Royal Enfield Motorcycles

Royal Enfields approved for California sale

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:55:00 +0000

New Royal Enfield motorcycles are approved for sale in California.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued Executive Order M-179-0001 ordering "that the engine and emission control systems produced by the manufacturer are certified as described below for on road motorcycles."

The order was signed Monday Aug. 30, 2010 by Annette Hebert, chief of CARB's Mobile Source Operations Division, and issued Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010.

I am indebted to reader Andy Quach for alerting me to to this. It's a big moment in Royal Enfield history in the United States. California is a huge market. Until now, riders who wanted a new Royal Enfield there had to find their own way past California's strict regulations.

Now there is a network of California dealers. With state approval, motorcycles will be for sale.

The engines approved by CARB for the model year 2011 are the new Unit Constructed Engines, with electronic ignition, fuel injection and emissions controls.

It appears from the CARB order that you may be able to tell a Royal Enfield that is approved from one that is not by its Vehicle Identification Number. There will be no "C" or "3" in the eighth position of the VIN of an approved motorcycle.

Royal Enfield's Indian Chief looked classic, but one owner made his look older still

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Two fascinating Royal Enfield motorcycles are owned by Don McMahan, of Lino Lakes, Minn. (it's just north of the twin cities).

He was kind enough to share with me the story of his 1967 Royal Enfield Interceptor, stolen from him in the mid-1970s, recovered three years later, and then rebuilt for him by the legendary George Helm.

More about that next time. But first, the story of McMahan's 1959 Royal Enfield built Indian Chief. Looks different, doesn't it? Well, it is.

Royal Enfield twins were being rebadged and sold as Indians in the United States in the 1950s. With the Chief, Royal Enfield went the extra mile, stretching the wheelbase and using smaller diameter wheels to mimic the heavy, fat-tired look the Indian had when it was built in the U.S.

McMahan decided to go farther, using his skill with fiberglass to create a Royal Enfield Indian Chief that really does look like the classic "Big Indians" of the 1930s. He explains:

"George Helm was a dealer in the Chicago area at the time and his version of the story of the creation of the Chief went something like this: The Indian Sales Corp. was using the old Indian dealer network to sell British imports after the manufacture of Indian motorcycles stopped in 1953. The dealers were strung along with promises of new Indians next year, next year and so on.

"By 1955, to quiet the unhappy dealers, Indian Sales Corp. started badging Royal Enfields as Indians, but the dealers still wanted a 'big' bike to sell to compete with Harley in the police market and touring segment. Finally, with much dealer input, the 1959 Chief was created. There were a few left over in 1960 and even though the badging of Enfields as Indians had stopped, some dealers sold the leftovers as 1960 models.

"George's opinion was that there were probably more Chiefs now than there were sold new, since so many people had recreated them with some combination of old parts, like this one.

"It's a bit'sa, put together by a past owner with a lot of original parts and George Helm's advice. I bought it without George's help and he kind of rolled his eyes when I told him what I'd bought. Never admitted to him what I'd paid for it. The constructor had tried to make it original and after some introspection I wasn't happy with that.

"As purchased, you can't see how cobbed together it was and the Matchless tool box never looked right on the Chiefs that had it. Also it doesn't have the correct Chief tank, which is larger; this is a Trailblazer tank.

"Since it was a bit'sa I didn't have any regrets making it into what I wanted (although I am thinking of having the stock saddle redone so I can put the seat rail back on — it has a solid cast plaque that reads 'Indian' facing back that was an accessory created by the Chicago area dealers).

" I've been in fiberglass all my working life, so I provided fiberglass fenders of my own design that I built to suggest more of the look of the '30's Indians (gave the originals to George; hope they found a good home); fiberglass toolbox that fits into the frame curve; and real Indian saddlebags that were with it when I bought it.

"The light bar is a real Royal Enfield accessory on a bracket I built to fit the Chief, and the driving lamps are modern reproductions. It's still a 6-volt system. The handle bars are Yamaha Royal Star touring bars.

" I just couldn't resist the Sparto tail light, but since that's not enough light out back I recessed a reproduction '39 Ford tail light in the fender. 1959 — you have to have shark fin tips!

"The paint is an off-the-rack color, an aqua metallic that reminded me of the '50s and went well (I think) with the cream two-tone. The pattern of the two-tone design is lifted right from Indians of the '30s, as I said. Boy they built some beautiful bikes then

"George didn't have time, or maybe I didn't have the time, when I needed to have this one gone through. As it turned out, it took 10 years after the rebuild to get all the mechanicals sorted out. It doesn't wear my leg out either, running on the magneto — starts with one kick.

"I could go on, and on. Nothing like a Royal Enfield to start a conversation."

Royal Enfield sidecar lights help put width to work to add safety

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Bike's right turn signal was removed and wired to the car's signal, which also contains a small white running light.

Sidecars are often fitted to Royal Enfield motorcycles. I speculated recently that lights added to a sidecar might increase safety by helping other motorists better judge how far away the motorcycle is and how fast it is approaching.

Drivers, I suggested, are used to judging the speed and distance of another vehicle by the distance between its lights, something a solo motorcycle can't offer.

