Royal Enfield motorcycles always hold a special place in the hearts of every bike enthusiast. We look at them in either awe or shock, whenever one passes by. There is something unique about these bikes that make us want to either buy one or stay away. However, if you are among those who drool after a Royal Enfield motorcycle, here are a few things to consider before buying Royal Enfield bike. Here, we have listed out some important things that you should keep in mind while purchasing a Royal Enfield Motorcycle.
Things to Consider Before Buying Royal Enfield
Do not buy these bikes for acceleration/ speed
Royal Enfield bikes are also known as cruisers. Thanks to the way their engines generate power. Engines of the Royal Enfield are popular for their low-end torque. The Royal Enfield classic 350, for instance, delivers a peak torque of about 28 Nm at 4,000 rpm, but do not provide that much power which does not convert into quickness off the line or a high top-speed as the engine rotates at a low speed. However, if you are looking for a motorcycle that can cruise beautifully at about 70 to 80 km/h in top gear for a long span of time, then these are the perfect bikes for you.
Speed
You must have seen many marching their Royal Enfields bike on the streets. However, these bikes were not designed for downright power. While this bike has good low-end torque, the fact is that even a 200cc motorcycle can take about 350 cc, Royal Enfield, in a consecutive-line race. But, if you are not a speed freak and do not mind rolling at any more than 70 to 80 km/h, a Royal Enfield will munch those extra miles without a care in this world.
Vibrations
This is one of the important things to consider before buying Royal Enfield. Handlebar buzz is an important thing and this is the only place you feel it. The low reviving thump of its engine may sound good, but every beat seems to be a hammer to the bottom of the seat. However, not many things have been done to tame those vibrations. A Royal Enfield Classic 350 speeds over 40 km/h which in turn causes rear-view mirrors to vibrate so much that all other things turned into a blur. To add to this, after riding this bike for about 30 minutes, your hands might get numb with the buzz.
Heavyweight
Royal Enfield motorbikes are generally heavy. It is also one of the main reasons why these bikes do not scream off the line or hot at top speed. The lightest Royal Enfield bike on sale these days is the Royal Enfield Himalayan, which weights about 180 kg. Choose 500cc big boys and you will find yourself approaching the double ton mark.
While it is a bit difficult to maneuver in heavy traffic, it is not that difficult while moving. The problem arises if the bike falls. It takes a bit of power to lift it back and if not done in the right way, there are chances that it can hurt your back.
So, make sure you know the right way to lift heavy bikes of you have a crash by watching the video above before you think of buying a Royal Enfield. Keep in mind, lifting up a Royal Enfield or any other heavy motorcycle the wrong way could cause harm to your back and end dreams of riding again.
Cornering
Do not try to corner a Royal Enfield. While making the sparkies on most of the bikes is fun, most of them have footpegs that fall upwards. Most of the Royal Enfields have footpegs that are welded to the frame directly. If you corner very hard, there is a risk of leveraging the rear wheel which in turn results in a dangerous crash.
Durable Frames
The Royal Enfield Himalayan has been designed to be ridden on any type of terrain, so it has been assembled on a long-lasting half-duplex split cradle frame. This frame is robotically welded for strength and high precision. It has been geometrized to keep the person riding the bike closer to the center of the bike. This helps the rider with responsive handling in all riding conditions.
Long Travel Suspension
One of the important things to consider before buying Royal Enfield is the suspension. Taking references from the UK based Harris Performance, Royal Enfield has utilized a totally new long-travel suspension set up in the Royal Enfield Himalayan to match the requirements of its riding capability. The front attains 41 telescopic forks whereas the company uses a mono-shock suspension with linkage at the rear for the foremost time. Built-in with a high ground clearance of 220mm, this set-up helps to ride faster over terrain and makes it one of the best handling Royal Enfield bikes to date.
Availability of ABS
Most of the Royal Enfield motorbikes may appear as they belong in the past but although slowly, they are getting modernized. With the government mainly focusing on the rider’s safety, even Royal Enfield has started providing its bikes with dual-channel ABS as standard with every model. One of the things to check before buying Royal Enfield Classic 350 or any bike for that matter is to get an ABD-equipped motorcycle. Remember, ABS can save your life mainly in case of emergency braking and in slippery conditions. It ensures that your bike does not slip under heavy braking.
Maintenance
While many people say the Royal Enfield is at times can be an expensive bike to maintain, the reality is with a little technical knowledge, it is a fairly simple motorcycle to maintain. You can do most of its maintenance work at your home. You need something more than a basic toolbox.
Riding posture
While the vibrations can cause some buzzing for a few hours after a long ride, you won’t have any back problems. The Royal Enfield motorcycle has an exceptionally comfortable seating position with an upright stance, high handlebars, and a forward set of footpegs.
Big engine
Looking for something more from the Royal Enfield stable? You got it. Royal Enfield launched the new 650 cc twins, the Continental GT and the Interceptor. Both these bikes feature a parallel twin-cylinder engine generating 47.7 PS of power and 52 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
Progressive brakes
Royal Enfield uses a Bybee disc brake fixed on both the rear and front wheel of the Royal Enfield Himalayan and it works well. The front disc is about 300 mm whereas the rear disc is nearly 240 mm providing a perfect bite compared to any other Royal Enfield motorbike and provides a progressive feel which encourages confidence.
High Endurance OHC Engine
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is powered by all-new LS410 that is wholly different than other Overhead Valve (OHV) engines. OHC engines are much lighter and advanced too. It is a torquey long-stroke motor like other RE engines. However, it has a linear delivery and misses on thump too. The high endurance engine has an oil-changing interval of 10,000 km and is capable of performing in a wide range of temperatures. It secures a three-piece crankshaft with a counterbalance and the moving parts have been kept minimum to lessen the unwanted vibrations.
Resale value
Royal Enfield motorbikes are some of the rarest bikes around as far as resale value is concerned. Unlike most motorbikes whose resale value falls like a stone within a few months of buying, Royal Enfield motorcycles hold their value as there is a rising demand for them. Fortunately, most of the new bikes have a long waiting period.