[tarmacnaut]

Originally Posted by tharian

I haven't ridden the Classic reborn yet, but have ridden the Meteor and Hunter.

Technology has to advance in order for a company to survive and that is what RE has been doing. If you talk about the UCE engine to have a certain charm, what about the Cast Iron's Enfield's? So the J series down the line, will have people who talk about its charm and would have forgotten about the UCE before that, just like how the cast iron engines are forgotten now. Heck, some people didn't even know such an engine existed as well as the AVL. When the AVL engines came out, the reaction was just this, that the Bullet has lot its charm. You cannot continue with a pushrod engine with the emissions and more power requirement from consumers or you end up like H-D and at the end, it is the consumers who still get to enjoy the bike. Even if the J series engine feels very commuter, does riding a Classic feel like riding a Splendor or some 100-150cc bikes?

RE motorcycles have come a long way from what it was 20-25 years ago and there is a reason their sales numbers show it too.

Agree, this could be resonating with senior bikers who complained RE lost its charm when RE moved from Cast Iron to AVL/AVL to UCE.

But unlike the current SOHC setup in Reborn, Cast Iron, UCE or AVL were NOT mainstream engine setups and all had push rods. That's why I feel the Classic 350 to be too mainstream, but this is just my personal take.

[soloTraveller]

Originally Posted by puntra800

Now since my bike is reaching the 15 year mark I wanted to change it and the dormant devil woke up again now with double the vengeance(Fuelled by my better half, she is also a big RE fan). My brain on the other hand started working exactly in the opposite direction of my heart just telling me to think logically

I had a Bullet 350 as brand new but sold it for personal reasons last year.

I loved every moment of owning and riding it, I rode up hills and mountains, in wind and rain, long solo rides.. but thats where it ends, my selfish trips!

Its not perfect, it will rust, it will vibrate, and its not practical unless add accessories to hold luggage. So if you want practicality for a family then probably not best option. Again I'm not sure if its safe to ride with a little child unless they are old enough to be seated properly.

It would definitely be fun for you and the better half though - so its a compromise. End of the day you got to decide whether you listen to your heart and just go for it and use 4 wheels for family commute, or to your head and get something practical like a scooter.

Being an RE fan I would recommend it knowing its little flaws but sometimes you got to be practical and ignore what hard core fans say

Whatever you do, all the best!

[masterChief007]

Get the RE classic (though I haven't test ridden it), If need be sell it off later once your itch is done, but if you think you are going to miss out and regret not getting the RE, just go and get it, no matter what others advice you. For practicality you may add a hard pannier for groceries. There are millions of reasons of not doing something, but if there is even a single reason that will make you regret your choice later, of missing out the chance, then that single reason trumps the million others.

Regarding build quality etc, I too once had told everyone in my circle that I am never going to get another RE, but seriously I test rode KTM 390 adv, Honda highness and RE Interceptor and believe me the gear shifts of the interceptor (almost matches the honda) and the engine smoothness trumps both honda and KTM.

RE have improved a lot in their build quality I must say. So you can safely bet on the J-series.

[Kalash_6324]

Originally Posted by tarmacnaut

Agree, this could be resonating with senior bikers who complained RE lost its charm when RE moved from Cast Iron to AVL/AVL to UCE.

But unlike the current SOHC setup in Reborn, Cast Iron, UCE or AVL were NOT mainstream engine setups and all had push rods. That's why I feel the Classic 350 to be too mainstream, but this is just my personal take.

As much as I enjoy the "dug dug" on my 2013 Classic 350, I have to say that for the sake of lowering pollution, both air and sound, the J series was a step in the right direction.
They were focused on minimising issues that people always complained about with the UCE, i.e., vibrations, fit and finish and build quality.
So the fact that we're now complaining about the bike losing it's charm due to technological advancements is nothing but nitpicking.

I have experience with both, since I own a Meteor 350 too, which is just as fun to ride, surefooted and even more confidence inspiring than my UCE.
I love both of them the same and wouldn't trade one for the other.
The UCE has the "dug dug" charm working for it, while the Meteor is a lot more confidence inspiring in the twisties and encourages me to push to limits I wouldn't dare imagine touching on the UCE.
They're both wonderful bikes and are just as much an RE product as any that's existed before.
I know I sound like a complete fan boy, but what the hell. We all love the things that we love!

