Author Topic: How Much Will an RE Carry? And Will It cClimb a Mountain? (Read 5930 times)

NC Newbie · « **on:** July 20, 2008, 07:46:40 PM »

I am certain that these questions have been covered before, but please be patient since this is my first time on this forum.

My wife and I are considering the purchase of an RE, probably a 500 Deluxe. We are not “light-weight” people; will it haul over 400 combined lbs. of “us” around? What sustained highway speed can we anticipate with two aboard? How comfortable is this bike for two?

To head west from our home in Western North Carolina, we would have to climb a mountain on I-40 – no other choice besides one gravel road. How would such a bike perform climbing a 6-7% grade for about five miles with both on board? I know it wouldn’t maintain the 55 mph speed limit, but how much of an “obstacle” are we realistically apt to present to other traffic?

And is there anything else which you veterans can impart to a total tyro before he “takes the RE plunge”?

In other words, what questions have I not the good sense to ask?

Jeff Dreibus

Blue Ridge Wheeltor · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2008, 04:40:11 PM »

Jeff,
I assume you are considering buying from the dealer in Marion (seems like a good guy). I run about 220 and personally wouldn't take on Old Fart Mtn on 40 with a broken in Enfield, let alone a new one. Consider taking 70 to Bat cave Rd in Old Fart to Old Fart Rd to 9 in Black Mtn. Let the wife drive the cage.
There's another dealer in SC, called RD who seems like a good guy too and comes in a tad cheaper. I live in West Henderson County, and am equidistant between the two dealers (an hour and a half via cage).
I wouldn't ride a new bike from either distance. I have a trailer (6x10 for the Ural) that you can borrow if you have a tow vehicle. But honestly I wouldn't count on the Enfield carrying that much weight. Feel free to pm me.

cyrusb · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2008, 08:55:25 PM »

The owners manual states 365kg (803lbs) max load. If you subtract the bikes 187kg (411lbs) that leaves 392lbs for the riders. They also had the usual caveat "These values are for reference only" or something like that. They probably are good numbers though, it's got to get pretty edgy when you outweigh your bike.

NC Newbie · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2008, 08:28:03 AM »

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your most helpful input.

The solutions would then seem be:

1) to purchase two REs, one for each spouse;

2) to purchase one higher-capacity bike; or

3) to lose all of the weight we should not have gained in the first place.

We shall take all these options under careful consideration.

Jeff Dreibus

StL_Stadtroller · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2008, 10:04:14 AM »

how about all of the above?

Blue Ridge Wheeltor · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2008, 10:08:30 AM »

4. Get a Ural
If you are looking at an old school bike, easy to work on, high load capacity, that will fit the bill. Like the RE, you can often find low mileage Urals as they are a niche bike.

geoffbaker · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2008, 11:34:17 AM »

Good point about new RE versus broken in... you definitely should break it in well before planning any long trips.

On the other hand - weight considerations and mountain considerations...

They ride these things around Nepal by the thousands... you can find all kinds of videos on Utube. I wouldn't worry about mountains. Weight would be more an issue though... I would suggest two bikes would be a better solution. Two broken in bikes.

Kevin Mahoney · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2008, 05:09:04 PM »

As far as mountain climbing goes, the Enfield will go where only aircraft equipped with oxygen and turbochargers of jet engines will go. I refer you to this site:
http://www.royalenfield.com/app/IN/odyssey/itinerary.asp

Blue Ridge Wheeltor · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2008, 05:36:26 PM »

While there is no question the Enfield will operate in mountainous conditions, I think his original concern was could he come up I-40 (70mph rd) and climb a 7% grade with 400 lbs of passengers on a new bike (not broken in). I know the hill he speaks of and believe me, he doesn't want to try that. That's why I proposed an alternate route and offered my trailer.
I live in the mountains and have accessed the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Enfield responds admirably.

