Re: Modifying the Classic 500

Hello People,

I am Diwakar. I am new to this forum and have been constantly reading various forum posts about reviews and user experiences. I feel happy to be part of such an enthusiastic and like minded group of people on this forum. I am sure I would be equally benefited and would try to contribute as much as I can and my knowledge permits

I am from Chennai and have recently booked myself a Royal Enfield Classic 500 (Desert Storm). Currently I own a Honda Unicorn 150cc which is absolutely awesome in its performance and riding. Have clocked 25000Km and plus in the past three years.

Planning to upgrade my ride to Classic 500 with an intention of touring and as everybody knows the sheer power and torque the bike has. Not only that but the brand itself speaks for its heritage and sustenance in the India and overseas market in the past and years to come.

I have booked Classic 500 from the Chennai Adyar Brand showroom. Booking date 08/03/2014. I have been quoted 3 to 4 months (90 days is what they have written on my booking invoice )

Initially I was confused between TBTS 350 and Classic 500. What can I say when I went to the showroom for a test ride they did not have the TBTS350 to offer me for a test ride and only had TBTS 500, OK..that's good is what I thought. Test drove the TBTS 500 and was feeling relatively ok...but not excited for some reason and then as everybody does...did a mistake of asking the test drive of Classic 500 and was blown out with the amount of torque and power it had...a slight turn of the throttle and the bike was flying and I was trying to make up to it......an experience from a person who has always been driving a 150cc bike with lesser torque.

What else then I did not even think for a second and put my money on Desert Storm.

Oh! and one more thing maybe many of you already know this....but this is what I was told at the showroom.......Classic 500 does not come in any other color except Black and Desert Storm. Been told that the production for Classic 500 Royal Maroon and Green has been stopped. Has anybody recently booked Classic 500 and heard such thing. Please confirm.

I would request all petrolheads to please share your valuable feedback, suggestions or any sort of tips you think might be helpful to prepare myself for the future ride.

Thanks.

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Hi [MENTION=68776]unstoppable[/MENTION] diwakar, welcome to xbhp, and welcome to the bullet gang! this news about c5 available only in black and ds is really strange to me.. Did they say that even the classic Chrome has been stopped?
Let me know If possible.. I'm curious.
Meanwhile, Happy waiting! In this time maybe you can equip or renew your riding gear.
Ride safe.
Cheers!

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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Thank you sidewinder for sharing your thoughts. Like you, the bird didn't attract me in its looks and handling. In fact I am new to RE family. So may be I would need sometime to acquaint the RE riding style. Also, regarding pillion seat I hope it would be far better than my current P 200 NS. My wife already learnt to adjust on P 200 NS pillion seat. However, I do not want her to do the same on DS 500. I don't do 1000kms a day, but I used to do ~500 kms a day. So would that be a pain in DS stock seat if you are riding around in south India for 4-5 days? Have you modified the seat setup ? Also, how does the stock tire perform? Also, is braking better in DS 500? I know TBTS has a rear disc too?

acquaticbullet: I currently have the gears I use with my 200NS. Might be I need to change my saddle bag to suit the RE!

Hi unstoppable: Me too booked a DS 500 on 5 March. Unfortunately here at Cochin RE, I was told a waiting period of 7-8 months! I currently ride a Pulsar 200 NS and I am desperate for more torque. Since 200 NS has adequate power, opting for RE 350 didn't make sense to me. So decided to go between TBTS 500/DS 500. I took a test ride of TBTS 500 and DS 500 - both were poles apart while riding (handling) even though the engine specs are same. However, I still had a confusion whether to go for TBTS since I would be riding with my wife as well. Fellow bulleteers here helped me out quickly and now I have finalized on DS 500!
Thanks everyone! I am very much excited!

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

I am so happy and thrilled to be part of this gang. Thanks very much Abhi.

As far as I have come to know about RE considers both the Desert Storm and Chrome as a separate variant, other than the usual available color. So Chrome is still available and not stopped as of now. Out of the regular colors yes maroon and green production has definitely stopped. I personally liked the maroon classic 500.....but in vain they were complete no no to my request. As said a new color is expected to be out in a month or so as told to me by the RE dealer, so need to check that out too.

But rustic Desert Storm is awesome for sure.

I have just bought my riding gear 10 days back....so getting comfortable with that as of now.....Thanks once again.

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Hey Srinath, Pulsar 200NS is definitely a super bike that caters to people who need more speed and also want to perform stunts. Maybe going in for a long drive of even 200km + the riding posture may not enable you to enjoy the ride much. But with DS 500, the riding posture is much straight when compared to the sports style sitting. And who does not know in an RE almost anything and everything is customizable and that includes the seat. Some find it comfortable and some don't. You can add more padding to it if you find otherwise.