Ted Wetzler of North Ridgeville, Ohio helpfully sent me the pictures you see here of his Royal Enfield and Cozy sidecar, equipped with a clever set of running lights. He wrote:

Perimeter signals on the bike and car. The car's rear turn signal is also a brake light.

"I thought I would send along some snaps of the bike with car I received last fall. Both front and rear right turn signals were removed by the dealer (Ural Northwest in Bellingham, Wash.) and the signal wires attached to what appear to me to be original equipment signals fitted to the sidecar's sheet metal over the wheel.

Rear combo turn signal/brake light.

"This was no special order and made sense to me as placement was logical, showing the dimensions of the bike to approaching vehicles. The car is a Cozy and the bike is a 2008 Bullet with an engine that has been upgraded slightly to accommodate the extra burden the car puts on the motor's strength.

"I've passed 2,500 miles driving this arrangement during the eight months of drivable conditions in Northern Ohio — back roads and city streets only. Driving this rig gives you a workout. They don't drive themselves.

"I didn't consider this car's signal arrangement was anything special when I got it."

Front combo turn signal/running light.

Perhaps not, but it is interesting.

Wetzler says he chose the color of his Royal Enfield and sidecar in part for safety.

"You see a ton of black bikes roaming in my part of the woods with riders and their passengers dressed top to toe in black as well. Since black absorbs light and doesn't reflect any, they go mostly unseen while driving.

"My choice of color — white — was made in part so the hardware could be seen on the road. (And, yes, i was influenced a little by Hubert driving his white Ural all over the place.) After experiencing a close call where a utility truck did a wide turn into my lane, I started wearing a white shirt as well. So far, so good."

Reckless rider brought to justice! FAIL

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Don't let your Royal Enfield motorcycle end up on the FAIL blog, I joked, back in May.

I never dreamed that authorities would actually track down the motorcyclist who got FAIL's attention by riding with a barbecue grill wrapped around his body.

Police in Melbourne, Australia, got their man. He's Michael Wiles, 29. The price of becoming famous around the world: $800 (Australian) and loss of his license for one month.

You can read the entire story, by reporter Mega Levy, in The Age.

Wiles turns out to be a true knight of the road, accepting responsibility for his actions and vowing to turn down offers to endorse barbecue grills.

In fact, his gallantry rather casts into a dim light the sleuths who spent time bringing him to bay.

Do they rate a FAIL of their own?

A Royal Enfield named Monster becomes a member of the family

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:15:00 +0000

The two adorable children perched atop a time worn Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle are Hrishi and Meenakshi, nephew and niece of Ranjith Anand.

Ranjith is the reader who brought our attention to the sentimental story of an old Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle imported from India to Canada by S. Balakrishnan of Winnipeg. Balakrishnan had helped his father restore the bike, in India, and now his son wanted him to bring "grandpa's motorcycle" to their home in Canada.

After the I recounted the story, from The Hindu, Ranjith mentioned that he, too, has an attachment to a vintage Royal Enfield left behind in India. He is a Ph.D. student at Tufts University in the United Sates.

"Wish I could do the same as what Balakrishnan did!"

Ranjith sent the picture of Hrishi and Meenakshi, who look as though they are impersonating one of the big Indian Army stunt shows. These feature mounted troopers balancing on Bullets and riding through rings of fire. The children look brave enough to try it.

Ranjith also sent a picture of the motorcycle by itself.

"We call it Rakshasan, meaning Demon/Monster," he wrote.

It certainly looks formidable.

"My dad had gifted a Bullet to my brother (as he had promised) when he secured admission into the prestigious Indian Institute of Science. Later, my brother promised that he will pass the bike on to me, if I get into a good program, which was what motivated me to get into a Masters Program!"

Ranjith sent one last photo, of himself and his wife riding the Monster.

"My wife's name is Mala," Ranjith writes.

"I am from Kerala and she is from Hyderabad. We met here in Boston; actually at Tufts."

Old Royal Enfield carries load of memories from Chennai, India to Winnipeg, Canada

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles are for sale now in Canada, but at least one made its way from India to Winnipeg thanks strictly to its owner.

The Daily Hindu of Chennai, India, tells how S. Balakrishnan and his father "Mani" put together an old Royal Enfield, bought at an Army auction in 1970. Balakrishnan rode it all over Chennai, before moving to Canada. In later years, his father kept the old Bullet running.

“My father and the bike were inseparable," he told The Hindu. "By the sound of the approaching Bullet, friends and relatives knew Mani had come to visit them!”

Mani died in 1996. Eventually, Balakrishnan's own son began to encourage him to bring "grandpa's bike to Canada."

And he did, after first having it restored in India.

"As my son and I spent a considerable time together in the garage to watch the bike being put together, I was flooded with memories of the bike's first restoration carried out by my dad and I,” he said.

From there it was just a simple matter of having the motorcycle imported into Canada as a pre-1975 "antique."

Of course, it wasn't simple at all, and the story details the difficulties Balakrishnan had just getting the motorcycle OUT of India.

You can read the full saga in The Hindu. I am grateful to reader Ranjith Anand for pointing out the story to me.

For sale: 2 Royal Enfield C5s with kick start

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

If you lived in North America and wanted a hot new Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 500 that you could kick start, you were out of luck.

The "C5" model, as they're called, come with fuel injection, electronic ignition and the new Unit Constructed Engine. But so far, in the U.S. and Canada, they come with electric start only. The kick start, beloved by some, cursed by others, is unavailable.

