The honda hero's in India are made there, same as the Enfields. The lean burn five speed box Enfields have All new modern tooling and if anything should be better built than the honda's which are on old tooling. The classic Enfields tooling is over fifty years old and is so worn it is impossible to produce anything accurate with it.
Back in teh day, 350 c bikes were often considered 'Apprentices bikes' being exactly the same as the 500cc versions ( Enfield, Ariel, BSA, Velocette et al). Therfore witha smaller bore/piston could have higher compression ratios and longer stroke ratioengines, so were always more economical. Enfield is losing out to the smaller Hero bikes because at about 80mpg they are perceived to be thirsty and expensive to run in India.
With any luck, this year I shall be putting my money where my mouth is as I hope to buy either an Enfield or old Triumph as soon as I have sold my BMW. Then at last I will have a bike with pedals on the correct side.

Do you fancy the diesel Enfield? It seems like the way forward. I only saw one in India.

Mercedes are pushing ahead and offering some smaller, less expensive Diesel models

It's true that weight, price and development are not yet right. Maybe the crisis will have to deepen to address that. But diesels should suit overlanders very well, though not the sports biker.

If diesel bikes do arrive, then it will also herald a total change in bike culture - it'll become much more practical and much less about fashion.

Hi,

When I did my bike licence I got an A2, and therefore my licence states "=<25KW,01" on it. As you know, the A2 is upgraded automatically after two years.
Before I left on a 'big trip' in 2006 I called the DVLA to see if I could get a new licence with the "=<25KW,01" designation removed, as by that time I'd been riding for several years. The DVLAs answer was that the police in this country know that the A2 designation no longer applies after two years so its not a problem in the UK and that it shouldn't be a problem abroad.

The bad news with getting an A2 licence appears to be that your licence is forever marked with "=<25KW,01".

The good news is that in none of the countries I have visited (most of EU, Morocco, Turkey, Iran) did it ever cause a problem, despite riding a bike that had a higher than 25KW output. It is unlikely that anyoneone will ever realise the significance of the "=<25KW,01" on a British licence. At the very least you'll be able to ride a sub 25KW bike and could probably get away with riding a bigger one if you liked!

Matt :)

This is true and I've heard that expecting hero hondas to have anything like the reliability of a 'proper' Jap bike is very optomistic.

Having said that, I'd suggets the OPs partner's best option would be the 33bhp restricted BMW or transalp as it would have a more similar performance to the OPs own bike.

Matt :)

I accompanied one from here to the german diesel bike rally couple years ago. My mpg went up to 57 at a steady 50-60 mph. His was around 150. But even I would baulk at riding with just 10hp under my tank, even though I enjoyed travelling allover the Uk in the early sixties on my 10hp Tiger cub :) I truly believe the lean burn Enfield to be better bike, because sometimes you simply have to use motorways if just to navigate around the larger cities, and whilst it might not be at its best at 75mph, it will do it. It also returns +80mpg. I much prefer poodling about on the back roads.
For me a huge thing with those enfields is that the 5 speed box is ambidextrous, and that means I can have a RH shift. With RH I will be able to react without thinking, and get it right. It will be such a relief. Back in teh 80's I had a Honda, and destested the thing. for teh last four years I have persevered with a recalcitrent pig known as a BMW and still dislike it, although the bike is fine It is just awkward.

I well remember the tappety rattle of the "Tagger Cub".

When I was but a tender arsed 17 year old crow, I took my A2 license, and incurred the related 2 year purgatory. My first couple of bikes I had restricted, with due obedience for the letter of the law.

It is pretty galling to take a bike, the way its manufacturer intended it, then strangle it with some (200 quid!) washers in the inlets. I found on a DRZ and an RF600, the restriction kit is dangerous. It creates flat spots and surges all through throttle openings, and makes overtaking an unecessary roulette of 'find the powerband.'

I ended up taking mine out and running full power, fully believing it was less dangerous than keeping them. As long as you aren't caught doing something very silly, nobody would ever know. Who is going to make you take half the bike apart to see the washers? My license still says that I am restricted to 250kw, 5 years later.

As for the bike to choose. A Babyblade or a Ninja 400 would tempt me on a restricted license. Modern classics.

For 33brake, you could have a whole garage full of Cubs, or a triplet of CB125s.

My lady has her CBT today, so should be bike mounted by tomorrow.

Birdy

Joel

Ah the problems of bike tests! I did what many did for my test, a "while" back. I arrived on my 500cc bike and sidecar, went round the block twice for the examiner, passed, and went home to unbolt the chair, and threw it away.

Nowadays all this CBT stuff seems to be a nightmare, to no good efect.

I was stationed at Yeovilton naval airbase in 1962 when My test came through. I had been waiting since the summer of 1961 for it. It was scheduled to be bang in the middle of my Easter leave. So I rode up from deepest Cornwall, took my test in Yeovil and rode home :) Nice dry day, enjoyed the ride on the cub ( equipped with full Avon Touring fairing).

When my restriction ran out, and before my big trip, I sent my photocard to the DVLA to get it replaced and asking to get the restriction removed. They did.
This restriction means nothing outside the UK anyway.

In term of choice of bike, I remember my terror at owning my first "big bike" . its' about confidence. Get her a bike where she can get flat feet on the ground, and light. Weigh is a big problem. Remember, women do not have the same upper body strength than men.
The GS is fairly heavy, although can be lowered a lot. The DRZ400 is a good choice if she is tall enough (the 21' wheel version has a really high seat!)

Nope, on the cub I had dunlops, ribbed front and 'Universal' square section rear. Later when I got the 500 I eventually settled on Dunlop universal rear and Avon ribbed front as being the best combination. I disliked the Avon on the rear, despite it being called a 'rain tyre' was inclined to slide unpredictably when wet. I used to get about 8k miles on a rear, and near 12k miles from a front. Same applied to my 1970 TR650 Trophy (best bike of all). On my BMW I wear front tyres faster than rear ones??? Maybe it is better at stopping than going, on the other hand I can never find the rear brake pedal when I want it So all of my braking is done on the front wheel:(

Thanks for all the replies and stories.

I think the suzuki drz is a good option, we'll just have to find one to have a quick ride around on.

The missus had her test and they made her go out without the headset walkie-talkie stuff. Then told her where to go and expected her to make her way round.
Problem is, her nav skills are non existent. After having to pull over to find out where she had to go, she got so upset (she thought she failed) that the examiner wouldnt let her back on the bike! :thumbdown:

She was told that she'll be able to get a refund, but I still cant believe they'd let the test go on without some kind of examiner/rider comunication.

Got the new test on the 4th of march. Good thing I didnt put a date on the ''Congratulations on passing your test'' card.

DRZ S is a very high bike, seat height 93,5 cm. I don't think it is very good choice for ladies unless they are nearing 190 cm (like me). ;)