Comments on: MD Double-Take: 2012 Royal Enfield Classic C5 (Bike Reports) (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Tue, 21 May 2013 21:23:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Clasqm http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-165976 Clasqm Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:38:52 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-165976 There's a cafe racer version doing the rounds of the motorcycle shows ATM. Twin front discs, uprated suspension, bored-out engine. There’s a cafe racer version doing the rounds of the motorcycle shows ATM. Twin front discs, uprated suspension, bored-out engine.

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]]> By: David Duarte http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-165481 David Duarte Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:21:09 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-165481 actually, for $6000, you can have the CB500F with ABS (very likely will be my first brand new motorcycle). No slap against the RE; I love the looks and the simplicity of a thumper with fuel injection. I'd love to have both bikes parked in my garage. actually, for $6000, you can have the CB500F with ABS (very likely will be my first brand new motorcycle). No slap against the RE; I love the looks and the simplicity of a thumper with fuel injection. I’d love to have both bikes parked in my garage.

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]]> By: caesonia http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-165085 caesonia Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:42:12 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-165085 BikerAndy, What a silly comment to make. Personally I find the MP3 to be a big dorky kind of ride, and I own a Vespa 300ie, so O obviously like Piaggio products. I also happen to own a Royal Enfield. See, I am kind of small. I like small midsized bikes, only...no one makes them anymore. They all need to b tall overwight pigs, kind of like the bikes being bragged about on this forum right now in comparison. The Honda CB500 is a pig. Great bike, but a big pig considering cc size. The RE is even better fitted to me than the Vespa is and like the Vespa its a great packhorse. Is the Vespa faster off the line? Well, of course it is. It's twist and go, like the MP3. It's also faster than a lot of bikes off the line. Does the RE miss some things that Vespa has? Yeah. But the RE fits me better, and there is nothing on it to melt, like happened on my Vespa under warranty ( it was fixed.) I think you really need to get your head around the idea that this country is starved for mid-sized all purpose bikes that people in smaller bodies can use. We need commuter bikes, not just scream down the highway joy riding or pulling little trailers on the highway. We need bikes we can get into small spaces. I don't think there has been anything as multi-purpose and agile since the Honda CB350. Frankly, after the Vespa, I will NEVER go back to carbs. The RE has got everything you need to get the job done dependly in all purposes, and I know of no other. Lighten up. BikerAndy,

What a silly comment to make. Personally I find the MP3 to be a big dorky kind of ride, and I own a Vespa 300ie, so O obviously like Piaggio products. I also happen to own a Royal Enfield. See, I am kind of small. I like small midsized bikes, only…no one makes them anymore. They all need to b tall overwight pigs, kind of like the bikes being bragged about on this forum right now in comparison. The Honda CB500 is a pig. Great bike, but a big pig considering cc size.

The RE is even better fitted to me than the Vespa is and like the Vespa its a great packhorse. Is the Vespa faster off the line? Well, of course it is. It’s twist and go, like the MP3. It’s also faster than a lot of bikes off the line. Does the RE miss some things that Vespa has? Yeah. But the RE fits me better, and there is nothing on it to melt, like happened on my Vespa under warranty ( it was fixed.)

I think you really need to get your head around the idea that this country is starved for mid-sized all purpose bikes that people in smaller bodies can use. We need commuter bikes, not just scream down the highway joy riding or pulling little trailers on the highway. We need bikes we can get into small spaces. I don’t think there has been anything as multi-purpose and agile since the Honda CB350. Frankly, after the Vespa, I will NEVER go back to carbs. The RE has got everything you need to get the job done dependly in all purposes, and I know of no other.

Lighten up.

