They'll trade photos for a Royal Enfield motorcycle

A photo studio in Portland, Ore. is offering its professional services in trade for a variety of things it needs, including:

1. Vintage motorcycle (Royal Enfield, BMW) and,

2. Teach me to ride motorcycle.

It's signed Kenneth Benjamin Reed, and includes a link to their Vorpal Images website.

It's well worth taking a look. They do everything from portraits to products, promotional photos and event photography. One picture in particular might appeal to fans of vintage products: a young woman in the uniform of the British Empire, a rifle over her shoulder.

Clever devils. I hope they get their motorcycle and lessons on how to ride it.

Royal Enfields get attention in California, Orange County Register notes

New Royal Enfield motorcycles are on sale in California at last. Orange County Register reporter Brittany Levine discovered them at San Clemente Scooter and Cycle Supply, Orange County's only Royal Enfield dealership.

Owner Chris Smith told her that the new Royal Enfield is "just a magnet" for customers, with older ones coming in to reminisce and younger ones attracted by the style.

The reporter was kind enough to quote me as well. I pointed out that Google Analytics used to show that most readers of this blog were in New York, with California far behind. I used to joke that my only readers in California were my dad in Van Nuys, and the rest of my family scattered around Los Angeles.

No more. Today, the biggest readership of this blog is in California, by far. It's an indication that Royal Enfield motorcycles are of tremendous interest in the state that sets the pace for motorcycle sales in the U.S.

He'll make a custom café racer jacket to your design

Mike Woulfe attended Saturday's Mods vs. Rockers event in Fort Lauderdale dressed to rumble. He wore a leather jacket he decorated to his own design.

And he's willing to make one for you, to your design.

According to his RockerJackets.com website:

"I'll even use your patches. Let's work out a design by phone or email, and send it to me. I do top quality work. I open the jackets at the bottom seam and do all sewing and mounting of studs without damaging the lining. And, studs placed around the collar are folded inside so you can't see the unsightly stud legs if you wear the jacket with the collar up. Once all the decorating work is done, I resew the bottom seam of the jacket with my 90-year-old Singer 96-10.

"I will usually have one or two ready to go jackets on eBay. I also usually have one or two undecorated jackets in stock, ready to design. Most jackets cost me $120 to $150, and are good quality jackets sold through Jammin leather or Leatherup.com

"I don't mark up the jackets. You're paying for my labor, and the patches. A basic decoration with around 100 studs, one large patch, and four small patches will add another $100 dollars to the base cost of the jacket.

"The last jacket on eBay had more than 400 studs and quite a few patches, and cost $400. Now you're getting the idea."

Woulfe is a longtime South Florida radio newsman and motorcycle enthusiast. He has made a study of the clothes worn by the original rockers. The young British riders of the '60s imprinted their sense of style on café racer society.

His reading of history is that the rockers' famous clashes with London's mods weren't that violent.

"Nobody got killed. These were working class kids and they had an attitude. There were fights but there always was someone there to say 'OK, that's enough,' and it would be over."

Saturday's friendly Mods vs. Rockers event paid tribute to the styles, motorcycles and scooters of that era. And there's no better way to show a little attitude than a leather jacket.

When you park, where do you park your helmet?

When I start my Royal Enfield Bullet I like to keep it running until I get where I'm going. It starts reliably, but why tempt fate?

So Saturday's Mods vs. Rockers ride was a true Maximum Test for the Bullet. Like most "poker run" style events, Mods vs. Rockers included more stopping and chatting than running and riding. The Bullet never stuttered, so my biggest challenge became where to put my helmet and jacket while chatting and eating.

The cleverest idea, I thought, was the woman who pressed a parking meter into service to hold her crown.

For most, though, it was a matter of "perch and pray." Pray, that is, that the massive plastic helmet does not crash, smash and dent a fender on the way down.

Some modern helmets are so huge they dwarf the motorcycles they adorn. How big is this man's head?

This Triumph owner seemed to find a more secure spot on the passenger pillion.

