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  #1  
Old 12 Dec 2009
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Well, lighter is better expecially when the roads are bad, or you ar offroadin, or there is no road.

However there are 2 different engines used in enfields as I can tell from their web site,
4 gear right foot operated (older)
5 gear leftt foot operated (newer?) versions.

Is this new 5 speed one more reliable? How long it has been on the market?
I really would appreciate owners real life experience if possible that is.

Regards
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  #2  
Old 12 Dec 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadb View Post
Well, lighter is better expecially when the roads are bad, or you ar offroadin, or there is no road.

However there are 2 different engines used in enfields as I can tell from their web site,
4 gear right foot operated (older)
5 gear leftt foot operated (newer?) versions.

Is this new 5 speed one more reliable? How long it has been on the market?
I really would appreciate owners real life experience if possible that is.

Regards
The 5 speed gearbox and the lean burn engine are both new (modern technology) components built on new jigs and tooling. They are much better than their older counterparts. Mine is leak free. So far I have only done 3,00 miles and have had nothing untoward happen yet.
They are Very fuel efficient, mine has averaged 94mpg over that 3,00 miles.
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  #3  
Old 13 Dec 2009
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Enfields are dogs?
The 5 speeds ratios are spread better that the 4. I did 35,000k's on a 1998 500 bullet bought new. I have a 2004 500 at the moment with 28,000k's, both have been reasonable trouble free, but they do require more maintaince and set up to keep them going like this. I have a long-term Enfield friend who has done 70,000k's on a 180 pulsar in the last 2 years. He reckons front-end washouts and lock-ups are more likely on the pulsar, maybe because of ,poor old tech skinny tyres, stronger disk brake, quick steering, and very poor road conditions and hazards, and for touring luggage placement and balance is more critical on the pulsar, than the Enfield, he just carries less weight, his 180 is bullet proof never let him down and just keeps on going. Sure the Enfield is 40's technology but so are the roads, he reckons sometimes he misses the enfield because things happen slower,so he can see the negative things coming easier. Who Knows? Road reports on the newly released(in india) injected, unit construction Enfield have been very good, a worthy mix of modern tech with that old school look and feel.
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  #4  
Old 13 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by redninja View Post
The 5 speeds ratios are spread better that the 4. I did 35,000k's on a 1998 500 bullet bought new. I have a 2004 500 at the moment with 28,000k's, both have been reasonable trouble free, but they do require more maintaince and set up to keep them going like this. I have a long-term Enfield friend who has done 70,000k's on a 180 pulsar in the last 2 years. He reckons front-end washouts and lock-ups are more likely on the pulsar, maybe because of ,poor old tech skinny tyres, stronger disk brake, quick steering, and very poor road conditions and hazards, and for touring luggage placement and balance is more critical on the pulsar, than the Enfield, he just carries less weight, his 180 is bullet proof never let him down and just keeps on going. Sure the Enfield is 40's technology but so are the roads, he reckons sometimes he misses the enfield because things happen slower,so he can see the negative things coming easier. Who Knows? Road reports on the newly released(in india) injected, unit construction Enfield have been very good, a worthy mix of modern tech with that old school look and feel.
Hello, Your friend who had ridden Pulsar AFTER Enfield may be had difficulties to adjust quicker acceleration and better brakes. :confused1:

It is good to hear new 5 speed has better performance. Can you specify what you mena with more maintenance? Every 1000km? Every week?

Can you also give some estimates for the prices of new 5 speed versions?

Regards

Burak
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  #5  
Old 14 Dec 2009
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Hi there "Nomadb", my pulsar friend is a french national, he has over 20 years riding experience, his daily ride is an 08 ducati Hypermotard 1100s, and has been racing at club level on and off for the last 15 years, his current race bike started life as a 07 suzuki GSXR1000--so 3rd gear power wheelies at 160kmh and braking into a first gear hairpin from 270kmh, is probably second nature to him. Touring in India 90% of his riding is done at 40 to 60kmh. The 5 speed enfield gearbox came on the Indian market around 2002 i think, and is more common than the 4 speed now, price is much the same. The problem alot of people found with the 4 speed box was, in the 40 to 60kmh speed range, you were not going quite fast enough to pull top gear whilst in 3rd it was reving a bit to high. The 5 speed solved that by a better spread of ratios. The Enfield was originally a 350cc and it is often said the 350 matched the 4 speed box better than the 500cc. Most Indians ride Enfields by short shifting to top gear as quickly as possibly, and just cruising, using the bottom end torque of the motor rather than the revs, which is the nature of a single cylinder 4 stroke motor, heaps better fuel consumption as well.
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  #6  
Old 14 Dec 2009
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Dear Redninja,
Thank you very much for the information. Interesting to hear about your friends experience level.

The best way would have been, to go to India and test both bikes for about a week and decide.

I guess with limited time and this is not possible hence we have to rely on opinions.

I will try to see leads to companies/agencies/ or people who sell or rent bikes around Delhi.

Regards.
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  #7  
Old 16 Dec 2009
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I did ~ 3500Ks on a 500 machismo and had virtually no issues. My front brake pads were depleted within a couple days of my start but that was more my fault for not inspecting the pads when I picked up the bike. And there were no brake pads to be had in the Himalayas so I did the entire trip with no front brake.

Still, I would have no qualms with renting another Enfield, and they look cool too.

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