| Author | Message | ||
     Thumper74 |
Does anyone have any experience with Enfields? I found one locally with a hack in British green that's a good deal. Are parts available? | ||
| Brumbear |
Yeah the Enfield bullet 500 is actually gaining in popularity the 350 can not meet emissions for US. There is a dealer network across the country how good it is I don't know. They are actually produced in Madrass India and were made out of 1955 tooling and I think in some states you can QQ them brand new. I think they are kinda cool but I might be inclined to go with a Korean bike over an Indian when going on the cheap like a Hyosung | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Royal Enfield offers an awesome clubman kit and road racer kit. Retro riding at its (almost) best. (Message edited by BCordb3 on June 19, 2008) | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Check this out http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/custom_clubman.h tml | ||
| Cowboy |
I havent seen or rode a infield sence 1967 they had a 750 that had a real neat trany with auto nutural finder bike ran pretty good but was never as fast as my Nortons. So I stayed with Norton. They were Indians for a while after they moved to the UK | ||
| Hughlysses |
I read a lot about them a few years ago. The main thing to realize (assuming you're talking about a relatively new one) is you are basically buying a 1955 design British motorcycle with third-world reliability. added. No doubt they have improved considerably in the last few years since they've been importing them into the U.S. I think they'd be fun, but be prepared to be tinkering pretty constantly. (Message edited by Hughlysses on June 19, 2008) | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Billy Joel has one. I see him riding it around the village in short pants and a Limey puddin' bowl helmet. Real sportsman. This was a second rate bicycle back in the day when they were made in dear old England. No reason to think that the Indians couldn't do any better, some fifty years later. (Actually the Indian Motorcycle company imported Royal Endfields in to the US at the end of their corporate life and rebadged them as Indians. We called them "Royal Indianfields". The had to put the shifter on the right, even though it was properly located on the left in the old days. Hasn't helped smooth shifting, or so I am told. I think some guys change it back. Very definitely a cult item, great for guys that don't like to ride that much, and are in love with the vintage British look. That would not be me. Been there, done that. | ||
| Madduck |
I have a friend that has one, pretty darn reliable. Slow and obnoxious. You would be better off with the Blast, he has both. The enfield doesn't always come back when you ride off. | ||
| Mcgiver |
I was a Royal Enfield dealer in Michigan in their last days. Sold the last 750 Interceptor imported in 1971 to a guy to light to kickstart it when cold.He would trailer it to the shop every Sunday morning, I would give it a mighty kick(after tickling the carbs), and send the smiling man on his way. It was a pretty neat bike, double leading front brakes, factory oil cooler,and a nice powerband.Ahh the memories!  Brian | ||
| Fung |
a friend had one a few years ago, i was not impressed. they look cool. the quality was not what i thought it would be. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I finally saw a Royal Enfield in the flesh this weekend. I think I spent a good 20 minutes just checking it out. They are really neat bikes. I wouldn't mind owning one for short in town errands. It would make running errands fun. | ||
| Prof_stack |
I've test ridden two of the new ones, the Bullet Classic and new Electra-X. The former has points ignition and drum brakes up front. The latter has an improved cylinder barrel, electronic igntion, and disc brake in front. Both are carb'd and have kick and electric starting. The Bullet (22hp) is designed for 55mph or less for short distances up there. Break-in is a patience builder. The Electra-X (24hp) is good up to 70mph for limited distances. Here is a photo I took of the Electra-X:  You have be a tinkerer and be ready to turn a wrench before or after most rides. There was one cool thing that impressed me: the oil stick was all metal. But QC is a very real concern. The RE forum is quite active (I post there, too). I haven't bought one yet but think about it a lot. Too bad the dealer is 60 miles away. If the Blast looked something like this I would have never sold it. btw, Royal Enfield is introducing a "new" motor this Fall in the US. Supposed to be more powerful (28hp) and unit construction so all oils are together. Plus EFI. I might wait for that one. