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Fritz Egli of Egli Vincent fame has turned his hand to revamping the venerable Enfield, and the result is a very pretty motorcycle which performs a great deal better than the original whilst retaining the classic understated charm of the Royal "Oilfield".
High speed is not what the Enfield is about (any faster than 80kph in India is suicidal anyway), it is about aesthetics, comfort and style. Some non-conventional aspects take a moment to get used to, such as the gear-change on right foot and brake on the left, but riding one gives a pure, unadulterated pleasure – particularly where you’re going!
And to complement this, the vast landscape of India unfolds itself like a bride! Up north, Ladakh and Himachal take you through a roller coaster ride through its valleys and high passes; some lush green and some as barren as deserts. Rajasthan in the west, gives ample scope for motorbiking through arid landscape of the desert, hills, forts, palaces and desert forests. Down South India, it is myriad of colors; sea beaches, shore temples, backwaters, tea gardens, mountain jungles, ancient ruins. You name it and you see it. Discover India. Astride a Bullet.
The Enfield factory at Tiruvottiyur, in Madras, is now over forty years old and production declines year by year. Some 20,000 motorcycles are still put together annually, using many of the original machine tools and dies from the original British parent factory. Most parts, right down to the pinstripes on the paint work, are still hand finished.
In India, everybody knows that to drive an Enfield, you have to be a bike mechanic, or at least, your best friend has to be one. The quality of brand new ex - factory bikes is far from what a customer can expect for his good money, even in India.
To get professional service and the availability of even common spare parts is a problem, specially if you are away from the metros.
THE BULLET DATA:
22 BHP / 500cc Model or 17 BHP / 350cc Model / 12V Electric System / 4 stroke / 165 kg empty / 14 ltr. petroltank / manual kick start only / drum brakes / contact point ignition / 1horn / rear - brake foot - lever on the left, gear lever on the right side / four gears, hardly syncronised.
THE CLASSIC BIKE ADVENTURE 500CC TOURING BULLETS - AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE:
Higher touring handles, imported handgrips, mirrors, butterfly - crashguards, 2 powerhorns, customized touring seat, 12V halogen bulbs, imported brake liners, adjustable shock absorbers, sidesstand, leather saddlebags, traditional sound through customized silencers, 20 ltr. petroltanks with leakproof tank locks, India’s best 19’’x3.5’’ Nylon Tyres, modified electric system and batteries.
How we manage to increase the pick up and stamina of the Bullet, that we will keep as our secret.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INDIA, YOU SHOULD NOTE:
India is not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’. It can be an extreme assault on the senses. In order to fully appreciate India’s true beauty you will need the ability to leave behind western values and to turn a blind eye to some of the harsher aspects of life in a developing nation. If you can do this, you will find it truly rewarding experience.
India can be quite trying in other ways also. The riding conditions are sometimes arduous and whilst 300km or so would appear to be quite an easy day’s ride, this is not always so. Some days will require us to be on the road by 6:00am to beat the morning traffic and the days can be long and hot. It is obviously expected that you are able to demanding conditions. An important part of this is your mental approach and attitude. If you are the type of person who prefers lounging by the poolside with a dry martini, then perhaps this motorcycle safari is not for you. Try the Alps or Route 66 first, and when bored over there, then try us !
Be prepared to rough it a bit, be prepared to accept delays and hastily changed plans; be prepared to be tolerant of India’s sometimes bungling bureaucracy and ineptitude.
Be flexible and above all, bring your sense of humour.
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