Kevin Mahoney · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2008, 01:27:09 PM »

I seized my own bike when it was new doing this very type of thing. DON"T DO IT

Talcecom · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2008, 07:42:53 PM »

I have a home just outside Old Fort and I take the Dirt Road or Hwy 9 to Black Mountain. The 500cc works great with my 205 lbs and my grandson's 85. Stay off the inter-states at all cost.
Ride safe, Bob.

clamp · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2008, 04:25:47 AM »

Not a good puller, in fact I was very disapointed and had to make modifications to power output, exhaust mods mostly. Climbing hills is not good even changing down does'nt seem to help until you are down to 2nd at 10MPH.

If your still breaking in there will be nothing you can do but sit there at 10mph.

soulcatcher3 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2008, 08:37:29 PM »

Only just found this thread...so late to reply....but...in the 90's i had a 350 in India...we rode 2 up (lightweights i may add - maybe 300lbs for both of us), + the luggage, which was EXCESSIVE. I think the luggage could easily of weighed 120lbs all up.
Anyways, there were no Interstate highways in the Himalayas, and the most we had to worry about overtaking us was the odd crazy jeep - we passed the buses and trucks, but on those roads they were barely moving! Needless to say, we made it - over the highest road passes in the world...so...the bikes can do it, but so can anything in a low gear...( I saw Vespa 150's and honda 125's at 5600mtr altitude )
.I've got a couple Bullet 500's now back in Canada....Big hills I'm not worried about, but I'll be sticking to the country roads as much as possible, and enjoying the scenery.....and the ride.......
Phil

REpozer · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2008, 06:28:34 PM »

I think you would be fine if you stayed on the blue ridge park way.

fun2drum · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2008, 09:09:01 PM »

Quote from: Talcecom on July 31, 2008, 07:42:53 PM

I have a home just outside Old Fort and I take the Dirt Road or Hwy 9 to Black Mountain. The 500cc works great with my 205 lbs and my grandson's 85. Stay off the inter-states at all cost.
Ride safe, Bob.

I live in Marion and I know that "dirt road" very well. It would certainly be an adventure on the Enfield, and I think I may just like to try it. I'd opt for Hwy 9 on most days probably, just because it's paved and got fun curves and pretty scenery. I agree with you about the interstate... Even though the speed limit is 55 up the mountain, that 4 mile grade in all that crazy traffic would just be too stressful on both the bike and the rider.

I think Royal Enfields actually like mountain roads, though. I went on a ride up Hwy 226A to the Blue Ridge Parkway and rode with 3 other Royal Enfields up there for several hours this past Saturday and it was a great time.

scoTTy · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2008, 06:55:30 PM »

at 149... I think I could do this,,, once the bike is broken in ..

clamp · « **Reply #16 on:** September 10, 2008, 10:52:49 AM »

Right then,--I thought I would stick in my two penneth.

I don't think an Re is a mountain climber, on the contrary it is a on the flat chugger.

At slow speed with no wind it will get hot along with the gearbox etc etc.

Its an old bike and is bought today by geriatrics for nostalgia.

Oopps now im gonna get it, how old is a geriatric? I might be one muself.

I certainly did'nt buy the bike with a reason other than that, certainly with no task in mind.

fun2drum · « **Reply #17 on:** September 10, 2008, 07:35:01 PM »

Clamp, I'm sorry to hear that your RE is only good for flat roads... you may want to have it checked out.

clamp · « **Reply #18 on:** September 11, 2008, 01:29:41 AM »

It goes on flat roads and up hills ,--little ones, and really enjoys them,--I think.

But if I wanted to kill it I think that trying to climb a mountain would do it.

I am quite sure it would go down them ok,--oh no the brakes would get hot.

I think they make better bikes for climbing mountains.

fun2drum · « **Reply #19 on:** September 11, 2008, 05:56:10 AM »

Quote from: clamp on September 11, 2008, 01:29:41 AM

...I think they make better bikes for climbing mountains.

Oh, I'm sure you're right about that, but they don't make bikes that look better doing it.

Tiny Tim · « **Reply #20 on:** September 12, 2008, 02:02:12 PM »

I speak from personall experience.

I give in long before my 500 Electra even skips a beat.

Trust it and go for it. What's the worst that can happen?