Even more original, I thought, was the guy who used his tail lamp assembly to hold his helmet. At least it doesn't have far to fall from there.

Of course, if your headpiece is a vintage one, complete with goggles, it looks perfectly fine and very dramatic no matter where you proudly pose it on the motorcycle.

But check this out: This Honda owner has made a prize display out of the common ploy of hanging the helmet by its strap from the handlebars, like a bucket. The helmet is color coordinated with the motorcycle, and look at the demure white gloves! Very cool.

White gloves would not be practical on a British motorcycle, and I include this shot of a BSA not just because the helmet is securely stored, but because I particularly liked the handy rag wrapped in Velcro, perfect for wiping the hands after encountering a spot of motor oil.

The scooters along for the ride generally did a better job of stashing helmets. Vespa seems to have thought of everything, including an under-seat hook that neatly enfolds a helmet in the bodywork. The owner offered to remove the helmet so I could get a better shot of his machine, but it was the helmet I liked!

Where do you park your helmet when you park your bike?

Mods vs. Rockers ride brings out the fun and frustration of riding vintage bikes

Enfield "row" at the event.

 Royal Enfield motorcycles have a sense of humor. Mine thinks it is very amusing to crack off the plastic stalks that hold the oversize turn signal lamps required by the Department of Transportation. I've written about this before. 

So it was almost no surprise that, as I kicked the Bullet to life Saturday and donned my helmet, the left front signal stalk broke in half, leaving the lamp dangling by its wires. 

We were on our way to join second annual Mods vs. Rockers event in Fort Lauderdale. Hundreds of people would walk past my Enfield there, invariably mistake it for a vintage motorcycle and ask "What year is that?" Their second question would likely be "Why does it have only one front turn signal?" 

I decided to press on, regardless (after removing the dangling signal lamp). 

This rat scooter could fly.

I enjoy the Mods vs. Rockers ride because it proceeds at speeds friendly to clapped out vintage scooters (ridden by the Mods), and thus is no strain for me and my "Rocker" 1999 Bullet. Further, it brings out machines rarely seen at the Harley-intensive bike weeks held in Florida.

Ron Mallet, in yellow, and his bike (below) are center of attention.

This year's event did not disappoint. A crowd gathered around Ron Mallet's very clean Yamaha based cafe racer. He remembers that the frame came from a 1979, but can't date the rest of the machine because it was built "from a pile of parts."

Mallet says he has 13 other motorcycles at home but no sooner does he get one completed than it sells. He already had a "serious offer" for the blue cafe racer, although he doesn't consider it finished yet. The hardest part of building it, he said, was "getting everything hidden under the seat. There isn't much room."

The ride stop at Specialized Motorcycles in Fort Lauderdale was an eye-opening look at the "museum" of this high-end creator of high performance motor vehicles. One bay is devoted entirely to Rickman motorcycles. None, as far as I could tell, was powered by a Royal Enfield Interceptor motor.

At the other end of the scale was a yellow Cushman that wasn't along for the ride, but was on display at our stop at the Scooter Superstore in Hollywood, Florida. The coconut on the handlebars was a cup holder!

Even neater was the kickstand, made more practical by the addition of a white plastic shift knob at the tip!

Along for the ride was a terrific looking Volkswagen-powered BMW, the creation of Bob Lester, of Fort Lauderdale.

It came by its patina honestly: he built it in 1977, mostly by looking at four other VW-BMW conversions in town at the time. His goal was to keep the motorcycle as stock as possible, resulting in a lot of double-takes from viewers. It really did resemble the classic BMW powered BMW on the ride.

It's no problem keeping the VW motor cool, Lester told me, because the motor doesn't build up much heat. It came from a VW bus. It's barely working to move the motorcycle.

My favorite detail: the mighty VW powered motorcycle has a little ding-ding bicycle chime on the handlebars!

All in all, a great day. I even got a T-shirt. Thank you, Louise Dutton, Vintage-Rider and Coattail Productions.