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]]> By: jessie http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-165072 jessie Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:29:25 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-165072 Royal Enfield might not build a retro 750 any time too soon, but a chap called Aniket in the US of A has built one. http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/motorcycles/aniket-vardhans-royal-enfield-based-musket-998-v-twin-motorcycle-inches-closer-to-finish-67041/ Royal Enfield might not build a retro 750 any time too soon, but a chap called Aniket in the US of A has built one. http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/motorcycles/aniket-vardhans-royal-enfield-based-musket-998-v-twin-motorcycle-inches-closer-to-finish-67041/

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]]> By: Jeremy in TX http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-164980 Jeremy in TX Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:55:24 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-164980 Cool niche bike offering a nice dose of nostalgia. Of course there are lots of bikes that do that while offering performance adequate enough to not HAVE to use back roads to get from A to B. Cool niche bike offering a nice dose of nostalgia. Of course there are lots of bikes that do that while offering performance adequate enough to not HAVE to use back roads to get from A to B.

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]]> By: John F http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-164734 John F Sat, 09 Mar 2013 08:48:34 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-164734 What crazy notions! I can't imagine anyone trying to decide, "do I buy this Ninja, or this Bullet...?" I personally adore my Bullet Electra EFI and have done 30,000 km in two years. It's the right hike for me in ways a Suzuki or Yamaha or even a Harley never would be. And no, it doesn't vibrate too mich, it doesn't leak oil, it doesn't break down. The banana seat is super comfortable. The backroad speeds of 45-55 mph are perfect, and if I need to travel at 250 mph or more for long distances, I take a plane. But for sheer fun of enjoying the ride, my royal Enfield is superb. What crazy notions! I can’t imagine anyone trying to decide, “do I buy this Ninja, or this Bullet…?” I personally adore my Bullet Electra EFI and have done 30,000 km in two years. It’s the right hike for me in ways a Suzuki or Yamaha or even a Harley never would be.
And no, it doesn’t vibrate too mich, it doesn’t leak oil, it doesn’t break down. The banana seat is super comfortable. The backroad speeds of 45-55 mph are perfect, and if I need to travel at 250 mph or more for long distances, I take a plane. But for sheer fun of enjoying the ride, my royal Enfield is superb.

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]]> By: Michael http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-164732 Michael Sat, 09 Mar 2013 07:26:07 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-164732 Some could say Gixxers are crap on trails or how lousy Harleys are on track day but that would be taking those bikes out of context. Context, it's all about context. Here's my mini review of the Bullet based on actually ridding a several. The current '09 and later Bullet is just barely or not quite an evolutionary step advanced from the '08 incarnation. The Bullet line goes back to 1931. Although various clips and brackets are different nowadays the basic frame architecture is essentially unchanged since it was updated with swing arm suspension in 1948. The '09 and later unit construction engine leaves the leaks and maintenance of the earlier lumps behind and brings the propulsion system into the late 70's, Bore and stroke remain at 84mm x 90mm respectively. Front disc brake brings the stopping power into the 1980's. 1990's technology EFI makes it a simple, reliable and easy to maintain push-the-button-and-go affair but there is still a kick start for when you're feeling nostalgic. The buzz of big singles is still there, just very little of it. Hands down it is the smoothest running non counter balance shaft single I have ever experienced. Neutral and natural body positioning and ergonomics make for a comfortable and non fatiguing ride. Nimble dare I say it classic British handling gives a connectedness to the road without being twitchy. While it is heavy for trail use by today's standards it does surprisingly well on fire roads and rolling single track once shod with dual purpose tires. It feels well planted on pavement with stock tires. Dragging the foot pegs is easy. It gets even better with gripper tread. It is a general purpose motorcycle. A motorcycle for riding and doing what you will with it. The quote posted below sums it up pretty good I think. "I prefer to think of the RE as the ANTI-NICHE market bike. It's NOT a cruiser (niche) or a sport bike (niche) or an adventure touring bike (niche) or a touring bike (niche) or some wanna-be repop nostalgia-alike retro ride (NICHE!) - the RE is just a motorcycle! A blank slate, if you will, that can appeal to many people - not just a "certain" group." Context, it's all about context. Some could say Gixxers are crap on trails or how lousy Harleys are on track day
but that would be taking those bikes out of context.

Context, it’s all about context.

Here’s my mini review of the Bullet based on actually ridding a several.