Until now.

Two of the new motorcycles, one red, one black, both with kick start levers, are for sale on eBay in Ontario, Canada. You can buy them, but you might have trouble getting them registered.

"Almost brand new 2010 Royal Enfield Classic 500 C5. I am having trouble registering this in Canada, so (I) decide to sell," the seller writes.

I emailed him to ask about the motorcycles. He replied:

"These bikes are electric and kick starts. Can't be registered in Canada because manufacturer is not in Transport Canada list. I purchased them from India without knowing this — BS — and lost money and time."

Well, that explains it. In India, the C5 does come with the kick start mechanism. Note the sari guard on the left-rear of the red motorcycle, designed to let an Indian woman in a flowing dress safely ride side saddle.

Clearly, these bikes were made in India for the home market.

Where they go from here is the question. It will be interesting to see how the eBay auction works out.

Royal Enfield for sale on Hawaiian island was 'never driven against the wind'

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

A used Royal Enfield Sixty-5 for sale on Kauai, the "Garden Island" of Hawaii, gets a flowery description in the ad.

The motorcycle, the seller says, was "never driven uphill or against the wind!"

What a terrific expression of the care some owners lavish on their motorcycles. This one "has been meticulously looked after; it is still mechanically and cosmetically new," the seller continues. He writes that he has too many motorcycles, and one must go, but this one was a favorite.

"There should be lots on the island. I can tell you lots about this bike (if you like to talk); call me anytime," he writes. And then he makes an unusual offer:

"If you keep it clean, I will be happy to help you maintain it."

I truly do like his claim that the Royal Enfield was never driven uphill or against the wind. It reminds me of leaving my place of work day after day on my Enfield and having to immediately run at traffic speeds into the prevailing southeast wind. I hated to put that strain on the motorcycle before it was even warmed up.

Silly, really. This is the motorcycle that conquers the Himalayas. It is the rider who feels concern, not the machine.

Certainly, on an island in the Pacific so rugged that no road could be built completely around it, it seems impossible that this seller managed to baby his Royal Enfield so. But, somehow, you know he tried.

From Google Maps

Royal Enfield sidecar lights up for safety

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

A 2006 Royal Enfield Bullet with sidecar, for sale on CraigsList in Michigan, shows an interesting modification that never occurred to me.

The owner has added a tail light to the sidecar wheel fender, and mounted an extra turn signal to the outside front edge of the sidecar.

The effect, especially at night, would be to visually "widen" the motorcycle to almost automobile width.

It's clever, and I'll bet it really does increase safety, at least marginally.

We know that automobile drivers don't seem to have the same subconscious respect for motorcycles they show for approaching cars. A driver who would not dare pull out in front of an oncoming car will do so in the path of a motorcycle.

I don't think it's a mean streak. I really think it's the experience, repeated hundreds of times daily, of judging how close a car may be by how far apart its lights are. If a motorcycle somehow had widespread lights, it might be more intimidating and thus safer.

Maybe the solution would be to put a headlight in the nose of that sidecar!

Royal Enfield Canada adds two new dealers

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Royal Enfield Canada continues to add dealers. Royal Enfields will go on sale at Motosport Newman in Montreal, Quebec and at Capital City Toy Store, in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

"This is a very exciting moment for us, since we are now able to sell to Royal Enfield customers nationwide," said Rob McMullen of Royal Enfield Canada.

"Our first year has gone very well; with the opening of 10 dealers nationwide with 13 locations.

"Also, the reception from our customers has been incredible. You can’t drive these bikes anywhere without having someone give the ‘thumbs up,’ or rolling down their window to tell you how much they love your bike, or physically running out of a store when you are stopped at a light to ask if those are the new Enfields. It's brilliant."

According to the Royal Enfield Canada press release:

"MotoSport Newman has been a motorcycle dealer in the greater Montreal area since 1960. Since that time, Motosport Newman has grown, and continues to grow steadily every year. Gino, with the help of his three sons Sergio, Franco and Anthony, continues to excel in giving the best service and value to the customer. In 2002 they took over the South-Shore store on Taschereau Boulevard and in 2008 acquired a store in Pierrefonds.

"Capital City Toy Store was set up to share their motorsport passion with everyone. They pride themselves in working hard and finding unique toys at fair prices guaranteed to add excitement to your life."

New Royal Enfield motorcycles will arrive at the two new dealers "within the next couple of weeks," but orders can be placed now, the company said.

"Demand will be high since this is the first shipment of Royal Enfield motorcycles" into the two regions.

How to identify a Royal Enfield motorcycle: You might as well join the owners club

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Update: The Royal Enfield motorcycle Thomas is trying to identify may not be entirely a product of Royal Enfield in England and it may not be a 1966 except for paperwork purposes. Here's a bit of insight just contributed by a UK reader:

"The EI characters in Thomas' bike's numbers suggest Eicher Industries, ie, wholly Indian made to me. Redditch continued to supply complete engines to India up until 1962 or so, but had certainly ended the arrangement by '66. If it's a 500 then clearly wrong! I seem to remember that it was reported a while back (in the UK old bike press,) that there was a dealer in Denmark who was supplying bikes with less than sound provenance (as our learned legal friends might say...) as a way of avoiding whole bike type approval, perhaps? I seem to recall that once into Denmark the other Scandinavian countries accepted the registration. Hmm! Great Blogsite, by the way! REgards, Mark"

Original item:

Identifying Royal Enfield motorcycles can be a challenge. So I shuddered when the following comment showed up on this blog:

"I wonder if someone can help me identify my supposedly 1966 Royal Enfield. My bike has ID number: Frame number: G2/50910 E1/12910. Engine number: G2/50910 20620 E1/12910. Appreciate all help that I can get. Kind regards. Thomas Jakobsson, Sweden.

