Author Topic: any feedback on a 2010 Classic 500?  (Read 1054 times)

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majstevetrevor

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on: February 11, 2022, 01:56:24 pm
I've been sort of keeping my eye out for a Classic 500 available for a decent price as a second bike, and have come across a 2010.  Was hoping for a more recent model, but I may go check this one out and see how it runs.  But just curious if anyone has feedback on this year.  It has no kick start, which is too bad but not a deal killer.  More significantly perhaps, it has the offset front forks -- I have seen somewhere that these may cause noticeable wobble on the highway.  Any experience with that?

And any other advice or feedback is welcome!


Richard230

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Reply #1 on: February 11, 2022, 02:11:22 pm
My 2011 Bullet has both a kick starter and off-set front forks. I have had not issues with the forks, but you do need to keep the front tire inflated to at least 24 psi, which is greater than what is recommended by RE for traveling on rough Indian dirt roads at slow speeds. Also, it does help to drain the original fork oil and replace it with quality 15 wt name-brand fork lubricant - and not the 10W-30 motor oil recommended by RE.
2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM Duke 390, 2002 Yamaha FZ1


tjupille

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Reply #2 on: February 12, 2022, 01:42:29 am
I had a 2011: no kickstart, offset front forks. Hated it (I now have a 2017)! I never had a true "wobble" but definitely an
 orifice-puckering level of instability on grooved pavement. I tried all possible variations of tire pressure to no avail.


Carl Fenn

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Reply #3 on: February 12, 2022, 12:08:50 pm
I can’t recall the exact year but some models about that time had bad cranks, failure was quite common a low mileage example would be better, l discovered up when reading up on them, could have been the Electra that does ring bells.


majstevetrevor

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Reply #4 on: February 12, 2022, 03:34:04 pm
Appreciate these responses.  Looks like I may have missed out on this particular bike in any case.  Would like to find an ABS model, but I really feel like I need to be able to inspect and ride the bike so it needs to be relatively local.  Might not be in the cards... 

Otherwise, I am tempted to try to find a BSA B33 to scratch my single cylinder itch!  Saw that a real beauty went for just $5,000 recently at the Mecum auction.


Carl Fenn

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Reply #5 on: February 13, 2022, 06:54:55 am
Well l think you always need a test ride and  inspection on a second hand bike,  of course there are people who would sell you a dodgy bike lots of them of them around if you don’t know your stuf.


axman88

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Reply #6 on: February 14, 2022, 04:51:39 pm
My 2012 C5 was built in 2011, has the offset axle front fork with 18" front wheel, and shows some handling vagueness / mild wobble when it gets up over 68 mph.  It's not a death shake, nor is it progressive, and I've pushed it through up to top speed of around 75 mph without the feel increasing or appreciably reducing.

I'm 6'1", 230lbs and disinclined to tuck.  My machine was fitted with an oversized front sprocket by the previous owner.  I think these items all work to reduce my machine's top speed.

I found that reducing front tire pressure by a few psi seemed to mitigate the wobble, but I don't do this, when I feel the wobble, I back off.  I hardly ride this machine on expressways, anyway.

Prices on the 500 singles do seem to have hardened at a higher level since the model was "discontinued", or perhaps this is a pandemic related thing.

Around 4.5 - 5k seems to be the price at the moment:
https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/mcy/d/chicago-rare-royal-enfield/7436757581.html


Richard230

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Reply #7 on: February 14, 2022, 10:23:10 pm
When I bought my 2011 B5 in 2015, it had 1K miles on the clock and all modifications recommended in this forum had been made by the original owner. It has 19" wheels, front and back, and a kick starter. I bought it from my BMW dealership for only $3K and they said they were happy to get rid of it.  ;) Attached is a photo that I took when I first saw it displayed in front of the shop. I was immediately attracted to the bike and had to have it. Since I had ridden there on my BMW, the shop offered to ship it to my home 40 miles away for free. They really wanted it out of their showroom.  ;D
2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM Duke 390, 2002 Yamaha FZ1