Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

Good to see this years old thread being brought to life with little kids getting all personal about an article written with a sense of humour. I don't kneed to quote them, they know who they are. Well, they knew they were being mocked about their life choices even when I had no clue who they are, so I am sure they will know who they are.

Coming to the rest of you who are possessed with that rare thing we call a brain these days, i agree with you RE has fanatics for fans. And i am sure there are reasons for it. The post was of course a humourous take on my inability to understand that reason. It is the same inability i have to understand religion. And clearly there are more religious fanatics than there are bullet buyers.

Clearly i don't like the bullet. I admit to that. It is a biased article. I admit to that too. But then it is me who wrote it. But it is a stupidity of Kardashianian proportion to assume i don't like the class of motorcycle bullet belongs to. I love, passionately, absolutely, teenager gilrily love Moto Guzi V7 or The Ducati GT 1000, especially the paul smart edition. Or even the Kawasaki w 800.

There are some days and some places i like even the bullet. But i don't understand why do they have to be so challenged. Someone while gargling on Bournvita remarked it is better to ride at 20 on an 80 year old bike than to do 80 on a 2 year old bike. But that is my point the bullet is not a vintage bike. People are buying it in 2013, yes it can be retro and carry the charm, but it can carry better suspension, mechanical parts, paint quality and lesser weight. And while they are at it, they can carry an extra cylinder also. I mean look at how long it took KTM to launch another variant and look at how long it has taken RE to come up with a cafe racer. My criticism and my jibes are not at people who ride these bikes, though i am perplexed by their choices, my questioning is towards the manufacturer. The same thing i have towards the munjals or even Honda.

I respect people who are saying it is a heart call rather than head. I get that bit. I get only that bit. It can only be a matter of choice of the heart because it is a suspension of logic and belief that makes you buy a bullet. It is a valid argument. A lot of times better than people doing the whole metal vs plastic debate.

I wrote this article a long time back. My friend who bought that electra, sold it off in 7 months, it wasn't for him. I rode the bike wanting to fall in love with it. No really. I wanted to be smitten by it. But i wasn't. Where i was smitten was somewhere between fotu la and kargil, where the roads were shitty and the bullet carrying so much was in its prime. I was at least 15 minutes behind. I was beaten fair and square. I respect that and will give it that. Any day. It is quite possibly the best bike to roam around in this country. To properly tour. The second best bike could be the karizma. I know that because i was on that behind the thumper.

Also, if you little twits are reading this, learn to accept the faults of your bike. Its shortcomings and its fair share of criticism. There are no perfect bikes. And if there are, bullet is lapped. And the way to unlap is not to scream at the guy who says you are running behind but to accept that and do something about it.

I would love to be convinced about buying a bullet one day. To coast at 70 and love it. I thought i would the day i sat on it and rode it. But i didn't. And that is why this article was written.

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

Thanks for acknowledging

Even though I love RE so much but hate Eicher motors for the quality and playing around with the emotions of RE lover as they know RE lover either would have it or would not have it at all. It is like Salman Khan fans, whatever he does it is hit among them they do not think much (hope I am not starting an altogether different war ) They have built upon the legacy that Royal Enfield had already created. Trust me this build quality and paint issues are very small ones and easily can be taken care but don't know what Eicher motors think, why can't they pay attention to it, not that they must not have been aware of it.

Well but I would admit the oil leaking issue is bygone now in the new UCE Bullets. Only the CI Bullets had the ownership of that issue and even the braking has been taken care really well, being such a heavy bike sudden braking is dangerous too so they have taken care braking issue really well as now it is sufficient but not sudden. The disc brakes are really welcome change except in standard 350, no disc brakes yet as that is the Bullet which has THE most emotional connection to all RE lover and they do not want it to be much advanced and the bike does manage panic braking really well, since the bike already been really stable and planted added with disc brakes does the job to the satisfactory level.

Not only that the hydraulic tappets does the oil circulation really well, due to unit construction design very minimal power loss, mileage improved but yes the thump did take a hit but then what you expect a RE to be.. ALL? Definitely not possible.

You want it torque generator but fast too, you want it to remain same but want it be advanced too, you want it reliable but want the old engine and design too, you want it to be mileage giver but want the same engine too, want it to touch 150 but don't want to compromise on the stroke length, you want it to be EURO IV standard but want the thump too then I would say you are asking way way too much and to an extent impossibility for under 2 lakh bike.

I must say Royal Enfield is one motorcycle any change to which does not go down well with it's user. Change is very reluctantly accepted but is it not that, somewhere that is one reason it has maintained it's identity. Is it not, because of that Royal Enfield holds a special place in the heart of RE lover and they become stubborn about it, they love it, they become emotional about it and they do not see it has just bike but more a companion, a companion which has many issues but somehow has a special place in the heart.
After all there has to be some reason that it has been more than 100 years and it is still surviving, there has to be some reason Bullet Standard 350 is the the bike which holds the world record of remaining in production for the longest duration (almost 55 years) despite all it's shortcoming.

