Off Topic, but some of you might know.

What do you think of or know about Royal Enfield Motorcycles? They look pretty cool, vintage 60's english bike looking. They seem to have a big following.

As always, many thanks,
Andy

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83 300D 169K (Mine)
86 F250 4X4 6.9 (Mine)
05 VW Passat TDI (Wife's)

The old RE bikes were made in England and like most English bikes of the era were good looking but basically crap mechanically. The addage used to be that if you took a picture of a British bike and put it in your pocket it would leak oil on to your shirt. I had a couple and try as I might I could never keep them running or stop them from leaking.

I don't know for sure where this incarnation of RE are made but I have a feeling that at the price they are made in India. India has long made old British motor products like the Morris Minor long after they stopped being made in the UK. They used to make International farm tractors. When International discontinued the model India continued making them as Mahrinda. They are still a very good tractor.

I would say that the REs that are advertised in the cycle mags. are probably made in India. Saying that the Indians are pretty good at keeping things running. For the price, which I think is about $5k, it might not be a bad investment. I wouldn't plan on smoking anyone off the line but for a daily driver I think that they are probably worth the money.

Stay away from the new RE, they are junk at best!!! We had a customer trade one in this past summer. Everyone at the dealership that knew something about how a bike should be built was amazed at the lack of quality!!! If money is an issue, there are lots of very nice gently used metric bikes out there that will out perform the RE in every aspect.

THIS looks like a cool old classic. Not a RE, but I bet it could keep up with it.

Made in India and hopelessly unreliable (40 year old design, the tooling was sold to a company in india) compared to todays standards. I was thinking of going to India on a holiday and buying a 350 Enfield Bullet and touring the country (might still do it one of these days). Instead I bought a Yamaha tenere and went to the Sahara instead. The only problem I had with the tenere the whole journey was a busted clutch cable. With an Enfield I suspect the bike would spend just as much time in the garage as on the road. Although repairs in India would be dirt cheap, its just that the hassle may not me worth it.

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1992 300D 2.5 Turbodiesel 96,000 miles

For less than $3k you can buy a 20 year old BMW 900cc with less than 20k miles that will easily go another 100k w/o any repairs. You can also but a 3 year 750 old rice rocket for $4k.

Now, being true to the forum here, it should be mentioned that there are diesel-powered bikes.

Personally, I like the Kaw that is made for the US Army.

If only I could get my hands on one of those Actually the Royal Enfield was converted to a diesel engine too, by a company in Cranfield UK -if I remember correctly.

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1992 300D 2.5 Turbodiesel 96,000 miles