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**sparky** · 02-13-2014, 10:48 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

[MENTION=68114]seeker[/MENTION], I think even if you book now getting the new bike before Aug will be a challenge unless the waiting period is around 3 months where you live. For touring it doesn't matter whether you have 350 or 500, both are fine and have no issue doing long tours and have same comfort level. The 500 has more torque which becomes evident when riding on steep gradients only. If you can spend more you can go for 500 else 350 will also perfectly suit your needs. And if you want to the Leh tour on new bike wait at least after the first service is done.

**petrolhead_chn** · 02-13-2014, 10:55 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by seeker View Post

Hello Friends,

Newbie here, just joined xBHP but have been following it for many years now.Taken the plunge finally.

Need advice from the experts here.

I am a bit confused between 500 and 350 models. Can't decide which one to go for. I currently own a Pulsar 150, been riding it for the past 13 years now, have completed more than 1L+ kms and thinking of upgrading to a bullet. This has been a long lasting dream by the way.

.

My current usage is around 15kms daily and weekend usages of approx 40-50kms. However i intend to do long trips on it and keen to take up the Leh circuit this year.

So the bottom line is which one 350cc or 500cc, looking at the classic series.

Also, the situation is that an acquaintance has a booking of CL350, delivery expected in March end-April. For 500cc I would have to wait out the waiting period and am not sure if i will get the delivery by Aug-Sep, thats when the Leh trip is planned. I also have an option of going for the used ones but not comfortable. Any advice on this front will also be helpful.

Please provide your inputs.

Cheers,

Sent from my A210 using xBhp Connect mobile app

If you prioritize you have the answer. If the circuit is more important then get the 350. Even if circuit is not important go for 350. I guess 500 is EFI. If you decide to go for used bulls you have options. I recently purchased a 2005 Electra CI. Good luck.

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**seeker** · 02-13-2014, 10:58 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Thanks [MENTION=34574]sparky[/MENTION]. In that case i would exercise the option of taking over the booking of the acquaintance as he is doubtful of buying it.

. The chap has bought a car now.

So if i take the delivery say in april, it would be on course to Leh right? Considering the ease off period and the service, cos i would get around 4 months time for the trip then.

Cheers,

Sent from my A210 using xBhp connect mobile app.

**gyan_recl350** · 02-13-2014, 11:11 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by seeker View Post

Thanks [MENTION=34574]sparky[/MENTION]. In that case i would exercise the option of taking over the booking of the acquaintance as he is doubtful of buying it.

. The chap has bought a car now.

So if i take the delivery say in april, it would be on course to Leh right? Considering the ease off period and the service, cos i would get around 4 months time for the trip then.

Cheers,

Sent from my A210 using xBhp connect mobile app.

Go for 350 would serve the purpose very well for you. 500 only if you ever wanted 500 and have plans to do all tours with pillion and lots of luggage, the torque is mesmerising for sure

. Go with your cusine's booking but I am not sure if the invoice can be transferred to your name and you would have the bull on your name. I guess you have to get the bike's ownership transferred to you later through RTO.

With 4 months of time you would pretty much be done with the second service as well and bike would have completed the running period.

BTW don't take test ride of 500 if going for 350

All the best

Sent from my X10i using xBhp Connect mobile app

**seeker** · 02-13-2014, 11:35 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by gyan_recl350 View Post

Go for 350 would serve the purpose very well for you. 500 only if you ever wanted 500 and have plans to do all tours with pillion and lots of luggage, the torque is mesmerising for sure

. Go with your cusine's booking but I am not sure if the invoice can be transferred to your name and you would have the bull on your name. I guess you have to get the bike's ownership transferred to you later through RTO.

With 4 months of time you would pretty much be done with the second service as well and bike would have completed the running period.

BTW don't take test ride of 500 if going for 350

All the best

Sent from my X10i using xBhp Connect mobile app

Thats a great tip! I will not take the test ride of CL500

. Will check that up, i thought it can be worked out by going to the RE showroom before taking the delivery. Having it transferred through the RTO later might be a bit of hassle, but not so much of a pain i guess.

Thanks!

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

Originally posted by petrolhead_chn View Post

If you prioritize you have the answer. If the circuit is more important then get the 350. Even if circuit is not important go for 350. I guess 500 is EFI. If you decide to go for used bulls you have options. I recently purchased a 2005 Electra CI. Good luck.