The thump of RE would and could never recede away from any RE lover heart or may be from many non RE lover's too.
Long live Royal Enfield and may it remains in good hands (Uff I became emotional like a typical RE fan).

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

gyan_recl350 I am glad that You liked my post.

RE can never be ignored or go unnoticed, some may love it or some may hate it but not one can ignore it. There is a saying that which goes
I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.- Kurt Cobain

The niggling issue and oil leaks on an RE is due to the service personnel and not a quality issue. It would be really great if the Eicher motors changes their attitudes and treat REs and the owners well and provide quality service.

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

So aptly written man, nailed it so well.

Yes that is what we all Bullet lovers and Bulleteers have been trying to explain to others (actually we never try, they bump into us and provoke and ignite us to join this illogical comparison) that Royal Enfield is ALTOGETHER a different BREED and CLASS of motorcycle. You have it or you do not have it, when you have RE then I must admit (since not like my only dream in life was to own a RE or I always wanted an RE, actually at some point in life I hardly gave any fuss about it, sometimes even hated it, hardly cared about it) you would hardly settle for anything else apart from any other motorcycle from this family. It is seriously addictive motorcycle and comparing it with others is like comparing two non-comparable things. Now this might sound arrogant or ignorance to many but I am writing this straight from my heart, I am still searching reasons why I am madly (forget deeply) in love with RE.

Why this feeling never cemented its place in my heart when I had Hero Puch, a Baja boxer CT, a 200 CC Avenger, have rode R15 for good 3 years (since my roommate had it and we use to share our bikes more than regularly, I liked R15 but never loved it), rode Pulsar, fazer and some others. Why? Then there is something about Enfields else why it's user base is so adamant about it, why they become so emotional if any change happens to it, even a disc brake inclusion they do not welcome easily. Now they are all not retards or nerds or arrogant or ignorant for sure. Suddenly all RE users cannot loose their mind and brain in unison.

But off-course if someone push us to start this never ending war then definitely we have our logic and stand to prove.

So the bottom line, spare RE, spare RE lovers and for some reason unknown do not try to compare them with other motorcycles call it whatever, but certainly this serious addiction could never happen for some piece of crap (as forty9 described RE).

As in some other thread I have said no comparison, no complaints, no logic, no regrets, no reason....a pure love called....Bullet LOVE. PERIOD.

Peace please!!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Uff you stole my heart Hope you have not stolen my words as exactly same thing "there is no logic, no reasoning, no practicality involved when buying a Royal Enfield" I had written in a thread where we have to write about our first bikes and before posting this comment I have written the same thing in the reply to biker4life.
You really have understood a RE lover emotions and peeked into his/her heart

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

For me the Bull has always remained my arch nemesis. Regardless of whichever RE model i have tried it always breaks down!! And once it decides to break down in the middle of nowhere i guess most of us know what its like to push it till you reach a mech. But regardless, i agree with the Bull lovers, there is no logic, no reasoning, no practicality involved when buying a Royal Enfield.. It is pure form of love and passion for this brand and the brand assoication of carefree and life of an independent tourer associated with it. It is definitely a very stable tourer and yes the new gen bikes are 10 times better in terms of quality compared to the prehistoric dinosaurs of the past ...but still the maintenance and moody engine is a put off compared to the puny jap brands.

I can guaranty one thing, the day Royal Enfield is bought over by a Japanese motorcycle company and they handle the complete R&D, engine and build quality management, is the day i shall make a quick dash towards an enfield showroom and get myself one.

Until then.... Puny Japs are just fine by me..


Cheers,

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

I was not a great fan of bullet and never owned a bullet but recently I have developed a liking towards bullet and may be its because I am becoming mature over time. Fast bikes come and go but never wins the war against the time. Just like there are fast music and there are melodies music. Fast music just fades with time but a melodious music always has the same feel even when You listen to it several years later. Fast bikes just gives You an adrenaline rush but for how long is one going to enjoy that? One day when one wants to be away from this crazy fast moving world to enjoy life then he will enjoy cruising on a bullet. Riding a bullet is like a weekend in a remote spot close to the nature after a busy work schedule. Bullet is not designed to accelerate fast/ stop fast nor exit corners fast. Bulleteers don't claim it to have latest technology and they are not fascinated by achieving top speed figures nor they care about the lap timings and bullets are being loved for what they are. A bike doesn't have to be fast or doesn't have to be an innovation of modern technology to bring a smile on Your face. People complaining about bullet not being fast or not capable of doing fast corner please spare bullet and look for other options. I personally feel that non bulleteers bashing bullets is just a result of jealous feeling. Please do not compare a bullet with ultra- modern sophisticated superbikes, bullet begs to differ.


