Antique in looks only is my earnest wimpy desire...

[chazzlee]

Hi
I looked at something called Pete's Manual in the files section of an Enfield Yahoo Group, and it almost scared me away from considering Enfields..!  At 71 yrs of age, and after 30 years of riding, there's no way I would go back to having a bike I have to constantly tune up! -And do valve adjustments at evey 1K miles? -No flippin' way, bros! (Not even if just consisted of simple screw turning adjustments!) -There's no way I would again consider such an unsophisticated machine that it required constant fussing and adjusting just to keep it running!

It was the article in Cycle World about RE's that stirred my interest in the bikes, and it says this:

"They (Eicher Motors of India) have quantified everything and used extensive computer modeling in an effort to produce a fully reliable modern interpretation of a 1950s-era classic British Single.
....Oil flow was drastically increased on this wet-sump design, while hydraulic lifters for the pushrods were scourced from the US (looking a lot like H-D parts) so valve adjustments aren't neccessary!"

So it seems earlier RE manuals would have to be re-written for the 2009 models, because it now appears that REs have gone from valve adjustments every 1K miles, to NO valve adjustments required now at all!

I know some of you guys like to tinker and work on your motorcycles, but for 30 years it's always been my outlook that the less I have to work on 'em, the more enjoyable riding time I'll have on 'em!
So while I'm sold on antique looks, what I'm really looking for is a standard motorcycle with antique looks and modern upkeep requirements. I'm no purist, and I ain't ashamed to admit it! The easier the manufacturers can make maintanence requirements for a given bike, the better I'll like it and buy it. 

-Whether the new 2009 UCE Royal Enfields can actualy fill my needs out in the real world (and not just in a motorcycle mag artice) is probably yet to be determined, I'm thinking. But as I really admire the look and sounds of classic British singles (and twins), I'm keeping a close expectant watch on these new Enfields. (And if it don't work out, there's always a new Hinckley Triumph Bonneville for a few K more...) ">})

Namaste,
~drummer~ ">})

[Ice]

Hi Chazzlee,
 Welcome Aboard.
 The feed back on the new UCE engines has been pretty positive.
Let us know how your test ride goes,,,

[ace.cafe]

Hi,
I think it will be fine for low maintenance.
That's what they were aiming for, and I think they got it.

It's actually a blessing for everybody that they did, because alot of people were buying these older Bullets for "the look", and after they bought them they had utterly no idea what they had gotten into.
And this resulted in bad comments and bad press reports, and all manner of negativity for a perfectly fine motorcycle that was just beyond the capabilities of many of the buyers.
If people had been able to buy a new Norton Manx or BSA Gold Star up until today, they would have undoubtedly suffered the same "slings and arrows" that the Bullet has.
However, I will say that many Bullet owners here, when faced with the steep learning curve, stepped-up to the plate quite admirably, and became knowledgeable service technicians for their own bikes rather quickly, and did well. And I think that gave many of them a good sense of satisfaction and personal achievement.

Basically the older Bullets were priced like a beginner's bike, but needed an expert to know what to do with them. The newer UCE bikes are closer to being priced like an expert's bike, but can be operated by a beginner.
I prefer the former, but the latter will doubtlessly be preferred by the general buying public.
The older Bullet was a dream for an "old hand" motorcycle aficionado, because he could do whatever he wanted to it, and it was a low entry cost. But it was just too much for the modern public to be able to deal with.
It's perfect for me.

Heck, this isn't the only skill lost over the years. I know people who think that eggs come from the grocery store.

Kidding aside, I'm sure that the new UCE bikes will do what you are wanting them to do.

[Vince]

     Ace, I just expressed a similar sentiment in 'The First Time". Check it out.

[ace.cafe]

     Ace, I just expressed a similar sentiment in 'The First Time". Check it out.

Vince,
Two great minds, thinking as one!

[r80rt]

"after 30 years of riding, there's no way I would go back to having a bike I have to constantly tune up! -And do valve adjustments at every 1K miles? -No flippin' way, bros! (Not even if just consisted of simple screw turning adjustments!) -There's no way I would again consider such an unsophisticated machine that it required constant fussing and adjusting just to keep it running!"

AMEN!
I've owned restored and ridden several antique bikes, but I want one for a daily rider and they just aren't practical for that, this new UCE will give me just what I want.

[UncleErnie]

Sort of reminds me of the time an allegedly seasoned "biker" pointed at the kick-starter and aked, "What's that paddle do?"

[r80rt]

Antique bike maintenance isn't rocket science, most of it is simple and straight forward and pretty easy. But now I'm at a place where I just don't want to do it anymore, Where is that C5??

[ace.cafe]

That's exactly why they made it the way they did.

People said what they wanted, and when the time came that they were forced to change the engine design, they made what the general public wanted.

[r80rt]

Yes, to survive you have to give people what they want. I love to tinker on old bikes and I'll never stop, but I'll do it because I want to, not because I have to do it if I want to go riding. A modern engine in a classic chassis, What on earth could be better than that? Royal Enfield has blessed all of us with their bikes, something for everyone in the model line up. Thank God they haven't gone plastic and forgotten the people that love this kind of bike, like all the other manufacturers have.

[chazzlee]

Yes, to survive you have to give people what they want, I love to tinker on old bikes and I'll never stop, but I'll do it because I want to, not because I have to do it if I want to go riding. A modern engine in a classic chassis? What on earth could be better than that? Royal Enfield has blessed all of us with their bikes, something for everyone in the model line up, thank God they haven't gone plastic and forgotten the people that love this kind of bike, like all the other manufacturers have.

Yes, I agree absolutely! While I want modern dependability and lower maintanence requirements, I don't want a plastic bike that looks like a Star Trek shuttle ship! 
One of the reasons I love my GT200 Vespa is that it's an '07 with modern technology but still has that nice rounded metal body and legshield that maintains the classic Vespa lines!  (But it still has a carb; EFI didn't come with Vespas until the '08 GTS 250s! -So if I do get an '09 UCE Enfield it will be more technologically advanced than my Vespa!)

Having a Vespa GT and a Royal Enfield in my garage at the same time will make me feel like I have a great museum in there!  -I'll be forever opening the doors to show grandkids and friends my 'treasures'!  -But then they'll both be good daily riders too, and that to me is even more fantastic!!! 

[r80rt]

Chazzlee, I have two friends that have Vespa's, They are wonderfully modern with classic lines, I've always loved the look of them. Like my Hinckley Bonneville, it has all the proper look with none of the problems that my old '69 bonnie had. There is nothing wimpy in your desire either.