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I AM a tinkerer, but I'm looking for something decent in cold weather and I REALLY like the styling. I ran into one on craigs list with 700 miles on with WITH a nice sidecar for $5,000. I figured it would be a cool way to get a winter bike and have classic styling. I may lean towards making my own sidecar. The body will be the rough part. I'm thinking about doing it an making the side car look more utilitarian (Ie, like a military truck, or a utility ATC) out of chro-moly steel and leaving all of the frame work exposed. My logic is tabs inbetween the frame tubes that will allow the use of canvas as the body, or steel plates that are precut and would just require the use of dzus fastners to hold them to the frame work. I would be neat in that I could make a warm weather hack that is easy to clean or a reasonably weather proof metal one... I'm thinking about a genuine tubular control arm setup with a trailing link. I could double up two Sportster shocks for adjustability and they can pull double duty as a spring and dampener. | ||
| Aeholton |
My dad had one. Had right foot shift and left foot rear brake. Wasn't all that reliable. He was always tinkering with the carb. At nearly 80, he's moved to a 500cc Aprilia Scarabeo scooter. Less work to ride.  | ||
| Guell |
neat bikes, i wouldnt mind having one as maybe a 2nd or 3rd bike... Im already tinkering enough with my tuber buell as it is. | ||
| Tramp |
The new-gen enfields are actually pretty nice- a quick, simple carb change (I've performed several, now, on these scoots) changes the whole equation. You can still purchase nice, new, small-bore Amals, and Lund machine still sleeves old Amals. Of course, you can always get a small-bore mik or keihin to get things right, as well. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Or a new Bonnie and call it a day. | ||
| Psyclonej |
I have a friend that's a Royal Enfield dealer in NW Ohio. I've taken one out w/ a hack and found it to be an enjoyable, but slow ride. I gave the kids ride in the sidecar and they talked about it for weeks on end. I don't see a lot of 'em coming back to his shop for warantee claims. | ||
| Tramp |
Definitely a slow ride, Foghat about it. | ||
| Rex |
I like the clubman look. you have to settle for a relaxed ride. I would like to have one. REX I could not get the Blast over 70 mph when I test drove one. | ||
| Tramp |
I agree...it's beautiful to look at, and antiques are really, REALLY fun for slow putts on back roads, out to the ice cream stand or the drive-in. It's reassuring to see modern antiques being built. Imagine if GM came out with an exact replica '57 Nomad? hey-Seuss...... | ||
| Prof_stack |
The Blast runs circles around the RE. My Blast would get up to 90 plus a few and was rock steady at 70mph. On the RE forum a recent poll showed that the most common age among RE owners was (stuck) in the 50's. Harkening to a seemingly simpler time. Funny thing is, the bikes today are simpler to take care of and require much less fuss. Still... | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
thing is motorcycling is different things to different folk . to some having to actually fix something is a pita , to others it's part of the experience , the joy of cycling . for a good read , a gal and her enfield check out http://travelluna20.blogspot.com/ scroll to the bottom and click on the www links . clicking on the pics will just get you bigger pics . | ||
| Tramp |
Well-said, Woodrow. | ||
| Doughnut |
Thought you were talking the rifle, got excited. . . | ||
| Tramp |
same firm, in the spirit of Birmingham Small Arms | ||
| Doughnut |
The BEST rifle I have ever owned or shot. Never restore, 1943 mark 3, took it deer hunting. Loved that rifle. | ||
| Tramp |
Enfield Mk III, very nice.... very copied by other makes, as well. | ||
| Slaughter |
Read Dave Barr's book. He's going through the freaking SAHARA FREAKING DESERT and theres' this couple attempting it on a freaking Enfield side hack! As I've read in some of the Brit mags, there's a whole cottage industry in shops taking new Enfields and going through them and then "certifying" them. Apparently there's not a whole lot of faith in the bikes as delivered. | ||
| Tramp |
That 'certifying' concept sounds cool. Shame no one does it for those POS Urals.... |
