new article on the c5

[motorat]

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/03/md-double-take-2012-royal-enfield-classic-c5/

i thought it was a good read...
nice positive article on the RE.

[gremlin]

"  In the long run it’s cheaper than Prozac. "

+1

[barenekd]

Good read, but I had to tell those guys in a few words what I thought in the comment section. Not so much the article, but the other comments. Some people just don't get it, which is understandable since they weren't raised on these

[TWinOKC]

Bare, you make me laugh.  +1 
"And any one with a 250 or other scooter who thinks they can outrun me in my playground, bring it on!"

These bikes are not for everyone, personally I think they are fun to ride.

[ace.cafe]

The article was a good one, which put some emphasis on the intangible benefits of the bike, in light of its history and retro nature.

It's apparent from the reader comments that there are some people who "get it" and some who never will.

Thank goodness for variety.

[Ducati Scotty]

Yes.  I agree that for the price it's easy to find many other options that "outperform" it by the numbers.  What we like about it isn't in the numbers.

Scott

[Royalista]

The first article made a promising start, then lost it somehow in inconsistencies. The second, disappointingly more old wine in a not so new bag. What would barenekd say to this, I thought, and lo and behold: there it came, highly needed.

A toast to the Canyon Carver, his rims are shod with roadrunners that shame the wiley's.

Man, you can ride these bikes like hell, in the streets and in the woods. But is it realistically possible for a motor journalist to admit this, more so write so? Well yes, one can cruise on it too, if you're in the mood for that or per se want to. RE has it both ways, we can have it both ways. How cool is that?

[Portland Bullet]

"Vibration? It’s a single. Freeway cruising is pleasant. This is no speedster: an indicated 60-65 is its comfort zone, an estimated  4000-ish rpm. You could thrash it to go faster, but why? The RSPCM (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Motorcycles) would object and yank your license."

Those comments seem to me true to the bike, being both realistic and generous, and well in line with much of the commentary on this site on the tender subject of freeway riding. Fun article. Thank you for sharing!

[Royalista]

Ah, sweet sound of Saruman.

The digest of both articles, the second more so than the first, is that the bullet is to be ridden at a sedate pace, humming mythic mantra's while in a purple haze.
Of course it can, I do at times if I feel like, so could you.
But that ain't the Bullet, no sir.

It is conceived and built to operate on roads that don't survive a winter, to go against the harshest nature can throw at it, to climb the highest mountains in the world, loaded to capacity, with no complaints. To throttle on while you gasp for breath.

Made Like A Gun, remember?
Rides Like A Bullet, remember?
 

[barenekd]

I haven't averaged 70 mpg by flogging the hell outta mine. You can go pretty fast through the twisties without resorting to horsepower! I spend most a ride in 5th gear. Plenty of torque!
That's why Jack and I say, it's a lot more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow!
Bare

[Gypsyjon]

Yes.  I agree that for the price it's easy to find many other options that "outperform" it by the numbers.  What we like about it isn't in the numbers.

Scott

+1

[hillntx]

It is conceived and built to operate on roads that don't survive a winter, to go against the harshest nature can throw at it, to climb the highest mountains in the world, loaded to capacity, with no complaints. To throttle on while you gasp for breath.

Great comment!  In the US we look at these bikes as a cute, low power, nostalgia rides that gets lots of looks when going down the road or stopping for coffee.  However, the reality is this is the latest generation of a bike that for the last 50 years has been going all over the streets, dirt roads, mountain passes, rugged terrain and river crossings of India loaded with as much as they could carry "because they can".

[no bs]

cool review, and i also have had other, "better, faster" bikes. but they did not have soul!

[squire]

Here's a link to another brief review, sorry if it's been posted previously.

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/1212_crup_2012_royal_enfield_bullet_c5_chrome/

[The_Rigger]

Best. Line. Ever...

"Sure it’s slower than the speed of smell, but it’s a hoot to ride, and the more I get to know it, the better I like it."