Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

General Discussion => Campfire Talk => Topic started by: Royalpunjabi on September 07, 2009, 11:05:47 pm

Title: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: Royalpunjabi on September 07, 2009, 11:05:47 pm
hello everyone, i'm new to this forum, but not to the website.. anyway i just got my license and i'm looking for good bike to ride around the town..i have looking at RE for quite a while now .. but i can't make a decision.. should i go with 2008 used AVL or new 2009 EFI.. can somebody please help..me..  .. thanks   
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: r80rt on September 07, 2009, 11:13:00 pm
Welcome to the fourm! Picking out a new bike is fun isn't it? I'm partial to th UCE myself, I'm sure you'll get different opinions from mine though. :D
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: singhg5 on September 07, 2009, 11:34:57 pm
Sat sree akaal.

I think EFI 2009 is the way to go.  It is a very smooth bike and lots of fun.  I have a G5 and have 2500 miles on it.  It is great for back roads and is happy at 55-60 mph.  But I would not consider it a highway motorcycle.  If you get this bike make sure the dealer has upgraded its transmission (because of a recall of early units) or get one that was built after the recall.  Mine was recalled and has been fixed.  It runs fine.  

EFI has less problems than carburator, it has UCE - unit construction engine - means only one oil to change for engine, transmission and clutch, and finally cleaner emission because of catalytic converter.  It also has good clutch too.  G5 comes with a kick start and also has electric start switch.

AVL is more for nostalgia though it will do what EFI does in terms of speed.  But lot more work - three oils to change, work around the carburator and more tinkering.  Finally the choice is yours.  

You can search under UCE - there are several people who have written about them.  Here is link to my first impressions written in April 2009

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,3958.0.html
 
Are you in UK or USA ?  
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: Royalpunjabi on September 08, 2009, 01:36:40 am
sat sri akal baiji, thanks for replying.. yes i'm in USA Chicago....i have made many trips to the RE dealer... but couldn't decide what to do which one to buy.. Bullet G5 Classic EFI is costing me about 6800 out of door. .with single seat., big head light and Engine Bar.. .. every time i go to the dealer they don't have a bike running for test drive ...i'm planing to go this weekend again .. hopefully they will have one running ...RE is my first bike and that's why i'm very cautious about this purchase.... i want to make right .. i thinking about  commuting to work with RE my commute  is about 20 miles a day.. mostly highway.. about 65mph.. in chicago only months i can are  april,may,june july, august and september.. even if i do buy this year i won't be able to ride.. due to the weather .. how is your experience going with bullet .. any surprises.. 


did you buy new G5 and  how much was it....
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: Geirskogul on September 08, 2009, 02:18:23 am
If you must go 65 the do the UCE.  The AVL will do that, but only if you're careful with break-in, and free it up a bit with better air filters/pipes/canister removal.  

I've thought about it for awhile, and after browsing the forums I believe it's like this:

The UCE is a Ronco rotisserie (or equivalent convection oven, etc)
The AVL is a propane barbeque
The IBH is a charcoal barbeque


There's not much difference in the end product between charcoal and propane, though it is significantly less work and quite a bit faster with propane.  The Ronco gets you just about the same product, in even less time and preparation, with a set-it-and-forget-it mentality.  A few people think it's more "manly" to use charcoal or even propane over electric, but most people don't really care either way as long as the meat gets cooked.  Most everybody knows how to use charcoal, though there is a little bit of a "mystique" to it.  Everybody knows how to use propane; it is pretty common, quick, and universal.  The Ronco is easily taken for granted, but actually has quite a bit of flexibility and personality, but that's offset by the higher price.  Eventually, though, there probably won't be many more charcoal or propane barbeques (charcoal is already a bit rare in most places) and everyone will do electric or NG.

For the record I have a 2009 Military AVL, and think it's great.  Is my first bike as well.
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: PhilJ on September 08, 2009, 02:22:59 am
I think if your going to be dealing with the speeds you mentioned an UCE would be the best for you. I have an '08 AVL. It is nice but will not sustain the 65 mph very long. I like mine because I'm retired and don't need to get on interstates or freeways. I gets great gas mileage, mid 80's, but I rarely go over 55 mph. The carb hasn't been touched since the dealer set it up 12 K miles ago, and nothing has gone wrong with the bike at all.

Good luck with your choice.
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: The Garbone on September 08, 2009, 02:49:34 am

The UCE is a Ronco rotisserie (or equivalent convection oven, etc)
The AVL is a propane barbeque
The IBH is a charcoal barbeque

.

