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Post by milkman on Jun 13, 2007 16:38:17 GMT -5
......and the owner, John, is the NSW dealer for Royal Enfield.
I was admiring a new Bullet classic, gloss black, with the regular seat, all ready for a customer pick up.
"They're nice aren't they, one day...." I think to myself.
John mentions the new owner is picking it up today. He's 86 and wants to own a brand new motorbike.
86. A lot of older riders are getting back into Enfields as they're simple and resemble the bikes the grew up with.
"Is he getting back into riding?"
"Nah, he just wanted a new bike with an electric start"
"What was he riding before"
"A Matchless, he said he was getting tired"
What a champion, 500 thumper fan through and through, still kicking up to 86.
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Post by milkman on Jun 13, 2007 16:44:31 GMT -5
Just re-read that......
I mean still kicking motorbikes up till 86.
He's very truly, still "kicking" in the living sense, hopefullywell beyond 86
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Post by hopwheels on Jun 13, 2007 20:17:38 GMT -5
Man... that is great. Hope that's in the cards for all us gents...
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Post by canucksr on Jun 13, 2007 23:42:01 GMT -5
I worked in a bike shop in the early eighties and a 60 year old guy who only had a right arm bought a new Yamaha Maxim 650. All the controls from the left were put on the right side. Front brake with his thumb, and clutch with his four fingers. He clamped his fake left hand on the left grip. The staff at the shop were very impressed with this guys determination to "RIDE"
But 86 yrs. old and still riding? That's cool...hope we all make it. I saw a newer Enfield at a bike show in Toronto, Ontario a couple of years ago. I think the guy said that a company in India bought the rights to the "Enfield" name and was producing a copy of a fifties Enfield.
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Post by davedunsboro on Jun 14, 2007 6:05:46 GMT -5
Thats a good story I just hope I'm still breathing at 86 riding a bike will be a real bonus for sure ? I saw an Enfield Electra on a Salvo toy run in December after admiring it from a distance then I took a close look & it had some bad oil leaks at 1500ks . So the manufacturers gasket technology isn't up to scratch & they leak like they did years ago . Give me a SR anyday cheers from Dave.
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Post by milkman on Jun 14, 2007 16:21:10 GMT -5
The new Enfield basically has two models, the Classic, and the Electra.
Up until 2002-04 they were still almost identical to the 1950's machines, still being spat out from the Indian factory. The Indian Government kept them going after every other British bike factory was closed down, as they army and police loved them over there (have a look at how many people are riding them around the Himalayas). Also there weren't as many cheap, functioning, Chinese knock offs then.
The factory has apparently been upgraded significantly since then.
The Classic has the drum brake front, cast barrel, pistons etc, and a vintage style tyre
The Electra has a disk front, lean burn aluminum engine and comes with a more modern tyre as standard.
A lot of blokes are buying them up for classic racing, as you're allowed to buy a "new" bike and take it racing, as they haven't changed since the 50's
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Post by canucksr on Jun 14, 2007 23:33:19 GMT -5
I found the Royal Enfield website and they make some neat bikes. Only eighteen horsepower though. Someone needs to produce modern Manx Nortons...Now that would be something!!!
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Post by davedunsboro on Jun 15, 2007 7:38:24 GMT -5
I'm still not a fan of these bikes , oil leaks to boot & underpowered for an extra bonus . I think for the money a Hyosoung 650GTR would be a better buy and I'm no fan of them either , but at least they go and handle OK & a very simple twin . I recon if you want classic seek & you will find . There was a Matchless 500 single in the Sunday times(its been in for 3 weeks) $7000AUS so youd probably get it for 6 , much better cheers from Dave.
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Post by mattb on Jun 26, 2007 5:11:54 GMT -5
That's a great post! - I think I'll email it to some friends.
I was bike shopping up until a month ago, and I looked seriously at buying a cheap Enfield Electra I'd come across. So I took one for a test-ride. They're fun in a quirky way, but dangerously under-powered for today's conditions (esp if your bike is your only transport), such that I'd only want one as a second bike for odd sunny afternoons...but then as Dave said, if that's its job, why not get the original thing.
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Post by milkman on Jun 26, 2007 9:00:27 GMT -5
Along the lines of amazing rider stories and the above mentioned rider withut an arm, have any Aussies seen the latest Two Wheels?
There's a fella who had his right arm severed in an accident above the elbow.
He's still riding, first bike he modified was a new ducati 999. Throttle on the left, clutch where it normally is, and brake in front of it. He doesn't wear a prosthetic, just rides one armed, has the other arm on his leathers cut off and stitched off.
Also has a Husaberg 600 super moto, another KTM 125 2 stroke, some 250 and an 1100.
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Post by marlon on Jun 26, 2007 10:57:58 GMT -5
Canucksr, norton were almost back in business very recently.... you can view their prototype sportsbike here... www.nortonmotorcycles.comThat is absolutely stunning, without doubt. I can understand the attraction of the Royal Enfields - but at around 8,500 plus ORC, I think it was worth the extra thousand for a new SR400. But there is something about them. I'd probably go the electra myself! |
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