Brilliant video. Rode one in India last year and fell in love, perfect for small English country roads. I've just put a deposit on one - a classic 500 black & chrome. It's the new euro 4 2017 reg. They're still in crates, they've literally just arrived from India. Now awaiting a call from the dealership to say it's ready to pick up!!
Thanks for that - £200 well spent I reckon, I love the look of the chrome machines....enjoy (and let me know how you get on, these are still very much on my radar)....cheers - TMF
What I enjoy most about the Royal Enfield brand is that in a world packed with ADV bikes sporting multiple mode TC, wheelie control, semi active suspension, RE just chugs along building bikes as simple as bikes can be. Yet these bikes are used by tens of thousands of people, especially in India, as workhorses, going anywhere a BMW GS can go if not further. All for a fraction of the price! A friend of mine from India recounted that when the frame of one of his families Bullets broke totally, they salvaged the motor and it now drives their water pump. My Enfield reminds me that all one needs from a bike is a motor, some wheels and a frame to keep them stuck together.
Nice to see a Royal Enfield review by someone who actually speaks English. I'm in the U.S., and have a 2013 Royal Enfield. I've made a few modifications. The biggest one was to replace the EFI with an Amal Concentric MK1 carburetor, with a conversion kit from Hitchcock's in the UK. Much simpler, smoother idle, and better throttle response. The second thing I did was replace the silencer with the EFI premium silencer ( a classic mid '60s Triumph peashooter style) from Classic Motorworks, the former U.S. Importer of RE, and removed the baffle. It now sounds like a proper motorcycle should. I replaced the flooded lead acid battery with a maintenance free one, and put what is commonly known as a "pedestrian slicer" on the front fender. This replicates the old British style license plates. The carb and new silencer transformed the bike. It is now very close to a real vintage British bike as far as feel and sound goes. I used to own a 1966 Triumph Bonneville, and the Enfield brings back fond memories of that bike. After about 1000 miles the shifting improves dramatically. I ride mine about 55 mph, that seems to be it's sweet spot. You may be able to get one for 4000 Pounds in the UK, but they are $6000 dollars in the U.S. Very few are sold here, everybody wants the latest high tech Japanese bikes. I'm 57 and tired of high tech. The Enfield can be ridden on U.S. highways, just wear bright clothes and helmet, and stay in the right (slow) lane. I have over 10,000 miles on my 2013, and it is still running fine. But my understanding from the Classic Motorworks forum is that these motors have an average life expectancy of around 50,000 miles, about half that of a Japanese 500cc. and parts and accessories are expensive here. There are no longer any RE dealers in my state since RENA (Royal Enfield North America) took over as the importer. Fortunately the Enfield is very much a do it yourself bike. I have a total of 6 bikes, and the RE is by far the most fun to ride
Great stuff Gerald, thanks for sharing your experiences with us - glad to hear you're having fun on the RE, as you say a great fun bike. All the best - TMF
Import from India - many of the indian ebay outlets have warehousing in the UK, pretty quick and no duty to faff about with. However many of the after market bits are pretty low quality. For example british cables are very much better than the RE originals, as are oils and brake fluid.
I just bought a 500 Classic and made the first 100km, and I love it! It is so much fun for touring around. It does shake quite a bit on higher speeds, but I prefer cruising speeds anyway. So far very happy rider!
Just had a ride on one of these and agree with everything you say, my review will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I see you noticed the exceptional turning circle, too. These bikes are so much more enjoyable than their paper statistics suggest.
Yes I know they have a fabulous reputation for keeping going - they use them to ride across the Himalayas so they must be good! WHat are you riding now??
Sold my last one a month ago: 1980 Honda CB 900C. I must say your interests in the bikes matches mine more or less. I am hoping to get a dirt bike and Triumph Street Triple this year. Staying tuned for your review of the new 2017 Triple :)
...I was a little underwhelmed - was hoping for radical new styling but it looks basically the same....so the jury is out for me 'til I get to ride one....I'm sure it will ride fine...
This is what a motorcycle looked like in my elementary school day dreams. Thank you England for designing & making a beautiful machine. And certainly, many thanks to India for keeping it alive, refreshed & very well...j
Love my 2017 RE Classic 500 in Battle Green. Proper motorcycling, indeed! So much fun and totally relaxing to ride, and that big single sound is a kind of motorcycle OM zen thing!! Great review!
I own 500 classic chrome. Everytime i ride royal enfield all eyes on me FYI: indonesian president choose royal enfield for his motorcycle, he modified to chopper style 🤘🤘
I think you were very cold when making this vid. But I enjoyed the ride. That's what I like about your vids. Guessing where you are and wishing I was there!
Wow ,I drove one of these in Nepal it was the bullet version , from Katmandu to the annapurna circuit with my wife on the bike . best time I ever had . great fun and will drive or go anywhere .I drove through rivers ,lots of off road as Nepali roads are a challenge to say the least . lovely to see you trying one out . cheers again for video .
As a result of watching your video on this Royal Enfield 500 Classic Chrome I have just been out for a test ride on a 2017 model, from Hayball's motorcycles in Salisbury. I had ridden and ancestor eight or so years ago with the previous engine and it vibrated like a road-drill; it had a very poor electric starter and possibly the worst brakes that I have ever experienced on a new motorcycle. Well, everything has changed. The bike that I rode this morning had 118 miles on it, the vibration was very little, the new disc brakes front an rear are more than adequate for what the bike dose. To my taste it did not "vibrate": it's a single cylinder motorcycle and it let's you know that. I think of "vibration" as an irritating and uncomfortable thing. These new ones don't do that. The fit and finish of the bike was great and I am going to buy one. I saw a Grey and chrome one in the showroom and I agree with you on that point, too: it's a most handsome combination, which I will shortly own! It is a real joy to be with and so much of what you observe in this excellent video on these and other aspects match what I experienced. Another thing I noticed when riding the RE in town, with an open face helmet: people on foot and in other vehicles make eye contact with you and many actually smile - now that's worth such a lot, in these times of anger towards persons unknown. Thank you for this review: you have a talent for identifying the aspects that matter and giving information in a very balanced way.
Hayballs are a really good dealership. That bike you rode with only 118 miles on it was far from run-in, that takes 1000 miles, after which they vibrate even less. They still thump though, it's a big single, but they lose the tingle as they bed in. Many riders new to RE ride them in too high a gear. I think TMS was doing that in 3rd at 50mph. It will pull that but it prefers to be cruising in top then. Usual first mod is to dump that ugly exhaust. A free-flow with the baffles removed or a straight-through like TMS had will give you more top end but not the low mid range from having the baffles in. And low to mid is where this motor lives.
always wonderful to watch a video that is not predictable . well done ol'chap , very well done indeed ! such a remarkable well known bike that is still in production. super fantastic video !!
Love from india. Royal enfield's market in India is great. You can get any accessories of this bike. You can get tools to reduce vibrations and what ever. Because it is an Indian brand. For many Indians this is not a bike it is an emotion.
I agree 100 %, I myself love the new classic. I have enjoyed these bikes for many years. I just can’t make up my mind If I really miss the maintenance. These New Bikes are very reliable not to mention economical. 70 MPG.
I own a classic chrome it's a lovely bike I use mine as a normal everyday bike I have done 200mile trips on it before copes fine aslong as your happy between 60-70
TheMissendenFlyer if you keep it oiled not to bad go a little bit on the bottom of the spokes actual body work has been fine only thing I found is on the stock exhaust the heat shield will rattle lose if you don't lock tight the bolts in
Yeah, if you "keep to the speed limit" it is very happy at A-road speeds of 45-70. There's enough in reserve to waft past cages. If you have to get on a motorway d/c then it will cruise up at 80. One of the things about a big single is they're happy holding near-maximum revs for ages. But note - the motor needs to practise at high revs to bed it in, the first few times it will tingle. After running-in these motors need to use high revs to bed them in. Do it 'naturally' during riding, don't just thrash it. The vibration tingle reduces and the motor produces quite a bit more power, and a willingness to go over 4800rpm. This is something that needs to be done with this motor, after running-in.
The chrome can get rust spots. The spoke nipples had some from new - that was disappeared the next day with Rimwax. It appeas on the rims from time to time and the exhaust gets mucky. Smartwax Rimwax and ACF50 and Muc-Off MO94 all seem to work nicely. Rimwax works on the silenceer, the sprays seem to cook. Nothing much works on the hot down pipe, just gets washed and wiped. Elbow grease and oily rag work but attracts dirt and dust. The paint could be tougher. Stone chips on the black frame can be spotted with black Smoothrite or Vauxhall black (black is very difficult to match). Touchup paint can be had from RE dealers. It is paint on metal, not plastic panels. Clean and car wax the paintwork from new and it will stay good. Do Not use a car "polish" like AG SRP because all "polishes" are abrasive! I clay-barred the paint, treated it with a professional paint sealant (rust inhibitors) and then waxed with (AG High Definition) carnauba. Result is a tough finish and dirt wipes off.
