Monday, August 19, 2013

Why the Royal Enfield Bullet will never say die

It's a project now, but someday this Royal Enfield Bullet will run again.
"Broke and busy," Casey, a college student in Denton, Texas, put his 1999 Royal Enfield Bullet up for sale on CraigsList hoping to see it go to a good home.

"I have a (pre-June, if you know anything about Enfields) '99 Royal Enfield Bullet that has been condemned to 'work in progress' status, and it saddens me deeply," he wrote in the ad.

"I would love to have her back to her beautiful, running self; however, being the broke and busy college student I am, I'm simply unable to at this point, and I'd rather her go to a good home where she will be fixed, polished, loved, and ridden."

He set the price at $1,500, calling it negotiable. "I understand this is a project," he wrote.

Anyone who has ever had a beloved vehicle get mechanically and financially beyond them will understand his plight and sympathize.

It certainly has happened to me. I liked Pontiacs. Frustrated by problems and expense I gave up on two 1967 Pontiac Tempests. A 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix I loved was traded in and probably went to the breakers. My 1986 Pontiac Parisienne was so far gone at the end I donated it to the Salvation Army rather than try to sell it. I doubt any of these cars survive.

In the case of Casey's Bullet, someone will certainly rescue it and, with parts as available as they are, bring it back to life.

That's one of the reasons I bought my own 1999 Bullet when I did. It was a vintage motorcycle that was brand new when I bought it: no rust!

My Tempest "parts car" had been rusted and worn out in exactly the same places as the Tempest I was trying to restore. But parts, brand new, are available for my Bullet. It can always be reborn.

Best of all, there is no guilt. Bullets are still in production. They exist by the thousands, at least in India. No matter how inept I might be, if I somehow destroy my Bullet it won't be the last one.

Casey may lose his Bullet, but he can be assured someone will enjoy it.

1 comment:

  1. It was weird to read this since that bike is literally two blocks from my office. I'm going to have to pay this guy a visit... riding my 2012 G5 Deluxe.

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