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Alternative to Royal Enfield?
I guess I'm after suggestions of bikes...... It's something I'll look to keep long term so will hopefully travel various places and conditions........
I really like the idea of an old Royal Enfield, I'm not sure how I'd get on with right hand gear change though - I know you can buy left hand gear change Enfields. I know they're not great offroad as standard but that can be changed with new forks, high level exhaust etc. I like pre 1972 bikes as they're tax exempt (benefit of an Enfield), what other old style bikes are in a similar vane to an Enfield but with a left hand gear change and is fairly reliable with easily obtainable parts and with good fuel consumption...... is there anything else old style? Or should I just get an Enfield and put on a left gear change gearbox! |
what about a unit single?
Reliability is good, spares supply in the UK is great and cheap, lots of common parts, widely available. The problems that came with the bikes have been well identified and it was common for owners to fix these themselves so there are a lot of upgrades. Wiring loom is very simple, all the mechanics are very simple, sound great and handle fairly well. I wouldn't worry too much about the left-right gear problem, you get used to it pretty quickly |
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Thanks for the reply. |
The unit single is the replacement for the pre-unit single. That cleared things up much?
Unit singles (Unit Construction Singles) are from the days when BSA and Triumph were operated on a sort of collective basis, sharing a lot of parts, mainly the engines. Good examples are BSA Starfires, Triumph Trophies, BSA Bantams. Most 250 - 500 cc bikes from the 60's and early seventies. The complete list of unit singles is - From Triumph - TR25W (like mine), T25T, T25SS, TR5MX - From BSA - C15, B40, B25, B44, B50 The one to get if you can is the B44 Victor Special (500cc). Later bikes tended to get less con-rod issues. |
Why not try to find a pre 1972 BMW. An R60/5 for example, is a very reliable bike, comfortable on long trips, can carry luggage easy and is easy on fuel.
They are reliable and spares can still be found AND they have the gearchange on the left side. |
The enfield is not just right hand side, but upside down. Nevertheless it is quite easy to get used to. I have an XT and an Enfield which means swapping between the two types regularly and it's not a problem. I certainly wouldn't let it influence your choice of bike.
You said you'd like a pre '72 bike as they are tax exempt. Is saving £40 a year really that important? As 'old' style bikes go the Enfield is a good choice as there is a HUGE amount of tuning mods available, and they can be tweaked towards being not too bad off-road. Hitchcocks do trials conversions that include small tanks, high exhausts, 21" front wheels...the list goes on. You can also pick them up quite cheap. The down side is that they have fairly poor performance by modern standards. The 350 Classic is an 18bhp engine and cruises at about 55mph. Tops you are looking at 65mph unless you are riding down hill with your moustache sucked in. The 500 doesn't have a great deal more poke, so I understand. The Enfield also needs looking after, it's not like a modern jap bike that can go forever on a sympathetic smile, you need to check and adjust and tweak stuff all the time. If you don't like getting your hands oily don't buy an enfield. If you do, they are superb tinkering bikes! The Triumph Bonnie looks like a nice alround bike which could cope with a bit of green laning etc. There is some chat elsewhere on the HUBB about using them as adv-tourers and the general impression is that they are pretty good. You'd be getting modern performance/reliability with that too. Another alternative might be a BMW R80 (the one sans fairing). Quite capable off-road apparently and good, solid reliable bikes I understand. (A mate has one). Matt :) |
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I guess road tax isn't a huge issue...... I have a fair few cars..... mostly tax exempt and love the overall savings! To be honest I really don't know what I want anymore..... I've been looking pondering for a couple of months. I love older vehicles, more character, easy to work on (I love tinkering with cars and bikes). I have a Ducati 996 which is my fun bike, but I want something I can take the other half out on, when I get some time have a tour around England and eventually (hopefully) go further afield..... hopefully maybe one day! Russia would be great but whether I'll be able to ever go....... anyway, going off topic. An Enfield seems good.... cheap, cheerful, simple, but maybe I should be looking for something completely different, not tax exempt, even a trials bike? I don't want to spend much....... I don't want anything particularly heavy, preferably easy spares potential in other countries if I ever get to disappear? As I was looking at an Enfield you can tell speed doesn't worry me! I imagine you're right, a right hand gear change probably wouldn't cause me any problems but being used to left hand, I would rather that..... I used to be indecisive but I'm not sure! :( |
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If you have no real pre-conceptions but want something interesting just go shopping and see what you end up with! I guess most old bikes have the same big advantage (can be fixed anywhere, mainly with a hammer) and disadvantages (must be fixed everywhere, especially if you used the hammer last time) |
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There are some great bikes out there....... It's amazing some of the things to be found on ebay. I've seen some nice old bikes but couldn't buy as it seems a shame ruining a nice original bike. A nice ratter that I can build on and make how I want it would be nice! |
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I think the question raised 'is saving £40 a year really that important' is a good thing to ask.
