The OP sounds like he knows his way round bikes and how to take care of them properly. Without wanting to assume anything, I imagine if he does ride in winter he probably isn't the sort to ride out on salted roads and put his bike away without cleaning the crud off it first.
Royal Enfield Cafe Racer
- Thread starter FlyFifer
- Start date
My winter riding days are over now, I have a fibreglass bodied classic car for those, the bike I'm considering will be for high days & holidays only then tucked away in the garage under a breathable cover until Spring so no worries about any winter salt etc.
Monies available for a bike diverted to another classic with a twist, will post pics elsewhere on forum. Will be selling my GT6 in new year to release funds for a Spring/Summer bike purchase, meanwhile will keep options open & try to get some road tests once weather picks up again (lot of bike shops not keen on a road test at moment unless committing to buy).
Wish I had seen this thread earlier, if you had the choice between the new enfield and a commando there is only one way to go and that is commando without a doubt. I've never ridden an enfield but have ridden a few classic singles, twins and triples and have definitely ridden a commando!
Cheers for that. Last Commando I rode was back in late 70's built by an engineer with own workshop as a cafe racer. No kickstart & no battery but boy could it go & handle. This guy also owned a racing Norton 500 which was raced by the late Jack Gow & I often seen this machine in action at Knockhill in the early 2000's.
The new'ish Commando (had 1 owner but still as new) not going out of showroom until late Spring unless a confirmed purchase so I may as well wait & try that & the Enfield at same time.
My 1st "big" bike after passing my test back in "75 was a Tricati, 250cc frame with Triumph 3TA engine built for racing. Amazing how back then a Log Book was given to me from a friends elder brother who's Triumph 350 was used as a scrambler & was never going back onto the road. Life was so much simpler back then & ignorence was bliss! This bike actually turned up a few years ago in a local custom bike builders shop for some engine work & I recognised the glassfibre fuel/oil tank which was unique to this bike.
I know what you mean about the classic thing, stories I've heard of back in the day are crazy, bit too young for that myself.
My experiences of classic bikes are mainly the bikes my dad and myself own the list I've tried range from 1914 Side Valve singles right up to modern bikes but of the era you are looking at and style wise I've ridden; Norton ES2, Vincent Comet (Not ours), BSA A10 (Goldflash), Triumph T160 Trident and Norton Commando 850 MK3. All have their plus and minus points but the T160 and Commando are amazingly fun to ride, the commando has such sweet handling with an extremely broad range of torque, it will pull from 30mph in top gear without effort. The T160 again has good handling but a far more revvy engine which is a lot of fun to keep it on the boil howling away.
I also have a Triton project that is in numerous pieces and locations, really cannot wait to get it together!
My experiences of classic bikes are mainly the bikes my dad and myself own the list I've tried range from 1914 Side Valve singles right up to modern bikes but of the era you are looking at and style wise I've ridden; Norton ES2, Vincent Comet (Not ours), BSA A10 (Goldflash), Triumph T160 Trident and Norton Commando 850 MK3. All have their plus and minus points but the T160 and Commando are amazingly fun to ride, the commando has such sweet handling with an extremely broad range of torque, it will pull from 30mph in top gear without effort. The T160 again has good handling but a far more revvy engine which is a lot of fun to keep it on the boil howling away.
I also have a Triton project that is in numerous pieces and locations, really cannot wait to get it together!
Genetically linked to the RE continental GT 250 also looks like the single pot Ducati 250 / 350 CR. It looks tidy. I had a 1968 suzuki super six when mates were still riding C15's Purely because it was a 90 mile per hour learner. Later I resorted to a Triumph Thunderbird, a very nice red BSA road rocket and a chopped 500cc triumph plus some japs. I stopped biking in the late seventies, but always have had a hankering for it.
I would agree that once a biker there's always that hankering to have another bike later in life once the kids are up & the mortgage is more manageable or paid off if lucky enough to have reached that stage.
I gave up Jap bikes 5 years ago now but would love a restored classic or a new "classic" styled bike to take to shows & be part of the biking era I remember from the 70's when big Jap bikes were starting to make their mark but big Brit bikes were still plentiful & cheap.
I gave up Jap bikes 5 years ago now but would love a restored classic or a new "classic" styled bike to take to shows & be part of the biking era I remember from the 70's when big Jap bikes were starting to make their mark but big Brit bikes were still plentiful & cheap.
It was possible to get a new bike for about £1/cc displacement, a brand new half litre bike for £500 when I was 17 or 18 in 1970. That is why I look a bit sideways at 50cc scooters for £2000
The 4 cyl. Honda 750 was a most exciting bike coming out around then, it handled a bit like a pig but a lovely motor in comparison to the somewhat aging BSA/Triumph, AJS and Norton design twins.
Having said that my mates bikes at the time were an RE Constellation, a Norton Atlas, a Norton Dominator, two Bonnevilles and my pre unit 1959 Thunderbird
The classic I would buy now would be a Rocket 3 750cc
Pic of my fully refurbished "73 T120R with 750 conversion & every updated engine mod available to make it as reliable & usable as possible. The headlight brackets were changed for silver but I don't have any photos. Bike had to be sold to assist with "war fund" around 7 years ago. God I miss that bike!!