Royal Enfield Mystery Bike for sale on eBay

Update: This just in from the Royal Enfield Owner's Club Dating Service, courtesy of My Royal Enfields blogger Jorge Pullin: "The machine is Model J - 500cc OHV. It has matching engine/frame numbers of J1595 and was dispatched from the factory in April 1947 to a dealer (individual?) called Whitehall in New York. Regards, Graham Scarth (chairman)"

A sad looking Royal Enfield "mystery bike" is for sale on eBay in Dallas, Texas. It is shown posed with its front fender plopped atop the rear fender, and with what appears to be a 1957 South Dakota license plate.

My guess is that it is a 500cc Model J. The number J1595 appears in one of the photos and, based on appearance, the only other thing it could be is a 350cc Model G. These motorcycles were in production from 1945 to 1954.

It's a basket case and may not be complete (where is the transmission?), but the starting price is low. It would make a very interesting discussion piece in my living room. The discussion I would be having, in that case, would be with my wife!

Very rare Royal Enfield G5 Military for sale, new but if you want it, you must act now

UPDATE: This news flash just in from Rhett Waldock at Royal Enfield USA: "This bike is on the move! The G5 Military was so rare and so popular that, naturally, it was the first California demo bike purchased when we offered the California demos up to our 49-state dealer network. It was purchased by Scoots 4 U in Volo, Ill. and will be on its way to the Land of Lincoln shortly. I don’t think it’s pre-sold at the dealership, but anyone who’s interested in it should now contact Bob at Scoots 4U: scooterdude@prodigy.net or 815-363-4720."

You can own a brand new and very special Royal Enfield G5 Military motorcycle but you must act now.

I've been contacted by readers who want one of the few G5 Militarys that exist. It's easy to see why. The G5 has the ruggedly handsome look of vintage Government Issue gear — and, unlike the C5 Military, it has a kick start lever. Very GI.

Not many were imported into the U.S.

Where is this rare motorcycle? Well, oddly, it's in California. But you can only register it somewhere else. Kevin Mahoney, president of Royal Enfield USA, explains:

"As it happens I have one just coming up for sale today in California. It is a non-California bike, so it can only be sold in the (other) 49 states.

"It's a G5 Military — 2009 (very rare) 407 miles (Stock number LO721). It was a magazine bike. It has never been titled and comes with a full warranty. This is a very nice bike and was set up very very carefully because of its role in magazines.

"The contact is Matt Capri at South Bay Triumph. His number is 310-784-7693.

"Time is of the essence as I am going to start to sell my California demo bikes through dealers starting Oct. 21. If you have someone who wants one, they should call Matt right now, or it may be gone.

"As for finding bikes (in general) that is not always as simple as it should be. We (Royal Enfield USA) do not know offhand who has what on their floors. If it is a current model any dealer who doesn't have one can get one as we have most everything in stock at present.

"If they are looking for a rare bike such as a G5 Military or a Red Deluxe G5 (discontinued color, one of my favorites and rare as hens teeth in the G5) calling (your dealer) is a good bet, or we can sometimes help. I do have one Red Deluxe G5 coming up for sale at a dealership in California today as well. Not a California bike, but anyone in the 49 states could get it.

"The California dealers are now open for business and have inventory. There are 12 bikes in the state that were used for various magazines, demos, samples etc. that are available to be sold by those dealers. The two above are the two really rare ones."

As always, the bottom line is this: if you want a new Royal Enfield call your dealer now.

I did, 10 years ago. I've never regretted it.

Motorcycle club plans ride day to benefit Royal Enfield dealership that burned

A Suzuki pit bike will be among the raffle prizes at a benefit "ride day" Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Dayton (Ohio) Motorcycle Club. The event benefits KRW Cycles, the motorcycle shop and Royal Enfield dealership destroyed by fire Labor Day weekend.

"Riding starts at noon, dinner will be at 5 p.m., then hang around for some live music from Life Behind Bars," wrote rider James Reed, of Covington, Ohio, who listed KRW as one of his sponsors.