This is one of many times that I have watched this review, but finally decided to comment. First and foremost, this one of the most beautiful things on 2 wheels!! This motorcycle is art in motion (my opinion). I get the feeling that you really appreciate this motorcycle, thanks for the review👍
People having straight pipe in royal enfields try this:- Push your enfield to high RPM then switch off the bike and the gas to max then turn on the switch that will be enough for showoff
I like the way you review bikes, you talk in a very common sense way and in a manner that's relevant in the real world. And when you saw the tunnel, "ooh, tunnel!", like a big kid. Love it.
The best review I have seen of this bike. Good to see you have a wider field of appreciation than some others. It has its shortcomings but it is what it is - a piece of traditional engineering from the past. Well done.
Thank you Thomas, my problem is I like all bikes - in particular I appreciate the engineering in the classic machines - and the RE has something about it. Yes it's a bit of a dog to ride but once you've mastered it (takes about ten minutes) it's hugely fun and very rewarding....I love 'em...
My pleasure. If you enjoyed riding this you should try a Matchless 500 single from about 1945. I talked a mate into buying one once then helped rebuild it. A very simple job. It was a pleasure unlike any modern bike as it plodded down the road beating every once in a while. If you liked this then the Matchless would blow your mind.
A small update for this bike as daily driver and only vehicle If you want is as pleasure ride, leave as it is. If you can't afford a home with covered garage, add around 600 pounds to the price to replace the FI with a carburattor (or a better injector that won't refuse to work after rain and cold weather. I went for the carburetor. The only FI alternative I know it's the Power commander III, but I don't really know if it is a much better option than stock, or better than the Mikuni carb I replaced the FI with). If your local area doesn't have a good mechanic shop and you have ample experience of getting a worse off bike than you left in, and you can do stuff like oil changes and general maintenance, this bike is the best in the market right now. If you do long trips, actually this one might be better off than other bikes of the same or somewhat bigger cc count. (it has low HP, but more torque than modern bikes up to 650cc, which means the engine suffers less and is better off climbing hills or recovering speed when you are one or two gears higher than you should). It is more comfi than many standard bikes, and only BMW suprassed this in comfort by a long strech, but considering that any BMW I rode had so many electrical problems that I was never able to complete many miles on them, RE beats BMW just because it can actually finish the mileage I demand for a bike, even if I need to stop more often or wrap up more in cold weather. It is also super cheap to keep, and really fun to ride, so hours on this machine feel much lighter than other bikes
Hehehe, that Church where I stopped was a corker wasn't it - as you say very English...and all that was within 2 miles of central Watford all within the M25....
Main important thing is you can go in journey for 200km without halt --you ...will get no back pain..then after 10 minutes go for another 200 km without halt.....notice to one point all the way you have to run bike not in polished road you have to run through soil road in desert in hill roads.....then only say..why indian love this bike....why still used in army riding hilly area and roads.
Been thinking of getting one for a while now and have viewed pretty much all of the classic videos on TH-cam. Definitely one of my favorite reviews and will help me with my decision. Cheers from the Philippines!
Thanks for the kind words InspectorGadget - I'm very tempted to get one myself, a great fun bike...let me know if you get one and how you get on? All the best - TMF
A few months ago I took a standard 500 out to the trans-himalayas through the highest Petrol pump in the world, highest post office in the world, highest motor-able road in the world, and the highest motor-able village in the world. I brought it back without a scratch via one of the world's most treacherous routes. There was a reason why this used to be a choice military brand. Royal Enfields are made like guns. Good-old fashioned Enfield rifles. Of course, Triumph is better in specs and has equally good character, but Royal Enfield is a simple man's guilty pleasure. He knows it is imperfect, but sweet jesus, does he dare not fall in love with it.. Thanks for reviewing it the way it is meant to be reviewed. These motorcycles aren't super comfortable and modern for the year of 2017, but they can take a beating and still put you on the radar.
It indeed was one of the best times in my life. Lots of culture, nice people, rewarding route and enthusiastic fellow bikers on the way. The motorcycle I used was carburetor based old Standard model. EFI suffers a bit on the high altitude cold climate conditions so i went mechanical all the way. Did not break down once. The trip was slightly short of 800 miles. Spiti Valley and Ladakh from New Delhi.
Enfield have come a long way since the first ones came over from India & they were horrible, now just as nicer classic as you can get. Brilliant review.
Hello from Virginia! I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course this weekend in Roanoke, VA. They had two RE’s. One with the chrome finish and one in the army green. I started the course on a Harley, but convinced the guy who selected the army green RE to switch bikes. I had a blast riding this bike!!! I will be adding one to my collection. So much fun!!! Cheers!!!
As for using hand signals! i frequently use them to back up my indicators because you cant forget a hand signal now can you and it helps me stay safe from the tin box brigade .. ride safe Dave
There is a tip to changing gear: keep pressure on the gear shift lever *as you let out the clutch*. You will feel the lever snick the rest of the way into gear. The pull - prod - release method - which works fine on most Japanese bikes - doesn't work well on the RE. Once you do it the "correct" way, you will never miss another gear change. And it does *not* need a lot of pressure on the lever.
I have one of these splendid machines in the South Island of New Zealand. Absolutely love it. Hagon shocks and free flow exhaust. It loves dramatic kiwi backroads among the mountains. You must try riding over here sometime. Motorcycle heaven!
great looking machine at a great price ,I notice it has rear foot pegs and a single seat , as you rightly said a bike for a little pootle around on and would look really good in anyone's garage
Delighted you enjoyed the bike, a great review and as a long term owner of one I think you pretty much nailed all the salient points. They don't cover all bases, but the ones they do are a delight. If you have one, take it from me, you'll get used to having lots of random conversations with all sorts of folk when you're out and about. More than on any bike I've ridden!!
I've ridden all style of bikes from 80cc Yamaha's to 650s, then HD sportsters, and on to the big twins. Got me a 500 Royal Enfield now and am having more fun with it than any of the Harleys I had. It's just a fun, back to basics ride.
Other than the Indian's only the British would Appreciate a lovely machine like this one, you give it to Yank or a Aussie they would keep Whining about it all day !
As an American who cant stand the Harley / gotta be big loud and fast culture here, it only makes me want one even more, cause i know how much they would stand out in my hipster city of Austin. Absolutely beautiful piece of machinery, I only ride British bikes so i may be biased. Long story short, couldn't agree more my friend.
I get the thumbs up from plenty of Harley riders in my area. I have put it back to original style almost as much as I care to. I have a performance exhaust that makes the ground shake and it just thumps! I can't go anywhere without having to answer questions about my bike. 535cc, upped compression, flatside carburetor with pancake air cleaner, electronic ignition, performance exhaust. Loud. Not a lot of horsepower but already strong torque is just now incredible. Torque is where it's at. Will never be a freeway capable bike as the oiling is rudimentary.I have "performance" oil pumps that have me at maybe 6 psi ( that's right, 6 psi) But I can cruise at 50mph all day long and hills are like they don't exist until I get up in the mountains. All that said, they require constant attention.
Jon, what year-model? If EFI then you may have reduced bhp with the carb. The stock oil pumps on the EFI are something like 11 litres per minute, that's so much that the motor is effectively oil cooled. These can cruise at 70+mph all day long. Usual pottering speed is 40-60mph. Careful with the oil pressure, the motor is wet sump, you don't want it to dry-sump. Correction - I managed to type that back to front. The Enfield motors are dry-sump and do not like running wet-sump. There's only one hill approaching mountain size around here but approach is 1 in 3 - goes up on top. I mentioned tuning to 34bhp and 54Nm, but that was before I "fixed" the HT on the ignition and got another big wodge of torque. No, I wouldn't say they need constant attention. I think that's us, there's something about the bike that makes us want to fiddle with it.
Character means vibration?” Lol Fun review! Cool looking retro all metal bike. It’s pretty classy that the side compartment opens with a key instead of just popping off. Love all the room around the engine compartment. Thanks for the tour mate
I must admit the Bike looks good, I would be a bit concerned about the vibration bothering my arthritic hands. Back in 1963 after I passed my test I had a 1956 Matchless 500, back then they all vibrated, had very poor Drum Brakes and Cross ply Tyres, and of course leaked Oil everywhere, They were also quite unreliable, but still Fun I still have my Old Leather Gauntlet Gloves, they offered next to No Protection on a spill, No protection against a Cold Wind, Nor were they remotely Waterproof.
