[majstevetrevor]

Hey all, I owned a 2015 Classic 500 for two years, but ended up selling it and getting a Triumph.  (The RE was a bit of a lemon I am afraid.)  But I have missed it for just riding around town, and am thinking of getting another one.  I know that since then they have added ABS and a rear disc and maybe some other things. And it looks like now they have taken OFF the kick start (?!). 

So, my question for those of you in the know is, Can anyone differentiate between the models from, say 2016 to 2020?  When did the kick start come off?  (I definitely want one.)  And are there any differences in the engine tunings etc?  (I have heard that there are.)  One of things I liked best about mine was the low end torque, so any change to that would be unwanted.  But overall, if anyone can line out the differences in the last 4 or 5 year models I would be very grateful.

Thanks!

[Bilgemaster]

Best tell us where you are, or fill out your Forum Profile, as available export models and their features can vary from country to country.

[majstevetrevor]

Best tell us where you are, or fill out your Forum Profile, as available export models and their features can vary from country to country.

Thanks, I am in the US.

[olhogrider]

Thanks, I am in the US.

2010 didn't have a kickstarter. 2011 on up did. With the impending demise of the 500 this may be your last chance. The Himalayan and 650s don't have a kicker.

[majstevetrevor]

Yes, I believe I was misled by a video review of a 2019 version, where the reviewer said it did not have a kick starter any longer, and you could see that it didn't. But I think for some reason it had just been removed, or perhaps not yet assembled fully by the dealer.

Anyway, and other comments or observations anyone has on how the models since my 2015 have changed would be welcome. (Aside from the rear disc, which I know about.)  Is the engine tuning any different, etc?

Also, I didn't know that the C500 was on its way out...  A shame.

Thanks.

[Arizoni]

I think Royal Enfield might have frinkled with the ECU between 2015 and 2019 to meet changing emission requirements.
As for the rest of the bike, Royal Enfield was always changing things to improve them.
Since  2009 they changed the wiring harness so it doesn't look like a rat's nest in the head light casquette, changed the fuses from the old glass tube to the modern push in type, added a second oil drain port under the crankshaft, changed the front fork design, changed the size of the front rim, changed the direction the crankshaft bolt that holds the primary drive sprocket on so it wouldn't unscrew itself, and a host of other improvements.

They never seem to reserve these changes for a "yearly change" for the new years models, but rather, do it whenever the mood suits them so some motorcycles made in a given year might have some of the changes but others that were made in that same year don't.

[GlennF]

They never seem to reserve these changes for a "yearly change" for the new years models, but rather, do it whenever the mood suits them so some motorcycles made in a given year might have some of the changes but others that were made in that same year don't.

Yeah, you get the impression its something like "hey you guys over there doing the wiring, use up the old harnesses and at whatever point they finally run out swap over to these newfangled ones we just got in" .

[Boxerman]

I don't think they are alone in that. If you look at parts books for any vehicle, they will often specify a part No. for engines / chassis numbers up xxxxx and a different part No. for numbers xxxx1 and on.
Something you do need to be aware of.

Frank

[brucerobles]

There is not so much difference between the recent model and old model, above 80 it vibrates as much as it vibrates before.

[Chaz Michael Michaels]

Yeah, you get the impression its something like "hey you guys over there doing the wiring, use up the old harnesses and at whatever point they finally run out swap over to these newfangled ones we just got in" .

I can actually hear this conversation in my head.

[Karl Fenn]

Well there has been a few changes pre unit to UCE, and a number of superficial changes such as abs, but the engines still have similar power out puts, they are not really an 80 mph bike but rather a sedate plodder best at cruising country roads at 50 and getting time to see the veiw.

[Bilgemaster]

I don't have a dog in the UCE fight, but I've read several times here that 2014 or later is reputed to be some sort of sweet spot for build quality. I couldn't vouch for this notion, and there are lots of happy pre-2014 owners out there, but that's what I've often read here. That said, I've a hunch the UCEs are just like the older Iron Barrels in one respect: there are sweet ones and lousy ones.

[Richard230]

Here is a British review of a late 1970's Indian 350 Bullet from the World of Motorcycling Encyclopedia.  I bet it is even an older model that what the Bilgemaster rides. 

[Karl Fenn]

A lot of the older bikes have covered 37,000 miles on same engine, especially the pre-units.

