- Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:09 pm
#4588
Hi there
I'm a new member of the forum, so I thought I would introduce myself.
I have owned and ridden bikes on and off for 40 years, and my Electra EFI for the last 15 months or so. Was 3 years and 2000 miles old when I bought it for little more than half the price of a new one. It now has 13,500 on the clock. Mainly used for a 75 mile round trip commute into Leeds 2 -3 times a week, with the odd 400 mile round trip to head office on sunny days, which it manages just fine.
Bike was really well specced by the original owner with trials bars, a cruiser screen, single seat and mirror extensions. I've added a steel top box which is a perfect colour and style match for my silver bike which I got off ebay for £50 from a firm in Kent and handlebar muffs which look naff but are essential at this time of year. It's not as shiny as it was - I prefer riding to polishing - and it only gets mucky again next time out!
I've experienced a couple of small problems, but neither of them are a deal breaker. The only one that has stopped me was when a battery carrier bolt had fallen off and the stretched wire holding the weight of the battery shorted out after about 2 hours riding in a really heavy rain storm and blew the fuses. The other is that at some point the head steady had cracked and the engine vibration ended up cracking the original silencer at the joint. I got it welded up and it lasted another 6 months - but it was ugly and heavy, so I wanted an excuse to replace it anyway.
I really like my Enfield. It is a completely practical bike as well as fun to ride. Powerful enough to make progress on truck filled single carriageways and cruises comfortably at around 65-70 mph on the doubles. Average 78 mpg gives well over 200 miles between fill ups. 3750 mile oil change intervals are just about tolerable and the same as most other modern bikes. Unlike those other bikes, servicing is a cheap and easy diy job every time, only taking about an hour even for a duffer like me. The only thing I dislike is the chain drive - but that messy, high maintenance, abomination still afflicts 95% of bikes on the market.
Enough for now. I'm sure you will hear more from me in the future.
Happy riding.
Jack
I'm a new member of the forum, so I thought I would introduce myself.
I have owned and ridden bikes on and off for 40 years, and my Electra EFI for the last 15 months or so. Was 3 years and 2000 miles old when I bought it for little more than half the price of a new one. It now has 13,500 on the clock. Mainly used for a 75 mile round trip commute into Leeds 2 -3 times a week, with the odd 400 mile round trip to head office on sunny days, which it manages just fine.
Bike was really well specced by the original owner with trials bars, a cruiser screen, single seat and mirror extensions. I've added a steel top box which is a perfect colour and style match for my silver bike which I got off ebay for £50 from a firm in Kent and handlebar muffs which look naff but are essential at this time of year. It's not as shiny as it was - I prefer riding to polishing - and it only gets mucky again next time out!
I've experienced a couple of small problems, but neither of them are a deal breaker. The only one that has stopped me was when a battery carrier bolt had fallen off and the stretched wire holding the weight of the battery shorted out after about 2 hours riding in a really heavy rain storm and blew the fuses. The other is that at some point the head steady had cracked and the engine vibration ended up cracking the original silencer at the joint. I got it welded up and it lasted another 6 months - but it was ugly and heavy, so I wanted an excuse to replace it anyway.
I really like my Enfield. It is a completely practical bike as well as fun to ride. Powerful enough to make progress on truck filled single carriageways and cruises comfortably at around 65-70 mph on the doubles. Average 78 mpg gives well over 200 miles between fill ups. 3750 mile oil change intervals are just about tolerable and the same as most other modern bikes. Unlike those other bikes, servicing is a cheap and easy diy job every time, only taking about an hour even for a duffer like me. The only thing I dislike is the chain drive - but that messy, high maintenance, abomination still afflicts 95% of bikes on the market.
Enough for now. I'm sure you will hear more from me in the future.
Happy riding.
Jack
