Here's what they say about Classic 650

Here's the Royal Enfield I've been waiting for.

 Finally, the Royal Enfield Classic 650 is coming to America. Here's what the reviewers are saying about it:

"The Classic 650 is up for pre-orders right now for a price of $7,499. For that price, you get your choice of three colorways: teal, black and chrome, or red and white. Personally, teal would be my pick. The price places the Classic 650 as one of the more expensive RE 650s. However, it’s still cheaper than other retro rides like the Kawasaki W800 and the Triumph Speed Twin 900. Of course, the RE has a smaller and slower engine than either of those, too. The pre-order period ends on March 31. After that, examples should start appearing in Royal Enfield dealers." —The Autopian 

"The Teal color options comes with a color-matched frame. Spoked wheels lean into the classic styling." —Rider Magazine 

"On the black and chrome version I tested, the gold pinstripes on every fuel tank are hand-painted by specialists at the Royal Enfield factory who do nothing else. The paint itself is also gorgeous, with a subtle gold flake that shines through in the sunlight." —Men's Journal 

"The Classic 650 has dual seats but can quickly be converted to a solo setup by removing the pillion pad and the rack with a single bolt. But if you want, you can leave that rack on and add other touring accessories from Royal Enfield’s catalog for longer-duration trips." —Adventure Rider 

"The forged and embossed handlebar clamp proudly displays the Royal Enfield name (this is not cheap tin) and the metal switch cubes give off quality vibes. The Classic’s paint is rich and lustrous, the chrome brilliant and there is very little plastic anywhere, which speaks to the improved build quality of current-gen Enfields, while outshining some much-pricier machines in the looks department." —Cycle World

"I do like that it features a modern LCD screen for the gear position, fuel gauge, clock, and odometer, along with a standard USB-C port and Tripper navigation pod along with the retro analog speedometer. But, even with those modern touches, it still keeps that cool, classy, vintage-esque cluster. So, if you’re looking for a spaceship, this isn’t it." —Motorcycle.com

"At about 60 mph, some buzz became apparent through the seat, but not enough to be bothersome. It stepped up a notch at 70 mph. At that point, I found myself looking for seventh gear, because the character of the twin means it prefers midrange. What rpm? I don't know. There's no tachometer, though there is a little arrow beside the digital gear indicator in the small LCD screen that points upward when the motorcycle thinks you should upshift." —RevZilla

"If I said the words 'Royal Enfield Classic 650' to you, what would you picture in your mind? Chances are excellent that even if you're somehow reading these words without having seen the photo at the start of this piece, you're probably picturing a motorcycle that looks strikingly similar to how this bike actually looks in real life. Which is, honestly, kind of the entire point of this bike." —RideApart.com

"The riding position is old school in the best possible way. Your back is upright, your shoulders are relaxed, and there is virtually no weight on your wrists. The handlebars sit at a natural, comfortable width. Your legs drop at roughly a 90-degree angle to the ground rather than being tucked up under you or stretched forward. The seat height comes in at around 31.5 inches, which is pretty high, but still low enough to be accessible for a wide range of riders, though not quite as low as a traditional cruiser." —TopSpeed

"I like that, aside from its good looks, the Classic 650 has all the positive traits of a cruiser without the downsides. It doesn’t scream cruiser when you see it; it’s more comfortable than most cruisers; and it won’t drain your bank account to buy one." —Cycle News

Best-ever Royal Enfield CraigsList ad

What if you wanted to sell this Royal Enfield?

 Here's the best Royal Enfield ad I've ever read on CraigsList. Catchy. Honest. Sincere. With links to descriptions of the accessories fitted. Good photographs, including a photo labeled with the selling points identified in the ad. 

And there is one element that, in particular, nails down the seller as a genuine fan of Royal Enfield motorcycles. I'll save that to the end. 

For starters, consider the way this ad, from California, begins: 

"I love this bike. Excels at nothing but does everything well." 

Wait: he loves this Royal Enfield INT 650 and celebrates its capabilities as an all-arounder. Yet he's selling it? That's what I call catchy. You want to know more.

And, boy, do you get it.

It's a l-o-o-n-n-n-g ad, including descriptions, with links, to accessories the seller fitted, all keyed to a labelled photo of the motorcycle.

You just don't get this on CraigsList, normally home to the lazy expression "what you see is what you get."

But this ad is not just a list. The writing is engaging, convincing you that the seller, like you, is an enthusiast.

