Hello Guys first time poster here, and another Brit. It’s nice to find a RE forum which is so active and enthusiastic about these bikes.
My own circumstances are that for the past year I’ve been wondering whether a Bullet could be my only bike, I can’t justify two and currently own a T’Bird Sport. My local dealer has been really helpful and I’ve been able to test ride most of the iron engine and lean burn models. Whilst they’ve been great fun there’s always been things about them which I haven’t liked (never the engine though), practical stuff which would make it a pain to own so I’ve kept the T’Bird.
All that changed when I tried the 2009 Classic (C5?). How they’ve managed to iron out the niggles and yet retain the character of a Brit 500 single is beyond me. It’s a quite fantastic bike, everything does what it should do properly so you don’t find that you’re having to accommodate quirks. You can just sit back and really enjoy the engine which in my opinion is what the Bullet’s all about, even the exhaust note is just about right through the torpedo exhaust.
The T’Bird has a new owner and I have a large wad of cash which my RE dealer will soon have. He has the black and turquoise bikes in stock and will be getting the red one next week, I’m leaning towards the red but need to see it in the flesh before I decide.
Yes I’ll be trading down in terms of horsepower but trading up in terms of enjoyment. It's a different kind of motorcycling and I'm looking forward to riding Oxfordshire's back roads and country lanes at a more sedate pace. The T’Bird had more power than I ever needed.
If you haven’t test ridden the C5 yet you are in for a real treat.