Life's for living

REgards

TT

PhilJ · « **Reply #21 on:** September 12, 2008, 02:16:24 PM »

The Indians also take the poor little fragile REs into the Himalayas, which by last reckoning a might bit hilly.

daves02ES · « **Reply #22 on:** September 13, 2008, 12:54:06 AM »

Quote from: PhilJ on September 12, 2008, 02:16:24 PM

The Indians also take the poor little fragile REs into the Himalayas, which by last reckoning a might bit hilly.

That's what, over 16,000 ft? I'd just like to take mine up to Mt. Evans at 14,000 ft. Only a 70 mile trip from home (and 7,000 ft climb in elevation and maybe a fouled plug or two).

bob bezin · « **Reply #23 on:** September 13, 2008, 08:02:33 AM »

daves about twenty years ago i went up mt evans on a 400cc suzuki riding two up / camping gear. rode from wis. than on to payonia and homeagain nice country you have there highly recommended.

cyrusb · « **Reply #24 on:** September 13, 2008, 08:35:36 AM »

Sure, RE's climb the Himalaya's, but at what speed? Are they on a modern high speed roadway? Is this a fair comparision? If you dropped one out of a helicopter would that count as a speed record?

fun2drum · « **Reply #25 on:** September 13, 2008, 10:43:14 AM »

I live in the foothills of the NC Appalachians and there are no modern high speed freeways in the mountainous areas here. Even Interstate 40, which goes through Asheville, once it reaches the mountains has an avarage speed limit of 60 all the way to the Tennessee line and beyond. Other than that, there are mostly 2-lane highways and a few 4 lanes with low speed limits winding through the mountains. That's why I maintain that the RE's are great in the mountains - It's because I ride mine up through them all the time and it's great on curves and going up grades they way they exist here. There are winding and steep grades in these mountains that are as steep and curvy as any in the world, and I've been on a group ride up though Little Switzerland and the Blue Ridge Parkway where my RE dealer rode two up with his wife on his Classic with no problems. I wouldn't recommend a RE on ANY interstate system with modern freeway speeds whether it's flat land or mountains.

cyrusb · « **Reply #26 on:** September 13, 2008, 02:30:50 PM »

I guess if the speeds are kept reasonable, and there are plenty of times your off the throttle, why not. But I would not recommend long continuous pulling , it's like a long dyno run. And although it seems many RE's are capable of doing this without exploding, it might be shortening their service life.

Blue Ridge Wheeltor · « **Reply #27 on:** September 13, 2008, 10:30:11 PM »

The original poster wanted to know if it was safe to ride home from the dealer on I-40, (70 mph speed limit), climb Old Fort Mountain (always semi's overheated climbing that hill, 7% grade for 5 miles) with his wife on back (400 lbs total) with a new, not broken in bike. I offered him my trailer.
A broken in bike can handle the mountains. This was a recipe for disaster.

fun2drum · « **Reply #28 on:** September 14, 2008, 06:04:22 AM »

Quote from: Blue Ridge Wheeltor on September 13, 2008, 10:30:11 PM

The original poster wanted to know if it was safe to ride home from the dealer on I-40, (70 mph speed limit), climb Old Fort Mountain (always semi's overheated climbing that hill, 7% grade for 5 miles) with his wife on back (400 lbs total) with a new, not broken in bike. I offered him my trailer.
A broken in bike can handle the mountains. This was a recipe for disaster.

You're right, and your original response to take the two-lane highway without his wife on back for the trip home was good advice. That 70 mph speed limit goes down to 55 right before hitting the grade, but even if he didn't get on I-40 until the grade starts in Old Fort it would still be torture on a brand new RE. That was also generous of you to offer your trailer. It's funny how an original question like that can take on a life of general debate like in this thread, but that's what makes these forums so much fun.

geoffbaker · « **Reply #29 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:55:56 AM »

I think we can all agree on one thing..

an RE will have absolutely NO trouble going down the mountain...

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Author Topic: How Much Will an RE Carry? And Will It cClimb a Mountain? (Read 5930 times)

geoffbaker

geoffbaker