Categories: AmazonBack In The DayBajaDream BikeJoe GreshRoyal Enfield

18 again!

Gresh left New Mexico headed for Los Angeles early this morning. What’s that white stuff?

Imagine you’re an old fart like Gresh and suddenly you could be again 18 years old again. That’s kind of what happened to me just a short while ago. Now, old Joe Gresh, he’s inbound from the Sacramento Mountains (don’t let the name fool you) in New Mexico, the Tinfiny Ranch, headed here. The guy wanted to make the drive in one day in order to be staged for our run into Baja tomorrow. Hey, that’s okay. It’s going to be warmer where we’re going.

Anyway, back to that 18-years-old-thing again. That’s what I want to be. 18 years old. And while I’m dreaming, throw in a new 1966 650cc, made-in-England, Triumph Bonneville, but let’s add electric start, six speeds, disc brakes, and a flawless finish. That’s my dream.

Only it’s not a dream. That’s where I am right now.

The bike is a new Royal Enfield Interceptor. It’s a 650. The styling is perfect, right down to the big tach and speedo that almost say “Smiths” (if I have to explain that, you wouldn’t understand). It’s made in India instead of England (hey, the current Triumph Bonnevilles are made in Thailand). My take? This new motorcycle has out-Triumphed Triumph in being more faithful to the original layout, displacement, and feel of the ’66 Bonneville I’ve lusted after for years. But with lots more refinement.

A brand new Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor in my driveway. It’s my ride for the next 10 days or so.

For my good buddy Orlando: See, it’s orange…the fastest color!

You can almost see where it says Smiths. This, folks, is what motorcycle instruments should look like!

Want to read another strong statement? On my 25-mile ride home from So Cal Moto in Brea, where I picked up the Royal Enfield, I decided I’m going to buy one. Oh, I’ll find some nits to pick over the next 2000 BajaBound miles and I’ll share them with you here, but this bike answers the mail. And the price? Well, a new Triumph Bonneville cost $1320 in 1966. I know, because my Dad bought one. A new Royal Enfield is $5799, I think. If you take that 1966 $1320 figure and adjust it for inflation to 2019, it comes out to $10,298. Buy a new Enfield 650 and you’ve already saved $4500. That’s the argument I’m going to use with She Who Must Be Obeyed. I think it will work, too.

I’m going to break our rule and post more than one blog today. We are living in exciting times, my friends, and I can’t wait to share the excitement with you. The 500cc Bullet is about 45 minutes out (it’s being delivered from the RE dealer in Glendale) and I’ll post an update about that later today, too!

I can’t wait to get on the road tomorrow.

Stay tuned, and hey, sign up for our automatic email blog updates!

Joe Berk