a trawl round some of the independent triumph dealers (if you can find any) may turn up the odd gem. The triumph/enfield dealer in Northfields always had old Tiger's and stuff lying about. personally I think there's little point in buying a road going enfield and converting it to a more capable off-roader. just get a more capable off-roader in the first place. obviously it depends what kind of off-road you are talking about. mine was very good in sand and deep mud, and didn't even think twice about gravel/piste. lumps and bumps is where I had problems, and had to be cautious. but then that style of bike can't take the geometry of long travel forks. something like an XT500 probably appeals more (to me) now, with the benefit of hindsight. Still old style, still requires care, but more capable off-road. I'd pay the £60 road tax, but save £200 by not having to get new rear frame parts which I busted on the enfield (twice) while on the lumps and bumps. |
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200 Quid for parts you can by for a 10nner? I just bought a set of mudgards and rails front and back for 10 quid each. Get a bullet a new 500 and mod it is my advice. Mine has MX bars from HMC, a 20l tank 100.00 pounds delivered to the door from India. Sports silencer and airbox, hagons on the rear and the brake upgrade for the rear. My plan is to build an overlander version. |
yes, I'm a complete sell-out. :-)
but try getting those parts sent to Mali for £10! I should have upgraded the rear shocks before leaving, which I would do if I was leaving again on an enfield. |
I have pondered a trials bike..... something light appeals to me. I wouldn't want an engine bigger than 500cc, 4 stroke of course, any other suggestions? At least I wouldn't feel guilty butchering and abusing it! Watching Ewen and Charlie definitely put the point home that light is good! It was funny when they were dropping their big bikes struggling to get them up and Claudio :mchappy: was skipping along on the little red devil bike!
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I got worried when you talked about left foot shifting. I'm glad to know the Enfield is still right foot. If I blow up the Duc again, it's an Enfield 350 for me. I thought I'd have to start riding my SR500 again to get used to left foot shifting.
--Dave 1965 Ducati 250 196? Monkey Wards/Benelli 125 cafe 1972 Ducati 350 1974 Norton Commando 750 1979 Yamaha SR500 (takes the "fun" out of old singles by being reliable) |
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If you do go for an Enfield you might want to try and get a British one. Despite the fact that they are newer the Indian Enfields have appaling metal so don't last well....
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Injun Enfields have a rather chequered history. Some are much better than others. Recent ones are quite good.
Out of interest, DSJ, you were saying you've got a few cars you don't pay tax on. What have you got? (Realise this is off topic!) Matt :) |
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I've got: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza 2300 with del 48's - fun! 1972 Land Rover 109 1972 Land Rover 88 1954 Austin A30 1962 Trojan Tro-bike An old Austin Healey 3000 in need of serious restoration which I'm importing from the States. My everyday car is a 2002 peugeot 206 1.4 diesel, that's £35 a year tax, going down to £20 a year tax next year due to good emissions! Therefore, the thing I pay most tax on is my Ducati 996! I can't remember the price off hand. |
That's a nice collection of vehicles!
The Austin Healey 3000 is my dream car, pref. in the cream and light blue colour scheme! Matt :) |
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I'm not a fan of red cars but I saw a red and cream Healey which just looked stunning (not sure what colour red it was), so I'll probably go for that in the end. Prior to seeing this red car I always love the cream and light blue! |
Although, it has to be said, the 100 is a bloody lovely car too. When I have inexplicably accumulated vast wealth I might have one of each!
Matt :) |
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