Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: Monty on May 19, 2009, 03:45:55 am

Title: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Monty on May 19, 2009, 03:45:55 am
My wife and I ride together all the time.  We were looking at the C5 and I noticed that it only has a single seat.  Will it be offered with a dual seat and if not will the pillon seat be an improvement from the current pillons.  I would love to get a C5 but if the wife can not ride, then I'm sticking with my Electra..I look forward to hearing back


Monty
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: doomed1 on May 19, 2009, 04:01:28 am
a thousand times, YES a pillion will be offered, and from the looks of it, it's quite cushy.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: JamesC5 on May 19, 2009, 10:02:16 am
The C5 at Torre has the pillion on, so it's out there. Haven't tried it though so no idea how comfy it is.

I think if I were to add one to mine it'd have to be a rear solo like the BMW R71.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: UK-Classics on May 19, 2009, 11:49:17 am
It's quite a neat design - mounts onto the tubular bracket hidden under the solo saddle
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: talltenor on May 19, 2009, 05:05:04 pm
Another total, absolute, 100% noob question... can one use both types of seats, switching back-and-forth as the occasion requires?
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: JamesC5 on May 19, 2009, 05:17:11 pm
Do you mean adding and removing the rear pannier?

They're bolted on, but removable, just not a super quick clip on and off.

Some pannier pad seats clip onto pannier luggage racks but don't think there are any like that for the C5 (yet!)

J
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: talltenor on May 19, 2009, 05:22:18 pm
Hi, James:

Showing my noob-ness... yes, I meant switching back-and-forth between the solo (old-school bicycle style) seat and the two-person seat (pillion?) seat I've noticed in the photos.

I'd never heard of Royal Enfield before the NY Times article this past weekend, but I'm utterly enthralled at what I'm beginning to learn.

Bill
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: talltenor on May 19, 2009, 05:44:33 pm
See, I'm learning new terminology all the time.  Now I get the difference between "pannier" and "pillion."
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: JamesC5 on May 19, 2009, 05:46:59 pm
np mate :) I'm only a month into owning the RE and it's my first "real" bike. Before that I was only interested in WWII bikes and never owned one personally.

All the other RE models usually have a 2-man seat, I'd imagine if they make them to fit the C5 frame then switching between the solo and the 2-man would be a bit of work, but the current pillion seat option is attached behind the solo, so basically two separate seats.

This guy has a solo seat with a pillion pad behind it, similar to what the C5 has at the moment (albeit the C5 looks a little tighter integrated)
http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/royal-enfield-bullet-classic.jpg

J
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: UK-Classics on May 19, 2009, 08:24:23 pm
Pic of C5 with pillion

http://www.johnparkermotorcycles.co.uk/images/enfield/BULLET_CLASSIC_BLK_LEFT.jpg
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Rusty on May 19, 2009, 08:31:16 pm
I'm undecided about the pillion pad. It ages the bike I think, the exposed rear mudguard is a key feature of the C5. A small grabrail too, we've got 27hp don't forget ;D

If it's QD I'll buy one though.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: talltenor on May 19, 2009, 10:01:41 pm
Part of the appeal for me is the retro solo seat.  But I could foresee times when I'd want to use the bike to run my kids into town or to school (assuming my wife would allow it), and thus being able to carry a second person would be key.

Rusty, what did you mean by, "it ages the bike?"  Sorry for another noob question...
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Rusty on May 19, 2009, 10:27:31 pm
Rusty, what did you mean by, "it ages the bike?"  Sorry for another noob question...

I was hoping nobody would ask that but I'll give it a try (I'm not in marketing). IMO Enfield have hit as many home runs as you can do in a baseball game with the C5 styling, it's perfection. It's the sort of styling which will appeal to new owners, maybe folk who don't own a bike like yourself, very retro i.e. old but cool to be seen on.

The pillion pad makes it look older and removes some of the cool in my view. It becomes a bike to take a passenger, a practical bike, and the G5 caters for that market.

The C5 has a unique identity, underpinned by just one seat. That's why I bought one.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: talltenor on May 19, 2009, 10:47:52 pm
OK, I get that.  I guess what I was originally getting at was that I really like the look of the C5, with its solo seat, but I could see occasions when I'd want or need to have the ability to take a passenger somewhere (kids to school or to dance class, for example).  I'd remove the pillion when I knew I wouldn't need it.