Can you help Thomas?

Royal Enfield is less well known than BSA, Triumph or Honda. But in its day it offered a bewildering variety of models for every purpose and purse. Some of these were sent to the United States to be sold as Indian motorcycles under still more model names.

So how nice it would be if every Royal Enfield motorcycle made was marked with a number that revealed its model and year of manufacture!

Unfortunately, things are more complicated than that. Here's what Roy Bacon wrote in his definitive book, Royal Enfield, The Postwar Models:

"This series of books normally contains as full a list as possible of engine and frame numbers for the machines described. This has not proved practical with Royal Enfield and it is with regret that the author and the publisher have omitted them.

"The reasons are two-fold. First the numbering sequence is known to be random to some degree and not to follow any pattern which would enable the information to be set out in an orderly fashion. Second is that, due to this, it would take a great deal of space to provide the data...

"Fortunately the records do exist and are contained in some 37 ledgers, each 27 by 18 inches and 3 inches thick, all held by the Royal Enfield Owners Club dating officer."

Chris Overton, an authority on many things, including Royal Enfield Interceptors, points out that "for twins, an approximate ID can be made using the chart at this link. Click on the 'chart' link."

Looking there, I think Thomas does not have a twin, since nothing seems to line up.

Unless someone reading this comes forward with an answer for Thomas, all I can do is refer him to the Royal Enfield Owners Club, where, for a fee, hopefully he will have his answer.

Thomas, the link is: Royal Enfield Owners Club.

Good luck.

What I did on my summer vacation

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Alabama Jack's, destination bar for bikers.

Royal Enfield motorcycles carry you back in time, and that is one of the chief things that appeal to me about them. There's no time like the past. So I was enthusiastic when my wife planned an "Old Florida" weekend in the Keys.

We'd travel slow, take in the sights and tiki bars, eat fish sandwiches and snorkel. She'd work on her new blog, FloridaRambler.com

I wouldn't work at all.

It turns out that visiting the Florida Keys in August is like visiting the Nebraska Plains in December. Your calendar has severely malfunctioned.

Gateway to the Keys; watch for reptiles.

There's no escaping the heat and oppressive humidity of the Keys in summer. August Ocean water temperature in the Keys can be hotter than the air temperature.

You feel yourself melting not just into a pool of sweat, but back into the primordial swamp from which ancient ancestors evolved.

Twenty minutes of snorkeling in 90-degree water renews the sensation that you have gills.

It's a feeling typical of the Keys in summer. You do feel as though you are traveling back in time, and not just to the Precambrian.

You revisit a time when motels gave you one bar of soap and no hot water. (Maybe there was hot water; it was impossible to tell, since, if so, it was no hotter than the 90-degree "cold" water on tap.)

Take a turn and drive two blocks off U.S. 1 and you travel a good 50 years back. Here are people in chairs sharing beers with their neighbors: in the street.

Here are "mobile homes" that haven't moved since the Kennedy administration.

Here are houseboats that combine the hull of a yacht with the superstructure of a chicken coop.

The first night out I tentatively asked for a Key West Sunset Ale to see what it was like. I didn't care for it.

The second night I bought a whole six pack of Key West Southernmost Wheat beer, in error. By the third day I was ordering the Sunset Ale deliberately.

I had also ceased shaving and was considering giving up bathing with the lone bar of soap.

I wore my bathing suit and my "Save the Manatees" t-shirt exclusively, and instead of cruising the Internet I watched the sunset two nights in a row.

The Old Road is still there.

We never made it to Key West. Reaching the end of the Keys would have seemed too much like accomplishing a goal. Just breathing and eating seemed enough of a goal. Sweating happened on its own.

Money went faster than we'd expected: "It's still High Season," one motel owner explained, helpfully. What constitutes Low Season in the Keys? Actual hurricanes, but only if the Eye hits the motel you've booked?

We had to head home.

Luckily, there's still some Key West Southernmost Wheat left in the cooler.

Broken Royal Enfield brought him wisdom

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:45:00 +0000

You've all heard the old joke about Royal Enfield motorcycles "Turning Men Into Mechanics Since 1898."

I like to think that learning which wrench to use is just one of the benefits of owning a maintenance-intensive Royal Enfield.

So I was pleased to discover that author David Oliver Relin attributes his sympathy for people to an unreliable Royal Enfield Bullet he bought in India.

Relin is the co-author of the best-selling book Three Cups of Tea. You've heard of it. It's the story of Greg Mortenson, whose Central Asia Institute builds schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Relin wrote the book with Mortenson, whose failed attempt to climb a mountain led him to "a meaningful path to follow for the rest of his life."

