Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

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Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

To say how the bike is to ride with pillion, you have to take the test ride and find out for yourself. Take big test ride and see how you can manage it in traffic, most of your question will be answered.

Regarding FE, yes it can give 40+ on average if you include weekend rides. The bike doesn't give much problem at least for an year and post that it may have some minor issues like switches not working, bulbs fusing, etc which can be easily fixed by a mechanic. Note that even though it offers a very good ride, it is not a totally trouble free bike like Honda, etc.

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

I guess it meets all your requirements, . . I think you might find it initially heavy in traffic conditions initially but once you get the old of it, you can ride easily but you can't zip zap like other bikes and I have ridden my 2-3 frnds CL350 and found it easy riding. . . I think as you are planning for a 350cc, why don't you see the Electra, it's said by many that Electra have little less maintenance compared to CL350 and most importantly take a test ride. . .

Cheers!!!

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

I took the test ride of both classic and electra. Both are good, but in electra the only thing i dont like is the rear tyre.
That is the only reason i am more interested for classic. And for TB i dont like it..(personal opinion:Its more a cruse bike, not a bullet type..)

With minor issues like you have mentioned, i am ok with it.. But i dont need any major issues down the line. And with time, i heard that the body get rusty and get damaged.
If it happens, then it will be a huge dissapointment. Now i am going for a new bike because i want it for long term, atleast for 10 years. I have to take a wise decision now for getting a new bike, so that after few years i'll not regret on my buy..!!

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Thanks for your suggestion. But as i have already mentioned in my previous replies, i dont like the rear tyre of electra, it looks like a 100cc bike tyre. Apart for that, every thing is ok in electra. I dont have any issues with the maintenance, but i dont want regular problems and issues with the bike. Maintenance is a different thing and a bike having troubles and issues in regulat time is a complete different thing.

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Ok, looks like you are in for the bullet. I feel the bullets are now free of major issues because of the new UCE engine. But if you want ease of handling and pillion then Electra is better than Classic. There are many Electra owners who love the city rides and use it for daily commuting. But if you are after Classic looks then you have to just go for it.

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

That sure looks skinny but I think you can do an upgrade after you get that. . . Personally, this is what my friend said when I asked him how is the bullet. . . He said "if you are going to ride a bike for a really long time then get the bullet, you will be really happy with it" I think that's the answer for your queries about it's long term. . . About the rust and other things, any bike is going to rust if not used. . . So as long as you use it and maintain it properly, worry about nothing. . . JUST RIDE. . .

Cheers!!!

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

+1 to Electra with tyre upgrades. It seems more sensible choice than Classic for your requirement.

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

I own RE classic 350 and have completed 8.5K till date

I need comfortable seating position for both rider and pillion seat --
Can't comment enough on this as to be honest I have never felt till date it's seat to be uncomfortable. The maximum KMS in a day I have done on it is around 250 and I did not find it to be uncomfortable neither my wife complained about the pillion seat ever. Well my daily commute is mostly in traffic and out of 8.5K 70-75% is done in traffic and never felt it to be uncomfortable. Well since I have not done long trip like 500+ on it hence cannot comment enough as I said before

Weekly 5 days i have to travel in traffic, so is it good in traffic condition --
Absolutely very good in traffic. The weight is only felt when bike is stand still or when you are pulling/pushing it. Once on roll you would not feel the weight at all instead the bike feels to be so planted and grounded and easy to maneuver. The turning radius is quite less so can easily manage through zig-zag traffic. The bike always feels so much in control. I would give 9.5/10 at least in this case, at least for me.

Expected FE: 40+ --

Your expectation is quite low If properly driven, no rash driving, sudden acceleration and sudden braking then expect FE of 37-40 in city and 45-47 on highways. Nothing to worry here. Being a 350cc bike the mileage is really appreciable.

What about the maintenance cost of the bike..