"Please come out for the ride day to have some fun and help out those great people at KRW who have helped out so many racers, riders and clubs over the years," he wrote.

The Dayton Motorcycle club is located at 3515 Stoney Hollow Rd. in Dayton. Get directions.

Owned by the Bapaille family, KRW Cycles was burned out of the Phillipsburg, Ohio building where it had done business for 42 years. Destruction was complete. There was no insurance.

KRW Cycles was one of the very early Royal Enfield dealerships of the modern era. Among the loses was a Royal Enfield being built for a speed record attempt at Bonneville.

If you can't make it to Dayton, Ohio this weekend, consider writing a check to the fund that has been set up for KRW at the Fifth Third Bank to help KRW Cycles. To donate, make your check out to KRW Cycles, put the word "Donation" in the memo line and mail it to:

Fifth Third Bank
1 S. Main Street
Drop 332911
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attention: Anne Roesch

Royal Enfield comes with everything you'd wish, but just be careful what you wish for

A sleek looking 2002 Royal Enfield 500ES is for sale on eBay with a surprisingly frank description by the seller:

"The paint is atrocious. You may not be able to see it in the photos, but there are numerous blemishes all over the bike. No rust on the bodywork, just a less-than-professional paint job in my garage (my first time trying).  I did three coats of automotive lacquer and three coats of clear coat, so it's well protected, just not pretty.  Unless you're going for a dinged-up sort of rough look — which I now insist is what I'd intended all along."

Funny thing is, you can't see this in the photos. Frankly, the bike looks great. It's very clean, with turn signals stripped off and a bar-end mirror. But the seller's warnings don't end with criticism of the paint. He writes:  

"Although the bike has modern electrics, lighting, and controls, it is as (un)reliable and as needful of attention as its 1950s forebears. This motorcycle is an easy way to experience the joy, anger, pride, frustration, obsessiveness, alienation, disappointment, and exhilaration that comes with owning a classic British bike, but without the high cost of entry. This bike has never been the most reliable mode of transportation in my garage, to be sure, but everything is functioning.  Except for the electric starter."

OK, so the motorcycle delivers the full Royal Enfield experience! I'd expect nothing less from one of the original iron barrel models; but the seller still isn't done!

"Full disclosure:  This bike normally kicks over easily when all is in good order, but sometimes it is just a pain to get going if anything is out of whack.  Example:  Last Friday, started on first kick. Monday, 10 kicks.  It has let me down in a parking lot away from home before.  If you don't want to be wrenching on your bike, you probably don't want this one."

Or, maybe you do, especially at the really rather low Buy It Now price: $1,800. The motorcycle is in Falls Church, Va.

Could Royal Enfield's modern motor put the power in vintage choppers?

A wicked looking chopper with a Royal Enfield motor is featured in The Hindu.

It's the work of Vijay Singh at Rajputana Custom Motorcycles of Jaipur, India. It's called the Lightfoot, and it includes such traditional touches as girder forks, obsolete front brake and a hard-tail rear. But the engine is a completely modern Royal Enfield Unit Constructed Engine!

That's what is so interesting.

Reader Bob Slovey notes that: "The popularity of 'chopper' builders (in the United States) has grown simply because of the popularity and easy availability of 'crate engines.' Most of the ones you see on the street are aftermarket Harley clones. These companies have made a killing in the Harley engine clone market.

"I look around as ask 'Why is Royal Enfield not in the crate engine market?' Royal Enfield now has a modern, reliable engine (C5) that looks great, doesn't leak oil, and starts when it's supposed to. This would be the perfect starting point for a young bike builder just getting started and looking for something affordable and different. Don't you think?

"It would be the perfect component for new builders to play with. After all, why destroy a perfectly good motorcycle just to use the engine in a custom build? If a C5 crate engine were available from Royal Enfield, it would change the industry. Young builders could hone their building skills on a less expensive component and not have to pay $8,000 to $15,000 just for the engine.

"It would also go a long way to promote the RE name in ways they have not even considered. Don't think for a minute Harley doesn't know full-well the benefit they receive from the engine clone industry."