[Prayaglele]

I was in a similar situation, with having switched to a car in recent years and my older bike gathering some dust. But with the rumours of the super meteor, it had kindled a want to bike again. When the launch came, I had a few life changing events as well, which gave me the final drive and I booked it and got a very early delivery. 3 months in, I've covered 5000kms, go for atleast one weekend ride, and use the bike almost exclusively with exception of need for a car on certain days. It's been the most refreshing 3 months in the last couple of years and I couldn't be happier. Solo rides too are so liberating and I've used it to its fullest extent. All concerns regarding practicality, traffic and what not become secondary, once the will to ride kicks in. Also no matter what, in terms of traffic, any bike is going to be easier than a car to handle. Also RE has really upped their game, from what it used to be and their bikes are much more reliable now. At the end of the day, it is a state of mind or heart rather. Summing it up, I'd say go for the RE, if your heart really is pulling you and you won't regret it.

[DSC]

You have three choices:

Go with your heart: RE Hunter will be the best suited choice given your circumstances. It is also the most practical RE in the present lineup. Scram 411 should be the next choice.

Take the middle ground. If you are not associated with the brand and want something with that design, Jawa could provide you some alternatives. This isn't a wise choice though.

Go with brain: Probably Suzuki Vstrom 250 will cater to your needs better. Yamaha FZ25 is also a good second fiddle.

My suggestion: If you don't park your vehicle, stand at a distance, and don't admire your ride, you have bought the wrong one.

[shiv4747]

I had the exact similar experience. So I would like to share my POV.

I had RE experience few years back. Prior RE I was using CBZ Xtreme, Yamaha FZ. The riding style from these to RE riding was drastically difference. Hence it would take sometime for you to adapt to it. I used to do the gear shift in RE just like FZ during my initial days, which was not right. The engine refinement is different. So you have to get use to that as well.

Maneuvering in traffic with RE or if you see a empty road doing a little bit of adrenaline rush or a quick possible/safe overtake will be missed.

Whereas the best pillion comfort or doing short ride with your little one are best in RE. Unlike FZ/Pulsar the extra care for RE is much needed like transformation into a matured man from a typical bachelor.

I wasn't able to do that extra care I sold it to my friend who really can.

PS: I sincerely don't recommend buying a scooter. The suspension and shock absorber level will make you regret buying it after a couple of thousand kms. I did that recently as well. I bought a scooter type for my daily office commute. Easy to handle. Economical. Best in traffic. But I didn't able to continue due to my shoulder aches with the road conditions/unexpected pot holes which appears now and then.

Cheers

[tarmacnaut]

Originally Posted by shiv4747

Unlike FZ/Pulsar the extra care for RE is much needed like transformation into a matured man from a typical bachelor.

I wasn't able to do that extra care I sold it to my friend who really can.

You don't have to go on hard on yourself, sir. no 'maturity' is needed to own an RE. RE is just a overrated, slow and heavy bike. It is not a high capacity super bike, that needs maturity to ride.

In my opinion, You took a 'mature' decision of not caring about what other people would say and sold the bike, as it is not worth the hype. I know a few still lugging around their heavy REs despite their hurting hip/back, as they would rather not 'hurt' their pride by selling it.

[ron_9191]

As a retro classic the Royal Enfield is second to none. In terms of practicality any gear less or electric scooter would make sense for what you want to do. I have an 18 year old RE and I absolutely hate riding thst thing in Bangalore traffic and Bangalore traffic when.it rains heavily. Royal Enfield motorcycles are for the highway (if you're not behind redlining your speedometer and the tachometer) Keep it at 100 kph and it will go wherever you take it. For the kind of use you mentioned I feel a KTM 250 makes more sense.

[navin_v8]

Interesting conversation going on here w.r.t what happens when "old meets new". RE has played the retro classic game pretty well since Sid Lal's takeover. Given the changing demographics RE has managed to stay relevant till date by offering what the market wants.

