A few days back I wrote a blog post on why I would never buy a bullet, today I am writing about the kind of Royal Enfield Bullet I would like to buy, if Royal Enfield ever chooses to produce it.
Improved reliability: Irrespective of how much or how little you like to work on your motorcycle, a more reliable machine would definitely be a boon for you while out touring. After all it is not like that Royal Enfield motorcycles are cheap, I am sure with the amount of money a Royal Enfield owner shells out or is willing to shell out, Royal Enfield can certainly do a thing or two about the reliability factor and if that leads to a slight price increase, then I don’t think any would really mind.
Another thing I would like to see in the reliability front is the ability to start the motorcycle, even if the battery is completely dead. I know it is possible in certain models, but not sure which one. But would certainly like to see this implemented across the board, after all if other motorcycles can be started without battery (though Bajaj is going backwards on this idea), why not Royal Enfields?
Of course electric starter should also be good and reliable one as well, as it really comes in handy in case you get stuck somewhere.
Improved fuel system: Have seen plenty of bulletiers cringe about the fact that the stock carburetors of Bullets are rather limiting, apart from this I have also seen the mileage of bullets drop by 20-25% while touring in high altitude areas, while majority of other motorcycles only register a drop of 10-15%. While this might be due to the fact that Enfields are running richer, it is something that Royal Enfield R&D should pay attention to. Especially when they market it as a motorcycle for touring and in particular, in hills.
Extended warranty: If not as a standard option, at least as a optional thing? It would give me peace of mind while purchasing a motorcycle, if I know that for 40,000-50,000kms or couple of years, I would only be spending on consumables and my bike would be taken care of.
18-20 liter petrol tank: While in a way it goes slightly against below listed point, but having a slightly higher fuel capacity is something that all tourers would appreciate. After all if 150cc motorcycles can have 16-18 liter fuel tank, why shouldn’t a bullet? It would save the trouble of getting an aftermarket petrol tank, which all those who love touring in remote areas, often end up getting.
Lighter than the current models: If I were to buy a Royal Enfield motorcycle, I would like it to weigh around 150-155kg. This would not only put it in the same weight category as Karizma and Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi, it would also improve power to weight ratio. For this to happen, Royal Enfield might not even need to make any drastic changes to the engine, though a slight weight reduction would surely be needed, though majority of it would end up coming from the looks section, which for me is a non issue.
Brighter headlight: 55/60w headlight as a stock option would be quite better than the 35/35w headlight that 350s come with and 45/40w that the 500 comes with. Even those who ride inside the city, should benefit from it, for tourers it would be a blessing.
Disc brake as standard equipment: Today even the 125cc motorcycles come with disc brake and almost all the 150cc+ motorcycles have it as standard equipment, then why not Royal Enfields? Of course the front suspensions also need some reworking as they are just too stiff under braking to provide any feedback.
Slightly upswept exhaust: Not a big deal, but should help while one is crossing a nallah or a stream. Though it would end up reducing the amount of luggage that can be mounted.
Cigarette lighter socket: This would not only help recharge mobile phone/GPS/camera battery (good for those touring in remote areas), it would also work with the portable electric compressor, which is a must carry accessory while touring. Touring motorcycles abroad already have this option and it can be fitted easily in just about any Indian motorcycles as well, but things are just more reliable, if they are factored in while designing and producing a motorcycle.
Well these are just some of the things that come to my mind as of now, and although I wish to see them implemented across the board, it would be the UCE based Machismo that I would like to see all this being implemented on and would seriously be interested in buying one.
Of course no one knows the bike as well as its current owners, so let me know what you guys think and feel is missing from your Royal Enfield and would like to see in future. Then maybe the Royal Enfield R&D guys can go over it and create a motorcycle which doesn’t needs to rely on the legacy of Royal Enfield to sell, and would genuinely be interesting for tourers like me.
62 Comments
Well earlier this year I did a trip to Ladakh on my 1962 Norton 750 Atlas,which broke down near Leh and then I rode a friends Bullet for the remainder of the journey.well i found the new bike should have been lighter and have bigger tank.My problem with RE is that they have been very slow in adapting to 21st century technology,like no O2 sensor on their fuel injection bikes,the starter clutch is clunky,poor lighting etc. Its time they designed bikes keeping in mind performance,ergonomics and visual appeal,all of which is lacking,for eg the silencer,gear shifter,and the spring saddle seat in some of the models when it already has a decent rear shock absorber. As for RE biker’s attitude I will say I have some great friends who ride bullets,happy riding,Rajesh nair
Rajesh, same here. I have several good friends and people I respect, who ride Enfields and overall Enfield isn’t a bad bike per say (especially the new UCEs and in particular Thunderbird 500).
Dear Mr. Yogesh, I am a hardcore kitchen head and own a restaurant at Colaba (family buisness). I do have a driving license but never in my life have got behind a steering wheel. Reason..well, I live in Boombaii City. I’m sure you understand what traffic is like over here right. ‘Traffic’ is not even a word for what goes down on our so called roads which by the way are a rapidly extincting breed amongst potholes if you know what I mean. Another reason being..I’d hate to be the family driver for no fun of my own. Lol. So, I have been riding only two wheelers since Std.X.
You know..practicality…it’s a whore.
Anyways, although on a practical level I do agree that Royal Enfields have a lot of room for improvement even with the new models..I still believe it is definitely far Superior than most other two wheelers out there.
Hardcore bikers have passion and love for their machines no matter what type of bike they own. But the reason why a Royal Enfield rider shudders to imagine himself on any other machine than this one..is well, pretty darn impossible to describe in words frankly. I could barely attempt a pathetic try..to get what it is all about in words.