PS: This post is not a byproduct of fanboyism and its not from a bulleteer either. Just chill guys lets promote biking brotherhood and continue the healthy conversation.

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.


Correction my friend, barring the latest Thunderbirds that even have an updated suspension and swingarm (finally), rest of the bullets are hardly changed other than incorporating the UCE engine. The Classics are slightly different with an 18inch rear wheel and better tyres. The chassis and suspension is still the same of old which is pretty mediocre at best.

And no version of RE 500 so far (CI, AVL and UCE) can touch the speed of 140-145kph easily. According to the company, the 500cc tops out at 130kph which means around this speed the engine is at its limit. And even when it's a bloody UCE it is still not at ease when it's topping out. The noise from the engine and the whole vibration would dismantle even the most well built individual! You are lucky if your speedo can even show you 145kph.

But no doubt, the new bullets are overall better motorcycles and that's majorly or only because of the new engine.

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

You should have read this at least once and I would say before writing this you should have understood and digested well enough that when it comes to RE things does not move the same way as they move for other bikes. It is either head or tail, sometimes head and sometimes tail does not go down easily:

A must read for all RE lovers and CI fanatics. Probably this would give an insight on as how complex it is when it comes to any kind of fiddling with RE. The user base is so adamant and reluctant to any kind of change, they would never settle for anything less than what has been apparently stagnant for years "Any change to CI engine or CI Bullet". A lovely case study to read.
After completely reading this all CI die hard fans and fans caught between CI and UCE debate and probably the so called Bullet bashers would understand that RE has done a remarkable job with the UCE launch and not to forget the decision was tough and bold one and could have turned the table other way round as well resulting in big failure.
Pay special attention to the care RE took for the thump

Read below:

Re: Royal Enfield Tractor. A review.

Well appreciate your sense of humor. Well written.. I hope not caught in the wrong job . The write up is more funny than being logical. Why it appealed to many because it has touch of emotion (read frustration) and sense of belittling the Bullet than being unbiased and logical and comprehensive.

The question remains "Why only a non-bulleteer would start anti Bullet campaign? ". Do no see such things being started by any bulleteer.

I read each and every comment in this thread and came across few reply of yours which makes me believe you are more like a "can I bend my bike a little more at this corner" or "can the speedometer needle swap more angles from its initial point" and here you are bashing altogether a different style and class of motorcycle only to later sit calmly (read confused) with a sense of complacency and patting your back for the job well done, getting acknowledgement from many who always wanted to do this but somehow refrained or lacked this uncanny knack of belittling skill when the words tore apart the logic .

Miffed at Enfield, spread this camouflage of words.


I also see that this thread was posted around in the year 2010. Now first let me throw some questions to you:

For how many kms you rode your friend's Electra and were you not in a prejudice?
On what types of roads or no roads you rode your friend's Electra?

Well now the year is 2013. Lot of technological changes has happened in the Bullet. The 500 can touch 140-145 easily, the 350CC is easily home at 90 and can do 115-120. Chug along whole day at 80 on 350 and it would never cry for tea break.

Since you are so learned so you must be aware that all REs are long stroke bikes unlike Pulsar or majority in the market which are short stroke bikes so off-course you cannot expect immediate acceleration but the RPM at which it produces considerable amount of torque is absolutely non comparable and here where RE outscore many others dead flat. There is no need to rip it to generate the power. Well friend we can have long discussions on that if you wish so.

As far as the braking is concerned well I would again say now the year is 2013.

To start with, Lovely write up. now getting back to the argument that the post has generated, A guy who buys a bullet buys it just because he WANTS it, there is no particular reason or Logic behind it. Its one of those things in life which you love but dont have any specific reasons for it.. Well as i far as I go, it works for me like that, I just Love the bullet and still have not found a profound reason to why so....and to speak the truth i dont want to either..

Nice writeup Forty6. I love the sarcasm and wit.

I am a "bulleteer", "fanboy", or whatever other terms used here, which really don't matter to me. I would just want to say, I am that person who rather ride that 80-year-old bike at 20 kmph than ride the 2-year-old one at 200 kmph. It is a feeling that cannot really be put down in words. To sum it up, its all the imperfections in these ladies that make them perfect for me.

As for reliability, speed, handling, workhorse, well there was another bike and I can swear by it but I'd rather like to sit back and read the war of the words.

cheers

Nailed it perfectly

+1 to that

I agree with Nikhil prior to bullet i was a huge Yamaha fanatic and owned a RX-100, a YBX, a gladiator , drove pulsers and CBZ's too , I switched to bullet coz I wanted to experience that stately feel while riding on two wheels, yes its old tech, mechenically inferior to lot of bikes around but still the comfort and ride quality is unmatched and lastly we say leh laddakh is mecca for riders, but remember bullets were the first ones to be there