Pretty Apt except maybe the UCE would be a Weber Genesis E-320.

I prefer cooking with charcoal, so you there ya go....
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: UncleErnie on September 08, 2009, 03:35:34 am
Actually, I would say an Iron Barrle is more like cooking over a wood spit.  More trouble, but the food tates much better than propaine. 
Anyway, for what I think you're talking about, I would not really recommend a Royal Enfield at all.  I lived in Chicago and you need some power reserve to commute in that mad house.  It's a crazy place to learn how to ride.  I would recommend something used so when you scatch it up, it won't matter as much.   
Until you get used to riding some, I would recommend a Japanese bike- USED.
Maybe a Nimja 250, Suski GS500- something along those lines.

Probably not a popular answer...
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: The Garbone on September 08, 2009, 04:21:56 am
I live in Chicago for about 7 months back in 92, but if I recall there are a lot of nice places to ride along the lake and up to Cheese ville there in Wisconsin, good RE territory.   The thing I remember is the riding season being really really short..   I got there in may and I think we had 5 days over 80 that year,  I remember it snowed a lot that winter...   I grew up on the Maine coast, but damn, Chicago can get cold....
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: scoTTy on September 08, 2009, 04:39:34 am
weellllaL i went looking for eLectron Cold by this GroUp...  but got lazy and started to jus t groove...


go here for a musical interlude

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aexHhvoMNwU


always better with headphones :D
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: Geirskogul on September 08, 2009, 04:49:44 am
1217 posts, and 900 of them of are youtube links.
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: scoTTy on September 08, 2009, 04:57:36 am
so are you enjoying them so far? ;)
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: scoTTy on September 08, 2009, 05:02:06 am
motorcycles are.. I must admit my RE has been as mJoYable if not more so..  as my past bikes o f  43 years :D
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: StephenCB on September 08, 2009, 05:43:13 am
1217 posts, and 900 of them of are youtube links.

With a name like Scotty_RE_DJ  I am not overly surprised at the links...

 :D
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: Thumper on September 08, 2009, 12:38:03 pm
Royalpunjabi,

I'm a very happy owner of a 2006 AVL, but I'll go along with the majority here. I won't even suggest what you should get but will say that I would get an EFI if I were in the market (even though you've asked for our humble opinions!).

Matt
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: PhilJ on September 08, 2009, 01:31:58 pm
...   I grew up on the Maine coast, but damn, Chicago can get cold....

What! How could anyone leave BAA HAA BAA ?  ;D A beautiful place with lots of  'Winter'.  ;)
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: Royalpunjabi on September 09, 2009, 04:15:37 am
don't get me wrong , i like the RE , i just don't know if i want to spend $6800 on it.. i can get some nice used bikes under this amount...
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: scoTTy on September 09, 2009, 04:26:04 am
hmmm.. 6800 $'s ---opens new avenues... I have the old house electra..  the new engine RE reminded me of an HD Sportster set up with the integrated transmission and engine...

what kind of riding are you looking at.. 
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: singhg5 on September 09, 2009, 05:24:05 pm
Sat Sree Akaal.

Since you want a motorcycle for a highway commute, I would go with UncleErnie.

 
Anyway, for what I think you're talking about, I would not really recommend a Royal Enfield at all.  I lived in Chicago and you need some power reserve to commute in that mad house.  It's a crazy place to learn how to ride.  I would recommend something used so when you scatch it up, it won't matter as much.   

Until you get used to riding some, I would recommend a Japanese bike- USED.
Maybe a Nimja 250, Suski GS500- something along those lines.

Probably not a popular answer...

Secondly, you mentioned that you don't know if you want to spend $6800 on it since you can buy a used motorcycle of almost any brand, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Harley or Yamaha.  All of them will run faster than RE. 

RE is at its best for riding country roads, and is loved for its thump, its metallic smell, light handling on curvy and hilly roads and a leisurely royal ride.  It also gets you involved in tinkering and gettting your hands dirty. It is not designed for speed. It is basically a 1950's design with some pretty good upgrades.  At its core, its is from an older era. If you like what it does, then $6800 is not an issue.  But if you want it to do something other than what it can do, then RE is not the way to go.

Hope this helps you decide what you want or don't want.  Never know you may buy two motorcycles, a Japanese sports bike for highway commute and an Indian thumper for its "What is the rush" attitude for fun rides on country roads smelling the farms, crops, and stopping by cows grazing in the pastures.




Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: REpozer on September 09, 2009, 05:25:56 pm
For me AVL.

For you EFI,or good used bike.
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: The Garbone on September 10, 2009, 02:27:11 am
Personally I would not commute on any freeway in Chicago on a bike,,  For the three months a year if your don't have time to ride on the surface streets take a cage... You will live longer..
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: Royalpunjabi on September 10, 2009, 02:43:17 am
today i looked at RE 2008 Bullet 500 Classic 2000miles.. asking price is $3600.. but it needs work.. SINGHG5.. Why i want to get RE?? because... i'm from india PUNJAB .. and being punjabi how can you not fell in love with bullet.. The DUG DUG sound ... this is the only reason why i want to get RE.. otherwise there are many choices..
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: REpozer on September 10, 2009, 06:58:45 am
today i looked at RE 2008 Bullet 500 Classic 2000miles.. asking price is $3600.. but it needs work.. SINGHG5.. Why i want to get RE?? because... i'm from india PUNJAB .. and being punjabi how can you not fell in love with bullet.. The DUG DUG sound ... this is the only reason why i want to get RE.. otherwise there are many choices..
I  imagine in Punjab most RE's are 350 iron heads. And most roads are better suited for slower speed.
Folks on this forum want you to enjoy your future MC, and not have problems on the interstate.That's why they suggest EFI.
 An iron barrel or AVL can't sustain long term interstate speed.
An AVL might be able to handle 60-65mph sustained, but you are at the edge of the envelope.That depends on the AVL, wind resistance and your weight, again, not much margin at that speed.

Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: LJRead on September 11, 2009, 01:08:41 am
I just heard that there is a 'highway kit' sold in England which, combined with a 19 tooth front sprocket gives the kinds of top speeds needed (65+).  Personally, I prefer the AVL as it is an immediate derivative of the original fifties Bullet types.  It has improved all the problems with the old irons, yet has the separate transmission and a carburetor, which I prefer.  And there are some good deals on the market, less than half what you would pay for  new UCE.  The UCE is new age trying to look retro, the AVL is retro, but an updated retro.  Of the UCEs, I prefer the G-6 over the C-6.

But then I don't drive fast.

Also lie having a forum DJ and the music you pick, Scotty, as well as learning of you Beemer trip in New Mexico.  Having toured that country many times, I could put myself right in the picture of what you went through - thanks.
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: scoTTy on September 11, 2009, 04:22:03 am
 ;D
Quote
take a cage... You will live longer..
 hee, hee,,  liVed in HoUston TX.. strapped a 2 foot step ladder to the tail of my r100rs..with an elephatine tank bag full of tools and chemicals.  some time back..  touch up and repair on architectural mill work and furniture...in the oiL oFFiceS..  what a mouthful HuH?  and I just , well emptied my cooler,  so i take my self forward to the garage,  pat the RE on the seat.. and take a left to the dorm size fridge with flavored water :P...  

this saturday .. 2 days away..... there is a Celtic thing going on downtown as well as a corvette show..  a political picnic.. 15 miles away..  busy weekend..  as I open my downtown doors :o ;) :D



hmmm.... loud guitar.. i did trim my claws....  or buShHoGging   12 acres and grappleN chucks of wood..

but yes the RE will be at the Celtic rEvival ThIs Sat.doWnToWn. wearN baLLOoNs.. ..  I really need to learn how to post pictures
Title: Re: Buying RE.. AVL OR EFI
Post by: The Garbone on September 11, 2009, 02:38:04 pm
;D  hee, hee,,  liVed in HoUston TX.. strapped a 2 foot step ladder to the tail of my r100rs..with an elephatine tank bag full of tools and chemicals.  some time back..  touch up and repair on architectural mill work and furniture...in the oiL oFFiceS..  what a mouthful HuH?  and I just , well emptied my cooler,  so i take my self forward to the garage,  pat the RE on the seat.. and take a left to the dorm size fridge with flavored water :P...  

this saturday .. 2 days away..... there is a Celtic thing going on downtown as well as a corvette show..  a political picnic.. 15 miles away..  busy weekend..  as I open my downtown doors :o ;) :D



hmmm.... loud guitar.. i did trim my claws....  or buShHoGging   12 acres and grappleN chucks of wood..

but yes the RE will be at the Celtic rEvival ThIs Sat.doWnToWn. wearN baLLOoNs.. ..  I really need to learn how to post pictures

Ahhhhh,   free form stream of consciousness poetry... Very nice..   :)