I took Bob's thoughts to Kevin Mahoney of Royal Enfield USA. His response: Maybe someday.

"There probably is a market," Kevin wrote me. "While we can get engines from Royal Enfield it is only onsies and twosies. Therein lies the problem. I am dying to see a great Royal Enfield chopper and a bobber myself."

The Lightfoot is an example of what is possible, although The Hindu criticized the motor for looking "a little too new for an ‘antiquated' motorcycle." Maybe in India, it is too shiny. But that probably is not the case elsewhere.

Ride a Royal Enfield motorcycle and feel like Steve McQueen

"Royal Enfield 50s Steve McQueen!"

That's the headline on an ad for a 2009 Royal Enfield Bullet offered for sale on CraigsList in Stratham, N.H. It sure attracts attention — some of it unwanted.

"Some wiseguy had to point out that McQueen rode a Triumph," the seller notes in the ad. "The point is I FEEL like Steve McQueen when I ride this."

Fair enough, I think. Nearly every motorcyclist is a fan of actor Steve McQueen. We're all free to imagine ourselves sharing his feelings when we ride our Royal Enfield motorcycles.

What's interesting here is that the seller goes on to suggest a way we can get to know how Steve McQueen himself felt when he rode his motorcycles or drove his cars.

"If you are a fan, there's a great book called McQueen's Machines — awesome," he writes.

The book is fully titled McQueen's Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon. Written by Motor Trend editor Matt Stone and McQueen's son Chad, it has 184 pages of gorgeous pictures and extensive comments on the vehicles, backed by significant research.

The book lets McQueen's motorcycles and cars tell the story, in effect, as we learn when he bought them, modified them, sold them and, sometimes, bought them back.

McQueen owned more than 200 motorcycles, we're told.

The Index lists many of them, but not all. Who is to say there wasn't a Royal Enfield among them at some point?

Kawasaki W800 competition for Royal Enfield?

2011 Kawasaki W800

Royal Enfield's success with its new Classic 500 (called the C5) is certain, in India. It will no doubt sell well enough around the world to justify the company's faith in it.

Success brings competition, naturally. Blogger Jorge Pullin spotted the video of the 2011 Kawasaki W800, a British styled motorcycle, on the Visual Gratification blog, which lists the W800 as part of a wave of new classics being offered from Japan.

The Kawasaki looks terrific; better than most of the real British bikes looked in the day.

Ironically, the video opens with the wheezing sound of the electric starter. The video carefully avoids showing much of the right side of the motor; there's no kick start lever.

Hardly worth mentioning the omission (the Royal Enfield C5 we get here in the U.S. doesn't have one either) but it's amusing that Kawasaki tries to hide that.

Kawasaki briefly (two years, 1999 and 2000) offered its W650 in the United States. It was a Brit-style motorcycle (with a kick start). They were much admired. Here's a picture of one, for sale in Montreal.

"Rubber mounted engine for vibration, the sound, look and feel of a British bike without the hassles. A dream bike (I have two and am reducing my collection to one)," the seller writes.

So, Kawasaki can claim to have done this all before and done it well.

But it's so easy for the big manufacturers. They can enter any market with outstanding products made to order at attractive prices. Yawn. A Brit-bike? Sure; I'll have the design for you on Monday.

Honda's line-up recently consisted overwhelmingly of Harley-Davidson style cruisers — the very motorcycles Honda had put in the shade in the 1960s!

Here's my point: what do these companies stand for? If these are the kind of motorcycles they make, why haven't they made them all along?

Are the "new classics" competition for Royal Enfield?

Royal Enfield is secure as long as its motorcycles continue to be hugely popular in India, an expanding market of millions. Internationally, it probably can get by catering to lunatics like me, who want motorcycles that genuinely evoke the experience of another era.

But the power of Kawasaki to introduce the W800 must surely put a cap on Royal Enfield's ambitions when it's suggested that they "bring back" the Interceptor.

Too late. It's back. Kawasaki makes it.