I remember back in the day if one wanted to own a big displacement engine >= 350cc (power/performance notwithstanding) there were absolutely zilch options when it came to domestically made motorcycles, except RE. Up until the last decade when KTM started offering their 390's followed recently by Bajaj, Honda, Mahindra (Classic Legends), etc.

Coming to the matter of listening to heart or brain, when it comes to RE, it is a decision that comes from the heart.

Anyone who's looking to buy the new J series RE, be rest assured, the engine is still technically a thumper (all big singles are) irrespective of pushrod, OHC, DOHC, etc. I've had the privilege of owning CI 350 (G2, B1, LX); AVL 350 and UCE 500. All engines have their unique character and are better than each other in some fronts and not so better on other fronts.

As far as ones own age goes with riding these motorcycles, it is absolutely untrue of these motorcycles being uncomfortable on the back or rest of the body. This is if one knows their own and motorcycle's limitations. There is one old uncle in my area who has a mid 70's CI Bullet 350. He used to start his motorcycle in the morning for going to office which I eagerly used to watch just before going to school. Even today I see him in his early 70's taking his Bullet 350 to buy groceries and thereabouts. Out of curiosity I once asked him if he is able to manage the heavy motorcycle at this age. He replied that it is at least much better than the scooters which will break my back, besides I am able to putter around (read tractable) on city roads with minimal gear changes while ride on the same gear from 50 to as low 20 KMPH. It feels like riding an auto transmission two wheeler he quipped.

The sales figures of the new J series in the avatar of Meteor, CL, Hunter, etc. proves that it has been lovingly been accepted by the market.

I sincerely hope that one day RE brings back their big 500 single in an OHC avatar on the Bullet.

[Kalash_6324]

Originally Posted by ron_9191

As a retro classic the Royal Enfield is second to none. In terms of practicality any gear less or electric scooter would make sense for what you want to do. I have an 18 year old RE and I absolutely hate riding thst thing in Bangalore traffic and Bangalore traffic when.it rains heavily. Royal Enfield motorcycles are for the highway (if you're not behind redlining your speedometer and the tachometer) Keep it at 100 kph and it will go wherever you take it. For the kind of use you mentioned I feel a KTM 250 makes more sense.

I'd recommend you try out the Meteor or the Hunter 350 sir.
Incredibly easy to ride bikes, even in city traffic.
Although one thing I would say is you can't compare riding an RE, or any bike, to a scooter.
It's an automatic vs. manual conversation.

[Kalash_6324]

Originally Posted by tarmacnaut

You don't have to go on hard on yourself, sir. no 'maturity' is needed to own an RE. RE is just a overrated, slow and heavy bike. It is not a high capacity super bike, that needs maturity to ride.

In my opinion, You took a 'mature' decision of not caring about what other people would say and sold the bike, as it is not worth the hype. I know a few still lugging around their heavy REs despite their hurting hip/back, as they would rather not 'hurt' their pride by selling it.

You've got to get your perspective right mate.
Your expectations are completely misaligned with the purpose of the product.
An RE is supposed to be an easy-going, relaxed, comfortable bike that you can cruise on for hours.
It prioritises tractability over super fast acceleration.
A while ago, you were criticising newer RE products because they've "lost their charm" by moving away from a cast iron push rod, now you're criticising the old ones for being big, heavy, and unmanageable machines.
Cast irons and weight go hand in hand.
Newer engines are muted from the factory due to government regulations.
Put on a decent free flowing exhaust on a J series and you'll find the thump you're looking for.


Another thing, people who hurt their backs riding a bike, any bike, have no business getting on the saddle for either of 2 reasons.
1. Age: If they're old and find managing the bike a burden in traffic, it basically comes down to them losing their strength, which has nothing to do with the bike, rather with the lifestyle they have.
It's just unsafe for them and others.
Their inability to accept their own limitations reflects negatively on them as individuals, not the machine.


2. Skill: it's very simple. The higher the gap between your skill and the ability of the bike, the higher your chances of getting hurt.
Getting to the point where you're skilled enough to ride a litra class bike is a process.
You start with something small - a 250 or maybe even less, then slowly move up in capacity.
You've got to respect whatever you ride.
I'm sure every rider on the forum has started on something extremely humble.