For Relin himself, the inspirational failure was with a motorcycle — not a mountain.

Relin told of his encounter with the old Royal Enfield in a discussion with an outreach program for the homeless in Madison, Wis. He's quoted on the program's blog, Streets of Madison:

"That bike was more like a couch than a motorcycle. It mostly just sat. It broke down constantly. Getting around with it was like trying to lug a couch," Relin said.

Repeatedly stranded, he was repeatedly rescued by people around him. They'd offer him tea and, remarkably, wisdom, including mechanical wisdom:

"With a piece of tape or wire, they'd get the bike running again."

For his full story, see Streets of Madison. It is a well written blog about a book club for the homeless. That's right: the program invites people who are homeless to join in reading the same book and then come to meetings to discuss it. The meetings feature events such as the talk with Relin, via Skype.

The blog even offers a link where you can buy copies of Relin's Three Cups of Tea, with part of the proceeds going to the Central Asia Institute and earning a discount on future book purchases for the homeless book club.

Royal Enfield makes Friends on Facebook

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Royal Enfield Motorcycles is now accessible through Facebook. We've met many wonderful Friends since joining the Facebook World, but there has been some pushback as well. One message comes from my friend, screenwriter and wit Douglas Kalajian.

He and his wife Robyn write the cooking blog theArmenianKitchen.com

He called into question my claim of independence from the Royal Enfield company, and my dedication to "cheerful" news about Royal Enfield motorcycles:

"Congratulations on your venture into the Facebook world. Robyn's had a fan page for a while now, but I've never seen it.

"I wonder how she defined the brand? Cheerful news about overeating?

"I very much like your concept of the truth as you know it. I wonder why The New York Times didn't think of it first? It's absolutely bullet proof, so to speak. You could print pretty much anything and say, "Well, as far as I knew..."

"I was puzzled, though, by your boast that you have credibility because you take so little in the way of graft. I think it would have been more effective if, instead of listing the few bribes you've accepted, you'd listed the stuff you turned down.

"What would that be?

"I mean, really: Why not just list all the stuff you'd love to get?

"Imagine the respect you'd command (and deserve) if you were just honest and said, 'I've been promoting this crappy bike for two years now and all I've gotten are some turn signals. Those cheap bastards back in Peshawar had better wise up or I'm going to stop being so darn CHEERFUL'

"What an audience builder! Even I'd keep coming back so see what kind of loot you'd piled up.

"Of course, it might cost you some self respect..."

Peshawar? Doug is joking; his knowledge of geography is just as strong as his reverence for self respect. What he's advising me, I gather, is this: don't take yourself too seriously.

But don't forget yourself, either.

Royal Enfield sidecar was photo platform

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

The sidecar of a Royal Enfield motorcycle was the way my wife Bonnie first traveled the Ormand Scenic Loop near Ormand Beach, Florida.

She mentions what a great way that is to experience the trail on her new web site, FloridaRambler.com (a guide to outdoor activities, food and lodging in Florida). See her article on the Ormand Scenic Loop for information on how to get there, where to stay and eat and what else to do in the area.

She recommends seeing the loop from the sidecar of a Royal Enfield, if possible. It takes you there and it takes you back in time as well.

I'm glad she said so because it was chilly during Daytona Bike Week and she initially described the ride as windy, cold and not very smooth.

Bonnie hasn't ridden a motorcycle since we first got married but now she has done something I haven't: ridden in a sidecar and shot fantastic pictures along the way.

I was privileged to ride the loop on a brand new Royal Enfield C5 demonstrator, so I showed up in some of her pictures.

I can't wait to get back.

What's missing from these Royal Enfields?

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Four brand new Royal Enfield C5 motorcycles went up for auction on eBay recently. There was one in each color: black, red, green and military Battle Green. But there was something else different about the motorcycles.

Before taking the picture the seller did something to them to make them look more appealing in the photos.

He left something off. Do you realize what's missing?

Twin City Bikerstuff in St. Paul, Minn. put the four brand new Royal Enfield C5 motorcycles up for auction. Perhaps they just didn't complete assembling the bikes, perhaps because leaving off this item makes the motorcycles easier to move and store inside the building.

The mirrors. Where are the mirrors?

The mirrors that come with the C5 are high mounted and provide a good view of what's catching up to you. They are surprisingly free of vibration blur. And they are good looking.

But there is no arguing that the motorcycle, in fact any classic motorcycle, looks better without mirrors. In our mind's eye, the top of the motorcycle should be the hand grips — sleek is always better looking.

The same goes for the rider, too, of course!

Royal Enfield owner uses latest technology to give the future the look of the past

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Royal Enfield owner Chris Bartlett is at it again, living at the intersection of the future as he recreates the look of the past.

I've written about Chris before and his use of electronic techniques to celebrate mechanical wonders, especially the Royal Enfield Bullet.

Chris markets his Brit-bike era clothing at his on-line store, Her Majesty's Thunder. The store has sprouted a blog, among other features, and there you will find his thoughts on what's cool, including some of his own pictures.

I was struck by his recent photo essay on the Heavy Rebel Weekender event he attended in North Carolina. The event just happened, but the photos look like he picked up the developed prints at the corner drug store, circa 1962, right down to the dates printed in the margin. Remember how they used to do that?