Sent via xBhp Connect

The circuit is, have been planning it since last year now, we were supposed to make it last year but couldn't work out because of a delayed project at work. Dont want to miss it this time. I guess will be opting for the 350 only.

On the used ones, i dont know how to be sure about the condition if it gets checked by a mech. And there are a lot of variations in prices offered. For e.g. there are a lot of listings from north, Delhi, etc. which quote quite a low price as compared to other areas, I wonder how and why.

There is an electra 5S in the complex where i stay, unused since a year now and is just lying around, I had an eye on it, but am not able to catch up with its owner to check. Thought of giving it a try as well. Let me try my luck.

Thanks!

Cheers.

**gyan_recl350** · 02-13-2014, 01:06 PM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by seeker View Post

Thats a great tip! I will not take the test ride of CL500

. Will check that up, i thought it can be worked out by going to the RE showroom before taking the delivery. Having it transferred through the RTO later might be a bit of hassle, but not so much of a pain i guess.

Thanks!

Well it depends. Like in my case they did not change the invoice at all how much ever I requested them. You can try. Getting the bike transferred through RTO is not a big pain though

**petrolhead_chn** · 02-14-2014, 04:10 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by seeker View Post

On the used ones, i dont know how to be sure about the condition if it gets checked by a mech. And there are a lot of variations in prices offered. For e.g. there are a lot of listings from north, Delhi, etc. which quote quite a low price as compared to other areas, I wonder how and why.

There is an electra 5S in the complex where i stay, unused since a year now and is just lying around, I had an eye on it, but am not able to catch up with its owner to check. Thought of giving it a try as well. Let me try my luck.

Thanks!

Cheers.

If you get the new 350 from your friend the registration certainly is an issue. Maybe you could register in your friend's name first and then transfer to your name which will make you second legal owner. Do it immediately. But again you will have to wait until engine break-in et all which is painful

As for 5s Electra, which year is it? Unused for a year sounds a little skeptical mate. Be very cautious if you have this option in mind.

Consider this...Bullets are owned only by bullet lovers and not by a daily commuter. Most motorcyclists of all ages go for other variants such as pulsar, duke, splendor, 200ns, fz and others in this category. Many who do not own a bullet think 'A Bullet' is heavy on pocket and has lot of glitches such as oil leaks etc.. What I'm saying is most of the used bullets up for sale in second hand market will be good as it is owned by a bulleter. Just a casual conversation with the owner of bike will help judge how the bull was taken care. Post purchase it is just that you need general servicing. Even if one purchases a bullet out of sheer ignorance or for sake of getting it, they will sell it out soon. If you are a 'Bulleteer' and know how to pick one go ahead. You have ample support in this thread. [MENTION=63513]gyan_recl350[/MENTION] is here to help

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**Satyamzma** · 02-14-2014, 12:17 PM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

hi friends

Booked a Electra in Jan 2014...I am confused between Electra & classic 350
which one is better for riding over bad ,bumpy roads .. pillion comfort is also important...
here waiting period for electra = 6months
classic= 8months

Thanks

**petrolhead_chn** · 02-14-2014, 02:29 PM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by Satyamzma View Post

hi friends

Booked a Electra in Jan 2014...I am confused between Electra & classic 350
which one is better for riding over bad ,bumpy roads .. pillion comfort is also important...
here waiting period for electra = 6months
classic= 8months

Thanks

Leaving aside the waiting period Electra is good. Lesser complaints, excellent design that suits all age groups and excellent handling. Pillion comfort is good too. I guess the mechanicals are almost similar across all variants of latest bullets but for the design. Good luck mate

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**seeker** · 02-14-2014, 02:47 PM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by gyan_recl350 View Post

Well it depends. Like in my case they did not change the invoice at all how much ever I requested them. You can try. Getting the bike transferred through RTO is not a big pain though

Will check it up. If the RE guys dont agree in that case i anyways dont have a choice but to go for the rto option. Lets c..i still have time till the next month to evaluate that.

Originally posted by petrolhead_chn View Post

If you get the new 350 from your friend the registration certainly is an issue. Maybe you could register in your friend's name first and then transfer to your name which will make you second legal owner. Do it immediately. But again you will have to wait until engine break-in et all which is painful

As for 5s Electra, which year is it? Unused for a year sounds a little skeptical mate. Be very cautious if you have this option in mind.