Bob, I have arthritis in every joint and spondylolysis in stuff that aren't joints. I have zero problems riding the Classic. The clutch is light and the front disc doesn't require painful effort. Adjustable levers are available. The handling is nimble and forgiving, you can correct easily. You won't be putting a knee down on this one, you'll ground the brake pedal and the centre stand first.
I am 58 and have severe arthritis. But a big part of my reason for buying a RE was the vibration. I grew up riding Japanese bikes and have had about 40 of them. They have just become too quiet and refined for me. I want a MOTORcycle, and I want to be able to hear and feel that motor. I went back and forth on buying a used H-D Sportster or a new Royal Enfield. I finally chose the Enfield because I love British bikes, and once owned a '66 Bonneville. Sportsters are everywhere. Everybody thinks my RE is a restored vintage British bike. I converted it from EFI to an Amal carb, and put a louder muffler on it, and now it is perfect.
I've always found these books quite attractive looking, I'm actually go look at 1, as the Interceptor 650 is apparently not yet available in my neck of the woods Or at least the one dealership near me that handles Royal Enfield doesn't have any in stock
So glad you enjoyed yourself on the RE! I was interested to hear your perspective and I am pleased it was so positive. It certainly is a head-turner, everytime I park I end up in a conversation about it! For anyone interested Hitchcocks in the West Mids are RE specialist and a great supplier of aftermarket parts and all parts for post WWII Enfields, their catalogue is very extensive and worth a look. All the best TMF!
@@nolinchitnis yes it is hand painted come to Royal Enfield manufacturing plant oragadam, Chennai, India. there you will find whether it is hand-painted or not
@@harikirandev The entire paint job is not hand painted . Only the pinstripes on the fuel tank of the Bullet 350, 500 and the Classic Chrome 500s. These are also called as Madras Stripes and is still done by the members of the same family who started it in 1957 and today a few others do it too
Thanks so much for the review. Vibration gives character. I've been racing a 600 for 2 years and riding a similar machines for 8 years. Vibration is so much worse at 245kmph. I've always loves British bikes..the Triumphs, the Nortons, BSAs..Royal Enfields.
I wish RE would make this Bullet in a 650 twin. I like the looks of these better than the new Intercepter and Continental 650's they released this year.
You don't have to be firm with the lever to change gear. You have to use the method used on old Brit bikes. It's simple: when changing gear, *keep the pressure on the lever* as you let out the clutch. You will feel the lever snick the rest of the way into gear. Once you've learnt this technique you won't miss a gear ever again, and you can use it on all bikes, not just Royal Enfields.
Yes agreed 100% - The bullet is basically the same bike with some cosmetic changes (I prefer the look of the classic) - the very friendly guys at the dealer in Watford are going to let me ride the new Euro 4 compliant Bullet when that comes in...so stay tuned!
Cool I’ll look forward to that then. I was looking at bullets quite a long time ago and I think that one thing that put me off was a complete lack of an electric start. I couldn't go back to kick starts at this stage of my life. I'm guessing these new builds will have an electric start though.
Yes good electric start, an override for the injector to allow cold starts, and for some reason my bike ticks over on the side stand but the brake light comes on!
Well that's the thing. You get an old 50's vintage bike that's brand new with all the bad bits fixed with modern stuff. The tool kit is standard not option but the spanners are made of cheese. Loctite, you need Loctite
I had a Royal Enfield and took it every where had no problem keeping up with the groups on the highway, I had the old army steel side boxes on and took it on tours of 2 weeks and more at a time, and with large groups and never got left behind and when it came to dirt roads was well out in front. Not much better than getting up and kick starting your bike, brought back many old memories. About 1/2 through your video and had to jump in as you seem to know very little about the potential of this bike. The only problem I had was blowing a rear tire going 110 Km on the 400 highway fully loaded, and the bike staid up as I slowly came to a stop. That was back in Ontario, If they had a dealer ship on PEI I would be putting on in my stable, as I loved riding this bike.
Thing about the Royal Enfield bikes.. the more mileage you put on it, the better the bike starts to perform and feel. I think the official manual has that info if I'm not wrong.
RE owner here on the UK.... You say it is not a highway machine and I disagree.... Bot I and my GF are around 90kgs of weight and both of us and backpacks, filled luggage can keep 70mph uphill and wind against no probs. After I replaced the exhaust it gained even more torque, so you can imagine. Vibrations... I mostly always had a single cilinder bike, so maybe I just don' t feel it as much but it is quite unnoticeable. Last bike was a SR400, with rubber padding. I can' t feel too much of a difference. Long trips... Give them on! it is a quite comfy bike. Only one that was more comfy I had was the BMW GS800S, but with all the electronic problems she gave me I wouldn' t go back. but caution! even if you find it comfy, it won' t be for the passanger if you have the standard pillion, so make sure se/he can communicate a "please, stop" if needed. Mileage is excellent. Turns are done easy, and you' ll probably tend to make trips on small roads instead of motorways. NOT because she can' t go motorways, which she can as good as any bike, but because she's so fun on turns and non flat areas against the "meh" factor of motorways and its slow trafic with construction sites. It is an excellent all around bike. She can do off road better many bikes, can comfortably go motorways, long trips, she' s excellent with small roads... very fun, reliable, cheap to keep and run, and easy to fix if anything bad happens. With very basic tools you can replace oil, brake fluid, bulbs, tighten anything, or even do modifications like changing the exhaust or the ignition system to carburattor, or a more racey one. It is a real gem! For me, she became my only bike, and I don't regret it
What oh, jolly good fun! An open helmet and goggles with leather flying jacket and gauntlet gloves. If it produced 60bhp it would be fantastic but then it would probably need better brakes and suspension. The embodiment of cool although your neighbours mightn't agree rattling their windows. You are doing a lot of reviewing at the moment MF which is good. Thanks for posting.
It produces 41Nm which can easily be tweaked to over 50Nm, that open silencer will help, and that puts it up into Guzzi V7 territory. The front brake is a 280mm Brembo copy so it's more than adequate. The rear is the tried and tested RE SLS drum but for some bizarre reason RE paint the cam/bush to the plate (incorrectly assembled), that can be fixed. Noise is 96dB but it's a pleasant proper rumble, the neighbours like it. Suspension is a lot better than earlier models, the rear are adjustable gas Paoli copies, front is compound spring progressive damping but the indian fork oil may be wanting. Handling is relaxed and forgiving, ride is comfortable, can be ridden for hours and hours. Range at 70mpg about 350 miles. Likes lanes but will eat motorway.
My rear drum is very spongy, think that may be the prob Jeff? Is it just a case of undoing the 2 nuts, applying the brake and re tightening to centre the cam?
zedcharlie - It's not that simple, you have to completely disassemble the rear brake. If you ever played with a Meccano set it won't be difficult. The wheel is quick-release and the chain wheel lifts out of the chain without breaking the chain or taking the chain guard off. Remove the cam/bush from the back plate, two lock nuts and two little screws, but the cam/bush is painted to the back plate use mallet. Remove the cam/bush and sand the paint smooth. Clean everything up clean room spotless and smear a tiny tiny amount of copper grease on the cam/bush to backplate, reassemble. Now the slide adjustment on the cam/bush is on the inside of the brake drum - I found the two small screws had to be just-nipped up and the the lock nuts fastened on the outside, tightened enough so that you cannot slide it by hand at the back plate but can when you apply full force by foot from the brake lever. It took some trial and error to get the tension right. Reassemble the lot back onto the bike. Put the brake arm on further back its splines than it was so that when the brake is fully applied it is at 90° to the brake rod (maximum effort), put the return spring on before attaching the brake rod. Now as the shoes bed in again they should centralise as you apply force to the brake pedal, you will need to adjust the brake rod nut to take up slack. If the two little screws are not set tight enough the cam/bush will move and not stay in the right place, if they are too tight the shoes will not centralise. The cam/bush was designed to slide, which is why it has lock nuts. This brake was designed pre-war and supplied by RE to practically all the other british bike manufacturers, it is very well known and I have no idea why they paint it in place in India, that is an assembly error. When you pull the wheel there are a number of spacers that will drop and roll across the floor, I took pics to aid putting stuff back in the right places, one of the little screws is longer than the other, springs, etc
Gleaming review! I had a 2016 classic 500 chrome and black in India for 2 years and managed to ship it back here successfully too! The later models are pretty reliable and vibration is unobtrusive. The only tweaks I have done are to use a K and N filter and a sealed maint free battery. I’m considering fitting a 19 tooth drive sprocket from Hitchcock Motorcycles for slightly more relaxed cruising. Tyres and speedo needed changing for UK Single Vehicle Registration, expertly done by Price Part Motorcycles near Cheltenham. This bike puts a smile on your face every time.
