Ever wanted cool looking retro bikes from the fifties but you don’t want to be bothered with a frustrating restoration project, then this Royal Enfield will fill that desire perfectly.
We all at, one time or another, wish we had some form of time machine. A conundrum propelled by those blockbuster Hollywood movies where, at the simple press of a button and a twist of a fancy flashing switch, you’re thrown back in time. The stereotypical household dweller will predictably want to go see the dinosaurs and giggle insanely as a giant over- toothed lizard chases them through weird shaped foliage until they’re about to be devoured. Then a quick press of something shiny hanging from their belt jaunts them back into modern day civilisation, and fangs for the memories.
Now us motorcyclists would probably opt out of the reptile run and would much prefer to go back around half a century and ride those bikes that our fathers always said were so good. Nothing wrong - and I can relate to that - but there’s one big problem here. Do you have a time machine besides your brain when you’ve just smoked something you shouldn’t have? No, me neither. And this is where Royal Enfield comes to the rescue.
Royal Enfield has been around forever and without a long and boring history lesson they were once British and then bought out by an Indian company. Today all the Enfields are made in India and lots of them are sold there for daily transport. We, in South, Africa can also now enjoy the full range and I have had the pleasure of riding this one in particular, the Classic 500, called so for obvious reasons because it looks, er, like a classic motorbike.
Royal Enfield proudly states that their bikes have post-war styling and I’m certainly not going to argue with that. You either like these bikes, or you don’t! Whatever your take on this bike there’s no denying that it does have an intriguing and cute factor that ‘modern’ stuff doesn’t. Go to the shops on one and you’ll always get the, “how old is this then mate?” When you reply, “brand new mate”, be prepared for a puzzled expression.
Even though the Classic 500 looks 50 years old it has recently been severely updated to comply with today’s stringent emission controls. The air-cooled, OHV, 499cc single cylinder four-stroke is still its throbbing heart but it now has fuel injection from Keihin, and electronic digital ignition with twin-spark (two plugs) in the head. Claimed power is 27hp @ 4,000rpm and torque is 41Nm @ 5,250 - far from big numbers for a ‘500’ but that’s irrelevant with this sort of concept. But it is very economical and the 13.5 litre tank with post-war era graphics, as the brochure says, and those sexual innuendo inducing thigh pads, should therefore get you quite a distance.
The engine though is the centrepiece of the Classic 500 and being a long stroke motor (84mm x 90mm), it gives the Enfield its chug chug note as it comes into life. It does have an electric starter though, or you can swing away merrily on the kick start and bruise the back of you leg when you get it wrong, in true 50s style. One thing the Classic 500 does have is vibration. The more you rev it the more it vibrates and on the highway I kept the 500 to 100km/h on the speedo. If you venture towards 120km/h, which it will easily do, then be prepared for tingling feet to say the least. Some call it character...
The five-speed gearbox is a pleasant surprise though, because I thought it would be a bit rough. Well it isn’t, in fact it’s quite light and positive and feels, well, modern. So the gearbox combined with the light clutch action makes the Classic 500 easy to ride, even for a novice. The seat is comfy for the rider as well and if you cruise around at the speed this bike is designed for, and not flat out in the vibration zone, it’s quite a pleasant place to be.
You’ll be interested to know, or not, that the Classic 500 has two sets of suspension at the rear. There’re two gas filled shocks, which look like old Marzocchis, and two springs under the seat, but I can’t decide why besides the classic look and feel. Still, it handles all right and even at 190kgs (with 90% fuel and oil as it says here), it does feel quite nimble.
Another modern addition is the 280mm front disc, most definitely not from the 50s, but there’s still the good old drum at the rear for those who want originality. I do like the Enfield description of the rear drum ‘internally expanding’ though, which sounds a bit like my underpants when given cause to do so, if you know what I mean?
So to wrap it up the Royal Enfield Classic 500 is a time travel machine for sure and you won’t have the hassle of T-Rex trying to bite your arse. It’s beautifully finished with thick chrome and paint and many questions will be thrown at you when you go somewhere. At R48, 000 I think it could be cheaper for what you get but it does have soul and a cool name and to a new owner that’s all that will really matter.
Demo bike from RAD 011 608 3006 and they have the full Royal Enfield range for you to go see.
