintenence. They are not hard to work with, but not a simple turn key proposition like a Yamaha either.

Also, they are slow for their displacement. I rode my 250cc KLX today and after riding the 500cc RE for several hundred miles the KLX, which has only modest horsepower, feels like a Ferrari next to a Prius compared to the RE. But, as we know, speed and riding pleasure can go togehter, but sometimes are different events.

Also similar to a CB, the RE COMMUNITY is a key to enjoying the bike. There are some great guys on their forum that are happy to help.

As I have stared before though, even though I don't have a CB at the moment, I enjoy CB's a lot and this is my (internet) home :-)

[FastDoc]

My favorite spectator questions so far:

What year is that?
How did you get a disc brake on an antique?
Does it run OK on modern gas?
Is Royal Enfield made by Norton?
Did you do the restoration yourself?

LOL!!

[FastDoc]

Proposed license plate:

OLDDOC

[culcune]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Proposed license plate:

OLDDOC

I like it; I also like the fact that you consider this place 'home'...

[FastDoc]

Very much so.

[FastDoc]

Finally got a couple of the trip pics loaded.

The first one is outside of Bickleton, WA, getting into the desert area in the rain shadow of the Cascades. The second is on the Columbia River east of Vancouver, WA.

[FastDoc]

Yes that is a gravel road in the first shot. I think I went a little too far off the beaten path on that road choice. I was striving to stay off roads with a speed limit over 60. The bike did very well on the gravel, although I rode slowly on it. Heck it's made for prewar England and India. I doubt pavement even existed in the 30's when the Royal Enfield Bullet was originally made.

[zingshoen]

i ve seen a family of five on a bullet in delhi, or the milk man with two large milk canisters on each side on roads where trucks wouldn t fit. they can do india, so they probably can do most of the states.
beautiful machine BTW! you got the leather to go with it?

[Barnone]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Vince now it's your turn! Get the Military.

Need to sell one of my three bikes before I buy a RE. Three bikes is enough for me.

[Weldangrind]

I wouldn't worry about a little gravel. Lovely pics.

The bike must be broken in by now; how does it compare with when you first rode it? Does it accelerate more quickly? Is the shifting smoother?

[FastDoc]

I have about 700 miles on it. I think full break in is considered 1,000 miles so I am close. Some owners report the bike continues to smoothen up for the first 2,500 miles so I think there is a variable here.

To be honest it operated smoothly new as well as now, I don't feel a difference.

It shifts well. Better than my Gold Wing, about as well as my KLX, but not as good as my YZ which has the best shifting transmission I can recall of any bike I have had.

The shifter on the RE travels through a wider than usual arc, and if you move it fully there are no false neutrals or any clunkiness at all. It has wide ratios which suit its 31 ft/lbs well. The clutch is very light. It shifts very well.

As far as acceleration goes, it does OK.

It has 31 ft/lbs of torque (plenty) but only 27 hp (pretty modest). So accereration is great off the bottom, but it runs out of steam pretty quick. At that point in the rev band it's getting buzzy so it's time to shift again.

So, the way to operate it is to smoothly shift it 'short' and ride the torque. I'd estimate the shift point at 3,000-4,000 RPM or so but with no tach who knows.

I love this bike. Trading Little Sweetie for it was a good move for me.

Sweetie, BTW, is doing fine. She and her new owners are enjoying her all around the Portland/Vancouver area.

[katoranger]

It is good that Lil Sweetie made a new friend and is being enjoyed. I am planning to get another bike when the girls start driving. Will be less transporting then. So I have about 7 more years.

[FastDoc]

Plenty of time to look. Or more likely assemble. LOL!

[katoranger]

I should start collecting parts. Thinking about finding a Honda XL so I can insert a China engine.

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by katoranger

I am planning to get another bike when the girls start driving. Will be less transporting then. So I have about 7 more years.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

I didn't stop trucking them around until they got married and left home. And my oldest turned 35 today.

Doc-Everytime I look at that bike I have to wipe drool off my chin.