Here's just part of the ad:

"It’s a right-down-the-middle retro bike with the updated safety, convenience, and reliability that you would expect from a modern bike. A perfect blend of form and function. RE’s goal with this platform to challenge the American market and they did it by building a great, stylish, unpretentious bike for half the price of the European competitors.

"The simple, surprisingly grunty twin puts out nice linear power, making for a fun, confidence-inspiring ride. At 650ccs and 50hp, I would be happy to recommend this bike to most anyone. Perfect for a beginner who wants something approachable that they won’t wind up bored of in a year or two. Great for a lapsed rider who misses riding but doesn’t miss the constant wrenching of a true retro. Awesome for an experienced rider looking to take it back to the simple basics.

"In short, it's the perfect bike for someone who just wants to cut through Santa Cruz traffic with groceries and their work clothes and get home in one piece, go cruising up through the redwoods on the weekends, and maybe take a summer road trip or two.

"When you look below, you’ll see that (almost) everything I have done to this bike has been in service of comfort and utility.... I’ve really leaned into the 'standard' of this modern retro standard: it will do it all."

Go read the ad to learn about all the "farkles" (as he calls them) he added to the motorcycle.

Numbers key to accessories added to the motorcycle.

But here is the ONE thing he did that really tells me he sincerely loved this Royal Enfield and what it represents:

He added "OEM 'Interceptor 650' side panels — Honda owns the rights to the name 'Interceptor' in the U.S., so around here they badge them 'INT 650.' Dumb name. I got these from British eBay for a touch of class."

That's classy. Who would even notice except someone who truly appreciates Royal Enfields?

So why is he selling? I wrote to ask and got this honest response:

"I just upgraded to a Honda CB1100, which fills the same 'naked retro standard' niche but does literally everything better. I just can’t justify keeping both."

Tiny Berkeley sports car needs someone to refresh Royal Enfield Interceptor motor

Royal Enfield Interceptor motor powers this small car.

 Dave Perry, restorer of vintage race cars, needs someone in the Southeast United States to "freshen" the 736cc Royal Enfield Royal Enfield Interceptor motor in his Berkeley sports car. 

If you are that someone, or know someone who can do it, email Dave Perry at bare-metal@hotmail.com 

Perry and his car are located at his OldSchool Restorations shop in North Alabama. 

If you grew up gazing longingly at car magazine photos of sexy plastic bodies for kit cars by Devin, Glasspar or Fiberfab, you'll appreciate the mission of OldSchool Restorations. 

It's "Dave Perry's home of sportrods, vintage racecars, vintage kit cars... Dave Perry began using fiberglass in 1954... Fiberglass body repair and restoration of many vintage fiberglass body cars is Dave Perry's interest."

The largely fiberglass Berkeley is certainly interesting.

Made in Biggleswade, England from 1956 to 1960, the Berkeley originally appeared as a sleek two-seater with a 322cc two-stroke, three-cylinder motor. Headlights were faired in, drive was to the front wheels, and the transmission was a three-speed Albion gearbox with reverse. There was electric start.

The 1958 change to the big four-stroke Royal Enfield motor necessitated a hood bulge and blunt front end that spoiled the sexy look of the first Berkeleys. They're still pretty sharp looking, especially in red.

Lots of motor under small hood.

I've written about this particular red Berkeley before, when it appeared for sale. It is one of very few built with left-hand steering wheel. The micro sports car could have originally been powered by the 692cc twin-cylinder motor from a Royal Enfield Super Meteor or Constellation, as later Berkeleys were.

But Dave Perry tells me the motor is now the larger Interceptor twin.

"Certainly someone who follows your blog in the Southeast may know who might freshen my engine," he wrote.

Perry likes race cars, so the freshening he has in mind probably leans toward speed. This particular Berkeley is set up for racing. It doesn't have doors.

A Berkeley with the Constellation motor was said to be good for 100 mph. What is your courage good for?

Something so small might be safer on a race track than an expressway. It's just over 10 feet long, narrower than a double bed, and weighs less than 900 pounds.

There is no roof for little red racer.

Fun fact: Glasspar built the fiberglass bodies for Disneyland's Autopia automobile ride. Those were powered by a real governed gas motor, and gave kids (including me) a thrill since they were steerable, (between guard rails), had brakes, and an accelerator.

Reportedly, the early builders once removed the governor and unleashed an amusement park car on the streets of Newport Beach, California.

If you've ever dreamed of driving a carnival ride on the road, the Berkeley might be your answer.