I just noticed this thread which I missed in June, and I want to comment on the 'thump' vs. electric discussion: It's possible to love both.
I loved the Royal Enfield since I first laid eyes on it. I read all I could find for three years, then finally bought one. I rode it for seven years and loved everything about it. The look, the sound, the light weight, the tweaking and tuning, the forum. It made me smarter about motorcycles.
But when the connecting rod broke it was time to dive into a project I was daydreaming about: An electric conversion:
https://electriccycle.wordpress.comThe look and the sound were gone...or rather changed. The performance was snappier than ever. The light weight and handling remained. Vibes at high speed, gone. The forum was different:
http://www.elmoto.net but was also full of great people who love to be helpful. People who love messing with stuff.
This bike has lived two lives and they have both been fun, fun, fun. I can't begin to describe how much I've learned. If I had room for more than one motorcycle I could see myself owning at least one gas classic (maybe another RE) and an electric. In an either/or world, it's easy to forget that you don't always have to take sides. You can love both and it's not even cheatin'!