Royal Enfields From India, Anyone Had One? Any Good?

"Nice" The same bikes as a Mash only with different markings they are almost identical.

 

Quite right, just leave this one alone

 

Armstrong 500 or HD 350 yes, but don't go anywhere near the Bombardier, the Armstrong runs better with the Dellorto carb, MOD auction sites have them they are not so thin on the ground

https://www.forcemotorcycles.com/blogs/bikes

 

All roads are pointing at the Enfield 500 it seems

 

And if course you'd have been looking at the big 12 k service bill quite soon.

 

Bucket and shim tappets...x8 valve engine.
To be fair on the Bonneville you can probably get away with not doing this check religiously ..lots if folks never bother and the engines are pretty robust on the whole.

 

Quoted £975 for mine through Triumph.

 

That sounds about right from a main dealer.
If you're handy with a spanner it's an idea to pop off the cam cover and check the tolerances yourself when it's time...then maybe only pay for those that actually need reshimming.
At first 12 k service it's not unusual for them all to still be well within specs.

 

Thanks, off to TriumphTech at Wolverhampton Airport this morning. A much more palatable quote from them.

 

Valve check after 20 T km and next at 40T km...all valves are clear...no adjusting and my former Thriumph dealer checked this for small price.

 

To be honest I'd prefer not to use a twin cylinder four stroke bike which doesnt have much low rev torque to chug along off road.
I'm also looking at earlier Enfield 500's ... they're capable of doing the job with a few cheap mods.
I'm still thinking but that's where I am at the moment...£2500 would get a decent Enfield ...£200 more would kit it out for trail riding etc

 

You ought to be able to pick up a Himalyan (400cc Enfield model) for around £2500. They are quite capable green-laners by all accounts. I'm a little reluctant myself to invest in a modified chinese motorcycle (Herald etc..), but I feel the 790 Bonnie would be a wee bit OTT for such antics.

 

You ought to be able to pick up a Himalyan (400cc Enfield model) for around £2500. They are quite capable green-laners by all accounts. I'm a little reluctant myself to invest in a modified chinese motorcycle (Herald etc..), but I feel the 790 Bonnie would be a wee bit OTT for such antics.

 

Haven't seen any Himalayan as cheap as that I have to say.