Hi All,
Seeing as this is my first thread, I figure I might as well start off with an introduction.
I'm 23, and I've been riding for about 8 months. Since starting, I've clocked about 8,000 miles, mostly from commuting 40 miles a day into and out of Philadelphia. I've been doing this on a gnarly 2000 KLR650 that would have just turned over 20k this week had it not been for the speedo hub drive disintegrating last week.
Today, I took a blustery (crazy wind gusts) 40-mile jaunt over the river to Lenihan Auto in Marlton, NJ, where I test-rode a G5 deluxe. I figured I'd share my impressions of the Enfields I looked at today. Some of these will resonate in particular with dualsport riders, if there are any here that haven't met an RE face-to-face yet.
The thing that first struck me was how incredibly small these bikes are. You don't really appreciate it until you're sitting on one, but stepping off of a KLR, which has a 21" front wheel and takes a 38" inseam to flat-foot, the difference is huge. At the same time the weight is still noticeable, and just sits low. I guess the only comparison I can make here is that the Kawasaki is the SUV to the RE's small sports car.
The videos on youtube don't do the engine sound justice, not by miles. The bike I tested had the stock straight silencer, but both standing next to it and sitting atop it, it sounded very deep and throaty, and not anemic and puttery as it sounded in some of the clips I've seen.
Clutch engagement was fine, and the engine pulls well in first gear with no strain. Shifting was okay, but the engagement didn't feel as positive as it does on my KLR. The KLR has a very obvious 'clack' into first gear, and you can feel with your foot when you're in it, because it will not push down again once engaged. The Enfield, when in 1st gear, has a spongy dead zone you can push the shifter back into. I'm sure this is something that I could get used to, but it felt weird. Winding first gear up made the bike blat in protest, so I didn't bother trying it again. A quicker shift to second would prove that the engine produces more than enough torque to keep the party jumping without much hesitation. I have no sportbike comparison to make here, since I've never ridden anything with more than one cylinder.
As I zipped around the dealer lot (they either couldn't find a tag to put on it, or didn't want me taking it out), I noticed how very nimble it is. It seems to want to fall easily into a clean, effortless lean. I'm sure the relatively small wheels and low-slung stance contribute greatly to this - I had none of the 'I'm on a horse, and this horse is going to topple over' feeling that I used to get taking slow corners on the KLR. I'm interested in seeing how this will translate to 60-70mph highway cruising, but again I was not given this opportunity. The knee pads on the G5 deluxe stick out too far, and felt uncomfortable and unnecessary. The ones on the C5 seem more fitting.
General fit and finish were both okay. On the C5 I looked at a bit more thoroughly, I noticed some spotty looking mottling of the chrome finish where what looked like the O2 sensor was installed. Some of the paint on the underside seam of the tank had a rough runny appearance to it, and the engine casing wasn't quite as shiny and uniform as the stock photos would have you believe. The clutch lever on that bike squeaked, but I guess it's hard to fault it for that, considering that it had been sitting on the showroom floor for many winter months without being touched.
I have been enamored for years with the styling of these bikes. After checking them out in person, my impression was mostly positive. At this point, I think I've narrowed down my choices to the following bikes:
- RE C5
- Moto Guzzi V7 Classic
- Ural Solo sT
These comprise my group of rag-tag standard champions that actually have character, unlike what I see in the endless, soulless parade of Harleys and sportbikes - two extremes which in my opinion are totally unnecessary and totally impractical.
If the C5 gets a kicker in the next few months, I'm going to give it some serious consideration.
One question for the more-informed: What's the dealer warranty support like, as far as not living near the dealership goes? I work a 60-hour week and live 40 miles (and in another state) from Marlton. If something were to crap out that I couldn't kludge up a quick fix for, I would be in a bind.
Also, I know this might be a slight breach of etiquette given that this forum is run by the importer, but does anyone have a rough idea of how much haggling I can do based on the price? If I go for a brand new bike, I would like to forgo dealer prep, and opt instead to have it shipped directly to my apartment. This would allow me to avoid paying extra for something that I can handle myself, since I will be doing my due diligence in fully inspecting it myself before I hop on it. It's nothing personal, but I don't trust a Jeep dealer to set up a motorcycle when it isn't their primary business.
Anyway, I'm glad this forum is around, and I look forward to lurking and posting.
- Fox