Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all,
After a few Years of riding sports bikes I gave up riding a couple of years ago.
Then, felt the bug again and for some reason that I still can't work out, found myself strangely drawn to Enfields.
Despite being at least one cylinder short of a full house, and at least 100hp down on what I'm used to, I think it's bloody brilliant!
Still very much getting used to it, only 30 miles on the clock now and still can't get used to the footpegs feeling so far out in front, but I'm looking forward to getting it run in.
It's a 2016 Bullet EFI





Cheers,
Chris

OK, let's try that again...

Welcome aboard...

It took me a long time to realise that you don't need all that power to have fun.

It's fine to have all that power and I still have one bike with it but you just can't risk using it anymore, a lot more fun can be had on a low powered bike using nice bendy back roads.

Yes, they provide a unique riding experience, just as long as you don't ride with friends on other than classic bikes. Good time to buy one now as the dealers want to sell pre-registered bikes while they wait for the new Euro IV compliant ones. Personally I wouldn't want one as an only bike but for local riding I'll always pick the RE.

I have a sports bike and the Enfield I get the footrest position right most of the time very different machines to ride the Enfield does the most millage and gets the most use though

millage = mileage all part of getting older like spilling your dinner down your shirt

I use my RE a lot too except when the roads are salted. Bin there, done that, don't need to now so I don't. My point really is that it depends who you ride with, if anyone. I belong to a bike club that organises runs each year, either days out or longer trips, often abroad. I also have a week away each year with my best mate. In either case the rest of them wouldn't appreciate riding at the speed at which my RE is most relaxed, around 55-60 mph. Whilst none of them have sports bikes they do have modern sports routers or adventure bikes etc and want to use the performance, as I do. Fair enough, so I use my modern Triumph on these runs. For solo use in the sense of riding alone I'll ride the RE. It can do the distance but in its own time. It wouldn't suit me as an only bike though; then again neither would a sports bike.

At the risk of opening up the whole "how fast will it go" debate., Surely we don't ride Enfield's for speed?. My 193bhp Ducati Paningale accelerates like a missile, my BSA D7 Bantam is flat out at45. So why do I love them both but ride my 500 Electra more often than not. Empty country lanes, a warm day and a single thumping away,perfect. I use my iPhone on my bars as a speedo,try it you will be surprised, my 350 Bullet reads 60 mph on the clock at a true 47mph, my 500 reads 60 at a true 53. MyBantam reads 60 at 43 and my Ducati reads 100 at 100, it was a little more expensive!, makes you realise that frankly we don't have a clue "how fast" we are going.