Not sure much about the tires. But for the rear disk breaks in TBTS though they are very effective....but have heard more comments about them getting worn out or getting heated and being ineffective at times. Have also heard of ineffectiveness due to the disks being wet during the rains which does not much on the classic variant. Personal opinion: I test drove the TBTS 500 and 350 both and to my surprise the breaks were very ineffective even though I was pressing very hard, whereas on classic 500 the drum breaks were very effective. Again this is my personal opinion, others may have a different POV.


I guess the waiting period has been reduced overall for all the variants of RE due to the new plant picking up in production. I am sure your RE dealer wants to be on a safer side. I would suggest keeping a check on the backlog status every now and then. As said my invoice details 90 days so I expect something much before that If I am lucky enough

I too wonder the same .....

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

why are you against electra...?? any valid reasons..??
I am feeling bad because electra is in my radar from past some time and that is why I would like to know its disadvantages as compared to RE CL 350...

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

I'm not sure if my reasons are valid enough, but I'll try
Electra has lesser road grip than classic because weight is almost comparable between the two, but electra's ride height is greater. Which means, CG(centre of gravity/load point) is higher off the ground, greater cantilever loads, hence more suspension travel which means, lower road grip. That means, it's a tad dangerous to ride on road.
That's my experience and limited knowledge trying to piece things together.

Back story is I rode Electra, wasn't really comfortable. And if you notice, the handle bar is different than the classic (or was it just on the bike I test rode from show room? I'm not sure. Pardon me)
It's not like the classic, nor like the old machismo (I love machismo, BTW) it's, well different.
I'm not comfortable with those handles. But what kept nagging me was why did I feel unsafe? And that boring first paragraph is my explanation.

Not sure if it's legit or not, call me biased, But that's my view. And that's why I don't like Electra.


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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

I am novice when it comes to biking jargons however I have had fair share of riding and I would say that Electra is better in terms of handling. I rode Electra during uphill climb at chakrata tiger fall where the road is barely present and potholes are plenty. However I was maintaining speeds of ~50 - 60 Kmph. It was just due to the confidence on the bikes handling.

However to each his own. Riding style of each rider differs and hence his/her perspective.


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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

My point exactly. We all have different opinions according to what
Speaks to us.
Which is why I always say, "Ride em all once before booking an RE. Because a bullet is for lifetime. So you gotta choose something compatible with you because everything notwithstanding it's still a relation between the biker and his bike."
And every RE is an RE.
peace


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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Peace it is brother

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Well according to my riding experience electra feels more comfortable than classic. Electra's seat feels like a proper seat with good cushioning, better shape and as a result better comfort. Its riding posture also feels better to me because of different handle bar, seat and seat height or you can say it suits me better. Classic's seat didn't gave me that confidence and comfort which I was expecting. One thing which I dont like in Electra is its thin and skinny tires. Another thing which kinda irritates me is omission of fuel gauge in bullets which is a must as per today's standards. Mr. Lal should call a meeting with their engineers and designers to discuss this serious point. I think I am missing one more thing, a tachometer but I guess I am wishing a little too much.

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Srinath : Its any day better than the pillion seat on your NS . And to answer your questions :

1) No i have'nt modified my back seat, i mostly ride alone. Id gone to Kodaikanal last December with my girl, she was sitting on a small pillow. It worked for us.
2) The stock tyres are pretty good, as long as you don't plan on doing any hardcore off roading it will work fine.
3) The braking is pretty solid, i feel the back is more stable on the DS.

For the luggage do check out the Viaterra - Terraclaw.

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Guys,

Is anyone using the Pirelli MT90 100/90-19" .. can you tell me how much it costs?

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Thanks sidewinder. Yeah we do use the same idea now on NS while touring. Nice to hear that braking is solid and stable.
I currently use cramster colt saddlebag, but i am not sure if it would fit on classics. I believe viaterra claw would occupy the entire pillon seat. If that's the case I would need to switch to cramster itself.

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

[MENTION=36049]sidewinder[/MENTION] thanks man! but the worst case senario just became a reality.. screwed up my bore and piton head. They have given me an estimate of 17k and have asked 45 days time to repair it!

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[MENTION=36049]sidewinder[/MENTION] I have put Pirelli sport demon on the rear for my DS. It cost me around 5k in chennai.

Re: Royal Enfield Classic 500

Srinath :

Yes, the terraclaw takes up the back seat. Do check out the LEH. How much longer before you get your bike?

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Shri Ram: .. Sorry bro.. hope it gets sorted out.. Do ask around a bit before you trust your bike with the RE guys, i somehow don't trust their service.