Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

The modern Royal Enfields and the Urals have modern Hitachi and Nippon electronics, ignitions, starters etc. The Royal Enfield has Kehin fuel injection in an Amal carb housing for esthetics. Pete's bad attitude toward Harley's has been out of vogue for about 25 years or more. My only Indian was this one, a British made piece of crap. Matchless Indian imported and re-badged them. The 248cc flathead powered bike was built by Brockhouse Engineering in England.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

My son is a Harley owner. Its been in the shop 2 1/2 months since it had a magneto/generator go bad and it died on his brother 2 miles from his house. They called a AAA wrecker to pick it up and bring it home but the tow strap they picked it up with broke. He has been fighting with them to get it fixed ever since. He's nicer than I am I would have already filed a complaint with the state wrecker licensing agency to get their attention. I think the wrecker company is dragging their feet so they can pay for it out of pocket instead of getting their insurance dinged. He is DAV and has a bad back so he is kind of choosy on what his back will let him rife. Here is a picture from the web of what it looks like.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

That one has an alternator and most likely the regulator went south unless he used motor oil in it that attacks yellow metal.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Either way the Harley dealer has it. The wrecker co. wasn't too happy he wouldn't let anyone but Harley fix it. The manager had a brother in-law with a body shop he wanted my son to use. They did about $3K damage according to Harley. A lot of the chrome was scrapped down to the bare metal and the fairing had a hole the size of my fist. The dealer won't cut any corners either. They wanted more estimates until they found out the Harley dealers charge about $200 for the estimate. The ponyed up to get the first one and decided one was enough.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

How far did it drop, Thanks

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I wasn't there but it was at the top of the boom and I believe the truck had started forward so it bounced a few times as it slid along the pavement. All the chrome along one side and like any Electric Glide in it's class it has a lot of chrome. The seat may have been damaged as well. The bike was a few years old but looked like it had just pulled out of the showroom.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

I think we do a different kind of riding, Dave. I'm really thinking about getting another bike and not telling my wife. Like the saying goes, "it's easier to ask for forgiveness later than permission now." It would have to be something insanely fast and a Kawasaki.

I'm not big into the Made in America thing, but it's a good idea if you can get it. I've found that if it's union built, it's too expensive for me most of the time. But, my truck was built in America and it's a Tacoma 4x4, V6, six speed stick. Best vehicle I've ever owned (next to the S-2000)

FNQFLYER

Good luck getting a new Royal Enfield. If you find one snap it up cause the factory cannot keep up with in country demand. My flying mate has a Triumph Chieftain / or was that Commando, yes it is a Triumph (road version of his last racing bike) and a virtually new Enfield. Likes the RE and has a side car to go with it. At 77 he calls it his mobility scooter.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

If memory serves the Commando was a Norton.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

There's a good bit of negative feelings towards them for sure. A lot of it stems from performance issues. The biker look is a major negative factor. That never went away and all bike owners run up against it at one time or another. The Hells Angels/Outlaws did a lot of damage to the image. Then there's the traffic jams when large clubs putt putt out in the country.

Rudolph Hart

Yes okc.If you had one with the combat engine you could expect around 4,000 miles out of it.If you do one up nowadays it's easier to improve on the service time.I always reckon norton commandos overheated cause they get often stuck behind large numbers of harleys cruising out in the countyside,slower than a funeral parade and lookin twice as sorry.

Barry i was halfway thru a bottle of stones green ginger wine thinkin on things when i rubbed the bottle for some inspiration...a genie popped out and poof! a brand new H2R

FNQFLYER

Re comando, looked at the bike yesterday and is a Triumph commando, not many in OZ and even fewer in UK so I am lead to believe.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Are you sure its not a Triumph Commander? How does it differ from a Bonneville the same year?

Rudolph Hart

Barry the H2R was a wish for you and check out the specs,something on the bucket list.

Trev did you mean the early brit cafe racers that ran a norton featherbed frame with a 650 trumpy engine? enfields today use the modern austrian rotax and they are good value for money don't expect the engine finish to last to long.Nice enough to ride if you are not in a hurry.Last time the 82 flew the fuel tank slipped back in flight started to cough a bit..;

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Are you talking about this one? Thanks

Lynton

I have just fitted new bearings to a Saito 100. When setting the valve clearances, I noticed that the complete exhaust valve/rocker arm/tappet assembly moves in the head as I loosen/ tighten the lock nut. I appears that the whole assembly is a press-fit into the cylinder head (which is part of the cylinder). Another way to explain what I mean is if I fit the rocker arm cover I am able to twist it slightly first one way and then the other. This is surely not right? Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a way to fix it? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Lynton

FNQFLYER

dave, similar but had a full fairing over the rear wheel (for road version). My mate raced the track version in the 60's and early 70's. Could be commander but I know one thing it is "relatively fast, 100mph if pushed. Says he after 2 x tyre changes and moving a 50kg box some 100km's (on a trailer etc) today.

Rudolph Hart

Yes dave i think they still look nice tho too modern looking as far as the engine goes.Reliable and uninspiring.At least with the old ones you got to carry your over the shoulder canvas tool bag.When it broke down or got too dark(lucas) you had to stop.Met interesting people,some would even loan you a set of feeler gauges that you forgot

Lynton your saito 100 will run just fine don't overthink it.Buy yourself a brand new H2R,takes your mind right off it.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I don't see how you can be nostalgic about Lucas electrics. They almost put Jaguar out of business. I still have memories of having to pull the battery out of my TR-3A so I could clean the battery pan because the @&%$! Lucas regulator overcharged the battery. And God help you if you ever made the mistake of attempting to adjust it!

Rudolph Hart

Well i am nowadays.You don't get much of that anymore in our sanitised windows rolled up car driving world.Barry is halfway there with a convertible s2000.Jaguar was bought out by ford years ago and as far as the british motorcycle industry goes it was on the slide sixties and early seventies and survived for too long because you crazy yanks still bought the 650 bonnies etc in huge numbers.Some blame the first RELIABLE ko 750 inline honda four which would do the ton all day every day and not bleed oil over your garage floor for the british motorcycle industry demise but the writing was on the wall much earlier...anyone who rode the late sixties jap two strokes new it was coming.The guys still riding bsa lightnings etc looked and sounded cooler but reckoned two stroke oil did'nt smell too good from behind.

spaceworm

Ah yes, Lucas, "Prince of Darkness"
Richard; Frogeye Sprite, MGB, Austin America, MG Midget (2), Triumph Spitfire (2), Triumph TR4a.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

That 1952 Indian I showed above had Lucas non electrics. I built a wood box and set it on the rear fender and ran it total loss off of a well used 6v car battery.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I miss the little British sports cars they were a lot of fun in fair weather. They could be a hand full in snow and ice but i loved mine. I always wanted a XK-140 or a Morgan but they were way out of my league.

Rudolph Hart

Was up in the hills riding last year and a french lookin dude pulls up to the pub driving a morgan three wheeler..looks like an early moto guzzi but does'nt fall over so much when you leave the premises

Okc you must have been fit back then.British cars broke down just as often and were harder to push start.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I had my TR-3A tuned where I could start it with the handcrank if it wasn't stone cold, it impressed the ladies. I garaged it in the cold weather months and brought it out in spring. Starting it the first time was always an adventure you never knew what gave up the ghost over the winter months. One year it was the spring in the clutch master cylinder, I made a nice dent in the garage drywall that year. Still my little Triumph was fairly reliable machine. I sold in 1984 and it paid for a number of home improvements in my first house bought the previous year. Still I miss the old girl! She was a lot of fun for 6 years I owned it.