difference in looks

[Bullet Bill]

Am I the only one who thinks that the new engine looks a little... I dunno... bulbous?  Ugly?  At least by comparison with the classic and AVL version, anyhow.
I know that it's supposed to be much more reliable, faster, etc., but I can't help but feel a little disappointed in the new Enfields' overall appearance as a result of the engine's shape and size, and that goes for both versions of the UCE.

Meh, I'm nitpicking again.  I just wish I could find a bike with the looks of an AVL or classic Enfield and the performance of this newer version, but you can't have everything.

[prof_stack]

Oh, I think you'll come to like the shape of the new motor.  Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder and for me the new motor looks great, and I also like the iron and the AVL.

[ace.cafe]

The looks of the new motor is growing on me.
I didn't like it at first, but now I'm starting to get an appreciation for it.

[hutch]

The looks of the new motor is growing on me.
I didn't like it at first, but now I'm starting to get an appreciation for it.

I have to agree with you ace. At first the motor looked like the Suzuki Savage motor in a beautiful British frame. The only thing I still dislike is the 19" rear fender with an 18" rear tire. All that "air" around the tire just looks mismatched. Like I said before, it looks like a 4 wheel drive truck with a lift kit running car tires. I don't think that will ever grow on me. 18" rear fender please!!!!    Scroll right to see what I mean about the back fender / tire size. Hutch 

[Chasfield]

Yeah, that 19 inch fender looks way off with the bike on its stand, and even with the suspension compressed a bit it would not look too good. Even a generic, alloy 18 inch one would look a lot better but you don't want to have to take a brand new bike to bits.

[Cabo Cruz]

Thumbs up for the looks of the Unit Construction Engine!

Thumbs down -- big time -- for the looks of the rear fender!

[bob bezin]

maybe you could just get a 19 inch wheel and put it on.

[The Garbone]

I'm thinking G-5..  I assume 19" wheels are standard on that model  and KS as a bonus. 

[Land Surveyor]

Hello, Hutch.

Wish you hadn't mentioned that rear fender.  Didn't notice it before but now it's going to bug me.

The new engine.  Am I wrong or wasn't there something about making it reminiscent of the old "big head" engines?  In any case, it looks fine to me.

[bob bezin]

maybe its a trend.. my bonneville has the same look with a `17" rear tire (19 in front)

[RAKe]

Hutch, damn good point about wheel size.  But I am sure these Indian manufacturers are beginning to understand the dog-eat-dog and pass-or-fail nature of capitalism, and they will soon respond--and consumers will benefit accordingly.  God Bless America!!

[Kevin Mahoney]

If you look at a current Bullet directly from the side you will see a big mismatch between the 19inch wheel and rear fender. It has been like this for over 50 years. I have attached two pictures which show this clearly. You can see it more of less depending upon which angle you look at the bike.
  The new bike Bullet Classic C-5 has 18 inch wheels and tyres front and rear. It you look at the bike directly from the side you can see that the curve of the fender matches the wheel and tyre curvature better. If you see if from and angle it can appear to less proportional.
  The G-5 which has 19 inch wheels front and rear will still appear a bit "awkward"

[Bullet Bill]

All of that is technically true, but I think what most of the forum-goers here are saying is that the asymmetry of the old model actually looks good, hence the disappointment over the better-fitting (perhaps too precise/sterile) 18" wheels and tires.

Is that a confirmation on the G-5 having 19 inchers, though?  I've only ever seen official stats on the C-5 and the E-5, and clear profile pictures are as yet lacking.

[Kevin Mahoney]

G-5 and E-5 are 19 inch, C-5 is 18. The designers were driven nuts over the mismatch between the older Bullets fender and rear tyre.

[Alaroyal]

Hey, I've got an idea - hows about a 160 - 16 rear tire; that might just fill up the fender.  (Y'all can go ahead and start impeachment proceedings on me, now)