First of all..a Royal Enfield enthusiast would never really consider buying one if he had to analyze the bike under normal parameters, you know.
An enfield is not just a bike..it’s a different biker relegion alltogether.
You don’t just buy the product when you buy this particular two wheeler…you enter a whole new breed of passion riders.
Do you know the reason why your Norton got stuck on that journey to Leh. It was not beacuse of that tecnicality. No. Its simple, it was never meant to make that trip. No bike is. A Royal Enfield is the one and only two wheeler..in the whole wide world..which is ideal for a hardcore biker maniac to make that trip all the way to the highest motorable road on planet earth (Khardung La) and back. I mean it was built to last in such terrains and harsh environment in the first place.
A true Royal Enfield bug stung biker just cannot be satisfied with anything else on two wheels even if it is a 24lac Harley Davidson or a 28lac Triumph for that matter. It just has to be a Royal Enfield. The answer to exactly WHY..?? ..still not known to mankind. But there sure is Something..sir.
And honestly, I don’t think comparing a Royal Enfield to anything else on two wheels..with due respect..makes sense at all.
You don’t have to be quick and agile or fast enough to overtake..everyone makes way for the good old thumper. You roll on a royal enfield on the road and bam..you’re way past comparing yourself with others and demanding respect, no..you command respect aboard all its glory.
Lemme put it this way..why do you think a humble 2bhk beach facing apartment costs almost as much as a small villa in the outskirts..??
Its not just about the carpet area you get for the amount you pay..but the lifestyle and social status that comes with that particular property ain’t it..?
It is somewhat similar when it comes to other mid sized bikes and a Royal Enfield.
So yes..you’re not completely wrong. It does mostly not make any sense. But then again one doesn’t buy the thump using one’s brain..it is the beating heart that does the talking all the way. Think about it..it is way deeper than it looks.
Thank You so much for your time and consideration.
Ovais.
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Dear Sir,
I have a Pulsar 150 DTSi first lot (2004), which I took to Leh in 2009 (after clocking about 1,00,000 km). And to mu surprise, the bike didn’t disappoint me at all. I did a lot of offroading in those terrains and my little Pulsar, it didnt complain about the way i rode on those terrains. Well, Khardung La was a piece of cake, but the most challenging routes were from Rohtang to Tanglang La. And pulsar felt lighter, zippier, manageable, more agile than most of the Bullets. In fact, I met a few Isrealies riding Std 350s who told me that Bulls were very slow, a bit irreliable too. And managing about 200kg (weight of riders + luggage) was a bit difficult on bulls.
My bike had same weight laiden on it. But i felt it was manageable.(Because Power to Weight ratio in pulsar is higher than bullets).
All in all, i had a very pleasureable journey on pulsar.
I do own a 2009 Electra 5S LB model, which is good, but while riding on terrains like Gata Loops or Tanglang La, I’ll still have doubts on Bullet about its reliability. Pulsar is bike which i can trust blindly and take anywhere.
I agree with Yogesh, that Bullets do need to take these improvements factors very seriously.
Bullets – average kmpl figure is so pain inflicting that we Bulleteers ignore this question saying one who rides a bullet doesnt care about how much kmpl our bullets yield. The truth is the figure hurts 🙂
M sure many would agree.
Bullet is a great bike. But i would be a bit skeptical to take it on very remote routes, for the lack of mechanics / spares in such areas. And who would like to get stuck in such situations?
Thank you all for reading this patiently.
Regards,
Chinmay Tikhe.
P.S.: I am a die hard fan of Bullets, I’ve been riding these machines since last 10 years atleast. But my vote on reliability and mileage concerns doesnt go to Bullets.
(And being a Mechanical Engineer, a Design professional, I would definitely count on the reliability scores while on big, ride hard tours.)
Very well put Chinmay.
Royal Enfield has been making progress and they have introduced newer generation Enfleids with quite a few of the things I had asked for. But it still needs improvement and hope they do not get complacent with recent success.
upswept exhaust is in a way – the way you mentioned – is advantageous, but it would result in the customary dug-dugs hitting straight at the person’s face travelling behind the bike…
Sundeep, Classic already comes with upswept exhaust.
Hi Yogesh,
While not being biased with bullets or hating them, I would like to admit that I was being frank in what I have seen and experienced with enfields and what I actually expect from a motorcycle which apparently the bullets never had. As I said earlier, I respect all motorcycles which are outstanding performers irrespective of their brands or history. However, I cannot help but praise and respect just one newly launched motorcycle from the RE shelf, which is the Himalayan. Guys, for the first time in the entire RE’s history, here comes a real, purpose built motorcycle. The Himalayan has an aim in it. Its performance is just about perfect for its category, though it lacks about 5BHP more. A nicely matched gear ratios which comes with balanced RPM and low end torque. I admire RE for finally going beyond and building a perfect adventure tourer bike which has a purpose, added with the comfortable seats and provision for luggage carriage. The motorcycle is rugged and lasts for years to come..Now thats what I’m talking about!!
I own a 150cc Honda Trigger. I have done Pangi Valley and Spiti Valley in the last two years. This bike is complete peace of mind. Tubless Tyres, reliability, great fuel efficiency have added to the charm of rides. My Enfield co-riders had to buy compromised quality fuel from a shop in the middle of night, the bike broke down on highway and it took 4 hours to repair, couple of punctures took hours to fix. I started from Manali on a 12 Lt. tank full and The fuel lasted till Delhi covering 720kms. Mind you I was cruising with them constantly at 80 KMPH on NH1