[02twincam88b]

I just registered for this site after lurking for a while, and decided I need a little information from those in the know. I am an experienced rider and have owned quite a few different bikes over the years, Usually multiple bikes at a time. Recently sold two 2 wheelers to purchase a new Ural T. I also have an 11 year old Harley that I bought new. I love the look of the Royal Enfields and once the Ural is paid for, I can see a Battle Green C5 in my not too distant future. I have a few questions, if you guys can help.
 I am 6'5" and go a petite 260 pounds. Will I fit? Will it haul me around at a respectable road speed? I had a 185 2 stroke enduro that was fine. It had, I think, 17 horsepower.
There are no dealers in the greater Baltimore area, so I would probably be doing an internet, sight unseen purchase. How does warranty work get handled in such a situation?
Last week I saw a guy on a two tone green and white Bullet on the intercounty connector Rt 43 in White Marsh, MD. If you are on this sight please contact me so I could get a look at your ride.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[mplayle]

From what other folks have posted, you'll fit on an RE.  The recommendation would likely be to look at a B5 or G5 rather than the C5.  The first two sit just a tad taller.

As for "a respectable road speed", keep in mind these are not fast bikes.  They are "old school" technology in the engine design and require a proper break-in period from new.  They are also not know for being "fast" bikes - you aren't likely to get much above 80 mph without modifications.  That said, once properly broken-in the UCE bikes tend to be quite reliable and will cruise 65 pretty much all day.

They also have way more character than almost any other bike out there.

[Rich Mintz]

I'm 6'2, 250 pounds, and I've done 4,000 miles on my 2010 C5, including three round-trips between NYC and DC with large saddlebags thrown over the back. The riding position is comfortable (better than my other bike, a Honda CB250), although on the long trips I do stop every 30-45 minutes or so to stand up and stretch my legs.

The bike does fine on the highway. It can cruise at 65-70, although there's not a ton of passing pickup beyond that. It's not the fastest bike on the road, but that's not why you bought it. You'll want a windshield if you do a lot of highway.

It's a quirky bike, which means that if you run into trouble on the road, it might be hard to find a mechanic who can help you. When I was new, I had to truck the bike back from Annapolis to NYC in a U-Haul when I had a mechanical problem on the road because no shop would touch it. When I got home I figured out that the problem was simple and if I had known the bike better I could have fixed it on the side of the road in 30 seconds. (In fact, that's what I did when i got home, on the side of the street in Brooklyn, with this forum open on my laptop on the bike seat.)

So I guess what I'm saying is that it's the kind of bike that will reward getting to know it. I've learned more about vehicle mechanics in the last 6 months than I learned in the previous 40 years, but that's not a complaint -- I knew going in that I was buying a piece of history. No problems whatsoever with the engine -- the new UCE engine is a well-made piece of machinery and it starts and runs perfectly every time.

If I were buying from Baltimore, I'd probably see if I could buy from Philadelphia Scooters, so I had a relationship with them in case something goes wrong. They're an authorized dealer. (Yeah, I know, 100 miles away. What are you gonna do.) I did have a transmission problem on my bike that was covered by warranty (you can read about it elsewhere on this forum), and I had bought from a non-official dealer, and until I got referred into an official dealer by CMW (Classic Motorworks, the US RE distributor, and the host for this forum), I felt a little lost. Once I did get a referral (to a dealer about 50 miles from here, which is one of the closest), they were able to address my issue and I now have a good dealer relationship I can call on in the future. I have no complaints about CMW -- Kevin from CMW participates actively in this forum, they respond to us, and they really know their bikes well.

Short version: Do it, you'll be glad you did.

[Ducati Scotty]

I'm 225# and get around just fine. If you want to cruise much over 65-70 for long stretches you might want to consider something else.  That's near the bike's limit.  Will you fit?  Probably, but sit on a few whenever you get a chance and see how it feels.  As already mentioned, the G5 and B5 are a bit bigger than the C5, but see and judge for yourself.  Welcome!

Scott

[D the D]

Don't know who that could be up that way.  Two members have solid Green older Bullets and Super Chuck has a Blue AVL.
If you need to try for size, Philly is your closest dealer.  Make it a multipurpose fun trip and go see the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's grave, and USS Olympia while you're there.

[Ice]

Hi 02twincam88b and welcome aboard.

 The other brothers pretty much nailed most of it and I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendation of the B5.

 Your in familiar company here. Most of the forum brothers have or do own(ed) more than one bike or type of bike at the same time.

 A couple of my riding brothers are the same size as you and their Bullets get them down the road just fine.

 
 

[Ice]

I'm 225# and get around just fine. If you want to cruise much over 65-70 for long stretches you might want to consider something else.  That's near the bike's limit.  Will you fit?  Probably, but sit on a few whenever you get a chance and see how it feels.  As already mentioned, the G5 and B5 are a bit bigger than the C5, but see and judge for yourself.  Welcome!

