Snapshot!

So far I’m not meshing well with the 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet. I keep stalling the thing at stops and unless its pulling under load it hits and misses like a two stroke. Other times it runs flawlessly. Berk has ridden the thing and says it’s fine and that I don’t know how to ride a heavy flywheel, old fashioned motorcycle. Being the senior member of the Royal Enfield tour team he should know. Although, in my defense he stalled it twice. Berk is going to ride the 500cc single all day tomorrow and we will see if it’s me or the motorcycle.

The Bullet runs great on the highway, though, loping along at an easy 70 miles per hour. There is a bit of vibration but it seems like the faster you go the smoother it gets. I wound it up to 80-85 and it was remarkably smooth for an engine designed back when fuel was sold in one gallon tin cans at hardware stores.

Actually, that’s not true. This 500cc single is quite a bit different from the old 1950s Enfields. It’s unit construction for one. (Transmission and engine all in one case.)  It’s fuel injected and starts at the push of a button. Still, the Bullet wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if it was sent back in time to the Eisenhower era.

The Bullet gets astronomical gas mileage. Our freeway run from Los Angeles to San Diego netted 75 miles per gallon and I wasn’t sparing the throttle. On long uphill grades I’d whack her open in 5th gear and the Bullet would slowly gain speed, passing semi trucks like they were semi trucks.

I’ve only ridden the new 650cc twin around Tecate but what a sweet machine. It revs in a peppy, mouth-full-of-pop-rocks sort of way, the transmission is slick as a Yamaha’s and the steering is light. It lifts off the side stand easily and comes with a center stand. Mechanically, this motorcycle works.

I love the thing. I haven’t stared at it too long but I don’t see any glaring faults in the fit or finish. It fires up so fast and runs so smooth. The seat is long and seems comfortable, it’s almost like a Brat Bike seat except good-looking. The cropped front and rear fenders are adorable yet tough. How is that possible? Clutch pull is light and the action is perfect. Foot pegs are slightly back, the bars place you in a slight forward lean. The Royal Enfield 650 is a shiny orange piece of Moto-confection. If I wasn’t such a cheapskate I’d run out and buy one of the things.

Whoa…what am I saying? Buy a new motorcycle? I’m getting way over my head with this 650, let’s burn a few thousand miles into the odometer and see if I’m still madly in love with the Royal Enfield twin.

We’re off 2

We’re about to head off to Baja and if you would have asked me what new motorcycle I’d most like to ride I’da told you the new Royal Enfield 650cc twin.

A 650 twin is the perfect size motorcycle for any type riding you care to do. You can tour, scramble or bop around town like you own the joint.

Royal Enfield has nailed the styling on their (Interceptor?) and styling is 90% of a motor cycle for me. The other 52% is performance and we will see about that.

Berk has pulled rank and gets the first stint in the 650 relegating me to the 500cc Bullet single. Hey, that’s not a problem since I like singles more than twins.

Now, where can I strap that extra gas can in the Bullet?

The Bullet hits home!

Yours truly in my R Heroes workshirt with the Baja Bullet!

Things are coming together.  My good buddy Victor delivered the 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet this afternoon (hereafter to be referred to as the Baja Bullet), and it’s yet another wow-this-is-an-incredible motorcycle.   Jet black, pinstriped, aluminum engine, electric start, fuel injection, and a looooong-stroke 500 single.   That combination offers a riding experience that is uniquely satisfying, and it does so in an age when most motorcycles feel and run like a Cuisinart (not that there’s anything wrong with Cuisinarts, but you get the idea).  Nope, this is a motorcycle.  You know it as soon as you see it, but just in case you don’t pick up on the magic, you’ll know it for sure when the hammer drops and the Bullet comes alive .  You can literally feel every piston stroke going down the road, and that’s a good thing.  It’s a machine, a real motorcycle, and it feels like one.

Topping off at the local gasolina store…
Imagine that…a motorcycle with a motor you can see!
This is really, really cool…a beautiful motorcycle bound for Baja.  Jet black paint, silver pinstripes, polished aluminum.  What a life!

Like I said, things are coming together.   I’ve got my BajaBound insurance (wow, those guys make it easy).  Gresh texted me a couple of hours ago as he blew past Quartzite, which means he’ll probably be here in another 2 or 3 hours.  I was worried about who would ride which bike, but truth be told, I’m going to be a happy camper on either of these magnificent motorcycles.  Joe and I will be trading off bikes regularly, and you’ll get both our impressions.   Mine are overwhelmingly positive so far.

I’m 18 again.  I’m a little heavier and I have a lot less hair than I did when I was 18, but trust me on this…I’m 18 today.  I feel very British, which is odd, considering that the bikes are made in India, we’re in America, and we’re going to be riding in Mexico.   Globalization, I guess.  I sure am glad the Royal Enfield folks in India kept the Royal Enfield marque alive, not only in name and logo, but with that awesome Britbike feel.


More to come, folks.   Much more.  And hey, sign up for our email updates.  You just might win one of our moto adventure books. In the meantime, if you want to get a jump start on what it’s like riding in Baja, check out our Baja page!