Also, this is an automotive forum where we encourage people to explore their passions and support them in their journey, so at the very least words of encouragement and support are appreciated if we don't have any positive contributions to the conversation.

[marcussantiago]

"Listen to the heart or brain?"

Not to get all philosophical here, but having owned eight bikes over ten years and regretting some of those decisions, I have come up with a system for picking the right bike.

Heart or brain? It's both. Of course this is not that simple, so I think I've cracked the formula somewhat. Bear with me.

You go with your heart when picking the bike in general. How does it make you feel? What is it like to ride? The feeling is more like the bike chose you, rather than the other way round.

Now for the head. The heart stuff sounds all rosy and nice but you have to consider what your brain is saying too. And this part is reserved for what I call "deal breakers." What are the things you cannot live with? Things that will be a serious problem in the future?

For example. I came very close to buying a Harley Street 750 many years back, when it was still somewhat new. Even had the finances in order and everything. And I liked the bike despite its many flaws. After all, it's a cruiser, a Harley, but also specifically built for the Asian market. Fits short riders like me, has a radiator to deal with heat, that kind of thing. Felt nice to ride, lots of torque, I could see myself touring on it.

Now here's where the head part came in. No ABS, and also very mediocre tyres that gave a level of grip where I wondered if they were coated in plastic or something. No grip whatsoever. Now that can be solved, but the overall brakes were so poor that I nearly crashed just doing a test ride. Came to a U-turn and the bike refused to slow down enough. I kept pressing the brake more and more until finally the rear wheel started slipping.

So my heart said yes, but my brain pointed out a deal breaker: bad brakes that would be, at best, very expensive to replace with better ones. New tyres, better brake system, all that. And on top of costing the same as several other good superbikes that already come with everything you need. So in the future, this would certainly be a huge problem.

By the time H-D had improved the Street, I noticed the Vulcan and ultimately went for that instead.

With the Vulcan, for example, I knew the low ground clearance could be an issue. But when I thought about it, it was a compromise I could learn to live with. After all what I really wanted to do was highway touring mainly, where this isn't such an issue. So the pros outweighed that one con. The only other issue was the dim headlight, which is easy to fix with an aftermarket bulb, so not a huge problem.

So basically the heart gives you an idea of what you'd enjoy, but the head warns you of things you might regret later on.

Hope that helps!

[Kalash_6324]

Originally Posted by marcussantiago

"
Heart or brain? It's both. Of course this is not that simple, so I think I've cracked the formula somewhat. Bear with me.

You go with your heart when picking the bike in general. How does it make you feel? What is it like to ride? The feeling is more like the bike chose you, rather than the other way round.

Now for the head. The heart stuff sounds all rosy and nice but you have to consider what your brain is saying too. And this part is reserved for what I call "deal breakers." What are the things you cannot live with? Things that will be a serious problem in the future?

This, in my opinion too is I think the simplest way one can go about making decisions in life.
Whatever the decision is, it comes down to how much I prefer (love) one option over the other and how much am I willing to compromise in order to make it work.
Great answer!

[Grease_Monkey]

Others have already given great advice, but just something from a fellow uncle 😁 (I'm 36). So, I'm actually shorter than you (5'5" on a good day), and commute to office on my Himalayan in Bangalore chock a block conditions. I keep my car for family outings and highway duties since I got a 2 year old, and can't/ won't take her in the bike due to safety reasons.
Now, Himalayan is probably the least suited bike for commuting in traffic - it's heavy, difficult to maneuver and park, get's heated up and most of the power / torque is wasted. But, the feeling when I ride it is amazing, and so is the torque which lets me pull nicely from traffic. I tried out meteor and found its power lacking especially with a pillion, and the rear suspension too stiff. Classic or Hunter are good bikes from RE too, you should be able to flat foot atleast one side most of these bikes, I am on half flat foot one side in Himalayan and able to manage easily in traffic.
Head wanted me to buy a "sensible" bike, but heart said go for Himalayan, and I did and don't regret it. Try out various options and see which one tugs your heart as biking is all about the heart not head!