Kickstart or no?

[exiledcarper]

I've seen the pictures of the very pretty UCE Classic, with no kickstart.  However, on the U.K.site,there's also pictures of a UCE powered Electra model WITH kickstart.
  So is the new calssic going to have a kickstart or not?  I've a strong hunch that most potential owners of the new bike would like to have a kickstart.

[ace.cafe]

Here's a link to a pic on another thread which shows the 2 different UCE engines almost side by side, and you can compare the two.
http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2899.0;attach=2427;image


So, who knows?
Eventually it will be known.

[Royal.Oilfield]

Rcently I questioned Royal Enfield India...

>>Hello,
many of us Bulleteers are wondering whether a kickstart option will be
available for the all new Bullet Classic UCE? It will be essential for
the most of us. This can be read on all Royal Enfield forums around the
world relating to the new classic.
Regards,<<<<

Their answer...
>>>Dear ...,

The Bullet Classic will not be available with a kick start option.

Regards,

Andrew Anantharaj
Senior Manager - International Business.
Phone : +91 44 42230209
Royal Enfield (Unit of Eicher Motors Limited)
Thiruvottiyur High Road, Thiruvottiyur,
Chennai 600 020. India.
<<<<

Initally a kickstart was planned for the Classic-UCE version when comparing the cutaway engine with its series version.


The engine side cover doesn't only have a blanking plug. The engine lacks the whole mechanism, ratchet and kickstart shaft, as shown in here.

[Blltrdr]

Rcently I questioned Royal Enfield India...

>>Hello,
many of us Bulleteers are wondering whether a kickstart option will be
available for the all new Bullet Classic UCE? It will be essential for
the most of us. This can be read on all Royal Enfield forums around the
world relating to the new classic.
Regards,<<<<

Their answer...
>>>Dear ...,

The Bullet Classic will not be available with a kick start option.

Regards,

Andrew Anantharaj
Senior Manager - International Business.
Phone : +91 44 42230209
Royal Enfield (Unit of Eicher Motors Limited)
Thiruvottiyur High Road, Thiruvottiyur,
Chennai 600 020. India.
<<<<

Initally a kickstart was planned for the Classic-UCE version when comparing the cutaway engine with its series version.


The engine side cover doesn't only have a blanking plug. The engine lacks the whole mechanism, ratchet and kickstart shaft, as shown in here.

There does seem to be a boss on the case for a kicker. Maybe the UCE can be set up either way.

[exiledcarper]

So, why the heck can't the Classic have a kickstart?  seems like a monumental b@lls up to me

[The Garbone]

Hmm,  the 350 gets one but the 500 does not.

Its either a "Marketing Decision"  or a "Marketing Error".  I personally love my KS.  Even more so as I am the only person of the 6 that ride in my office that has one.  Use it every time.

From the looks of it the side of the KS UCE has a old fashioned rounded look as opposed to the smooth 500 side.   

[woodboats]

Hmmm...
It may sound a bit silly but without a kick start I am not sure if I would have the same interest in getting one of these bikes.
Sure, I like the extra reliability and less maintenance but part of the reason for me to owning an Enfield, is the charm of riding a classic from a more simple era.
My Bullet does have electric start also but it seldom gets used.
I leave pushing buttons for my Honda.

[Royal.Oilfield]

If all this yellow encircled parts >shaft, pillar, ratchet and bore< as one might guess, will be left out of the Classic motor you even won't be able to retrofit a kickstart! 
Oops.............bad mistake...

[ace.cafe]

It appears to me that they spent a great deal of effort to try to tidy up that right side engine cover area. Looks like they were aiming for the BSA-style oval unit engine case side cover. And the rounded rocker covers definitely soften the look a bit too.

I think they really tried hard to get the look for this bike.
They could have left everything squared-off , lumpy, and hard-edged like the Electra UCE in the picture above.
Too bad about the kickstarter though. That would have been nice to have on there, and would have added to the vintage appeal too.

[doomed1]

If all this yellow encircled parts >shaft, pillar, ratchet and bore< as one might guess, will be left out of the Classic motor you even won't be able to retrofit a kickstart! 
Oops.............bad mistake...

in that case, wouldn't a retrofit be relatively easy? looks like the ratchet and shaft are already there, all that's left to do is poke a hole in the side plating and attach a kick lever.

[exiledcarper]

I have to agree, the motor in the new classic looks WAY better than the first version, stillneeds a kickstart for me though. Of the two,I would have to go for the looks of the Classic.  A Black/chrome tank would be nice,or solid blackwith gold lettering too.  I love the look of the blue/white, but not sure if the black/white tank quite works for me. Imight be nitpicking though . 

[Royal.Oilfield]

@doomed

This pic is of the UCE-motor WITH kickstart. Therefore all this yellow encircled stuff is in it.


@ace

The Crusader built in the 60's had also a unit construction engine with this smooth design.

[ace.cafe]

Yep, how 'bout that?!
Sure looks like they took some styling cues from that Crusader case.

Heck, they probably did about as good as could be done, all things considered.

[PhilJ]

The picture with the kick start is the 350. The one without kick start is 500. Or so that is what Kevin said in a posting. If indeed that is true, then it seems, since the Indians prefer the 350, that the design suffers from not knowing the feelings about the kick start.

It still wouldn't stop me from buying one though.

[Royal.Oilfield]

@PhilJ

The cutaway motor shown is the UCE 500cc pre series for the Classic.
Compare the smooth form of the Classic 500cc UCE motor to the edgie
UCE for the 500cc EFI Electra.
This is the UCE Classic motor with 500cc.



The UCE 500cc motor for the Classic was initially designed to have a kickstart
but as Kevin stated earlier the E-start has proven its reliability over several 100,000km
on the test bikes so they decided to not sell it with kickstart.

IMO designing a Retro bike and naming it 'Bullet Classic' but dismissing the kickstart
is kind of schizophrenically.