We've been narrowing our focus down to those two most recent RE models, but as a happy owner of one I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that a Bullet can be fun too. They're pretty light and "flickable," with an engine guard like my "Military" model has a good-sized toddler could probably right a tipped one, and those big singles have an undeniable character all their own chuffing down the road...kind of like your Grandaddy's old bike when he was a badass youngster, and rather explains why motorcycles became popular in the first place. They won't break any speed records (actually, they have and do: in 2014 a souped-up Royal Enfield Continental GT 500 single set a new Land Speed record in the 500MPPS [Modified Pushrod Partially Streamlined] category), but if you're content largely thumping along on a more-or-less stock one in the 50s or 60s they're magic, and 2020 is very likely the last year you'll find new ones in US showrooms, owing to ever-tightening emissions regulations. But then older used ones can be a very viable option, especially compared to other brands. Many Bullets are owned as 2nd or 3rd bikes, for those occasional Sunday pleasure rides. Few see hard daily driver duty on our shores for commuting and such, though some do. But basically such typically infrequent use explains why so many used ones with astonishingly low mileages can be found out there. When I got mine a about 2½ years ago it was 12 years old and had only about 4,200 miles on the clock. I've added about 10K since then. Indeed, most Bullets seem to be only occasionally wheeled out of the garage on sunny weekends for a quick mental health snort and then laid back to rest--basically they're often the 2-wheeled equivalent of that car "owned by an old lady who only ever drove it to church". Principally the mechanical issues one hears of on these Forums have to do with resurrecting those who've simply slumbered far too long...cloggy carbs, weak batteries, stiff cables and the like...especially the older original model "Iron Cylinder Engine" ones like mine. Many just need fresh fluids and the cobwebs blown out of them. Some, like mine, may have fairly minor issues that the previous owner just couldn't or wouldn't deal with. Of course, it's all "caveat emptor" (= "Let the buyer beware"), and a good mauling by the dreaded "Previous Owner" can lead to all sorts of fun and games undoing sub-moronic "quick fixes" or hamfisted modifications.
For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the Bullet breed, basically here in the States, apart from the odd vintage British model (or one at least
purporting to be so), you're likely to find one of three basic flavors of Indian-made Bullets: the original Iron Cylinder Engine "pre-unit" ones with the separate gear box and primary drive unit (imported from the '90s until about 2008), also sometimes referred to as "Oil Lamps" or "Iron Bellies", the short-lived Austrian-designed AVL engine ones (2008-2009 or so), and thereafter the Unit Construction Engine (UCE) ones, of which one finds both the Bullet and the sportier cafe racer style "Continental" models with larger 535cc engines. Each type has its own virtues and shortcomings. The "Iron Bellies", with an unbroken and basically unchanged production run just for India of over 50 years, are what many consider "Real Bullets". Some models imported into the States during the last few years of the run had a super-flakey poorly designed electric start bolted on as a sort of half-ass afterthought, which is prone...that is, virtually certain...to fail. Then again, those latter-day models usually (though not always) also feature a 5-speed gearbox, instead of the old Albion 4-speed unit, which can improve overall rideability, both because of the improved gear spacing between 3rd and top, and also because the 5-speed dispenses with the cockamamie left-hand shifter undercarriage "reach around" rigamarole required for their importation into the States, which can be prone to "slop" when worn or poorly adjusted. Then again, I gather that for many riders the resulting idiosyncratic gear shifting might be considered just another quirky characteristic of their particular bike that makes them sort of challenging and maybe a little more "equestrian" and enjoyable to ride...like the whole peculiar kick-starting routine. All oldster Bullets are just a bit different, but this also makes them kind of worth the trouble.
The AVL model ones (2009ish) saw a very short production run, especially for export models. They featured a sort of short-term stopgap leanburn engine designed for Enfield by an Austrian firm called "Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List" in order to meet stiffening emissions requirements. They are very similar to the older model in many respects. Frankly, I've always thought they might be the prettiest engine of the three types exported to the States. But, as with other things in life, those good looks come at a cost. Owing to its very short production run, parts can be harder to come by, and certain aspects of the engine can be far more fragile that its predecessor model. I would personally advise that only someone with superb wrenching AND at least some machinist chops, or willing to learn same, should probably buy an old AVL.
That brings us to the UCE engined ones from about 2010 on. While I personally think the "Iron Bellies" are far prettier, I don't share the disdain for the new model ones held by some owners of the more traditional Bullet, who once nicknamed the new UCEs "stomach pumps." They undoubtedly have their own virtues while offering a very comparable old school look and riding experience. They also have some desirable modern fripperies like electronic fuel injection, disk brakes, a starter that won't explode...that sort of thing. Of course, new ain't always improved, in some cases. Those electro-snoodles CAN go bad, and when they do all that diagnostic talk of "ohmage" and whatnot on these Forums just gives an oldster like me a case of the vapors. But then, you could always bolt an Amal carb kit from our host Hitchcocks on there, and be done with all that. Gravity always seems to work.
If you're interested in keeping a weather eye on the market for used Enfields of all types available out there for adoption, then check out David Blasco's superb Royal Enfields Blog at
https://www.royalenfields.com/?m=0If you might be interested in getting as near an ideal "Military Green" late model UCE Bullet with all the performance and comfort trimmings already installed on a pretty fresh engine, then you might do well indeed to reach out to our Forum's Brad the Maddman just up 95 from you in North Carolina. That'd be a smart buy for some lucky new owner, already tweaked and dialed in as it is by a guy who really knows what he's doing. I think he may still be asking 4 Grand for her, but only through this Forum so far. I don't think it's been advertised elsewhere on Craigslist, eBay, etc. just yet. More details in this thread:
https://forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php?topic=27961.0Anyhow, happy hunting! Do let us know what you end up with.
Topic: Simply...tell me why I should purchase a Himalayan (or Interceptor) (Read 5101 times)