Consider this...Bullets are owned only by bullet lovers and not by a daily commuter. Most motorcyclists of all ages go for other variants such as pulsar, duke, splendor, 200ns, fz and others in this category. Many who do not own a bullet think 'A Bullet' is heavy on pocket and has lot of glitches such as oil leaks etc.. What I'm saying is most of the used bullets up for sale in second hand market will be good as it is owned by a bulleter. Just a casual conversation with the owner of bike will help judge how the bull was taken care. Post purchase it is just that you need general servicing. Even if one purchases a bullet out of sheer ignorance or for sake of getting it, they will sell it out soon. If you are a 'Bulleteer' and know how to pick one go ahead. You have ample support in this thread. [MENTION=63513]gyan_recl350[/MENTION] is here to help

Sent via xBhp Connect

I might as well need that help

. Am not a bulleteer yet a would be more of a kind..i lost that opprtunity long back when i was going for a bike,chose a pulsar instead then. I anyways intend to keep the pulsar as well for small commutes, bull would be used only for touring or when i want to show it off

. I think the person is of the second kind, he got it for the sake of getting it and then couldn't use it much. Also he keeps travelling a lot for work thats another reason why am not able to check with him yet. Will consider all options and take the plunge. I will anyway run it past you guys and also a local mech before buying it if at all i go for it. Lets c. Off for a vacation now and would be back by month end, would be looking to speak to him then only.

Thanks a lot guys!

Cheers,

Sent from my A210 using xBhp connect mobile app.

**gyan_recl350** · 02-14-2014, 03:36 PM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by Satyamzma View Post

hi friends

Booked a Electra in Jan 2014...I am confused between Electra & classic 350
which one is better for riding over bad ,bumpy roads .. pillion comfort is also important...
here waiting period for electra = 6months
classic= 8months

Thanks

Well looks can be completely subjective and apart from it the other parameters are below:

1. Cl350 and Electra350 share the same engine, same gearing ratios but the secondary gear ratio is different and rear tyre size is different. Now how does that makes a difference? Yes indeed it makes a different. When you extensively ride both you would come to know that the shorter secondary gear ratio and 19 inch tyre of Electra makes it a better commute for city rides. You would observe that compared to Classic Electra needs a bit less gear shifts as that shorter gear ratio makes a difference of around 5-7 Km/h reduction in speed for each gear. Example, in Classic to to shift from 3rd to 4th you should be minimum at 38-40km/h of speed whereas the same can be achieved in Electra at around 32-34 km/h of speed.
So that makes Electra a bit, a tad bit better in city rides. Highways it doesn't matter at all.

2. Since classic comes with 18 inch tyre at rear you would have many options when it comes to tyre change but in Electra the choices would be limited

3. Contrary to many, the pillion comfort in Electra is poor as the rider gets most of the share of the seat and for pillion not much is left and it is quite hard also. Telling you being a pillion on my Classic and friend's electra for good number of kms. The rider comfort is more in electra though.

4. At last I would say, issues wise there is nothing as such which makes electra less prone to it than classic. Both can have their share of issues and it completely depends upon the owner as how he/she rides and takes care of it.

You can go for anyone which you like and I must tell you that you would not loose anything great or bothering as such if you choose one over another. Purely what you want and like.

Do keep us updated

Cheers!!

**Satyamzma** · 02-15-2014, 11:42 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Thanks a lot Gyan & petrolhead..i will stick to Electra...will be getting it in jun

**gyan_recl350** · 02-16-2014, 03:23 PM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Originally posted by Satyamzma View Post

Thanks a lot Gyan & petrolhead..i will stick to Electra...will be getting it in jun

Welcome friend. Now the painful wait starts

Sent from my X10i using xBhp Connect mobile app

**Vikram Vijaykumar** · 02-17-2014, 01:38 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Hey friends I will be booking an RE bike soon. I have shortlisted two bikes one being RE classic 350 and the other one being the Thunderbird 350. Almost all of my friends insists that I should go for classic but I think Thunderbird is cool too.. I am 5'7 - 5'8.. 75kgs kindly suggest Me a bike of the two options I listed above.
I only commute in city 5-10 kms a day roughly..

**#jithu** · 02-17-2014, 02:21 AM

Re: Choosing a Royal Enfield? Ask here...

Go for thunderbird...I guess it suits your physique...but do test ride both the models and then decide..,something ll make you feel that it's my baby.I can bet you for sure you will start riding more than 10 kms once you start riding

happy thumping

''no matter who you are,where you are from,!!!!if you are a bulleteer, we are brothers:-)

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