[Keef Sparrow]

I'm pretty sure the kickstart has never been deleted from the 500 single and my 2020 UCE has one. I think that rumour started from a certain YouTube review where a UK dealer forgot the bolt the kickstart lever onto a brand new bike on assembly and the 'reviewer' thought it had been 'deleted' - even though the kickstart shaft was still visibly protruding the the engine! I believe the tune of the UCE engine has remained the same throughout it's production with the only changes being electronic ones to the EFI system to improve running or meet EEC emissions regulations. Production of the 500 engine stopped in 2020 and the new 350 model is electric start only. 

[Karl Fenn]

Many bikes are electric start only have been for decades, it opened up the market so more riders could buy bikes, many never learned the art of kicking a bike over.

[Bilgemaster]

I was always astonished that my former '56 and current '57 Zündapp Bella 200cc scooters both had electric start, which seems a more modern post-Woodstock Generation thing. They weren't the first motorcycles with them. Apparently that honor goes to the 1914 Indian "Hendee Special" (see: https://thunderpress.net/motorcycle-touring/the-hendee-special/2011/02/20.htm). But Zündapp got there nearly a decade before Harley added one to certain models ('65-'66) and Honda began bolting them onto their all-conquering CB750s in '69.

Zündapp's starter was ultra-clever, rather like that Hendee Special, in that its starter is also the dynamo, simply using different poles to tug along the engine to life. Being a 2-stroke, engine braking and hence resistance is far less than a 4-stroke's, so it just sort of does the job without needing an extra dedicated starter motor.

[zimmemr]

I was always astonished that my former '56 and current '57 Zündapp Bella 200cc scooters both had electric start, which seems a more modern post-Woodstock Generation thing. They weren't the first motorcycles with them. Apparently that honor goes to the 1914 Indian "Hendee Special" (see: https://thunderpress.net/motorcycle-touring/the-hendee-special/2011/02/20.htm). But Zündapp got there nearly a decade before Harley added one to certain models ('65-'66) and Honda began bolting them onto their all-conquering CB750s in '69.

Zündapp's starter was ultra-clever, rather like that Hendee Special, in that its starter is also the dynamo, simply using different poles to tug along the engine to life. Being a 2-stroke, engine braking and hence resistance is far less than a 4-stroke's, so it just sort of does the job without needing an extra dedicated starter motor.

Yamaha used a similar system in the 60's and 70's and one of their starters was adapted to work on Ann Margret's Triumph 500. 

[Richard230]

I recall seeing a early 1960's Japanese Rabbit scooter once riding down 19th Avenue in front of the Stonestown shopping center in San Francisco. A very rare and expensive machine. As it recall it had an automatic fluid drive, hydraulic brakes and some other car-like unusual features. I think it was made by the company that made the Zero airplane during WWII, but I can't be sure about that. 

[zimmemr]

I recall seeing a early 1960's Japanese Rabbit scooter once riding down 19th Avenue in front of the Stonestown shopping center in San Francisco. A very rare and expensive machine. As it recall it had an automatic fluid drive, hydraulic brakes and some other car-like unusual features. I think it was made by the company that made the Zero airplane during WWII, but I can't be sure about that. 

Believe it or not I learned to ride on a Rabbit scooter. The one I had was a twist grip four speed with a clutch, and as I recall cable brakes but that was 55 years ago. I think they were made by Mitsubshi (spelling?) who did build the Zero.

[Karl Fenn]

Those old jap bikes and mopeds were really very good, and quite reliable, of course they put an electric start on the 140 but certainly not the best in the world always playing up, thank got they kept the kick start.

[grey pegasus]

I don't have a dog in the UCE fight, but I've read several times here that 2014 or later is reputed to be some sort of sweet spot for build quality. I couldn't vouch for this notion, and there are lots of happy pre-2014 owners out there, but that's what I've often read here. That said, I've a hunch the UCEs are just like the older Iron Barrels in one respect: there are sweet ones and lousy ones.

You can not say in general. The quality strongly depends on the country or region the bike is made for.  The quality control decides where the fiished bike is going to. They put stickers on the single items telling if the parts are suitable for export or local market sales only. Even for the export there are several classifications, depending of the build quality. The best quality bikes go to European and US market, followed by the ASEAN market, the Central Asian market, the rest of the world and finally the home market.
My C5 is a little bit strange - it has a mid 2019 "European" frame, a end 2017 "ASEAN" engine, some "General" parts and was sold in Germany. There are some isues with the "ASEAN" engine, while the entirere quality is quite good. During the first service the RE dealer secretely changed the ECU without any notice as the Euro IV implementation in the "ASEAN" engine was faulty.  Probably the future will show up more surprises