There was a thread on HU a while ago from someone with experience of the Indian made Hero-Hondas (I understand they are made in India as a joint venture between Honda and Hero due to strange Indian manufacturing regulations, I could be wrong).

Their experience was that the Hero-Hondas were barely better (if not worse in some respects, due to the unavailablity of parts and lack of mechanics) than enfields in terms of build quality and bore little relation to the Hondas available in other parts of the world.

You are on the spot, Alarn, is this something you have come across? Or is it another case of limited experience being taken as true for the whole marque?

Matt

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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Poor availability of spares, poor quality spares, and a couldn't care less attitude about the same still exist unchanged as far as the 220 cc Hero Honda is concerned. In this respect they are just as bad as RE's offerings (not worse, though, try getting a new block for a 500!).

However, the new bikes can be expected to run without ANY problem for 15 - 20000 km, after which the cam tensioner fails, followed by the clutch plates. Compare this with the RE flagship here, the LB500 with ES.

Royal Enfield Machismo 500 review - India Travel Forum, BCMTouring.com

This is not an issue on the rather underpowered 350 though.

Unfortunately this is just one of my limited experiences with the marque, reading third party accounts, all of whom might be liars, you never know.
I have also personally seen new bullets, er, show "character" immediately on rolling out of the showroom (you know where to find that post, don't you), though it is entirely possible that the rider was kicking endlessly (and sweating buckets) to misguide me, lest I envy his new steed. Under the circs, you'll forgive me if I don't actually spend MY money to further increase my admittedly limited experience with this bike, with first hand experience gained somewhere remote and desolate.

Plus, as you have an excellent memory and lucidly remember who has posted what, and when, you may also remember

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...189#post106744

in response to your post. I remember saying something about NEW Karizmas which I have repeated here.

PS: My Karizma has done 128000km till date in 4 yrs so at least I have some experience of that :P

Hee hee! Everything is circular, eh!?

Matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Something like the hole in the bucket

"Are there any more reliable, cheaper, faster bikes that can do the job? If the king is naked, is it still the king? Once you take the " Enfield experience", the "zen and the motorcycle maintenance" , the "go slow so you meet the people, out of the equation, would you still choose an Enfield?"

Says it all really, take all that out and you might as well take a car or stay home and watch the tele. Enfields need more attention than modern iron, but to cite the experience of a couple of well known celeb travellers. A fast reliable technologically advanced bike is a liability if you cannot get past the technology when it breaks.

Stephen

I'm enjoying my 1996 Enfield 350. Stephen said it best with, "A fast reliable technologically advanced bike is a liability if you cannot get past the technology when it breaks."

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Are Royal Enfields a thing of the past?

Of course they are and that is the whole point. Would you get me on a Hero Honda? You wouldn`t get me on anything with the name HERO in it.

You do not say what motorcycle experience you have but I would suggest choosing a 350 Royal Enfield for 2 up touring around India was not the best choice. Especially if you have gear with you.

I have a 1996 Moto guzzi 1100i and like the Enfield you have to get your hands dirty occasionally. I also have a Yamaha FZ6 where you never have to get your hands dirty. They are like chalk and cheese and I would take the Guzzi anyday.

Veteran bikes may not be your cup of cha but don`t try and tell people that Enfield have had their day because like BSA, and Triumphs, they will be around a lot longer than the Honda Hero.

Maybe it was not the bike that was at fault, maybe you just chose the wrong bike. Possiblt a BMW GS would have suited your requirements more.



Steve