Scott

 Yah...uh...a bit of an understatement.

 I have ridden with him. Scott won't brag so I will do it for "he who rides from Portland to Seattle and from Portland to the Golden Gate Bridge".

 He out runs my Iron Barrel Bullet with his UCE Bullet.

[Desi Bike]

Welcome to the site... As you already have a Ural, you are used to going slow. The RE is, as your T, not designed for free way flogging. It is a great bike for toodling around on, like the Ural and vibrates a lot less than the Harley Ferguson.
Take the ride to your nearest dealer.and give one a try. The weather is nice for a ride on the Tourist

5ft 8 and a few burgers shy of 225. I don't look like a circus clown on mine.

[Craig McClure]

I'm a long time British bike rider. I bought a mint used 2010 G5 Deluxe last year, & after making a few modifications to suit me, I couldn't be happier with it. I like the gorgeous civilian paint & heavy chrome, tall 19" wheels, the bench seat riding position, & comfort. I used to own a pretty hot 1958 BSA Goldstar Clubman, The G5 with it's Electronic Ignition, fuel injection, hydraulic lifters, unit engine, Runs circles around the old Goldie. The top speed is not as high, but could be with some work. Point is, it is much more reliable than all the British singles I've owned. Electric start is now a necessity for me. You can not help but enjoy riding these bikes, Mine is a delight. PIX BELOW

[barenekd]

Owning a Ural, you pretty much know the ropes. But the new Enfields let you feel like you're riding in the good old days without the hassles. The bikes are quite reliable. Once you get over the initial little gaffs, they are great. As far as freeways go, they are freeway capable, but use about 70 as the max. You may not be fast laning it, but it will go down them nicely. My longest freeway run was about 110 miles, nonstop. I did many 50+ mile runs on mine. Never a problem.
Initial gaffs; Loctite everything! Replace the spark plug with an NGK BPR6ES. So not get very froggy with the stock tires. They suck. Keep an eye on the chain, it does, too.
For breakin, just ride it. I did mine using a max of 1/2 throttle. It worked well and give decent performance without breaking anything. Expect dodgy shifting for awhile, the gearbox does break in nicely though. Also initially the idle can be a bit quirky, but it gets over that, too. They are remarkable motorcycles offering more smiles/mile than anything you've ever ridden.
Bare

[Joel-in-dallas]

I love my G5. I am really having fun with it. Its not fast, its fun.

It gets tons on attention when I go out with it. This forum is so helpful because you can't just go to anywhere bikers hang out and get details about your bike.

I say go for it provided you don't want a fast and flashy motorcycle.

[barenekd]

Most places you would go where ignorant bikers hang out will usually just tell you how terrible they are. Not withstanding the only one they've ever even seen is yours.
when I bought my Guzzi, the salesman was telling me how terrible Bullets were. I had to educate the boy!
Don't listen to the hoi polloi out there. They know NUThing! As in, I know a guy who has a friend that knows an old farmer that's had one of those things in his garage for 20 years. Never could make it run!
Bare

[Ducati Scotty]

Were the old Guzzi bad?  And by that I mean any worse than anything else at the time   Did they have some eccentricities that most mechanics just didn't understand? 

I know my modern Ducati sure did.  The Desmo valves stir fear in the hearts of almost everyone.  Took about 30 minutes of poking to figure out the first one, then it was nothing special.

Scott

[02twincam88b]

Thanks very much for the info. I am not at all concerned with going fast, or having a flashy bike. As previously stated, i have a flashy Harley and a slow Ural and U love them both for their own uniqueness and purposes. I don't really care what the other bikers think either. I just think the RE's are really cool. I commute a total of about 30 miles a day with nothing more than a lunch box, so highway speeds and cargo capacity are unimportant. If i want to go highway fast I will tahe the Fatboy and if I have stuff to carry there is no better bike than the T. I feel like the Bullet will be a real gas of a commuter bike. This forum is very helpful and it is very similar to a Ural forum. There seems to be a real feeling of friendship and sharing of knowledge. Thanks again.

[Arizoni]

For commuting the RE will beat both the Harley and the Ural.
RE 500's usually get 70-75 mpg.

[barenekd]

Actually the old Guzzis were pretty solid, too, from everything I ever heard about them. They, like anything else, had a moment or two on some specific model. But I have seen exceptional mileages on the things. Generally are actually considered more reliable than Beemers. I know that overall they have a lot better luck with the rear drive than beemers. I looked at them in the early '80s but kinda passed because then they still had points ignitions. Pretty much everything else by then had gone to ECUs. I was tired of doing constant tuneups.But I have a couple of friends that have been riding the same ones since the 80s and still loving them. They have a very loyal group there.
They do have enough character and panache to keep one interested. Not quite the level of the Enfields, but similar. My Goose gets almost as much attention as the Bullet did! Just today a guy at a hobby shop queried me about it.
Bare

 

[Ducati Scotty]

02twin,
From what you just said I think it would be a great fit, so long as its comfortable for you. 

