Royal Enfield USA unveils new model: C5 Special

Royal Enfield Bullet C5 Special.
(Upswept exhaust and headlight visor are not standard equipment.)

Royal Enfield USA's top-of-the-line Bullet Classic 500 now comes as a bigger motorcycle, the C5 Special. You may need a magnifying glass to see the difference in photographs, but you'll feel the difference in your bottom.

The difference to your bottom line is likely to be only about $100.

For that you get a larger, 19-inch front wheel (as opposed to two 18-inch wheels on the C5 Classic), a somewhat different riding position and a straight front fork as opposed to the offset fork on the C5 Classic. The fork is the same length as before, but with different geometry.

The C5 Special will be available in all 50 states.

According to a notice that went out to U.S. Royal Enfield dealers last week, the C5 Special will appeal to larger riders who find the C5 Classic smallish but prefer its styling to the B5 and G5, which use the 19-inch front wheel.

The new fork and larger front wheel will give a more cruiser like feel on the highway. The C5 Classic will remain the choice for those who want maximum handling.

The new C5 Special will be available in all C5 colors except the Red Chrome.

Royal Enfield C5 Special in teal.

Royal Enfield bobber surprises with stock frame color

Gentle shade of green gives away the Royal Enfield under this bobber.

In its stock green color, Royal Enfield's Bullet Classic C5 motorcycle looks suitably retro. But not many would consider this gentle shade of green a street-tough, no-holds-barred color.

Custom builder Dave Perewitz turns that impression around with his Royal Enfield bobber, shown at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in New York.

Peeking out from inside the iron fist of a boulevard brawler is the velvet hand of a pastel Royal Enfield C5.

Some refer to the mild color as "turquoise." It seems an unnatural choice for a bobber until you see it here. Then it just looks eye catching.

Perewitz Cycle Fabrication in Bridgewater Mass. is the home of Dave Perewitz, 2006 winner of the Discovery Channel Biker Build-off. Its web site describes Perewitz as self-taught, beginning with his first motorcycle in 1967. Their proud claim is that 100 per cent of the custom motorcycles they turn out are street ridden.

Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT reports wrote that, for the show bike, Perewitz changed the front wheel, modified the front fender and shortened the front end. He added mini ape-hanger handlebars, low seat, new exhaust pipe, shortened rear fenders and new turn signals.

Wilkinson wrote that Perewitz intends to make the parts used in his Royal Enfield conversion available in kit form. Perhaps that explains why the green "shows through." It illustrates how many changes have been made.

Royal Enfield USA vice president Ron Greene shows off the Perewitz custom and discusses it in this CAC-TV video:

Royal Enfield's Bunty is back, in virtual reality terms

Some say this is Bunty, but I have my doubts.

Royal Enfield's stoutest (I'll have a pint as well, if you don't mind) supporter is back. Again.

In probably the least appreciated literary tour de force in the history of the English language, Maj. Bertram "Bunty" Golightly, British Army (retired) has kept fans of Royal Enfield motorcycles laughing since August of 2000. Except — sometimes — he's not there.

Now he's back, tormenting the servants around his Blotto Hall manor, casting an appreciative eye on the latest serving girl and commenting on the merits of the world's motorcycles (all quite similar to the merits of the world's women, in his view).

Along the way he offers technical advice on the restoration and maintenance of Royal Enfield motorcycles while incidentally insulting people of most nationalities and all motorcycles not made in Britain. Oh, and some of those, too.

There are limits to the major's reach, however. For one thing, he's almost certainly fictional — although he denies it.

As best I can tell, Bunty's comments appear only on Yahoo messages groups devoted to Royal Enfields. His missives seemed to disappear entirely in 2005, but then resumed in spurts. One long absence was explained by a claim to have been incarcerated.

Suddenly he's back, and in fine form, and at his original venue, the Yahoo Royal Enfield message board.

Mere excerpts do no justice to the major's rants, which are typically signed with some variation of "Cheers, Your servant, Maj Bunty Golightly MBH, Defender of the Kickstart, Companion of the Float Chamber."

Nevertheless, here are a few snips from recent posts:

"Motorcycles, it has been my observation, reflect the females of the country of manufacture.American motorcycles tend to be of gargantuan proportions, dress in a very gauche manner, have no sense of propriety and are inordinately loud at both ends. However they are generous of nature and an Englishman does not like to be rude and never refuses a ride when offered — lord no."

"Of motor cars, I know little and care even less, they are the conveyance of the unfortunate less educated social orders and 'tis not polite to mention them — by Jove."

"And treat your motorcycle like a horse, hound, servant or wife, it's bad form to let 'em idle too much — just so."

"With ignition and sparks in mind, how about a sparkling wine? Better still some bubbly — eh? Ballsack, a bottle of Meteor et Constellation '59 if you please."

Who writes this stuff? Bunty has been careful never to step out of character and my attempts to draw him out of his disguise have failed. Frankly, I almost hope never to succeed.