The current ’09 and later Bullet is just barely or not quite an evolutionary step advanced from the ’08 incarnation. The Bullet line goes back to 1931. Although various clips and brackets are different nowadays the basic frame architecture is essentially unchanged since it was updated with swing arm suspension in 1948.

The ’09 and later unit construction engine leaves the leaks and maintenance of the earlier lumps behind and brings the propulsion system into the late 70′s, Bore and stroke remain at 84mm x 90mm respectively.
Front disc brake brings the stopping power into the 1980′s.
1990′s technology EFI makes it a simple, reliable and easy to maintain push-the-button-and-go affair but there is still a kick start for when you’re feeling nostalgic.
The buzz of big singles is still there, just very little of it. Hands down it is the smoothest running non counter balance shaft single I have ever experienced.

Neutral and natural body positioning and ergonomics make for a comfortable and non fatiguing ride.
Nimble dare I say it classic British handling gives a connectedness to the road without being twitchy. While it is heavy for trail use by today’s standards it does surprisingly well on fire roads and rolling single track once shod with dual purpose tires. It feels well planted on pavement with stock tires. Dragging the foot pegs is easy. It gets even better with gripper tread.

It is a general purpose motorcycle. A motorcycle for riding and doing what you will with it. The quote posted below sums it up pretty good I think.

“I prefer to think of the RE as the ANTI-NICHE market bike. It’s NOT a cruiser (niche) or a sport bike (niche) or an adventure touring bike (niche) or a touring bike (niche) or some wanna-be repop nostalgia-alike retro ride (NICHE!) – the RE is just a motorcycle! A blank slate, if you will, that can appeal to many people – not just a “certain” group.”

Context, it’s all about context.

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]]> By: Dan http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-164722 Dan Sat, 09 Mar 2013 03:32:25 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-164722 Royal Enfield builds around 70,000 bikes per year with less than 10% available for export. In it's home market customers wait 3-6 months for delivery. This is not a struggling little company hoping to make it with a niche product. In the US we look at these bikes as cute, low power, nostalgia rides that gets lots of looks when going down the road or stopping for coffee. However, the reality is this is the latest generation of a bike that for the last 50 years has been going all over the streets, dirt roads, mountain passes, rugged terrain and river crossings of India loaded with as much as they could carry "because they can". The fuel injection system is mapped from sea level to over 18,000 feet. It's not the bike for everyone, but neither is any other bike on the market. Royal Enfield builds around 70,000 bikes per year with less than 10% available for export. In it’s home market customers wait 3-6 months for delivery. This is not a struggling little company hoping to make it with a niche product. In the US we look at these bikes as cute, low power, nostalgia rides that gets lots of looks when going down the road or stopping for coffee. However, the reality is this is the latest generation of a bike that for the last 50 years has been going all over the streets, dirt roads, mountain passes, rugged terrain and river crossings of India loaded with as much as they could carry “because they can”. The fuel injection system is mapped from sea level to over 18,000 feet. It’s not the bike for everyone, but neither is any other bike on the market.

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]]> By: T. Rollie http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-164719 T. Rollie Sat, 09 Mar 2013 02:15:12 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-164719 my Honda 50 Trail bike 4-stroke was gutless, slow, fun. It was fun when I was 13 years old in 1974. Can I enjoy that feeling again with this Enfield? Maybe for about 15 minutes. But give me a Gixxer 750 now, please. my Honda 50 Trail bike 4-stroke was gutless, slow, fun. It was fun when I was 13 years old in 1974. Can I enjoy that feeling again with this Enfield? Maybe for about 15 minutes. But give me a Gixxer 750 now, please.

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]]> By: GearDrivenCam http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/comment-page-1/#comment-164718 GearDrivenCam Sat, 09 Mar 2013 01:08:54 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=26650#comment-164718 While I don't anticipate purchasing a Royal Enfield in the near future - thank-you Martin B for capturing and reminding others of the true spirit of riding. Well said. While I don’t anticipate purchasing a Royal Enfield in the near future – thank-you Martin B for capturing and reminding others of the true spirit of riding. Well said.

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