The shots would make excellent post cards, I suggested.

How did he do it, I asked? Surely this took sophisticated equipment and hours of time. Not so, he advised:

"Those photos were taken with my iPhone using an app called Hipstamatic, which replicates lenses and flashes from old cameras. I added the dates in Photoshop.

"I think the future will look more like the past than what we currently envision as the future. Technology will change, but the more we advance, it seems, the more we want it to feel familiar. That's what I love about my Enfield. It's new, but it's authentically old.

"Also, I like that postcard idea!

"Her Majesty's Thunder is still going well and we have three new shirts coming for fall.

"I haven't been posting on the Enfield forums much lately. I've been busy, but mostly because my bike has been running so well."

This Royal Enfield blog now on Facebook; and why you can trust what you read here

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

My recent posts on Royal Enfield coming to California prompted one reader to ask "Are you a traveling correspondent on assignment for Classic Motor Works?"

That sounds like a great job to have. But I haven't got it.

I am lucky to be able to attend Royal Enfield events in California because I have family in Los Angeles. Visiting them justifies making the trip.

The other night my wife, a professor of multi-media journalism, helped me set up a Facebook "Fan Page" at RoyalEnfields.com

"Why do I need a Facebook Fan page for my blog?" I asked.

"So people can read your blog posts on Facebook," she answered.

"Can't they just read them on my blog?" I asked.

"This is for people who live in the Facebook World," she said.

So, greetings to all of you in the Facebook World. How is the weather there?

Creating the Facebook Fan page did require an interesting exercise. I had to define my "brand." Here is what I wrote:

"RoyalEnfields.com is your channel for cheerful news about Royal Enfield motorcycles in the United States. I write about interesting Royal Enfield people and motorcycles and list Royal Enfields offered for sale in the United States. RoyalEnfields.com is an independent blog not connected with Royal Enfield, its distributors or dealers. Opinions expressed here are my own and those of readers who comment on what I have written."

This is your assurance that what you read here is the truth, as I know it.

Perhaps you've heard of some bloggers accepting gifts or the loan of vehicles from companies they write about. There's even something out there called "pay per post." None of that here.

Full disclosure: here's what I've been given so far by Royal Enfield.

1. A free pair of turn signals, sent unsolicited when I "complained" that mine broke after "only" 40,000 miles. I disclosed this at the time here.

2. I was treated to dinner when I joined Royal Enfield dealers for a training session on the new UCE engines in Faribault, Minn. in 2009. I got the corporate rate at the motel, too, but I paid for that and my fare to and from Faribault (probably a lovely place to visit any other month than February).

If you're disturbed that I offer "cheerful news about Royal Enfield motorcycles," don't be. I only mean that I don't do this to make myself unhappy, beat any drums or to settle any scores.

This is a "fan" blog. I wouldn't bother writing it if I didn't like Royal Enfield motorcycles. You probably wouldn't bother reading it if you didn't like them, too.

I hope you'll ride along.

By the way, if you'd like to see the Professor's latest creation, check out Florida Rambler, a web site devoted to hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, trails, parks and other outdoors getaways in Florida.

Royal Enfield at home among vintage bikes at California vintage motorcycle show

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Royal Enfield sponsored the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club show July 11 in Venice Beach, Calif. Royal Enfield attracted me to the show, but there were plenty of other motorcycles to see as well. Here are pictures of some of my favorite vintage motorcycles.

The event was held at a venue called "The Yard." If you look very closely at the picture below you will see Royal Enfield head of industrial design Singaravelu "Siva" Sivakumar, in a white shirt, with his camera to his face shooting a picture.

I wonder what he's photographing? Would it give us some idea of what he's thinking of for Royal Enfield motorcycles of the future?

To my surprise, the show featured quite a number of Whizzer type motorized bicycles, some possibly genuine but others modern tributes to the idea. The fellow above whizzed through the crowd at a mad pace, reaching down to adjust something as he rode. Some skill required here.

Best display, in my opinion, was the Cro Custom Motorcycles stand, which included a surfboard as a prop. Bikinis and motorcycles seem completely appropriate in California.

Completely appropriate was the suitcase strapped to the tail of this 1960 BMW R69 sidecar outfit. I don't care if it's not waterproof: vintage luggage looks great on vintage motorcycles. I'm keeping an eye open now every time I visit my local thrift shops.

It's not vintage, but this leather tool bag found an interesting place to ride. Put it this way: you never need the tools when you are standing up, do you? Might as well have them down near the belly of the beast where you can reach them.

And, finally, although not a motorcycle, I doubt anyone objected to the presence of this 1932 Morgan Aero Sport three-wheeler. Few other machines put the motor on display like a Morgan trike, and few leave it less adorned.

The Morgan answered the question: "How can we build something that will be scarier and less practical than a motorcycle?"

What fun.

Royal Enfield shines at California show

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Royal Enfield was the marquee sponsor of the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club show July 11 in Venice Beach, Calif. It was impossible to attend the show and not realize that.

To see it would have inspired pride in any Royal Enfield owner, too often the subject of shouted questions from fellow motorists along the lines of "Hey, what year Triumph is that?"

Giant banners splashed Royal Enfield images across walls.

Examples of the new motorcycles were on display.