Royal Enfield name shows up on tricycles

Royal Enfield motorcycles are the subject of this blog but, if you shop for one online you are going to run into a lot of Royal Enfields of a different sort.

No, not Enfield rifles, although there are many of those. Not Enfield china, although it exists.

What you'll find again and again are Enfield tricycles. These are pedal pusher bikes, some of them with little motors like the one shown here, which is for sale on eBay in Earlton, N.Y. Blogger Jorge Pullin of My Royal Enfields pointed it out to me.

Although Royal Enfield motorcycles are Jorge's main interest, and mine, I admit to some curiosity about these trikes.

First, why are there so many for sale all the time? It's rare that I come across a Royal Enfield two-wheeler for sale.

Second, why do they seem to come in so many varieties? There are red ones, blue ones. This one is cream color. Some have a single speed, some three speeds, others maybe more. Some have front drum brakes, some just handbrakes on the front, but all seem to feature a shopping basket on the back, high riser handlebars and a spring seat.

A few, like this one and another I've written about, have motors mounted on the front wheel. These appear to be Tanaka two-stroke motors sold under the Bike Bug brand name. They are started by getting up to pedaling speed and dropping the motor's rubber roller onto the front wheel. To stop, you have to almost simultaneously reduce throttle and pull the motor off the wheel, while applying the bicycle brakes! In an emergency it's apparently OK to just stall the motor with a firm application of the brakes.

Most of the sellers don't seem to know much about these tricycles, motorized or not. Some claim they are from the 1950s, although the '70s and later seem more likely. Some claim they were made in Britain, but one owner mentions, online, that "mine has a sticker on the frame that says 'Made in Japan'."

The step-through, deeply arched frame seems to be common to all: it must be very heavy steel to carry so much strain unbraced. What do these things weigh?

The tricycle shown here is illustrated with a series of fascinating pictures. They show, for instance, how the three-speed hub is chained to drive the rear axle.

I can't help wondering if any differential is provided. One writer, online, suggests not: "I went to ride and when I went straight it rode fast and smooth, then tried to turn and it was like putting on the brake; should the rear wheels move independently?"

Geez, I would sure hope so!

The tiny muffler is positioned by the nut on the front axle.

The thumb control for this trike's three-speed rear hub is on the right; most English bicycles I've seen put it on the left (I'm not sure why). Mirror and front handbrake are on the left (as usual). The three-speed hub must also provide rear braking.

The motor seems to have a throttle control on the handlebars, and a lever to put its roller drive in contact with the front wheel.

As for why so many of these three-wheelers are always up for sale, my theory is this: they take up a lot of room in the garage. If they aren't being actively ridden, they're going to be offered for sale. Asking prices are typically three figures.

The Buy It Now price for the one pictured here is $250.

To buy a Royal Enfield C5, he's selling the Honda that put the world on wheels

Greg, in Austin, Texas, wants a Royal Enfield C5 motorcycle so badly that, to raise the money, he is selling an interesting little motorcycle.

It's his 1981 Honda C70 Passport, a 70cc step-through motorcycle that some say was the world's best motorcycle design. And they may be right, if you consider the variety of conditions that apply around the globe.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the little Honda because it was the first motorcycle I rode on, as a passenger. It belonged to a friend at school. He brought it over to show it to me the night he got it, and gave me a brief tour of the Los Angeles suburb where we lived.

My personal transportation at the time was a Schwinn bicycle, so the motorcycle ride prompted an exhilarating rush of thoughts about where you could go and the things you could do with mobility like this.

Moreover, the Honda was so incredibly sophisticated, I thought. It had a speedometer, odometer, high beam warning light, comfortable suspension, turn signals and rear-view mirrors. As far as I was concerned, nothing you needed was missing except a roof and, you know, it never rains in Southern California.

I never saw that Honda again. I suspect his parents decided it wasn't safe, after all, and got him a car. It would be a long time before I could afford to park my Schwinn. But I've never forgotten the excitement I felt that night on the C70. I suspect I share that with a big part of the world's population.

