Forum

[rog]

I think everyone's reading too much into this this. Watsonian Squire is a sidecar company based in the Cotswolds - fact. It just so happens that the company is also an importer of Royal Enfield motorcycles, which are sold by dealers dotted around the UK. If I remember correctly, not long ago MCN featured an item about Watsonian sidecars and I think this may be why there is reference to this part of the business on the MCN website, forgetting that the RE bikes are a majot part of the same business.

[rog]

Further to my last,the idea that Watsonians could import the old iron engine Bullets like Jawas and Chang Jiangs is a joke. Watsonians import European type-approved EFI Bullets in three figure numbers, whereas I understand Dave Angel(?) has to import each and every Jawa as an individual bike in the same way as you or I could import an iron engine bullet from India - not a straight forward process! As for EFI prices, yes there are some bling encrusted expensive bikes, but a basic B5 EFI is only around £4K, which isn't bad when you consider about 25% depreciation in the pound since the last iron engine Bullets were imported.

[STU]

You can't import a New iron engine Bullet - RE stopped making them a couple of years ago. And why would you want to anyway?
Yes, the last few ones in the UK were sold off cheaply at £1995, but this was 5 years ago in 2008, and it in no way compares to the current model - which is £2000 more but has all these additional features and benefits;
500 cc vs 350 cc.
28hp vs 18hp
5 speed vs 4 speed.
Unit construction
EFI vs basic 24mm carb
Disc brake vs drum.
Electric start.
Improved frame and swing arm.
Hydraulic lifters.
Roller big end.
Steel con rod.
Gear oil pump.
70mph vs 55mph cruising speed.
Etc, etc, etc, etc,
No need to worry about warranties, I reckon that RE will honour them and there will be a new UK agent - possibly even RE themselves, just like the Japs did!

[Alan R]

Hi guys----------- well, here goes nothing }-----The "Bullet" in the developed world is at best a niche-market machine, and in it's modern guise probably now appeals to two seperate and distinct customer groups ie ---1) The "I want to re-live my past" person ( And I don't mean that to be a derogatory viewpoint,as I'm in that group myself !! )----2) The "I want to try a bit of retro" age group, which is mainly the mid-twenties to mid-thirties I think..and who will be forming the main customer in the immediate future...The first group whilst prepared to do their own "spannering" are, alas dwindling with the passing of the years..The second group have modern expectations re}--- design, performance, quality, reliability, customer service etc, etc....and whilst initially seduced by the enjoyment of the "old bike" experience will start to have serious ownership doubts as the Enfield's underlying faults start to show through ( Both the bike and the support ).....and being of the "Instant communication" generation this filters through-- instantly !! I think Enfield would do well to have a look at the history of Lambretta just before they started post-war importing into the UK....Whoever decides to take on the UK distribution will have to be able to do a lot better than WS, BUT will have to appreciate this is not a "Flagship" company---albeit they are selling worldwide--- and be prepared for some hard work on the customer satisfaction front....After all, that £4K new bike price might seem small fry compared to the big Japanese and American bikes----- but it's still someone's hard-earned dosh, non the less and today they won't stand for shoddy treatment... and quite rightly so IMHO................. Phew!! that's enough from "Mr.Gobby" ----------

[Durham Tim]

Some intersting comments from STU and Alan R. Re ownership of the pre-unit EFI models STU says "You can't import a New iron engine Bullet...why would you want to anyway?" The very reason WHY I bought one of the last 2008 models was that it DIDN'T have all the "additional features & benefits" mentioned in his posting!! Personally if I wanted these "features and benefits", to be honest a modern Bonneville or Guzzi V7 would be way ahead on my shopping list ahead of a modern Bullet!


Whilst there's also a lot of truth in Alan R's commments re the "spannering" fraternity, I think I must buck the trend when it comes to the profile of your average Bullet owner. I only do the most basic maintenance work myself, and regularly have my 350 Classic serviced by a qualified motorcycle mechanic instead of doing the work myself. I make no apology for this, and simply enjoy the bike for what it is.

My bike is used 12 months of the year and had NEVER broken down yet. The common anecdotes of regular mechanical frustration and failure has not been my experience. Perhaps I have just been lucky??

[STU]

Tim, I gave VERY serious consideration to both Guzzi V7, Bonneville as well as W650 and others when buying my limited edition Electra XS new in 2007. However the XS was very expensive at the time (same price as a Classic EFI is now) so the difference in price between it and the other ones that I considered was no more than about £700.
I chose the Enfield because I wanted a lightweight, simple, authentic, individual machine that had some modern features (disc, E/S, roller crank, elec ign, etc, etc). Whilst I really liked all the others I didn't like then enough more than the Enfield to pay the extra money.
Back to today, if you were to put a Bonnie or V7 on your shopping list Tim you would have to find an up to additional £2700 - and then own a heavier, more complex, more ubiquitous machine that costs more to run and insure than a Bullet 500 or Classic 500.
The fact that your 350 has been so reliable is testament to how good they are and that the 'underlying faults' quoted by Alan are not generally terminal or unsurmountable.
The new EFI bikes are very much improved in this respect and I believe that any 'want to try a bit of retro' buyers will be very well served by the low maintenance, reliablity, simplicity, performance and economy of an EFI UCE Bullet.
The new Continental GT535 will appeal to a whole new segment of RE buyers - just like the Sixty-5 and Electra did before, and I an very much looking forward to the company making big strides in the global (but niche) market as the years go on!

[Craig]

And My Classic Models Have Been Very reliable...Too..BUT! To Get Back To The Story (MCN? so May Bee) that Watsonian Have Given it up (They are Not announcing it)......"HAS ANY ONE ANY FIRM NEWS?".....(OK From an Out Side source?).. ;0)

[MadMike]

Craig etc, the news is confirmed on Watsonian Squires own website, and has been since early yesterday. It wasn't an announcement, or a news item however. If you go to their home page and scroll down to near the bottom somebody has asked the question direct to WS by email, or twitter. They then replied confirming that they were relinquishing their arrangements to distribute Royal Enfields to concentrate on their other business interests. The question now I guess, which everybody has skirted around with discussions about specific models and/or build quality etc, is what happend now to maintain supply of Royal Enfields into the UK?

[Craig]

Thanks Mike.."So They Have Whispered There retreat from the Marque then? " (Stranger Still then).....
And "Enfield is to Launch its new Model at the Next Mad Mike meets Then?/" ;0) whens that?
....Cheers all.... (And Thank's to Mr H' For His Continued support)

[MadMike]

Craig, how kind of you to ask about MadMikes Gathering. In case you haven't heard it is on Sunday 2nd June at The Bulls Head on the A47 which is about 3-4 miles north of Mallory Park. There is a thread on this very message board which deserves to be brought to the top of the page again. See you and everybody else there I hope.