I guess I'm also coming to think that even with the pillion seat, I like the look of the C5 with it to the look of the G5 altogether.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: r80rt on May 19, 2009, 10:58:59 pm
I'll never put a P pad on my C5,  the passenger pegs will come off as soon as I get it home, they would never be used. I like solo bikes.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Cabo Cruz on May 19, 2009, 11:19:12 pm
Br. Talltenor, I fully agree with Brs. Rusty and 80 regarding their C5 pillion seat viewpoints.  I also fully understand those who might have a need to carry passangers on their C5s.  In essence, to add or not to add a pillion pad is as personal a choice as to opting for the red, the teal or the black C5.  Make mine red, please!   ;)
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Kevin Mahoney on May 21, 2009, 05:31:48 am
The pillion pictured is not the one that will be offered from the factory. I just saw the production prototype at the factory a week or so ago. It is beautifully engineered and executed piece and is quite stylish. It also goes on and off in about 5 minutes. I meant to take a picture but forgot. So sorry.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: shotime on May 21, 2009, 02:52:13 pm
Hi Kevin...would the new pillion seats fit older models (2006 500 ES) as well? If you can post some pics it would be really great.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: UK-Classics on May 21, 2009, 07:18:35 pm
Hi Kevin...would the new pillion seats fit older models (2006 500 ES) as well? If you can post some pics it would be really great.

Shotime - it's unlikely to fit anything other than the new C5 - It;s been designed to attach to the cylindrical bracket under the C5 solo seat. No previous bike has this
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: shotime on May 21, 2009, 10:02:09 pm
Thanks Nick...thts a bummer..the only thing keeping me from changing my oem seat to a solo seat is the lack of a comfortable pillion seat for the missus.
Well..the oem seat will make do for now at least.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Kevin Mahoney on May 22, 2009, 04:14:37 am
Like an idiot I neglected to take any pictures of the pillioin. I wanted to bring some home to put together some marketing materials, but I didn't. UK is right, the seat will only fit the C-5
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Monty on May 22, 2009, 05:58:07 am
Thanks to all who responded.  I'm looking forward to seeing the Pillion from the factory.  I hope that the Pillion looks good on the C5,  I"m set to deploy soon and I planning on up grading to the C5 when I get home.  For me riding with out the wife would be no fun.  Kevin any way you can get some picture from the Factory. 
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Rusty on May 22, 2009, 07:02:40 am
Shotime - it's unlikely to fit anything other than the new C5 - It;s been designed to attach to the cylindrical bracket under the C5 solo seat. No previous bike has this

I wondered what that bracket was for. Be interesting to see how they've avoided having to clamp it to the nicely painted subframe. A passenger will exert a fair amount of leverage if it's only fixed at the front, I would've thought there must be a fixing under the pad itself but it's all shiny paint.
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: UK-Classics on May 22, 2009, 08:11:21 am
Thanks to all who responded.  I'm looking forward to seeing the Pillion from the factory.  I hope that the Pillion looks good on the C5,  I"m set to deploy soon and I planning on up grading to the C5 when I get home.  For me riding with out the wife would be no fun.  Kevin any way you can get some picture from the Factory. 

Monty - where you deploying too & for how long?
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: JamesC5 on May 22, 2009, 08:33:25 am
I've always loved this style pillion:
http://www.cj750.net/sitepics/ww2/12ww2grnpnz/wwIIr75panzerar_5411.JPG

But I think it'd be too sacrilegious to break up the lines on the C5. I even had to make my own panniers for the bike to keep them!
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Monty on May 23, 2009, 05:31:59 am
UK-Classics  Sorry I can not say to where but I will be gone about a year.  Going to miss my bullet while i"m gone, but I hope to purchase a new one when I get home if this pillion looks and rides nice,  After being gone that long I don't want to ride with out the wife..
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Corbin on May 23, 2009, 11:09:58 pm
Love the new pillon pad for the C5,what about other accessories?  Like panniers, etc... what is available on this website's store at present that can be used in conjunction with the C5?

Also, will the oil filter package on this website for AVL be suitable for the new EFI?  I noticed ye have a sale going on which I would like to take advantage of but want to make sure there absolutely compatible.

Monty, be safe and the best of luck to you on your journey.  My thoughts will be with you and your miss's and I am sure we all hope to hear and read of your adventures with your missus upon your return home on your new C5!
Title: Re: Dual seat for the C5
Post by: Kevin Mahoney on May 24, 2009, 05:44:23 am
The oil filter for the AVL is the same as the oil filter for the UCE, however the orings etc are different.