Anybody know anyting about Royal Enfields???

[sbui]

so I was out looking at one of the local motorcycle shops in the area.  They sell the chinese made motorcycles, but also a Royal Enfield dealer.  They had 1 bike on the floor.  It was a 2007 military model for only $5200, but he wanted to get it off the floor and would cut a really terrific deal for the buyer. 

don't know anyting about these bikes except that they are now not really English any more but Indian.  Anybody out there know more about these bikes???

[woppini]

Look at the ratings on powersport network. Unless you like to wrench constantly, you'll find theres not much desire to own one.

[MadDuck]

If you want a Royal Enfield you should at least get a 750 Interceptor.  Not as good as the Norton Commando or Norton Atlas but it still had more beans than a Triumph Bonneville. Only problems are that they are rare and they are like a Bonneville, only worse in the vibration dept. Still way better than the singles that some try to sell these days.

[Capo]

If you want a Royal Enfield you should at least get a 750 Interceptor.  Not as good as the Norton Commando or Norton Atlas but it still had more beans than a Triumph Bonneville. Only problems are that they are rare and they are like a Bonneville, only worse in the vibration dept. Still way better than the singles that some try to sell these days.

Probably the hardest bike to keep oil tight that I ever worked on

[Slag]

They may be a POS, but I am strangely attracted to it.

[ducpainter]

The 750 was the first bike I lusted after...

[Buckethead]

I once heard the modern rendition of the Royal Enfield described as "the best $1500 motorcycle you can get for $4000."

[Travman]

There will be a new Royal Enfield Bullet C-5 this spring.  This is the bike with the new engine the Indians have been working on to meet new EPA & Euro emission standards.  It is supposed to be more freeway capable and less maintainance than the older Bullets. 

MSRP $5995

The military model looks tough:

[Grampa]

http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/2005-Royal-Enfield-BULLET-500-88814275

[geoffduc]

Personally i'd give it the BULLET   
BTW wasn't the intercepter (contellation in uk) 700cc ?

[JEFF_H]

they seem to rate as well as Urals. 
All the 'character' of an old bike (electical issues, oil leaks, etc...) in a brand new one!


(I like the way they look too..but if you want retro you would be better off with a new Bonnie, V7, or even Kawi W650)

[DoubleEagle]

There will be a new Royal Enfield Bullet C-5 this spring.  This is the bike with the new engine the Indians have been working on to meet new EPA & Euro emission standards.  It is supposed to be more freeway capable and less maintainance than the older Bullets. 

MSRP $5995

The military model looks tough:

I know someone who has the Military one for sale . All I know about it is it's SLOW !    Dolph

[Travman]

A few people brought up the Royal Enfield Interceptor.  Here is good article about the Interceptor.  It sounds like the Mark II Interceptor from 1968-1970 is the one to have. 
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/2008-05-01/Motorcycle-Reviews/1968-Royal-Enfield-Interceptor-Englands-Forgotten-Twin.aspx

Someone above mentioned that it vibrated more than a Bonneville.  From the article, "The engine is noticeably smoother than a BSA or Triumph 650 twin and seems happy to rev in spite of its long stroke; it also pulls strongly, especially in the mid-range." and "With parallel twins, more capacity usually means more vibration. Uniquely in the British motorcycle industry, Enfield's big twin crankshafts were dynamically balanced at the factory, making them easily the smoothest big twins of the era. It helped that the one-piece crankshaft weighed close to 40 pounds and ran in two main bearings the size of hockey pucks!" 

It is a stunning looking bike.

[geoffduc]

Hey Travman thanks for the info it brought it all back after all these years.
I thought i was right about it being 700cc but what i didn't know was that it had been uprated to 750cc and renamed Interceptor perhaps it was specially made for your market.
In my ramblings about the 1100s i mentioned that i had visited a classic bike meet on boxing day (26th dec) and you old brit bike fans would have been in 7th heaven, myself i like to look but can not find it in my heart to buy one, the same go's for old cars nice to look at but i don't need the agro. 

[Capo]

Hey Travman thanks for the info it brought it all back after all these years.
I thought i was right about it being 700cc but what i didn't know was that it had been uprated to 750cc and renamed Interceptor perhaps it was specially made for your market.
In my ramblings about the 1100s i mentioned that i had visited a classic bike meet on boxing day (26th dec) and you old brit bike fans would have been in 7th heaven, myself i like to look but can not find it in my heart to buy one, the same go's for old cars nice to look at but i don't need the agro. 

I think the interceptor was sold in the UK tho you didn't see many off them, I don't recollect them as being very fast, every one I saw pissed oil from everywhere.

The single cylinder Bullets were reliable utilitarian motorcycles, the Indian version continues this.