I own a 2020 desert storm.i have fitted an ergo hooligan muffled.sounds great and is a real crab drawer.im off the road for another eight weeks,but I'll do the right thing and stick it out.its the type of motorcycling I commenced with in the early sixties and I'm happy to say the passion hasn't faded!!
Nah, please don't take my comments the wrong way - compared to the super expensive tech laden bikes I normally ride (BMW GS, Ducati Panigale) the RE is in another world....but one which I really liked and I would be very happy to add one of these to my bike "collection" - thanks for watching Rahul - I'm honoured to have you along!
In India, speaking truth about Royal Enfield means insulting a blind religion in a religious country. It gets me a lot of hatred, but... truth must be spoken without suger coating. Now, for Character, I would go to the V-twins.
I am a Brit living in the Philippines, I have three Enfields this Classic a Bullet and a GT, love them all. The Classic we use most for touring this wonderful country, the GT for a bit of fun and the Bullet just a bit of nostalgia! Great bikes.
@@brucenichols9153 Thanks for the speedy reply. We are not allowed to use the battle green edition here cause the army uses it. Booking a Chrome classic this week.
Class! I hope the EPA doesn't cause them to become un affordable. Having the title of the longest production run of any cycle model, they should be exempt from EPA demands!!
Loved your review! 👍🏻 I ride an desert storm 500 EFI & I couldn't agree more with your review. It is proper motorcycling, fun and yes carries character.
I really love the traditional British looks of the Enfield. The single cylinder engine with the pipe sounds great. My worry here in the states is proper service and repair. As noted elsewhere, they are not big sellers in the US. I have heard there were reliability issues with the bike. I am a poor mechanic. The closest dealer is 30+ miles away. Perhaps the Himalayan...
Any vehicle with poor after sales and service availability, is gonna be bad for the vehicle but not bad about the vehicle Harley Davidsons have been affected india due to poor after sales and service availability.... But Harleys are good in themselves, aren't they?
I love my first bike - a Suzuki TU250 - for the same reasons. It's almost a copy of the old Triumph Tiger Cub and has the basic modern conveniences - elecy start, disc front stopper. It's wonderfully light and flickable and, at 80 mpg, is a wonderful shopping bike.
Bought the Tan 500 Classic from Steve at Watford back inNovember. Absolutely love it and now it's a thousand miles in it's really starting to loosen up. Don't believe the hype about the instability and vibration at motorway speeds, yes there will always be vibes but I can sit at 75 on mine for 30 mins, solid as a rock and without making my hands go numb. Good review :-)
There's a royal Enfield dealer near me. Always fancied one of their continental cafe racers. Looks like something fun to have a bimble around on a sunny afternoon.
...yes I can't believe I didn't either, when I got home I could have slapped myself...I think I was a little scared I would never get it going again!! ...actually I think polishing up that chrome would be a large part of the (rather sad) joy of ownership for me....
I was waiting for that too - kerplunk, twist, twist - that's the time honoured method. I rode oneof these a while back and agree with everything you say. Good review chap and if you want to start that classic wardrobe, I have my original Gold Top Trophy race boots, bought in 1968 for the princely sum of £6! Size 10 so you can get a pair of seaboot socks on with em.
I have been down that dealers a few times, very nice chaps and just round the corner from me.......will pop in and see if I can have a go on one, am quite surprised how much you liked it......i think you was as well....nice review as always 👍🏻
Yes I was pleasantly surprised - I went in with very low expectations but had a ball. These machines take some getting used too, they are nothing like "modern" bikes to ride, but once you get the hang of the spongy controls and lacklustre performance the real fun of back to basics motorcycling shines through....huge grin factor. I'd love one....
My impression about this bike was ''this bike is something which one must own in this short life''. Owned one for five years no issues.
Agreed! ☺️
Brilliant video. Rode one in India last year and fell in love, perfect for small English country roads. I've just put a deposit on one - a classic 500 black & chrome. It's the new euro 4 2017 reg. They're still in crates, they've literally just arrived from India. Now awaiting a call from the dealership to say it's ready to pick up!!
Great fun - congratulations, if you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for a new Euro 4 one??
TheMissendenFlyer £4,899, £200 more than the non-chrome colours
Thanks for that - £200 well spent I reckon, I love the look of the chrome machines....enjoy (and let me know how you get on, these are still very much on my radar)....cheers - TMF
What I enjoy most about the Royal Enfield brand is that in a world packed with ADV bikes sporting multiple mode TC, wheelie control, semi active suspension, RE just chugs along building bikes as simple as bikes can be. Yet these bikes are used by tens of thousands of people, especially in India, as workhorses, going anywhere a BMW GS can go if not further. All for a fraction of the price! A friend of mine from India recounted that when the frame of one of his families Bullets broke totally, they salvaged the motor and it now drives their water pump.
My Enfield reminds me that all one needs from a bike is a motor, some wheels and a frame to keep them stuck together.
Yes I like that too - sometimes simple is best!
Thankyou India for keeping the Royal Enfield alive and for the other motorcycle you make for us two wheelers. Utah rover.
Nice to see a Royal Enfield review by someone who actually speaks English. I'm in the U.S., and have a 2013 Royal Enfield. I've made a few modifications. The biggest one was to replace the EFI with an Amal Concentric MK1 carburetor, with a conversion kit from Hitchcock's in the UK. Much simpler, smoother idle, and better throttle response. The second thing I did was replace the silencer with the EFI premium silencer ( a classic mid '60s Triumph peashooter style) from Classic Motorworks, the former U.S. Importer of RE, and removed the baffle. It now sounds like a proper motorcycle should. I replaced the flooded lead acid battery with a maintenance free one, and put what is commonly known as a "pedestrian slicer" on the front fender. This replicates the old British style license plates. The carb and new silencer transformed the bike. It is now very close to a real vintage British bike as far as feel and sound goes. I used to own a 1966 Triumph Bonneville, and the Enfield brings back fond memories of that bike.
After about 1000 miles the shifting improves dramatically. I ride mine about 55 mph, that seems to be it's sweet spot. You may be able to get one for 4000 Pounds in the UK, but they are $6000 dollars in the U.S. Very few are sold here, everybody wants the latest high tech Japanese bikes. I'm 57 and tired of high tech. The Enfield can be ridden on U.S. highways, just wear bright clothes and helmet, and stay in the right (slow) lane. I have over 10,000 miles on my 2013, and it is still running fine. But my understanding from the Classic Motorworks forum is that these motors have an average life expectancy of around 50,000 miles, about half that of a Japanese 500cc. and parts and accessories are expensive here. There are no longer any RE dealers in my state since RENA (Royal Enfield North America) took over as the importer. Fortunately the Enfield is very much a do it yourself bike. I have a total of 6 bikes, and the RE is by far the most fun to ride
Great stuff Gerald, thanks for sharing your experiences with us - glad to hear you're having fun on the RE, as you say a great fun bike. All the best - TMF
...wonder what the import duty and delivery times would be - great idea though!
...good job I'm in England then! :0)
Import from India - many of the indian ebay outlets have warehousing in the UK, pretty quick and no duty to faff about with. However many of the after market bits are pretty low quality. For example british cables are very much better than the RE originals, as are oils and brake fluid.
hey could you tell me more about the exhaust in your enfield
"this isn't retro, it's classic". No comment needed.
No comment then ;0)
Astra la Vista baby
I just bought a 500 Classic and made the first 100km, and I love it! It is so much fun for touring around. It does shake quite a bit on higher speeds, but I prefer cruising speeds anyway. So far very happy rider!
Great stuff Robin - enjoy...
Just had a ride on one of these and agree with everything you say, my review will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I see you noticed the exceptional turning circle, too. These bikes are so much more enjoyable than their paper statistics suggest.
Yes proper old school motorcycling....
I've actually done multi day long rides on these across India. Miss the thing really.
Yes I know they have a fabulous reputation for keeping going - they use them to ride across the Himalayas so they must be good! WHat are you riding now??
Sold my last one a month ago: 1980 Honda CB 900C. I must say your interests in the bikes matches mine more or less. I am hoping to get a dirt bike and Triumph Street Triple this year. Staying tuned for your review of the new 2017 Triple :)
Did you see the launch?
TheMissendenFlyer yeah. Looks sweet, esp glad they refreshed the console. no mention of the cruise control though.
...I was a little underwhelmed - was hoping for radical new styling but it looks basically the same....so the jury is out for me 'til I get to ride one....I'm sure it will ride fine...
This is what a motorcycle looked like in my elementary school day dreams. Thank you England for designing & making a beautiful machine. And certainly, many thanks to India for keeping it alive, refreshed & very well...j
Love my 2017 RE Classic 500 in Battle Green. Proper motorcycling, indeed! So much fun and totally relaxing to ride, and that big single sound is a kind of motorcycle OM zen thing!! Great review!
