opinion on royal enfield?

[hootie2112]

I was wondering if anybody had any input on new Royal enfield motorcycles. I have a chance to pick up a 2009 bullet military with virtually no miles reasonably cheap, and was wondering if anyone had any experience or thoughts on these. any help would be great. thanks, hoot

[sLowrider]

Mixed views. Some folks on here slam them pretty hard compared with the old ones but I helped a mate fix a fuelling problem on his last year and the build quality doesn't seem that bad. As a testament, when he sold it a guy turned up from Italy with his son to buy it and they rode all the way home without a hitch. If it's Indian I suspect the electics will be marginal and the overall longevity of the motors might not be too good due to poor quality metals.

They're not fast but there are plenty of tuning options out there although I dunno if I'd want to overstress them.

Cheers Johnny

[Destralo Roach]

Not bad bikes for a 1950's remake, the QT is not the best, but with a quick rebuild, they will last longer...Roach.

[superflysnow]

x3 they are pretty rad, but, and I mean BUT... they are 20 hp built to 1950 standards, thus you get what you pay for, if you dont know how to work on bikes, you will! the "low miles" thing doesn't really come into play, 2009 low miles = depriciation, 2006 with a couple thousand miles = good investment!

[locoboy]

Originally Posted by hootie2112

I was wondering if anybody had any input on new Royal enfield motorcycles. I have a chance to pick up a 2009 bullet military with virtually no miles reasonably cheap, and was wondering if anyone had any experience or thoughts on these. any help would be great. thanks, hoot

i had a 2007 there made on same jigs ect as 50 s bikes , but the alloys ect are sub standard youll have heaps of probs . but hell you can buy a complete motor fa the price of a set of pistons an barrels fa a harley an there fun

[flying eyeball]

This is one in Kashmir @ 18,000 feet



Highest drivable pass in the world...

[superflysnow]

this was at the "love thy chopper" show in denver photo from foundrymotoblog...
stock frame, front end, wheels, extended swingarm, custom metalwork inc tank speedo cover... rumor has it, it is pretty damn quick!

[=JL=]

Lots more opinions on this thread;

https://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/s...718#post369718

[WATERBOY]

I like this one

[sewerman]

I have one and they are nice bikes. Why is so many people afraid of the time it takes to "tinker" on an Enfield? Mine is an 04 and I love it. No its no Jap bike but this IS THE JJ where I thought everyone worked on their bikes anyway. One cylinder, one set of points and easy to adjust valves. A little head work and a better breathing pipe/air filter and the old girl wakes up. LOTS of great aftermarket stuff in their catalog(for the bolt on kind of guys). Thumpers are great bikes to learn on for riding and wrenching. Ride from NY to LA, probably not but great fun in town and on nice "curvy" roads. Where ever you park it you will know where it is cause it usually draws a crowd. The Enfield web site is like the JJ where there are a lot of friendly and knowledgeble who are there to help.

[el diablo]

i've worked on a '04 and a '08
and some oldies (org. GB built bikes)

the quality is still the same
the '08 version had a electronic ignition ....came like that from the factory
but i think the are resonable priced ,and great fun

take the (aftermarket) valves from the GB oldies and put them in the india ones
also change :carb, inlet and exhaust and the ignition timing
and they become fast little devils ....didn't have any complaints about the upgrades
both the '04 & '08 are daily drivers ...a lot of highway miles to

[Casca]

Just sold an '03 bullet 500 2 weeks ago, I had 9800 miles on it. Ran like a champ, nice bike. Had points ignition and all I did to wake it up was to rejet the carb, open up the pipes and put a K&N on it. Also, it was the old style 4 speed. The mechanical neutral finder is a great feature on these transmissions.

[Lordmerciless]

I had a 2003 Military 500cc model. I loved that bike! Everybody thought it was old. It was great for going to work on. It cruised nicely at 65-70mph and got amazing gas mileage.
As soon as I had to climb any kind of upgrade, it was over.
I would have to pull over so the motorhomes could pass me.

[ChopWhatYaGot]

This is my first bike build which is a Royal Enfield and I think they are great little bikes. I have found them to be pretty simple to work on and they wont break the bank either. Good fun & a great bike for a first bike build, also with some tuning provides good all round power.

[Tony the torch]

we had one in for service, I had heard bad things but when I was test riding it I thought it wasn't that bad, for the right price I'd own one.
We had to play games to get it registered in California because of the non-cal smog deal.

[thegreasepit]

I've talked to numerous people about the Indian made Enfields. The 80's-90's (with only "Enfield" painted on the tank) are known to be the best built with high quality machining and good parts. The 2000s were known to have BAD issues with the crank bearings falling apart and pistons cracking, but it's an easy fix and offers a good time to get higher performing cams in while the cases are split.

The newest, unit-built Enfields, are rumored to have high quality standards with the bearing/piston issues fixed. I'd still prefer my ''56 over a newly built Enfield any day.

[Tiger Dale]

Originally Posted by thegreasepit

I've talked to numerous people about the Indian made Enfields. The 80's-90's (with only "Enfield" painted on the tank) are known to be the best built with high quality machining and good parts. The 2000s were known to have BAD issues with the crank bearings falling apart and pistons cracking, but it's an easy fix and offers a good time to get higher performing cams in while the cases are split.

The newest, unit-built Enfields, are rumored to have high quality standards with the bearing/piston issues fixed. I'd still prefer my ''56 over a newly built Enfield any day.

I'm pretty sure I'd pick the '56 over a modern one too!!!!!

td

[unclechop]

Originally Posted by ChopWhatYaGot

This is my first bike build which is a Royal Enfield and I think they are great little bikes. I have found them to be pretty simple to work on and they wont break the bank either. Good fun & a great bike for a first bike build, also with some tuning provides good all round power.

Indian made girder??
How is it?

[ChopWhatYaGot]

Hey Unclechop,

In one word "SHIT" but with some serious maintenance and complete strip down and overhaul it's OK & works well. It's from a BSA M20 but I wouldn't recommend anyone to buy cheap replica parts from India as that's exactly what you will get and you wont get your money back if your not happy with the bad quality of workmanship over here.

[ChopWhatYaGot]

Originally Posted by Tiger Dale

I'm pretty sure I'd pick the '56 over a modern one too!!!!!

td

I definitely agree with you, the 90's Royal Enfield's seem to have a much better build quality back then, must of been a good decade....!