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[binary]

I can tell that I have had about all that I can stand of Indian made motorcycles.

[rustygman]

Launch in April they say. Some of us are still awaiting the UK launch of the Himalayan.

[Rattlebattle]

Papasmurf: Yes, I know all that but I’m talking about the feel of a the engine and the sound it makes. My 2016 Thruxton, one of the last of the air/oil-cooled Triumphs sounds lovely with its aftermarket exhausts. It has twin balance shafts. You may be interested to know that Triumph Twin Power get more power out of their tunes for the 360 degree Triumph twins ie Bonneville and Thruxton than they do out of the 270 degree ones, the Scrambler and T100. As for a comparison with the later l/c Triumphs the older ones win hands down - 69bhp as standard v about 54bhp for the Street Twin et al. I bought my last of the lineThruxton because it can be remapped (I have). It now produces lots of torque but also has power at the top end, which the Street Twin lacks. If I wanted. a bike wth a v Twin feel I’d have bought one.

[papasmurf]

[enfield_trials]

i like that picture ..

[still lucky eddie]

The flat plank MZ type seat is dreadful, a bum stop is required, it would look so much better. I have to agree with rattlebattle, that motor from the other side does look like a jubilee or navigator, one can only hope it goes a little quicker. No mention of the cost...

[Alan R]

Yes, my thoughts as well------- I much prefer this version with its' straight bars and "Sports Tourer" look than the other "Chin-down, rump-up" style....It looks like they've bought a job-lot of Kawasaki W650 forks ??......Come-on Mr.H. lets see some Givi rear pannier racks and carrier for an immediate increase in practicality........So what insurance group is it likely to fall into then ??.........European and/or UK purchase price ?........... Anyone like to start the ball rolling on having a guess on that ??.........

[papasmurf]

still lucky eddie, just for you:-

[OldBoy67]

I just don’t understand the RE business model.
They have set up an expensive UK R&D facility and I’m sure the mechanical design is good.
But then they target India as the primary market, and produce a gutless version to suit. Do the Indians have such a large café racer tradition or culture to be able to support this? I think not, and even assuming they did, then the 535 Continental GT was available anyway and was never a volume seller in that market. In India basic cheap transport is where the real demand continues to be, so I think RE are getting a bit schizophrenic over their direction of travel. Mass volume transport versus niche products does not have to be mutually exclusive, but factory practices for the former are not acceptable for the latter.
In India the 650 is competitively priced compared to the 535 Continental at 2million lakh. But incredibly they are also trumpeting the 650 as a Bonneville competitor and that may be their lttle joke. The only reason it can compete with the Bonneville (which has had a shed load of development) is because of the price – Indian market anti-competitive tariffs add nearly 5 million lakh to the price of a Bonneville making it an incredible 7 million in total.
The quality of the product from Chennai needs addressing urgently if RE want to be taken seriously. Unless they do something to improve it I for one will never be interested in their new products. Perhaps removal of the anti-competition tariffs would force them to up their game.
I know this may appear negative, but I really would like RE to succeed for all sorts pf reasons. I would buy a quirky retro style product if I was sure it would not explode at the first opportunity (Norton Navigator anybody?) But the quality/reliabilty question constantly rears its ugly head in my mind.
Stands back and waits to be shot down.

[Rattlebattle]

I concur with that assessment; I don't understand the logic. Does the new bike come with a mainstand I wonder? Does a cafe racer really need a sump bash plate? It seems a bit of a mismash to me.