I own 500 classic chrome. Everytime i ride royal enfield all eyes on me FYI: indonesian president choose royal enfield for his motorcycle, he modified to chopper style 🤘🤘
Nice....
👍
Ohh really...that would be a great news for India..love from India bro
A old friend have a re build as a chopper, Old parts no new on that, Sören is handy so it is al his ovn work.
It is drop dead gorgeous. Well done, and thanks, India.
+taketimeout2 Thank you for watching!
I think you were very cold when making this vid. But I enjoyed the ride. That's what I like about your vids. Guessing where you are and wishing I was there!
I have a dream to own a Royal Enfield. Might get one next year... this is an absolute symbol of royalty and class
Wow ,I drove one of these in Nepal it was the bullet version , from Katmandu to the annapurna circuit with my wife on the bike . best time I ever had . great fun and will drive or go anywhere .I drove through rivers ,lots of off road as Nepali roads are a challenge to say the least . lovely to see you trying one out . cheers again for video .
Thanks for watching Dylan!
As a result of watching your video on this Royal Enfield 500 Classic Chrome I have just been out for a test ride on a 2017 model, from Hayball's motorcycles in Salisbury. I had ridden and ancestor eight or so years ago with the previous engine and it vibrated like a road-drill; it had a very poor electric starter and possibly the worst brakes that I have ever experienced on a new motorcycle. Well, everything has changed. The bike that I rode this morning had 118 miles on it, the vibration was very little, the new disc brakes front an rear are more than adequate for what the bike dose. To my taste it did not "vibrate": it's a single cylinder motorcycle and it let's you know that. I think of "vibration" as an irritating and uncomfortable thing. These new ones don't do that. The fit and finish of the bike was great and I am going to buy one. I saw a Grey and chrome one in the showroom and I agree with you on that point, too: it's a most handsome combination, which I will shortly own! It is a real joy to be with and so much of what you observe in this excellent video on these and other aspects match what I experienced. Another thing I noticed when riding the RE in town, with an open face helmet: people on foot and in other vehicles make eye contact with you and many actually smile - now that's worth such a lot, in these times of anger towards persons unknown. Thank you for this review: you have a talent for identifying the aspects that matter and giving information in a very balanced way.
Thank you Graeme and congratulations on the new bike - let me know how you get on with it?
Hayballs are a really good dealership. That bike you rode with only 118 miles on it was far from run-in, that takes 1000 miles, after which they vibrate even less. They still thump though, it's a big single, but they lose the tingle as they bed in.
Many riders new to RE ride them in too high a gear. I think TMS was doing that in 3rd at 50mph. It will pull that but it prefers to be cruising in top then.
Usual first mod is to dump that ugly exhaust. A free-flow with the baffles removed or a straight-through like TMS had will give you more top end but not the low mid range from having the baffles in. And low to mid is where this motor lives.
Proves you don't always need 200bhp to have fun on a bike. Lovely looking and nice honest review
Completely agree with that....thanks for watching!
Just remember , those pegs don't have sparklers on um and are more solid than any of your body parts . Now that's fun .
Yes the pegs are just welded on as far as I can see!
Big bolts. The indians use bloody great hammers and bricks to straighten them. They're deliberately softer than the frame and cheap to replace.
Bolted onto the frame
always wonderful to watch a video that is not predictable . well done ol'chap , very well done indeed !
such a remarkable well known bike that is still in production.
super fantastic video !!
Thank you!
Love from india.
Royal enfield's market in India is great. You can get any accessories of this bike. You can get tools to reduce vibrations and what ever. Because it is an Indian brand.
For many Indians this is not a bike it is an emotion.
That's great - I love a bit of enthusiasm!
Nicely done! Had a 1968 Royal Enfield 750 Interceptor brand new and loved it. The chrome tank on your Classic brought back memories of those days.
I agree 100 %, I myself love the new classic. I have enjoyed these bikes for many years. I just can’t make up my mind If I really miss the maintenance.
These New Bikes are very reliable not to mention economical. 70 MPG.
i had a 350 bullet, now got a535 gt.love the long stroke engine glad you like royal enfield. great review .best part that exhaust sound!
I love 'em! A proper classic...and I agree, that sound is amazing....
You buy RE to drive slow to enjoy the engine note and feel the cloud like ride.if you want something that drives fast look somewhere else.
Agreed.....
Its a bit like meditation :)
@@anuragsharma04 Instead of Om chant is Dug Dug. I used to hate RE but started to love them, wonderful machine.
No problem to change the gearing for motor way speed, but then you drop torque.
You were having waayyy too much fun on this thumper. Loved the noise it makes.
I own a classic chrome it's a lovely bike I use mine as a normal everyday bike I have done 200mile trips on it before copes fine aslong as your happy between 60-70
Lovely machine Rob! How have you found the chrome finish stands up to the weather? Any rust???
TheMissendenFlyer if you keep it oiled not to bad go a little bit on the bottom of the spokes actual body work has been fine only thing I found is on the stock exhaust the heat shield will rattle lose if you don't lock tight the bolts in
Understood - thanks for that....
Yeah, if you "keep to the speed limit" it is very happy at A-road speeds of 45-70. There's enough in reserve to waft past cages.
If you have to get on a motorway d/c then it will cruise up at 80. One of the things about a big single is they're happy holding near-maximum revs for ages.
But note - the motor needs to practise at high revs to bed it in, the first few times it will tingle. After running-in these motors need to use high revs to bed them in. Do it 'naturally' during riding, don't just thrash it. The vibration tingle reduces and the motor produces quite a bit more power, and a willingness to go over 4800rpm. This is something that needs to be done with this motor, after running-in.
The chrome can get rust spots. The spoke nipples had some from new - that was disappeared the next day with Rimwax. It appeas on the rims from time to time and the exhaust gets mucky.
Smartwax Rimwax and ACF50 and Muc-Off MO94 all seem to work nicely. Rimwax works on the silenceer, the sprays seem to cook. Nothing much works on the hot down pipe, just gets washed and wiped.
Elbow grease and oily rag work but attracts dirt and dust.
The paint could be tougher. Stone chips on the black frame can be spotted with black Smoothrite or Vauxhall black (black is very difficult to match). Touchup paint can be had from RE dealers.
It is paint on metal, not plastic panels.
Clean and car wax the paintwork from new and it will stay good. Do Not use a car "polish" like AG SRP because all "polishes" are abrasive! I clay-barred the paint, treated it with a professional paint sealant (rust inhibitors) and then waxed with (AG High Definition) carnauba. Result is a tough finish and dirt wipes off.
This is one of many times that I have watched this review, but finally decided to comment. First and foremost, this one of the most beautiful things on 2 wheels!! This motorcycle is art in motion (my opinion). I get the feeling that you really appreciate this motorcycle, thanks for the review👍
Thanks for watching! Stay tuned for an updated review on this bike soon!
TheMissendenFlyer looking forward to seeing it!! Thanks again.
People having straight pipe in royal enfields try this:-
Push your enfield to high RPM then switch off the bike and the gas to max then turn on the switch that will be enough for showoff
Sounds as if somebody fired a bullet from a gun
I like the way you review bikes, you talk in a very common sense way and in a manner that's relevant in the real world. And when you saw the tunnel, "ooh, tunnel!", like a big kid. Love it.
Glad you like it David - thanks for watching.
6:16 when the engine start the subtitle say [music]
machine starting to have its own taste
The best review I have seen of this bike. Good to see you have a wider field of appreciation than some others. It has its shortcomings but it is what it is - a piece of traditional engineering from the past. Well done.
Thank you Thomas, my problem is I like all bikes - in particular I appreciate the engineering in the classic machines - and the RE has something about it. Yes it's a bit of a dog to ride but once you've mastered it (takes about ten minutes) it's hugely fun and very rewarding....I love 'em...
My pleasure. If you enjoyed riding this you should try a Matchless 500 single from about 1945. I talked a mate into buying one once then helped rebuild it. A very simple job. It was a pleasure unlike any modern bike as it plodded down the road beating every once in a while. If you liked this then the Matchless would blow your mind.
A small update for this bike as daily driver and only vehicle
If you want is as pleasure ride, leave as it is.
If you can't afford a home with covered garage, add around 600 pounds to the price to replace the FI with a carburattor (or a better injector that won't refuse to work after rain and cold weather. I went for the carburetor. The only FI alternative I know it's the Power commander III, but I don't really know if it is a much better option than stock, or better than the Mikuni carb I replaced the FI with).
If your local area doesn't have a good mechanic shop and you have ample experience of getting a worse off bike than you left in, and you can do stuff like oil changes and general maintenance, this bike is the best in the market right now.