Bare,
I've heard them called the Italian Harley, meaning dead simple mechanicals and loyal following.  I like the new Triumphs and the new Guzzis, they're both on the short list for my next bike.  But the Guzzi is leading   I like the Bonnie for what it is, but it seems the Guzzi has more character.  I'm really surprised to hear the Italians did a better job that the Germans in the shaft drive.

Scott

[02twincam88b]

I just gotta find a place to go and see them . RE never comes to the motorcycle show in Baltimore. As far as I can tell, the nearest dealers are in Philadelphia and Winchester. Neither dealer has many in stock and I think their stock is all 2012s. Does anyone know of any upgrades for the 2014s?

[Ducati Scotty]

They continue to refine the design.  Aside from a tranny recall on the 2009 models and the C5 getting a 19" front wheel and different fork in 2013, they've been pretty much the same since they started in 2009.  All small changes along the way.

Scott

[jkrobin]

Scotty: did you mean 19" front wheel and different fork in 2012?  My 2012 C5 Chrome has the 19" and the updated fork.

[Ice]

Thanks very much for the info. I am not at all concerned with going fast, or having a flashy bike. As previously stated, i have a flashy Harley and a slow Ural and U love them both for their own uniqueness and purposes. I don't really care what the other bikers think either. I just think the RE's are really cool. I commute a total of about 30 miles a day with nothing more than a lunch box, so highway speeds and cargo capacity are unimportant. If i want to go highway fast I will tahe the Fatboy and if I have stuff to carry there is no better bike than the T. I feel like the Bullet will be a real gas of a commuter bike. This forum is very helpful and it is very similar to a Ural forum. There seems to be a real feeling of friendship and sharing of knowledge. Thanks again.

 Bingo !
You picked a winner. I can think of no better bike for this.

 My commute is 26 miles each way and add in another 6 to 24 miles for post work errands and runs to the grocery store. Taking my Bullet instead of driving saves me between $3k and $4k a year in fuel costs. My Bullet is also my fun bike/corner carver/cow trail riding/go to town bike and is more fun in the rain than my car and trucks are in the sun.

Let me quote brother Scooter Bob.

"I prefer to think of the RE as the ANTI-NICHE market bike. It's NOT a cruiser (niche) or a sport bike (niche) or an adventure touring bike (niche) or a touring bike (niche) or some wanna-be repop nostalgia-alike retro ride (NICHE!) - the RE is just a motorcycle! A blank slate, if you will, that can appeal to many people - not just a "certain" group. Think about it ..... "

[Ducati Scotty]

Scotty: did you mean 19" front wheel and different fork in 2012?  My 2012 C5 Chrome has the 19" and the updated fork.

Yes, thanks for the correction

[Bulletman]

@bare
I looked up the Guzzi V7 racer and it looked really good..if I ever go up in CC it would be to a max of 750 to 850 CC.
@Scottie
I also really liked the Triumph Thruxton...seems like both these bikes are really good in their own way...
I would essentially like to keep my Bullet C5 and get one of the bikes mentioned above.
If you have forum links could either of you post links to the proper forums for Guzzi and the Triumph?
Cheers,
Mark

[Ducati Scotty]

My creeky back can't do the Thruxton or V7, but I like the standard models.  The Triumph is very Japanese and has a bit more power by the numbers, but the V7 has Italian flair.  I really loved my Ducati but it constantly goaded me to go faste and I have no willpower.  Only a matter of time before I lose that gamble.  The V7 seems to be just as cool but wouldn't mind if I plodded along at the speed limit.  The Triumph (at least right now) has better aftermarket goodies, but the Guzzi is only a few years old.  There's more for the older ones and I'm sure there's more coming for the newer ones.

Here are some site Bare pointed me to:
http://www.wildguzzi.com/forum/
http://guzziforum.com/
http://forum.guzzitech.com/

Parts guy; http://www.harpermoto.com/

Scott

[b.sheets]

If you have forum links could either of you post links to the proper forums for Guzzi and the Triumph?
Cheers,
Mark

http://www.triumphrat.net/

great triumph forum

[Bulletman]

@b.sheets
@Ducati Scottie
thanks

[Catbird]

Regarding size, I'm kinda big at 6' and 250lbs.  I just purchased this C5 Military 200 miles ago.  So far, I find it reasonably comfortable and according to others, it fits my body size just fine.

[Royal Stargazer]

I'm "kinda big" myself, and in the past week I've had and been riding the bike, I can come up with no complaints. The ride is nice and stable, and I know I look as awesome on the bike as I feel.