I think the C5 in Battle Green is very good, and I like it just as much as the old OD green.
They did fine with that.
The new C5 DeLuxe with the chrome is totally stunning!
It is going to be very tough to beat that. All the other makers with bikes in anywhere near a similar price range are going to be worried. That C5 DeLuxe with the chrome and that gorgeous red color on it, is going to look "head and shoulders" above the other "retro bikes" out there that cost more.
I think this is the bike that is going to make RE a bigger player in the US market.
When you put a chromed-out bike next to a plastic "competitor", it's really hard for the plastic bike to even get noticed. There just aren't any chromed-out bikes out there anymore, and especially at this price. This bike is going to really turn some heads, and move out of the showrooms. Americans LOVE chrome, and this bike has plenty of it. And the way they worked in the color panels with it is very very good. I just love that new color red they use,and the gold striping on the borders and all that chrome just makes me drool! I loved that color on the first C5 bikes, but when it has chrome on there with it, I'm just gobsmacked by it.
I want one!
The Cafe Racer is really well done.
I'm picky about details on Cafe Racers, so I'll make some comments.
I think that the yellow needs to go. The yellow makes the color scheme too "busy", and I think the yellow graphics and number plate would look better in white.
All the rest is teriffic. I really think they did it well.
The seat and tank are perfect, the dual gauges and separate headlight really look right, the rear-sets are nice, and the shocks look good.
Very nice job on the airbox, and the front fender brace is cool.
Perhaps I might like a little more "swept-back" angle on the header pipe, but it's okay.
The muffler has a good shape and angle, which is very 60s in style.
The graphic on the seat which says "Cafe racer" needs to go.
There should be a simple white "Royal Enfield" lettering on the very back of the seat hump, facing rearwards, like all the old seats used to have. It doesn't need to say "Cafe racer" on it. We know it's a cafe racer because it's self-evident. Writing "cafe racer" on it just looks cheesy.
Outside of that,it's very well done. And those few things are minor in the overall execution of the bike, and I think it's a very good effort.
It really reminds me of the old Continental GT, which has always been considered one of the nicest looking cafe bikes ever.
This bike has the makings of a modern "cult classic".
I really want one of these too.
Things are really looking good for RE here.
I'm pleased to see what they are doing with this new model line.