If you do long trips, actually this one might be better off than other bikes of the same or somewhat bigger cc count. (it has low HP, but more torque than modern bikes up to 650cc, which means the engine suffers less and is better off climbing hills or recovering speed when you are one or two gears higher than you should). It is more comfi than many standard bikes, and only BMW suprassed this in comfort by a long strech, but considering that any BMW I rode had so many electrical problems that I was never able to complete many miles on them, RE beats BMW just because it can actually finish the mileage I demand for a bike, even if I need to stop more often or wrap up more in cold weather.
It is also super cheap to keep, and really fun to ride, so hours on this machine feel much lighter than other bikes
Great vid TMF. A massive dollop of England. Country lanes, villages, churchs, classic bike. You'll have any expat watching in tears.
Thanks mate.
Hehehe, that Church where I stopped was a corker wasn't it - as you say very English...and all that was within 2 miles of central Watford all within the M25....
Would love to see a long term review of this bike and how it holds up. Thank you Sir......Sal : )
Brilliant video. Great to learn something about single pot engines, vibrations and character. Stunning bike.
Main important thing is you can go in journey for 200km without halt --you ...will get no back pain..then after 10 minutes go for another 200 km without halt.....notice to one point all the way you have to run bike not in polished road you have to run through soil road in desert in hill roads.....then only say..why indian love this bike....why still used in army riding hilly area and roads.
Yes a very comfy bike - thanks for watching - TMF
Just got a 2020 Classic 500 Chrome and absolutely love it. It's a tractor, work of art, piece of jewellery etc.
I went into the showroom when I was in Bangalore, its amazing how cheap they are to buy in India, I was shocked. Lovely looking bike!
Sure is! Almost worth going to Bangalore and riding one home....
Been thinking of getting one for a while now and have viewed pretty much all of the classic videos on TH-cam. Definitely one of my favorite reviews and will help me with my decision. Cheers from the Philippines!
Thanks for the kind words InspectorGadget - I'm very tempted to get one myself, a great fun bike...let me know if you get one and how you get on? All the best - TMF
The original sound of the bike isn't like what u hear in the video, the owner has removed the stock silencer and installed a custom made silencer .
Correct....
@@TheMissendenFlyer can you tell me which one he put on please ?
A few months ago I took a standard 500 out to the trans-himalayas through the highest Petrol pump in the world, highest post office in the world, highest motor-able road in the world, and the highest motor-able village in the world. I brought it back without a scratch via one of the world's most treacherous routes. There was a reason why this used to be a choice military brand. Royal Enfields are made like guns. Good-old fashioned Enfield rifles. Of course, Triumph is better in specs and has equally good character, but Royal Enfield is a simple man's guilty pleasure. He knows it is imperfect, but sweet jesus, does he dare not fall in love with it..
Thanks for reviewing it the way it is meant to be reviewed. These motorcycles aren't super comfortable and modern for the year of 2017, but they can take a beating and still put you on the radar.
Thanks Aswin....and wow, that sounds like quite a trip, good thing these RE's are fuel injected these days eh? How long (in miles) was the trip???
It indeed was one of the best times in my life. Lots of culture, nice people, rewarding route and enthusiastic fellow bikers on the way. The motorcycle I used was carburetor based old Standard model. EFI suffers a bit on the high altitude cold climate conditions so i went mechanical all the way. Did not break down once. The trip was slightly short of 800 miles. Spiti Valley and Ladakh from New Delhi.
What a trip - great stuff - I assumed Fuel Injection would be just the thing for high altitude/low temperatures so hats off to you....
It should have been but the RE EFI is far from perfect right now.
Enfield have come a long way since the first ones came over from India & they were horrible, now just as nicer classic as you can get. Brilliant review.
Hello from Virginia!
I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course this weekend in Roanoke, VA. They had two RE’s. One with the chrome finish and one in the army green.
I started the course on a Harley, but convinced the guy who selected the army green RE to switch bikes.
I had a blast riding this bike!!! I will be adding one to my collection. So much fun!!!
Cheers!!!
Cheers Stan - and thanks for popping by!
As for using hand signals! i frequently use them to back up my indicators because you cant forget a hand signal now can you and it helps me stay safe from the tin box brigade .. ride safe Dave
There is a tip to changing gear: keep pressure on the gear shift lever *as you let out the clutch*. You will feel the lever snick the rest of the way into gear.
The pull - prod - release method - which works fine on most Japanese bikes - doesn't work well on the RE.
Once you do it the "correct" way, you will never miss another gear change. And it does *not* need a lot of pressure on the lever.
+Steve Thackery Thanks for the tip Steve!
I was planning to buy this bike, after watching your video I definitely going to buy one and in crome🙏
Nice one :0)
I have one of these splendid machines in the South Island of New Zealand. Absolutely love it. Hagon shocks and free flow exhaust. It loves dramatic kiwi backroads among the mountains. You must try riding over here sometime. Motorcycle heaven!
Oh I would love to Derek, I watch a lot of Kiwi Vloggers and am always envious of your stunning scenery...and at the moment your summer too!
great looking machine at a great price ,I notice it has rear foot pegs and a single seat , as you rightly said a bike for a little pootle around on and would look really good in anyone's garage
Yes it does come with a removable passenger perch I believe, so the footpegs are there for good reason :0)
I have a HD 1200 nightster. My son has a 500 bullet ,he is giving it to me and I must say I'm super excited to get it! Great video ✌.
I have a 1950 matchless which looks close to exactly the same as this, I honestly prefer it to my Kawasaki z1000
Delighted you enjoyed the bike, a great review and as a long term owner of one I think you pretty much nailed all the salient points. They don't cover all bases, but the ones they do are a delight. If you have one, take it from me, you'll get used to having lots of random conversations with all sorts of folk when you're out and about. More than on any bike I've ridden!!
He Peter - great to hear from you again, and yes, those random conversations would be part of the appeal for me!
Once it's run in at 1000mi the vibration largely smooths out. Also depending on your oil gear shifts can be like butter when it's nice and warm.
I've ridden all style of bikes from 80cc Yamaha's to 650s, then HD sportsters, and on to the big twins. Got me a 500 Royal Enfield now and am having more fun with it than any of the Harleys I had. It's just a fun, back to basics ride.
I agree, nice looking too!
You have to ride one in India to really appreciate them - king of the road!
I'd love to do that...
Over 600,000 views for an old school classic! Thats's awesome!
Other than the Indian's only the British would Appreciate a lovely machine like this one, you give it to Yank or a Aussie they would keep Whining about it all day !
....I think it comes down to class, taste, empire!
Right Said Fred .
As an American who cant stand the Harley / gotta be big loud and fast culture here, it only makes me want one even more, cause i know how much they would stand out in my hipster city of Austin. Absolutely beautiful piece of machinery, I only ride British bikes so i may be biased. Long story short, couldn't agree more my friend.
I get the thumbs up from plenty of Harley riders in my area. I have put it back to original style almost as much as I care to. I have a performance exhaust that makes the ground shake and it just thumps! I can't go anywhere without having to answer questions about my bike. 535cc, upped compression, flatside carburetor with pancake air cleaner, electronic ignition, performance exhaust. Loud. Not a lot of horsepower but already strong torque is just now incredible. Torque is where it's at. Will never be a freeway capable bike as the oiling is rudimentary.I have "performance" oil pumps that have me at maybe 6 psi ( that's right, 6 psi) But I can cruise at 50mph all day long and hills are like they don't exist until I get up in the mountains. All that said, they require constant attention.
Jon, what year-model?
If EFI then you may have reduced bhp with the carb. The stock oil pumps on the EFI are something like 11 litres per minute, that's so much that the motor is effectively oil cooled. These can cruise at 70+mph all day long. Usual pottering speed is 40-60mph.
Careful with the oil pressure, the motor is wet sump, you don't want it to dry-sump.
Correction - I managed to type that back to front. The Enfield motors are dry-sump and do not like running wet-sump.
There's only one hill approaching mountain size around here but approach is 1 in 3 - goes up on top.
I mentioned tuning to 34bhp and 54Nm, but that was before I "fixed" the HT on the ignition and got another big wodge of torque.
No, I wouldn't say they need constant attention. I think that's us, there's something about the bike that makes us want to fiddle with it.
Character means vibration?” Lol Fun review! Cool looking retro all metal bike. It’s pretty classy that the side compartment opens with a key instead of just popping off. Love all the room around the engine compartment. Thanks for the tour mate
Lovely looking bike - just hope the actually finish is decent enough to last a few UK winters without rusting all over!
I must admit the Bike looks good, I would be a bit concerned about the vibration bothering my arthritic hands.
