Testing the 2005 Royal Enfield Bullet

(Page 2 of 2)

November/December 2005
By Motorcycle Classics staff 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Performance-wise, I’m slightly anxious at speeds above 50mph when compared with multi-cylinder counterparts (new and old). And with no fairing, it gets a wee windy.

RELATED CONTENT

So far, the only problem I'll account for is the stuck choke that caused some carb flooding. And the weak vent hoses off the carb seem puny and haphazardly tucked behind the air-filter compartment, awaiting unwanted mid-ride detachment. The shifting is also far from smooth — clunky at best and with widely spaced gearing, making frequent down shifting "part of the fun." So far no real tinkering, but the public response is that it can be a tinkerer.

Ric Anderson, associate editor: The cold, hard truth about our loaner is that I suspect the bored-out Yamaha YZ80 I started riding at age 11 might have been able to run with it — if not ahead of it — through the first three gears.

But so what? If you want to peel your eyelids back, go buy a GSXR. If you want a rolling conversation piece that also happens to be an affordable around-town bike, get a Bullet.

In Sturgis, the thing triggered more smiles and wide eyes than a Lionel set on Christmas morning. It turned plenty of heads on Main Street (except when competing with chicks in painted-on shirts, of course) and did it at a fraction of the cost of most of the bikes around it.

Does the Royal Enfield do anything particularly well? If you’re talking about modern standards for acceleration, braking and handling, the answer is not particularly. If you’re talking about making you and the people around you feel good, the answer is hell, yeah. The easygoing Enfield’s charm makes it exhilarating. Reliability issues and all, I have a feeling I’ll be sorry when it has to go back to the dealer.

Details

What: Motorcycle Classics' 2005 Royal Enfield Bullet test bike.
Who: Classic Motorworks1220B Fourth St. NWFairbuilt, MN 55021
www.enfieldmotorcycles.com

 

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Motorcycle Classics readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Motorcycle Classics?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Save $5 when you subscribe today!
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
 
The sound and the fury: celebrate the machines that changed the world! Subscribe to Motorcycle Classics today!

Motorcycle Classics is America's premier magazine for collectors and enthusiasts, dreamers and restorers, newcomers and life long motorheads who love the sound and the beauty of classic bikes. Every issue  delivers exciting and evocative articles and photographs of the most brilliant, unusual and popular motorcycles ever made!

Save Even More Money with our RALLY-RATE plan!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our RALLY-RATE automatic renewal savings plan. You save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Motorcycle Classics for only $24.95 (USA only).

Or, Bill Me Later and I'll pay just $29.95 for a one year subscription!