Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum
General Discussion => Campfire Talk => Topic started by: blueberry on November 08, 2009, 08:40:24 pm
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My wife rode my 08 Electra again today. Then she rode her 250 Honda Rebel. We will never sell her 85 Rebel, but she wants a 350 RE. Any chance RE will make a 350 for the U.S.? We each would get one. After all , we both need at least 2 motorcycles. Its only fair isn't it? I would like a 350 cafe bike, and Debbie would like a RE for herself.
Ride Safe, Blueberry
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What have you got against a 500? Too heavy? Too fast?
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Sounds like a case of "displacement fear" to me ..... the 350cc RE Enfield is probably only about five pounds lighter than the 500cc model - and you gotta remember - it only goes as fast as you turn the loud handle. My wife talked herself into a 750cc Ducati Monster, took it home and almost immediately began to gripe that the had found the throttle stop on it and that it wasn't FAST ENOUGH .... go figger! The Enfield is a study in glacial motion compared to THAT bike ..... Get your wife a C5 for the lower saddle height and graceful good looks and have her go RIDE the thing!
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OIr get her the new G5 in army attire, can't go wrong there. Will.
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Most people would find it hard to tell the difference between the 500 and the 350.
They look the same, weigh about the same, have the same seat height, have very close to the same power level.
I really think it would be alot easier to find a 500 for her. If she could handle the 350, she could handle the 500.
Very little difference.
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The second bike I got for wifey here was a '85 Honda V65 Magna. She really learned the art of throttle control and respect with that one. So I think your wife should be able to pick a 500 off the stand and go on down the road. Only 6 hp difference from a 350 if I remember correctly. Will.
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The second bike I got for wifey here was a '85 Honda V65 Magna. She really learned the art of throttle control and respect with that one. So I think your wife should be able to pick a 500 off the stand and go on down the road. Only 6 hp difference from a 350 if I remember correctly. Will.
Actually, it's just 4hp "advertised" difference, and even that might be stretching it a little.
So close, that I don't think it's worth trying to locate a 350, just to get a few less hp.
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Trust me its not the weight or the displacement, its the fun in riding the 350. Debbie has mastered up to a 500 2-stroke 3 cylinder. She can ride!!
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(I was kidding up there...)
So if the 350 and 500 are so close, why do the 350's sell so much in India? Cheaper? Less cost for insurance?
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(I was kidding up there...)
So if the 350 and 500 are so close, why do the 350's sell so much in India? Cheaper? Less cost for insurance?
Better gas mileage.
Indians are really big on fuel economy.
A 350 gets about nearly 100mpg at the lower road speeds in India.
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This is true, I asked a guy while waiting outside for the showroom to open in Chennai last year, he was waiting to get his 350 serviced.
I asked why not a 500 he said"oh no they just use fuel" and every where I went I had a crowd, remember 120,000 rupees is a hell of a lot of money in India.
People would ask not how fast it went, but always how much fuel.
We asked for 2 x500 but they did'nt have any --all going abroad.
Now that my 350 is opened up, racing filter and open exhaust I can fly up hills I had to change down to before. I reckon I have picked up that 4 HP.
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Yep, I love my 350. I have no trouble keeping up with 500s on rideouts. I did lose some power on hills, but not too long ago I had to change the bushes in my distributor shaft. While the timing-cover was off, I set the timing by finding TDC, removing the idler gear and turning the distributor shaft till the points were just opening, then re-fitting the idler. Since then, she races up hills.
Tom
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Points opening at TDC is still a little late. You could go another 5 degrees up front.
I would do it by hand as the engine was running, set it as the engine likes then road test and see if it pinks ,--if it does back it off a bit depending on fuel octane of course.