Back in 1963 after I passed my test I had a 1956 Matchless 500, back then they all vibrated, had very poor Drum Brakes and
Cross ply Tyres, and of course leaked Oil everywhere, They were also quite unreliable, but still Fun
I still have my Old Leather Gauntlet Gloves, they offered next to No Protection on a spill, No protection against a Cold Wind, Nor were they remotely Waterproof.
....but they would look great on a new RE!
Good Point, They are in Mint condition...
Bob, I have arthritis in every joint and spondylolysis in stuff that aren't joints. I have zero problems riding the Classic. The clutch is light and the front disc doesn't require painful effort. Adjustable levers are available. The handling is nimble and forgiving, you can correct easily. You won't be putting a knee down on this one, you'll ground the brake pedal and the centre stand first.
Hi Jeff. many Thanks for your feedback
Much appreciated. Bob
I am 58 and have severe arthritis. But a big part of my reason for buying a RE was the vibration. I grew up riding Japanese bikes and have had about 40 of them. They have just become too quiet and refined for me. I want a MOTORcycle, and I want to be able to hear and feel that motor. I went back and forth on buying a used H-D Sportster or a new Royal Enfield. I finally chose the Enfield because I love British bikes, and once owned a '66 Bonneville. Sportsters are everywhere. Everybody thinks my RE is a restored vintage British bike. I converted it from EFI to an Amal carb, and put a louder muffler on it, and now it is perfect.
I've always found these books quite attractive looking, I'm actually go look at 1, as the Interceptor 650 is apparently not yet available in my neck of the woods
Or at least the one dealership near me that handles Royal Enfield doesn't have any in stock
So glad you enjoyed yourself on the RE! I was interested to hear your perspective and I am pleased it was so positive. It certainly is a head-turner, everytime I park I end up in a conversation about it!
For anyone interested Hitchcocks in the West Mids are RE specialist and a great supplier of aftermarket parts and all parts for post WWII Enfields, their catalogue is very extensive and worth a look. All the best TMF!
Cheers VileVeil - I was very keen to ride one of these and I have to say it surpassed my expectations on the smile per mile front...
The bike is hand painted . That's why it looks good . Great videos man ! keep up the good work .
Yes the finish of the paint on these is lovely....hand painted coach lines too....
The bike is not hand painted. Only the stripes on some editions are hand painted.
@@nolinchitnis yes it is hand painted come to Royal Enfield manufacturing plant oragadam, Chennai, India. there you will find whether it is hand-painted or not
@@harikirandev The entire paint job is not hand painted . Only the pinstripes on the fuel tank of the Bullet 350, 500 and the Classic Chrome 500s. These are also called as Madras Stripes and is still done by the members of the same family who started it in 1957 and today a few others do it too
Thanks so much for the review. Vibration gives character. I've been racing a 600 for 2 years and riding a similar machines for 8 years. Vibration is so much worse at 245kmph. I've always loves British bikes..the Triumphs, the Nortons, BSAs..Royal Enfields.
I wish RE would make this Bullet in a 650 twin. I like the looks of these better than the new Intercepter and Continental 650's they released this year.
Totally agree, I love the styling of the Classic, the new 650s way less so.
RE METEOR 650 IS ON IT'S WAY .
You don't have to be firm with the lever to change gear. You have to use the method used on old Brit bikes. It's simple: when changing gear, *keep the pressure on the lever* as you let out the clutch. You will feel the lever snick the rest of the way into gear.
Once you've learnt this technique you won't miss a gear ever again, and you can use it on all bikes, not just Royal Enfields.
Cracking bikes! That sound! So cool they still make them. I'd love a go on one. Perfect bike for a country road blast. interested to see the Bullet.
Yes agreed 100% - The bullet is basically the same bike with some cosmetic changes (I prefer the look of the classic) - the very friendly guys at the dealer in Watford are going to let me ride the new Euro 4 compliant Bullet when that comes in...so stay tuned!
Cool I’ll look forward to that then. I was looking at bullets quite a long time ago and I think that one thing that put me off was a complete lack of an electric start. I couldn't go back to kick starts at this stage of my life. I'm guessing these new builds will have an electric start though.
Yes, even the current one has an electric start - think they added that a few years back...
Yes good electric start, an override for the injector to allow cold starts, and for some reason my bike ticks over on the side stand but the brake light comes on!
You have a wiring fault but it is normal to disconnect the side stand switch, it just unplugs back of the battery.
Really enjoying the 2021 model - thanks to this and your more recent video !
As you know, I don't do 'old' or 'retro' but I'd love one of those in Battle Green. Under £4k is a steal. Come on EurobloodyMillions.
As I said - these are the real deal not "old" or "retro" so you'd not break your own rule :0)
I don't usually even like the looks of old bikes but I think this looks the nuts in the green. A 500cc beauty for what I paid for my MT125.
Exactly - bargain central!
Don't forget the optional tool kit and use it . You'll be fine .
Thanks all
Well that's the thing. You get an old 50's vintage bike that's brand new with all the bad bits fixed with modern stuff.
The tool kit is standard not option but the spanners are made of cheese. Loctite, you need Loctite
I had a Royal Enfield and took it every where had no problem keeping up with the groups on the highway, I had the old army steel side boxes on and took it on tours of 2 weeks and more at a time, and with large groups and never got left behind and when it came to dirt roads was well out in front. Not much better than getting up and kick starting your bike, brought back many old memories. About 1/2 through your video and had to jump in as you seem to know very little about the potential of this bike. The only problem I had was blowing a rear tire going 110 Km on the 400 highway fully loaded, and the bike staid up as I slowly came to a stop. That was back in Ontario, If they had a dealer ship on PEI I would be putting on in my stable, as I loved riding this bike.
lovely engine note
yes these do sound the business don't they :0)
Had a chap on a GSX thingy pull along side and say, "that sounds really nice", right before we went under a railway bridge. Mwahahaha!
Lovely.. great to do a review on this model...nice looking bike and loving the kick start...nice sunday rider..
Had they made these in 2 cylinders, probably that would have made it a lot smooth to ride. Otherwise, it is a beautiful bike.
Thing about the Royal Enfield bikes.. the more mileage you put on it, the better the bike starts to perform and feel. I think the official manual has that info if I'm not wrong.
RE owner here on the UK....
You say it is not a highway machine and I disagree.... Bot I and my GF are around 90kgs of weight and both of us and backpacks, filled luggage can keep 70mph uphill and wind against no probs. After I replaced the exhaust it gained even more torque, so you can imagine.
Vibrations... I mostly always had a single cilinder bike, so maybe I just don' t feel it as much but it is quite unnoticeable. Last bike was a SR400, with rubber padding. I can' t feel too much of a difference.
Long trips... Give them on! it is a quite comfy bike. Only one that was more comfy I had was the BMW GS800S, but with all the electronic problems she gave me I wouldn' t go back. but caution! even if you find it comfy, it won' t be for the passanger if you have the standard pillion, so make sure se/he can communicate a "please, stop" if needed.
Mileage is excellent. Turns are done easy, and you' ll probably tend to make trips on small roads instead of motorways. NOT because she can' t go motorways, which she can as good as any bike, but because she's so fun on turns and non flat areas against the "meh" factor of motorways and its slow trafic with construction sites.
It is an excellent all around bike. She can do off road better many bikes, can comfortably go motorways, long trips, she' s excellent with small roads... very fun, reliable, cheap to keep and run, and easy to fix if anything bad happens. With very basic tools you can replace oil, brake fluid, bulbs, tighten anything, or even do modifications like changing the exhaust or the ignition system to carburattor, or a more racey one. It is a real gem!
For me, she became my only bike, and I don't regret it
Thanks for watching and for stopping by! All the best - TMF
It's a marvelous bike! The sound is just amazing, and it looks superb indeed
What oh, jolly good fun! An open helmet and goggles with leather flying jacket and gauntlet gloves. If it produced 60bhp it would be fantastic but then it would probably need better brakes and suspension. The embodiment of cool although your neighbours mightn't agree rattling their windows. You are doing a lot of reviewing at the moment MF which is good. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Alex - got to fill my time with something ;0)
It produces 41Nm which can easily be tweaked to over 50Nm, that open silencer will help, and that puts it up into Guzzi V7 territory. The front brake is a 280mm Brembo copy so it's more than adequate. The rear is the tried and tested RE SLS drum but for some bizarre reason RE paint the cam/bush to the plate (incorrectly assembled), that can be fixed. Noise is 96dB but it's a pleasant proper rumble, the neighbours like it. Suspension is a lot better than earlier models, the rear are adjustable gas Paoli copies, front is compound spring progressive damping but the indian fork oil may be wanting. Handling is relaxed and forgiving, ride is comfortable, can be ridden for hours and hours. Range at 70mpg about 350 miles. Likes lanes but will eat motorway.