Greg will like the Royal Enfield C5. It's a terrific motorcycle. But, at only $1,000, somebody is getting a great deal on that Honda.

Royal Enfield Interceptor led family to start a motorcycle collection

"Here is a picture of our Royal Enfield 1964 Interceptor, less than 6,000 miles and ALL original. I haven't seen one yet that compares. It is truly a fun bike to ride."

That's how Chad Brenneke introduced himself to me. It turned out there was a lot more to the story. The Royal Enfield ignited an interest in motorcycles that brought a half dozen more to Chad and his family. They are in Churubusco, Ind., a small town just north of Fort Wayne.

Chad's father and mother are Jerry and Marsha Guiff. They sell real estate, at least when times are good, Chad says. Chad and his wife Barb have a 10-year-old daughter, Heather.

"We own a bar and a restaurant and I am a paramedic as well, so, as you can imagine, with the restricted time that we have, the support of my family is very important," Chad wrote.

Here's the story Chad ultimately told me, with pictures of some of the motorcycles involved:

"We are the second owners of the Interceptor. The original owner was into his 70s and was unable to start it as it does kick a little hard. To our knowledge the cases have not been polished; we just make sure to clean it on the rainy days. We even have the original tires for it. We get to ride it a couple times a week just around the back roads so as to enjoy its nostalgic feeling.

"I am not sure if I mentioned we had a '59 Royal Enfield Indian Chief we were working on that hasn't been plated since the '70s. Well, it was quite the project, but finally we are able to say we are done. But I'm sure we will find other things to add or correct on it.

"My wife and I are avid Harley fans as we each ride our own. When my (step) father decided to take up riding again after a 40 year absence from the game he wanted to find the bikes he was comfortable with and loved so much as a young man. That started this wild fascination with motorcycles that has grown to an uncontrolled habit, you might say.

"It started with the '64 Royal Enfield that was pretty much the way you see it in the pictures. We have had the magneto rebuilt and the carbs but that it is about it. Then came the '59 Enfield Indian purchased in Upstate New York. This project started two-and-a-half years ago.

"Rebuilding and trying to find the correct parts for it and switching it to a 12-volt system while trying our hardest to keep it original has been a challenge, but one that I wouldn't trade for anything. It has been a great experience and has brought us closer than ever.

"Next came the '73 Triumph 750 Tiger; this one was found in a shed and basically we have just done some carb and basic wiring and it has been on the road ever since. We have had plans to restore this one but I can't keep him off of it long enough to start on it.

"Next came the little '73 Indian SE 74 Enduro; it was just in too good a shape to pass up, as well as the Cushman Highlander. This little gem is ridden weekly as much as the others are.

"Somewhere in this collection we acquired another Harley and the '68 Triumph T100-C Trophy that had to have a lot of carb work and the controls, exhaust, paint and just a lot of pieces to put it in the state it's in now.

"We are currently starting on a '56 Enfield Indian Trailblazer that I actually found on your website. It was in California. We have it stripped and ready to put on one of lifts now.

"We are not pros by any means but we enjoy the time we spend together learning as we go and especially the nice days when we can actually take them out and ride them.

"Most of the bikes we find need something done to them, as we enjoy them that way. The '59 has been the most challenging so far, although as we are starting the '56 Trailblazer we are finding this one will give us even more of a challenge. But it is a welcome challenge.

"As much as my father and I would love to take the credit for all of our fun, it helps that we have all of the support from the rest of our family, even though I can't seem to get my wife to ride anything other than a Harley. I even have my 10-year-old daughter Heather moving up from her minibike to the Cushman and in hopes of the '73 Indian soon."

Chad and Jerry with '59 Enfield Indian

Dayton Motorcycle Club sponsors ride to aid Royal Enfield dealership that burned

KRW Cycles, the motorcycle shop and Royal Enfield dealership destroyed by fire last month, will benefit from a special ride Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Dayton Motorcycle Club in Dayton, Ohio.

The benefit ride will start at noon and goes until it's over, according to James Reed, of Covington, Ohio, an open-A national enduro championship winner, who listed KRW as one of his sponsors.