And there were people to talk to. From India came Royal Enfield senior manager for international business Andrew Anantharaj and Royal Enfield head of industrial design Singaravelu "Siva" Sivakumar.

From the U.S. there was President of Royal Enfield USA, Kevin Mahoney.

From California came representatives of motorcycle dealers including NoHo Scooters in North Hollywood and Doug Douglas Motorcycles in San Bernardino.

Outside the venue, privately owned motorcycles on display lined both sides of two city blocks.

I spotted only one Royal Enfield in the line-up but it was a shiny black motorcycle with a vintage helmet slung from the handlebars. Lovely.

All in all, the Venice show was an inspiring display of the brand to the California market.

Royal Enfield café racer will come to U.S., but Royal Enfield wants it to be right for us

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Royal Enfield India sent two executives to a fun "vintage" motorcycle show in Venice, Calif. July 11.

The P.A. system noisily hawked raffle tickets and motorcyclists glanced with curiosity at a display of Royal Enfield motorcycles. What are Royal Enfield motorcycles, some must have wondered. Something new?

The U.S. market is important, senior manager for international business Andrew Anantharaj told me, although right now the United Kingdom market is bigger.

"But we have not been in California, we have never been in California, and this is where you sell the maximum number of motorcycles."

I promised him I would not ask him to reveal any secrets, and he responded with a smile that "there is nothing secret about what we do."

But then he told me that Royal Enfield's fantastic looking café racer will come to the U.S. when it rolls out in a couple years.

The café racer got a "tremendous response" when it was unveiled at Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi, and it will be applauded in the U.K., home of history's first café racers, Anantharaj said.

"But we are not sure one size fits all. That is why we are here." The people who buy the Royal Enfield café model will be knowledgeable about what a café racer is, he said.

"We want to make sure we bring everything the market expects."

I kidded Singaravelu "Siva" Sivakumar, Royal Enfield's head of industrial design, about the camera around his neck; was he looking for ideas at the motorcycle show? Not really.

"We know our market, and we are claiming it," he said. "We are here to validate some concepts."

The two executives from India and Royal Enfield USA President Kevin Mahoney were doing that by conducting focus groups at three locations in California: one in Venice, and others in San Francisco and San Diego.

Royal Enfield will retain its retro reputation, and all the fun that goes with it, while coming completely up to modern standards, Sivakumar said.

After all, "We are not selling motorcycles," Sivakumar added. "We are selling motorcycling. We want the motorcycle to be fun right from the first moment."

This explains why the new C5 model has its classic looks, yet improved power and reliability, and less demand for maintenance, he said.

Andrew Anantharaj, left, and "Siva" Sivakumar
with Royal Enfield USA President Kevin Mahoney.

Are you buying a Royal Enfield for yourself or for your wife? You'd better check first

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:37:00 +0000

Every time an occasion came up to shop for my mother, I'd head for the department stores and spend, literally, hours walking around.

The problem, my friend screenwriter and wit Douglas Kalajian would point out, was "Failure to Check."

First, I hadn't checked what size she might be (why doesn't more girl stuff come in "Medium"?).

Second, I had failed to observe what kinds of things she bought for herself, or wore, and I thus had no idea what she might like.

Third, I had no idea what to shop for; why hadn't I just asked for a hint?

So I think I truly understand what happened to "Don" in Oregon, when he bought his wife a 2009 Royal Enfield C5 — without asking. Now it's up for sale.

"It was an impulse buy and with six other motorcycles, I really did not need this one. It was just so cute, I could not resist," Don wrote in his for-sale ad.

"I told my wife I bought it for her, and that it would be more fun than her 650 Suzuki.

"Well, she did not agree, and said that if that was the reason for buying it, I made a mistake and should have consulted with her first because she likes her Suzuki and does not want, or need, anything else."

See? There you have it: Failure to check.

"But I am so easy to shop for," my mom would insist, when I mentioned how much I suffered on her behalf.

It sure didn't seem like it. Lucky for me I married a wonderful woman who shopped without complaint for my mom, for the next 30 years. My mom loved what she received and didn't seem to mind that I hadn't picked it out myself.

At least she never had to return a motorcycle.

Royal Enfield Big Head motor in a crate made his father fast and Furious

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

The Royal Enfield Fury and its Royal Enfield Big Head motor are rare and sought-after. Yet no fewer than three owners of motorcycles with Big Head motors contacted me recently.

There was CF, in France, who has what must be a Fury, fully restored for sale. There was Jennifer, in Washington state, who inherited what may be a Fury and hauled it home not even knowing it was a rare find.

I'll wrap up "Big Head Week" here on this blog with Denis, who grew up with a motorcycle that has a Big Head motor. Denis is new to email, and has not been able to send pictures. But he did share his story. Here it is:

"I have a 1959 Enfield Indian 500cc single, high compression Big Head with 2-inch intake valve.

"This motor is bored out 100 thousands, has a homemade piston and it has about 300 pounds of compression. It broke a few guys' feet trying to start it back in the day.

"It has the aluminum cylinder/steel sleeve Big Head. The engine number is 3271. My dad bought it new in 1959 as just the motor in a crate. He said he bought the motor from our local Indian dealer at the time, and the dealer had three of the motors there. We don't know where the other two went.