My rear drum is very spongy, think that may be the prob Jeff? Is it just a case of undoing the 2 nuts, applying the brake and re tightening to centre the cam?
zedcharlie - It's not that simple, you have to completely disassemble the rear brake. If you ever played with a Meccano set it won't be difficult. The wheel is quick-release and the chain wheel lifts out of the chain without breaking the chain or taking the chain guard off. Remove the cam/bush from the back plate, two lock nuts and two little screws, but the cam/bush is painted to the back plate use mallet. Remove the cam/bush and sand the paint smooth. Clean everything up clean room spotless and smear a tiny tiny amount of copper grease on the cam/bush to backplate, reassemble. Now the slide adjustment on the cam/bush is on the inside of the brake drum - I found the two small screws had to be just-nipped up and the the lock nuts fastened on the outside, tightened enough so that you cannot slide it by hand at the back plate but can when you apply full force by foot from the brake lever.
It took some trial and error to get the tension right.
Reassemble the lot back onto the bike. Put the brake arm on further back its splines than it was so that when the brake is fully applied it is at 90° to the brake rod (maximum effort), put the return spring on before attaching the brake rod.
Now as the shoes bed in again they should centralise as you apply force to the brake pedal, you will need to adjust the brake rod nut to take up slack. If the two little screws are not set tight enough the cam/bush will move and not stay in the right place, if they are too tight the shoes will not centralise.
The cam/bush was designed to slide, which is why it has lock nuts. This brake was designed pre-war and supplied by RE to practically all the other british bike manufacturers, it is very well known and I have no idea why they paint it in place in India, that is an assembly error.
When you pull the wheel there are a number of spacers that will drop and roll across the floor, I took pics to aid putting stuff back in the right places, one of the little screws is longer than the other, springs, etc
Found a vid, So will def be doing that Jeff , Will let you know how it goes, cheers
Got one in the window at the local bike shop- look super. Got a similar set of riding gear by a mob called Montana!
The lining on the bike is done by only two brothers in India. So I guess every RE owner has a personal connection to the "lining brothers".
They sell 100, 000 a year and the coach lining is done by 'only two brothers', are you sure.
Gleaming review! I had a 2016 classic 500 chrome and black in India for 2 years and managed to ship it back here successfully too! The later models are pretty reliable and vibration is unobtrusive. The only tweaks I have done are to use a K and N filter and a sealed maint free battery. I’m considering fitting a 19 tooth drive sprocket from Hitchcock Motorcycles for slightly more relaxed cruising. Tyres and speedo needed changing for UK Single Vehicle Registration, expertly done by Price Part Motorcycles near Cheltenham. This bike puts a smile on your face every time.
Bro i bought chrome green classic 500 too
Nice one - you enjoying it??
I own a 2020 desert storm.i have fitted an ergo hooligan muffled.sounds great and is a real crab drawer.im off the road for another eight weeks,but I'll do the right thing and stick it out.its the type of motorcycling I commenced with in the early sixties and I'm happy to say the passion hasn't faded!!
Good to hear that Paul!
Gorgeous little thing.
Isn't it!
I think you really captured what this bike is all about. I'm super happy with mine.
Good to hear Soul Wagon, glad we concur, lovely machine - you're a lucky man!
even my phone vibrates 🤣
Yes but it is easier to turn off your phone than to get your girlfriend off an idling 500!
That is why it is called classic. Amazing sound.
@ 5:31 never kick start the enfield, it can break your knee or your ankle. trust me.
loendsti. Really? Never had a issue kick starting mine. On the other hand, I learned to kick start on a '78 Triumph Bonneville.
I see a lot of these bikes in Bangkok, they are gorgeous , look like a museum piece
Character and then you call it horrible! LOL
Ya, I have called these nightmares.
Nah, please don't take my comments the wrong way - compared to the super expensive tech laden bikes I normally ride (BMW GS, Ducati Panigale) the RE is in another world....but one which I really liked and I would be very happy to add one of these to my bike "collection" - thanks for watching Rahul - I'm honoured to have you along!
Don't worry, you should see this... th-cam.com/video/Wz943dB-qsw/w-d-xo.html
Haha, not a fan of the GT then! That speedo was hilarious....
In India, speaking truth about Royal Enfield means insulting a blind religion in a religious country. It gets me a lot of hatred, but... truth must be spoken without suger coating. Now, for Character, I would go to the V-twins.
oh dear, don't get me started! :0)
I am a Brit living in the Philippines, I have three Enfields this Classic a Bullet and a GT, love them all. The Classic we use most for touring this wonderful country, the GT for a bit of fun and the Bullet just a bit of nostalgia! Great bikes.
If you were to get only one...between the classic and the bullet which would it be?
@@vivekkumar-uh3lg The Classic has better brakes, and a bit more power so must be the Classic.
@@brucenichols9153 Thanks for the speedy reply.
We are not allowed to use the battle green edition here cause the army uses it.
Booking a Chrome classic this week.
@@vivekkumar-uh3lg A good choice, look after it and it will never let you down. What country do you you live in?
@@brucenichols9153 India. :)
It is a beautiful looking bike,but I’d have to step up to the Interceptor for the additional power.Can’t wait to give one a go.Thanks TMF!👍
This was the first “big bike” I ever rode :) lovely machine.
The VFR800 vtec I followed it up with was a surprise to say the least 😅
I bet - chalk n cheese eh!?
@@TheMissendenFlyer Just a bit! That kick at 7 and a half thou surprised me!
Class! I hope the EPA doesn't cause them to become un affordable. Having the title of the longest production run of any cycle model, they should be exempt from EPA demands!!
+Martin Cvitkovich Agreed! Thanks for watching - TMF
Nice review and the bike looks fine. An old codger like me thinks the gear change is on the wrong side but still looks like fun.
Loved your review! 👍🏻
I ride an desert storm 500 EFI & I couldn't agree more with your review.
It is proper motorcycling, fun and yes carries character.
Glad we concur Rohit!
Only a decade ago no one would have predicted that Royal Enfield would make some of the most amazing looking bikes on sale.
Incredible value as well.
Indeed!
I really love the traditional British looks of the Enfield. The single cylinder engine with the pipe sounds great. My worry here in the states is proper service and repair. As noted elsewhere, they are not big sellers in the US. I have heard there were reliability issues with the bike. I am a poor mechanic. The closest dealer is 30+ miles away. Perhaps the Himalayan...
Any vehicle with poor after sales and service availability, is gonna be bad for the vehicle but not bad about the vehicle
Harley Davidsons have been affected india due to poor after sales and service availability.... But Harleys are good in themselves, aren't they?
I love my first bike - a Suzuki TU250 - for the same reasons. It's almost a copy of the old Triumph Tiger Cub and has the basic modern conveniences - elecy start, disc front stopper. It's wonderfully light and flickable and, at 80 mpg, is a wonderful shopping bike.
Cheers Andrew....
Bought the Tan 500 Classic from Steve at Watford back inNovember. Absolutely love it and now it's a thousand miles in it's really starting to loosen up. Don't believe the hype about the instability and vibration at motorway speeds, yes there will always be vibes but I can sit at 75 on mine for 30 mins, solid as a rock and without making my hands go numb. Good review :-)
Cheers AJH - Glad you're getting on well with yours, great fun machines....but I'll stick with my GS for the motorways ;0)
There's a royal Enfield dealer near me. Always fancied one of their continental cafe racers. Looks like something fun to have a bimble around on a sunny afternoon.
Absolutely - bit of an interesting ride but well worth checking out - a lot of fun for the money....
I was a little disappointed you didn't use the kick start ! That chrome looks real good but what a pain when it's time for a cleaning .
...yes I can't believe I didn't either, when I got home I could have slapped myself...I think I was a little scared I would never get it going again!! ...actually I think polishing up that chrome would be a large part of the (rather sad) joy of ownership for me....
I was waiting for that too - kerplunk, twist, twist - that's the time honoured method. I rode oneof these a while back and agree with everything you say. Good review chap and if you want to start that classic wardrobe, I have my original Gold Top Trophy race boots, bought in 1968 for the princely sum of £6! Size 10 so you can get a pair of seaboot socks on with em.
I have been down that dealers a few times, very nice chaps and just round the corner from me.......will pop in and see if I can have a go on one, am quite surprised how much you liked it......i think you was as well....nice review as always 👍🏻
Yes I was pleasantly surprised - I went in with very low expectations but had a ball. These machines take some getting used too, they are nothing like "modern" bikes to ride, but once you get the hang of the spongy controls and lacklustre performance the real fun of back to basics motorcycling shines through....huge grin factor. I'd love one....
TheMissendenFlyer do,you have room for another one in the man cave 😬😳
Always room for one more...