[ryanof]

Hello.

Been reading this forum for a couple of years and I am close to buying my first Royal Enfield.  I like the new B5 and was wondering if this is a limited edition model and if so how long will it be available.   I saw the bike at a dealer north of Chicago and liked everything about it except the rear fender.  I would like to get a solo seat and add a rack to the back but that fender has to go.  What are the chances of getting a new rounded fender to fit to the original bracing? 

[prof_stack]

Welcome to the forum! 

Yeah, that rear fender looks pretty frumpy.  But watch out, it will grow on you.  It is perhaps the most authentic piece of the Enfield tradition.

I've even entertained thoughts of trading in my C5 for it. 

Consider the G5 if the fender continues to bug you, or the C5 for a thoroughly superior version (in black, of course).   

[Ducati Scotty]

Yeah, that rear fender looks pretty frumpy.  But watch out, it will grow on you.  It is perhaps the most authentic piece of the Enfield tradition.

I think that rear fender is also the ugliest part of the bike but taken as a whole it just fits.  There is a character to it that just makes it look right.  The more I see it in person the more I think it fits.  Still not my style though.

I'm sure you could mix and match parts, do some paint and fabrication, and get a nice round fender to fit.  If that's what you seek check out the C5, that's the way it's made in the first place. 

I don't know for sure but I think this bike will be around for a while.  It's basically made from all the older parts (frame, fork, sheet tin) with the new engine, easy to make many, many more.  That's why it's inexpensive, all the overhead on the jigs and molds is already paid off and no need to stop the line and change paint colors.  My local dealer was curious how they'd sell and I think he's already sold two.  I think it combines the best aesthetics of the G5 and C5 into one machine.  There's something to that bike.

Scott

[REpozer]

I have the same machine in B.R, Green and AVL Engine. That should be a good RE.

[ryanof]

I like the C5 but I wish it had 19" wheels and a kicker.  We'll probably see a kick starter this year.  It would be interesting to see it in silver or gray.

[Ducati Scotty]

The C5 does have a kick start for the 2011 model year.  I'd like to see those colors too.

Scott

[Maturin]

Hi ryan,
Professor is right: The fender is very enfieldesk so I'd consider keeping it. I had a similar problem with my G5 tail light. It's the European chrome version with the red brick on it - I didn't like it at all. But every day I looked at it I told myself: what a nice tail!
After a couple of weeks I finally believed myself 

[jjoe256]

  The new G-5s have the C-5 tail light.

[GreenMachine]

can't wait to see the lineup for 2011-2012...Maybe they will have the B5 in the gunmetal gray look....gotta love them all for all their quirks...

[Ducati Scotty]

You can have any color B5 you want as long as it's black

[Kevin Mahoney]

For years we have sold kits to convert 500cc mudguards to 350cc mudguards. I guess it is only natural that now with the B5 we will be selling kits to convert 350 mudguards to 500cc mudguards. In general you have to change mudguard carriers in order to change the fenders.

The B5 is actually the oldest model RE sells. I think it will be around for a long time.

[olhogrider]

The C5 does have a kick start for the 2011 model year.  I'd like to see those colors too.

Scott

The late 2011s have a kick. Mine is the ultra-rare 2011 with no kick.

Kevin, if you can get a B5 in grey, I think it would sell. They make the 350 that looks very nice.

[Ducati Scotty]

LOL!  This is just like my Ducati!  Year and model are just a suggestion, what really determines your part numbers are what was in the parts bin the day your bike got built.

Scott

[Kevin Mahoney]

I would be surprised to see a 2011 with no kickstart. Ultra rare must not begin to describe it for real!

We sold a gray (Athena Gray) 350 for a long time. I loved the color but it didn;t sell well. Could also be realted to it being a 350.

The B5's will remain black. That is one reason we can get the price down.

[ryanof]

"The B5 is actually the oldest model RE sells. I think it will be around for a long time."

Hey Kevin.

Are you saying it will be around here in the US for a long time?
I would like to get one in about a month or so.
 

[Kevin Mahoney]

I have every intention of continuing to import them. If you want one I suggest that you line one up now as they are in very short supply at present

[Maturin]

*I'm dreaming of a white...* BULLET!

[classicrider]

The rear guard and the wide front one don't quite do it for me,perhaps they need an in between model(B5-C5),with the old black classic guards with Gold pinstriping,19 inch wheels,solo seat,and the C5 tank with kneegrips
Colors for me would be the old Triumph favorite,Amarath red
What say Kevin?
Colin

[Ducati Scotty]

Give it a few years   It seems they mix and match parts every few year for a new "model".  If you look through the last 10 years it seems they've made all combinations at one time or another.

Scott

[olhogrider]

I would be surprised to see a 2011 with no kickstart. Ultra rare must not begin to describe it for real!

We sold a gray (Athena Gray) 350 for a long time. I loved the color but it didn;t sell well. Could also be realted to it being a 350.

The B5's will remain black. That is one reason we can get the price down.

C, B or G? Or was that CBGBs? I was speaking of my 2011 C5 with no kick. Sorry for the confusion.

[REpozer]

I reality, all U.S. RE's were(are) rare and not easy to find the model you might have wanted.

[britishbyproxy]

The B5 is perfect in every way, shape and form .

That is, of course, unless we get a Machismo with a UCE for the US market...
 

[Ducati Scotty]

C, B or G? Or was that CBGBs? I was speaking of my 2011 C5 with no kick. Sorry for the confusion.

Do you have an 18" or 19" front wheel?

Scott