Author Topic: India Press reporting a new 400cc UCE engine from RE  (Read 6230 times)

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Joel-in-dallas

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This is fascinating to me. Royal Enfield is apparently in progress creating a 400cc version of its 350cc UCE engine.

This seems a bit silly to me. But clearly they may want to make the "smaller" bike a big stronger.

Hopefully they will develop a bigger than the 535cc from the Continental GT.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/autos/htauto-topstories/royal-enfield-working-on-new-engine-and-models/article1-1190183.aspx


ace.cafe

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Reply #1 on: March 26, 2014, 09:33:04 pm
So, what does everybody think is the point of this?

Seems to me like they are packing models to close together.
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Ducati Scotty

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Reply #2 on: March 26, 2014, 09:39:46 pm
Does the 400 fall into the same tax/license category as the 350?  If so, maybe they are just making a new small. more modern, UCE engine that will replace the 350.  Just making it a bit bigger while they're doing all the rest of the work.

Scott


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Reply #3 on: March 27, 2014, 03:40:53 am
Maybe the SR400 and KTM390 have forced RE's hand to join that size group.
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High On Octane

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Reply #4 on: March 27, 2014, 11:19:33 am
Maybe the SR400 and KTM390 have forced RE's hand to join that size group.

That is a good possibility.
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ace.cafe

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Reply #5 on: March 27, 2014, 12:52:15 pm
In the article,  they mention that it is a big project with new crank and rod. So that means they are going to stroke it.
I'm guessing they will make the stroke longer to get the displacement increase on the 350 platform. However, if they wanted to really streamline the production,  they could short stroke the 500 down to a 400, and use the same heads for all 3 variants(400/500/535), instead of having a dedicated head for the 350 like they have now..
« Last Edit: March 27, 2014, 12:54:38 pm by ace.cafe »
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ROVERMAN

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Reply #6 on: March 27, 2014, 10:17:32 pm
Yada, Yada, yada. But the Conti production figures are interesting.
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Sectorsteve

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Reply #7 on: March 27, 2014, 10:29:36 pm
pointless


Arizoni

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Reply #8 on: March 27, 2014, 11:18:08 pm
As I mentioned on Team-BHP,  they really need to spend their development money on producing a twin that will fit in the new Continental's frame.
This could easily compete with Harley and Triumph in India.
Both of those companies are producing and selling big twin motorcycles there now proving there is a market and with the Indian love for the Royal Enfield company I'm sure their big twin would be a major success.

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Guaire

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Reply #9 on: March 28, 2014, 03:08:37 am
That would be a big success with me.
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screamin lord sutch

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Reply #10 on: March 28, 2014, 04:24:14 am
pointless

I second that. How about a twin that makes more than 35hp? Is that so hard?


suitcasejefferson

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Reply #11 on: March 28, 2014, 05:48:40 am
I think it is time for RE to stop modernizing. If someone wants a modern bike, they can buy a Japanese model. Most people who buy Enfields are looking for a vintage bike, because they don't want a modern one. At least that was my reason. Bikes are just becoming too modern to be fun anymore. RE provides an alternative. The only alternative as far as I know (well, there is Ural, if you want a sidecar) other than a real vintage bike, which can be expensive and have parts availability and reliability problems. The changes they have already made over the past few years should be good for another 50 years without further changes.

I have really never seen RE as being competitive with anything else. There is nothing else out there like it. Kind of like a Harley. If a Harley is what you want, nothing else will do. RE is in a class of one.

A shorter stroke for the 500? I would like a longer stroke. I never did consider an oversquare single a thumper.
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ace.cafe

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Reply #12 on: March 28, 2014, 06:15:48 am

A shorter stroke for the 500? I would like a longer stroke. I never did consider an oversquare single a thumper.

You probably will see that longer stroke in the 400.

The longer(102mm) stroke has been available on the aftermarket for the 500 Iron Barrel model for years. It hasn't been wildly successful because it's just too long.
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Guaire

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Reply #13 on: March 28, 2014, 03:02:03 pm
  Before my test ride of the 500 I bought two? years ago, I had one ride on a Royal Enfield. It was around 1980. I drove a friend and his 750 twin "Interceptor" across LA, freeways and all. I'd pony up if RE would put one of those in the Harris frame for sure. A more powerful 750 twin is REs big blast from the past. No 'modern' required. Just fire up another retro RE. They already have a solid platform ready to go: frame, suspension components. Now that Yamaha is showing everyone, you don't need an electric start, Chennai wouldn't have to add an electric start to a new Constellation or an Interceptor. It's easier to kick a 750 twin than a 500 single anyway.
 Muskets anyone?
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ace.cafe

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Reply #14 on: March 28, 2014, 03:32:20 pm
I have no idea what the heck they are going to do.
As for the twin, who knows? Maybe they will?

I think that most of their decisions revolve around the home market, and it creates bikes which don't necessarily meet the needs elsewhere.

« Last Edit: March 28, 2014, 03:47:24 pm by ace.cafe »
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