Quote:
Originally Posted by HardDrive
I'm not sure when they officially started importing them. Its been at about 10 years. There is a decent dealer network out there. Before 2009, these really were a 1950s design. You should see this thing shake when its idling. Its a hoot. They were asking $5K for a bike thats really a $2.5k bike, so not a whole lot were sold.
Post 2009 (could be a bit off on the date), its a different story. Fuel injection, much, much better fit and finish. The new ones preserve the classic look, but they're much better bikes. Ducati Seattle (very reputable dealer) just signed on to be part of their network.
The most shocking thing isn't the engine, its the brakes. Terrible. Front drum brakes on a motocycle. Yikes.
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Yeah, the new ones have been pretty thoroughly redesigned. Unit construction, electric start, disc brakes, fuel injection, etc. But, they are still made by the same people in the same place...
I rode a demo that one of the early importers had at Sturgis in 2003 or 2004. Truly uninspiring. Good thing it didn't have much power, because it had no brakes, either. And yes, the guy wanted way too much for them, like about double what they were worth. Trying to capitalize on nostalgia, and the "Royal Enfield" name. There wasn't very much I would have called "royal" about that one, though.
I've checked out the new ones at DOS. They do appear to be much better finished than they were some years back. They still want way, way too much for them, though. The kind of money they are asking will still buy a far, far better motorcycle.