"My dad and his cousin put the motor in an Enfield frame and made a hillclimber. He hillclimbed it from 1959 to 1972 in New England, New York and Pennsylvania, and was No. 1 for all those years. Then it sat in my cousins barn for about 20 years.

"Now I live in northern Maine, but I am from Springfield, Mass. Born and raised there. Hillclimbing has been my whole life. In the late '80s I got my kids into hillclimbing. They loved it. After awhile I decided to get the old girl running. I took it all apart and got parts from a guy near Boston. His name was Sam Avellino.

"Sam was so knowledgeable, but he passed away. He is the one that told me this bike is very rare. He said he and a guy on the West Coast were the only two that imported the bikes and that in 1959 there were only 12 Big Head motors imported; six for the East and six for the West Coast. I am not sure how accurate those numbers are, but I know they're rare.

"Anyway I finally got it together and was hillclimbing it myself. It was a lot of fun. The compression release leaked and I bought a new one from Boston and it still leaked, so I took a valve spring from a Briggs & Stratton 5-horsepower motor and my problems were over. I also put a 38mm Mikuni flat-side carb on it. That bike was always hard to start with the 1.5 Amal. Now it starts beautifully — one or two kicks.

"I can't ride much anymore because I was injured in a big truck accident. But I do love to start it once in awhile and drag it out now and again."

That old motorcycle buried in the garage may be a very rare Royal Enfield Fury

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

They're super rare. Perhaps fewer than 200 Royal Enfield Fury motorcycles were made in England from 1959-'61. And yet, almost simultaneously, I was contacted by three people who have one or, at least, have motorcycles with the Big Head motor shared by the Fury. I wrote about CF and the lovely red Fury he's selling.

Here's the second story, and it's even more stirring. It's every motorcycle enthusiast's dream to be offered an old and incredibly desirable motorcycle that has been sitting, forgotten, in some shed. This story begins with an email from Jennifer, in Lynden, Wash.

"Hi David, I thought you could help. I just purchased/inherited a 1961 Royal Enfield. They told me it was a 500cc engine. I am having trouble figuring out the model because they haven't come across the papers yet (it was a death in the family and we are still going through everything. He has had the bike since the early '60's...). Do you know the possible model? I will be heading over this weekend to get the bike and could send pics."

Here's her next email, and picture that came with it:

"So I got in there to take a pic. A very poor one. The next few days I will be getting it into my garage and taking it home but I'm so anxious to see if you knew what model this was. Charlie, who owned it, said he was positive it was a '61. He bought it new or a year old. That's what his wife said. And Charlie told me a few years ago that it was an English bike and not Indian because I had questions about it back in the day. The bike is originally from Northern California, so they tell me."

I shared the picture with Jorge Pullin, who writes the My Royal Enfields blog.

"The picture isn't terribly clear, but it looks like a Big Head Bullet to which someone affixed a heat baffle using the banjo bolts of the top head lubrication system," Jorge commented. He graciously sent some pictures of the Fury from Gordon May's book.

Then came another email from Jennifer.

"I went and picked up the bike last night and moved it to my garage. I have attached a few pics. Thanks for your help with this!"

Here are her pictures:

Well, readers, what do the experts among you say? What has Jennifer got here? Is it a Fury?

Royal Enfield Fury: very fast, super rare, but they're out there if you look

david@royalenfields.com (David Blasco) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

I've written with reverence about the Royal Enfield Fury, a very rare model of the single-cylinder Royal Enfield Bullet. Its distinguishing feature, I gather, was that the Fury, built in Britain, had the "Big Head" motor, along with other parts that made it go fast.

It all started in 1960, according to Ian Chadwick's The History of The Royal Enfield Bullet:

"Huge, one-piece alloy cylinder head ('Big Head') casting... The Royal Enfield Fury, produced at this time for the U.S. market, is essentially the same bike as the Bullet (both 350 and 500cc models), capable of reaching the 100 mph mark... It differed from the Bullet by having a larger inlet port, an Alfin aluminum alloy barrel with cast liner (instead of the Bullet's iron) and a higher compression piston (8.9:1 instead of 7.3:1). It also had a flange for mounting an optional rev counter, an 18-inch rear and 19-inch front wheel. Between 1959 and 1963, only 191 machines were made. The 500cc boasted a 40 bhp output, up from the UK models' production of 27 bhp. A 600cc model was also made for a short period. "

With so few made, I never thought I would hear of one and, yet, in the last few weeks I have been contacted by no fewer than THREE readers who have — or appear to me to have — Royal Enfield Furys. I am asking for you readers to help me out here. I am not enough of an expert on these things to tell, for sure.

First, let's look at the pictures here of a Royal Enfield Fury emailed to me from Couturier Francis, who is offering it for sale near Reims, France. Rather than expose his address here, if you want to buy it, just email me and I will forward your address to him. He prefers to communicate in French.

My French is not good, so I have been able to get only a few details about this lovely machine. Here, with the help of Google's language tools, is what CF has told me:

"The price is €8,400 (there are some parts included). Contact me in French if possible (I do not speak English well). The Fury is equipped with Big Head, 50mm exhaust valve, all-aluminum cylinder, special (9-1) high-compression piston, racing cam, GP 38 carburetor, racing magneto, close-ratio racing transmission, K-81 tires. New paint and mechanically restored."