"There will be a woods loop set up, and the moto track for everyone to ride and have a good time, some good food and some live music to finish out the day. Primitive camping is available."

Owned by the Bapaille family, KRW Cycles was burned out of the Phillipsburg, Ohio building where it had done business for 42 years. Destruction was complete. There was no insurance.

KRW Cycles was one of the very early Royal Enfield dealerships of the modern era. Among the loses was a Royal Enfield being built for a speed record attempt at Bonneville.

The Dayton Motorcycle Club was founded in 1910, making it one of the oldest clubs in the country, according to its website.

"Its purpose is to help promote the sport of motorcycling, defend and protect the rights of motorcyclists and lend a helping hand to motorcyclists whenever possible."

The club holds poker runs for road riders and motocross races for dirt riders. It is at 3515 Stony Hollow Road, Dayton. The phone number is 937-263-9321.

A separate fund has been set up for KRW at the Fifth Third Bank to help KRW Cycles. To donate, make your check out to KRW Cycles, put the word "Donation" in the memo line and mail it to:

Fifth Third Bank
1 S. Main Street
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Attention: Anne Roesch

They're uncrating Royal Enfieds in LA

Royal Enfield Los Angeles is uncrating Royal Enfield motorcycles, as this photograph from their Facebook page illustrates.

The sound you hear is the champagne cork popping as the full Royal Enfield model line becomes available at authorized dealers in California. Until now, if you wanted a new Royal Enfield to ride in California, you were on your own.

Now you can buy the popular Bullet C5 Classic and other Royal Enfields, at seven dealerships in California: Doug Douglas Motorcycles in San Bernardino; Il Motorino in Soquel; Munroe Motors in San Francisco; NoHo Scooters in North Hollywood; Rocket Motorcycles in San Diego; San Clemente Scooters in San Clemente; and South Bay Triumph in Lomita.

The motorcycles are California legal, and the first 100 to sell will be specially numbered.

Pass the champagne.

Would the owner of a Royal Enfield Bullet find the Suzuki TU250 attractive?

A fellow in Portland, Ore., is selling a very pretty Royal Enfield Bullet on CraigsList, offering to trade it for a Suzuki TU250. I've written about how attractive the TU250 is, and even suggested it is competition for Royal Enfield.

First, I have to note that the TU250 is a far better looking motorcycle in person than the ugly Suzuki catalog art suggests. It actually looks far less upright, and has a lithe, eager appearance. It's a single-cylinder thumper, like the Bullet, with retro touches like spoked wheels, a round headlight, and shiny, tapered muffler.

Naturally, it has the modern conveniences of electronic ignition, five-speed transmission and front disk brake. As the owner of a Biblical Era 1999 Royal Enfield Bullet, I don't really feel you need any of those, of course.

Still, the new Unit Constructed Engine Royal Enfield Bullets come with all those features. In fact, so does the 2006 Electra the guy on CraigsList is offering to trade! So don't give the Suzuki such an advantage here.

The big difference is the suggested retail price: only $3,799 for the 2009 TU250. No price has been announced yet for 2011 models (apparently there was no 2010 TU250). So the little Suzuki thumper is a bargain.

But what, specifically, would, cause the owner of a 2006 Royal Enfield to offer to swap for it?

"Gabe" kindly shared his thoughts with me:

"Hi David, thanks for contacting me and placing my ad on your site. I have only sat on and looked at the TU250 so far. I like the fit and finish and it will do everything I want it to do for short rides and occasional commutes. I will be riding it mostly on two lane county roads with some short runs on the freeway. Once I get one (I love the color of the new one) and ride it for awhile I would love to do a comparison review to post on your blog. Nice blog by the way! I've got you bookmarked and will be in touch."

I'm looking forward to hearing from him, and would like to hear from any of you who have experienced the TU250. Is it worthy? Please leave a comment.

By the way, if you're in the market, Gabe's asking price for his Royal Enfield is quite reasonable.