And the most important things is that, i have heard from many people that down the line many problem arises in this bike. Is it true..?? --

I have completed 8.5K and the only issue (actually no issue as such) I faced is, at 6K the clutch cable broke, easily replaced, cost 100 rupees and rear brake shoe replaced at 7K which is quite normal for drum brakes (especially for this much heavy bike), cost 230 rupees . Apart from that just normal servicing and maintenance. The new Bullet engine is really problem free to great extent. My bike is going really great and I have not under gone any part replacement apart from the parts mentioned above. No problems till date

Bullets are really long lasting bikes that's why we see the 1960-1970s model still running on the roads though they must have had their share of maintenance (which is quite normal). Bullets are mile munchers but apart from all that I must tell you it is seriously addictive bike, the feel you get on Bullet is unmatched. PERIOD

If you have anymore queries/concerns/questions feel free to throw and would try to answer to the best of my knowledge and experience

Cheers

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There is nothing as such a differentiating factor which makes Electra less maintenance demanding than Classic It is really amazing how people fall into such conclusions (not to you but whoever said). Both have the same engine, same gearing, everything same except the aesthetics, body and the tire. Yes but I agree seating is a bit more comfortable on Electra on looooong rides

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

You are right with all the said things above,
1. Comfort YES. . .
2. Maneuvering Yes, I too didn't feel the bike heavy while riding and I was able to easily ride it, zig zag in traffic, can't comment much about that cos we don't have so much traffic here . .
3. Fuel efficiency Once again, YES. . .
4. Maintenance mmmmh compared to the previous bullets, as you said the old ones, these have less maintenance. . .

which you said no difference between Electra and Classic, those words are said by my friends and many who I have enquired about, not just my personal opinion cos I don't own either of the two bikes and seating wise, bullets are definitely way way way more comfortable and no doubt about that. . .

Cheers!!!

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Lastly about the FEEL OF BULLET PART, definitely YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS there's no other bike which gives you that feel of a Bullet, I really love and enjoy riding it whenever my friend comes, it's simply awesome. . .

Cheers!!!

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Yes new Bullets are by all practical purposes are maintenance free bikes to a great extent. Look at my case 8.5K completed and just a brake show and clutch cable change, which is quite normal for any bike. Apart from that nothing, just the periodic servicing and weekend cleaning which I love to do, I love to spend time with my Bull

Regarding Electra and Classic, that's what I said, it is not you but whoever said.. There is no difference in maintenance. I don't understand how it could be different as internally both are ditto same. It is just the looks, body, tires seat etc which is different.

BTW thank you for striking the chord with me on the points

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Mention not bro and yep I have many of my friends who have Bullets and almost all have nil complaints about their rides, that's because it caries the same classic technique used even today and the sound, Wooo makes everyone turn their heads and wishing you congrats lately for your CL350 (BULL), enjoy riding it. . .

Cheers!!!

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Thanks a lot friend.

Yes I agree this addictive sound is one major reason which keeps inviting me to ride the Bull more and more, how much ever I ride the greed is not getting over Never ever felt the same with the bikes I had owned in the past .

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!


gyan_recl350 and others please share some gyan.

Does the classic 350/500 and other models come with the extra long silencer as a standard equipment, is there any way one can swap it with the upswept ones or are there any other options apart from these two silencers?
I am hearing a lot about short bottle silencers, what exactly are they talking about and are they still available (new ones) from the authorised dealer?
Are Goldstar silencers after market ones?

Also please comment which one sounds the sweetest?

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Hmmm that's a hell lot of question in quite few lines and that too on a Bulleteers most favourite part of the bike "The Silencer"

Ok here it goes..

On the new bike the long silencer comes as stock fitting. If at the time of the delivery you want it to be replaced by up-swept one then you need to pay extra for the up-swept silencer as it is not like that if you don't need long silencer take the up-swept one No options.

Now apart from the long silencer and the up-swept one every other silencer you see is a aftermarket one. RE does not manufacture any other silencers.

Now what is short bottle silencers... There are many types of short bottle silencers but the fundamental thing here is the shape of all would be bottled shape.. pipe at the starting which connects to the bent pipe then a bottled shape structure (here where all the sound chemistry happens) and then again the pipe at the end.

Now depending upon the internal structure at this bottled part the sound varies. You can easily get short bottle silencers as there are hell lot of manufacturers for that ranging from some renowned ones to the local mechanics as well who makes short bottle based upon your requirement

Yes Goldstar silencers are aftermarket.

If you have any questions regarding the silencers then probably you are taking GYAN from the right person as Bullet bug bit me that is one thing but bit me harder the Bullet sound bug