I always complain that there are so few choices here between the Rebel/VStar 250 "learner" bikes and something larger - as in, you need to go much, much larger. The 500 cc Royal Enfield has only recently become available in California and had I known about it I might have looked at one.
Fuel injected and single cylinder like the CBR but cruiser style and a little more weight (412 pounds). Claimed fuel economy is 85 mpg US probably because the riding style is slower than the CBR.
Anyone know anyone with one of these? They're made in India and I know we have a lot of Indian members here. There's very little info out about them; I can't even find a full spec sheet, even from the manufacturer (seat height?). They claim very low maintenance. Belt driven I believe.
In India, these cost about 3000$, marginally cheaper than the CBR which is about 300$ or so more.
Enfield maintains a higher level of workmanship with the bikes they export and that may account very slightly for the difference in cost (anti pollution requirements are pretty similar to Ca standards), as to whether the 100% markup is justified, though, you'll have to decide. From the standpoint of support, parts for this bike are the most difficult to get as compared to it's siblings, though this varies from market to market, so I really cannot comment about parts availability in your dealer.
The CBR simply licks it in all performance aspects, and by a pretty large margin at that. If you ride a CBR like an enfield, you'll probably get better economy as well. Maintenance - there is no doubt that the CL500 with fuel injection and a unitary construction engine is far superior - to other enfields. Unfortunately, if ridden even with the least bit of aggression, the enfields are the most maintenance intensive bikes in India, with problems ranging from fried clutch plates to bent valves and failed main bearings.
You won't get belt final drive, you'll get a chain. Though you can easily get an O ring chain, the OE will not have any. (
http://classicspareparts.com/new-heavy-duty-royal-enfield-rear-chain-rolon-112212.html)
Bottomline: You want an "affordable classic" to ride around in slowly and don't mind watching everything on the road fill up your mirrors and move ahead, love it when people ignore bikes costing twice as much to swoon over that pretty bike you have, and are prepared to spend a lot of time doing things like polishing chrome bits and maintenance which the manufacturer could have made easier but did not bother to, this bike is for you.
If you need something for your fast daily commute, prefer something which handles and brakes sharply and requires only oil water and filter changes at infrequent intervals by way of maintenance....just what do you expect from a vintage bike, which was mediocre even in it's day half a century ago?
