Is the Enfield Bullet a Practical Commuter?

[Rincewind]

Kevin Ash seems to think so (not to mention the Indian subcontinent).  The article is a year old and describes last year's model, but I just came across it myself.  A new motor, new fuel injection, wet clutch, and gearbox, make the latest 80mpg, 85mph Bullets seem pretty viable.  Power is up from 22hp to a palm-sweating 27hp.  Luckily the kick-start remains for coolness factor.  

Do you think these enhancements make the Bullet a practical commuter?  Ash gives it a 4/5 stars, but he often seems pretty generous in his reviews.  The Bullet that I test rode over 10-years ago, with it's complicated starting ritual and poor drum brakes, failed to impress me much.  But these new models with disc brakes and FI make me think that maybe Royal Enfield deserves a revisit.  

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/goodwood-revival/8722659/Royal-Enfield-Bullet-review.html

[shil]

Cycle Canada's take on the Enfield (and a Ural).

[Orson]

I'm guessing it takes a good 5 minutes to get to 85 mph  

I guess if you stuck to side streets and no freeway, it might work as a commuter.

[highside]

Practicality is not the place to start here.

Question one is: do you want one. Question two is: Can you use it enough to justify actually buying it.

When you veer into practicality you go down a path that will never result in buying anything interesting.

The fact is that the Bullet probably wont do anything better than a $3000 craigslist dualsport, and will do a heck of a lot of things much worse. If that matters to you, then you are looking at the wrong bike.

If that DOESN'T MATTER then yes, you probably can pull off an urban commute as a justification to purchase a weird little bike that no one else will have in their garage.

[atadaskew]

I rode one last year and it is complete poo.

I have no idea how it could get to 85mph.  Mine (FI model) felt strained at 55mph.

A dood on the Guzzi site dynoed his,  17 rwhp...

Seven thousand dollars.....  In India they sell for $2K new....

[Cablebandit]

Our local dealer just picked up the line last week.  They seem pretty upbeat about them.  For some reason I doubt they'll be carrying them in a year though.

[ConPilot1]

It's a niche bike, a nostalgic piece. Never be a huge force here, but I suspect there will be always be few who will go for something like this.

[Mr.Black]

Our local dealer had one briefly. No clue what happened to it. There hasn't been another.

[nevinfs327]

Local dealer here is sold out.  I see them being used as city commuters, not that San Francisco is representative of the rest of the country.  Still outnumbered by monsters and scooters about a billion to one.

Need to ride one some day, but generally dig the simplicity.  The cost...not so much.

[veefer800canuck]

Well it depends. How far do you have to push it to work?

[Cablebandit]

Checked then out more closely today with AHD43.  The salesman said they were 100% handmade.  It seemed pretty evident looking at the fasteners.  

They seem like neat little bikes for what they are.  That said I could buy the Honda NC700X for the same money.

[squeezer]

I could buy the Honda NC700X for the same money.

Bummer. I don't want either one.

[Cablebandit]

Judging by the numbers on the showroom floor, neither does anyone else.

[jstark47]

I'm guessing it takes a good 5 minutes to get to 85 mph  

I guess if you stuck to side streets and no freeway, it might work as a commuter.

When the UCE Bullet Classics first came out (2009 I think?) I had occasion to follow a Classic G5 from Bordentown to Trenton, NJ.  This is a route that takes you out on I-295 for a ways, and the G5 had no trouble accelerating smartly to 70mph, or cruising at that speed.  Surprised me.  The rider, Leon Stanley, tore up the off ramp with it, too, bike obviously had no handling issues.

[Aero]

The morning commute could be fun on the Continental GT version due to go into production next year. Some major upgrades on this one and a heady 27hp!
I remember lusting after the original Continental GT250 many decades ago when I was at school and Enfields were still being built in England.

http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/2012/01/royal-enfield-cafe-racer.html

[veefer800canuck]

Wow, that looks absolutely stunning!! Take THAT Ducati.

[Rincewind]

That Continental GT is very sexy.    I'm glad to see they will offer a cafe bike instead of just the cafe DIY kit.  

[falconati]

Absolutely beautiful.  If they'd price it cheap, it would sell in much greater numbers....hopefully they're making their money back, but I bet the dealers would prefer a higher volume, lower margin business for the inevitable amount of maintenance.

[nomadmax]

Suzuki TU250x

I'd say it's close to the Bullet in HP and weight. Prolly have to fiddle with it less.

[atadaskew]

Wow, that looks absolutely stunning!! Take THAT Ducati.

 

Wait, ur not serious are u?

[Baz]

Wow, that looks absolutely stunning!! Take THAT Ducati.

You don't have an H2S alarm going off right now by chance?  

[Papa Lazarou]

They are perfectly fine for commuting. Build quality is better than it was a few years ago and the electrics don't fail on them anymore. Quality has never been as good as the 1950s British made machines-so, if you can get an original in good condition, do it.

[veefer800canuck]

 

Wait, ur not serious are u?

You don't have an H2S alarm going off right now by chance?  

I'm totally serious. That Enfield Cafe' is dead sexy. Hit the nail on the head. The Ducati comment was aimed at the stylists who did the SportClassic bikes. Although they are beautiful, I think the Enfield has captured the essence of Cafe' without too much modernity creeping in.

[atadaskew]

I think the Enfield has captured the essence of Cafe' without too much modernity creeping in.

Yup you definitely do not have to worry about modernity w/ RE.
Whether it's with their metallurgy, paint application, wiring looms, or using a flat blade screw driver on a hex head..

[veefer800canuck]

You haven't seen the enfield factory pinstriping video yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsTIMxeO_ng

(Posting from my phone)

[falconati]

beautiful

[Roadscum]

For cummuting I would recommend a bike with a more upright riding position, you'll have better visability in traffic and less neck strain.

Regads, Paul

[sagerat]

If your daily commute is surface streets with a posted speed in the 40-45 mph range, yeah.  I test rode a Bullet several years ago and it would do fine in stop and go urban traffic; freeways, I'd probably skip.

I always thought the Military version was cool.  But expect to do even more wrenching than you'd do on a Ural.