Royal Enfield Experience at DaytonaBike Week left everyone smiling

Daytona Bike Week offers 10,000 variations on everything Harley-Davidson. But a couple of brand new Royal Enfield motorcycles were the center of attention in the showroom of a scooter dealership, just up U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach. "Everybody likes them," explained Ryan Krachinsky of Scooter Superstore (which is now also Royal Enfield of Daytona Beach). That includes "Harley guys," he said, who come into the scooter store all Big and Bad and then ask "hey, got any Vespa t-shirts?" After all, what's not to like?

Sue, left, and Greta, Royal Enfield owners.

The scooter store was the headquarters for the Royal Enfield Experience demonstration rides. Out in the parking lot next to the pretty green Royal Enfield G5 they bought were Greta and Sue, from Casselberry, Fla. Their G5 was the very first (of at least three) Royal Enfields the dealership sold during Bike Week. They "just fell in love with it," when they saw it, Greta explained. They liked being able to take a demonstration ride and they liked the retro look. "Did you draw when you were a kid? I used to draw motorcycles and this is what they looked like," Greta said. This motorcycle is mainly for Sue, who plans to get her motorcycle endorsement and use the Royal Enfield for back roads. Also smiling was my secret weapon, blogging consultant, photographer and wife, Bonnie, who shot the pictures for my Daytona Bike Week series of posts while riding in a sidecar. It was piloted by an experienced sidecar driver, not me, which meant I got to be in her photographs, riding solo. Bonnie said the sidecar was windy and cold and not very smooth. But she smiled when she said it.

Royal Enfield Experience gives bikers a demo ride at Daytona Bike Week

A parade of half a dozen Royal Enfield motorcycles, one of them with a sidecar, is a rare sight in the United States but it was a surprisingly common thing at Daytona Bike Week. The Royal Enfield Experience was running demonstration rides out of the Scooter Superstore, the Royal Enfield Daytona Beach dealership. Kevin Mahoney, president of Royal Enfield USA, estimated that 80 people had a chance to sample the new Royal Enfield models. They rode a lap of "The Loop," the narrow, winding path near Bulow Creek State Park in Ormond Beach, Fla. This took them past wading birds and wetlands, down lanes shaded by overhanging oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Packs of Harley-Davidsons thundered by in the opposite direction but traffic was never a problem. Ron Greene, Royal Enfield vice president of sales, led the demonstration ride I took, leading us briefly out onto A1A for a long, straight run along the ocean, a chance to see that the new Royal Enfields really can keep up on fast roads. Bill Stone, vice president of marketing, brought up the rear. I chose a pretty green G5 Classic that reminded me of my own 1999 Bullet, with one key difference: As the group fired up to leave I realized that I wasn't going anywhere until I found the button for the electric starter. My Royal Enfield is kick start only and, although the G5 has a kick starter it didn't occur to me to use it as I searched for the go button. Bill Stone reached over and pointed out the little button tucked up under the right hand grip. It was a friendly ride, with everyone introduced and hand shakes all around. We stopped to switch motorcycles mid way and I got to ride the pretty black C5 with up-swept after-market exhaust. Afterwards, participants didn't rush off, but hung around admiring the machines and almost talking one another into loving them. There was tremendous personal attention, with Mahoney right there to answer questions about models and features. Greene noted the information picked up on participants, from questionnaires they filled out. By Saturday morning, the youngest rider had been 29, the oldest in his 70s; but most had been middle aged. They were considering replacing a motorcycle they owned, or getting back into motorcycling after being away, or looking for a first motorcycle. They thought Royal Enfields were "retro" or "cool." No doubt everyone enjoyed themselves. How could you not like getting a chance to ride a new motorcycle on a beautiful day? Wouldn't anybody be enthusiastic about anything on two wheels? Well, maybe not a Segway. But the proof was in the results. By Saturday three Royal Enfields had been sold. The Royal Enfield Experience tour plans stops at the Americade rally June 7-12 in Lake George, N.Y.; Laconia Bike Week, June 12-20 in Laconia, N.H.; and, yes, Sturgis, S.D. Aug. 9-15.

Royal Enfield Experience at Daytona

The Royal Enfield Experience is underway at Daytona Bike Week. You can register for a demonstration ride and briefing on the new Royal Enfields at Scooter Superstore of America / Royal Enfield of Daytona. It is located at 1459 N. U.S. Highway 1 in Ormond Beach, Fla.

Available only through Saturday, the experience includes an adventure ride through the Tomoka State Forest. But you'll also get to talk to nearby dealers and to members of the Royal Enfield U.S. management team.

“We’re a motorcycle company with motorcycle riders at the helm. We want our customers to know that and to know us,” said Ron Greene, vice president of sales for Royal Enfield.

Kevin Mahoney, president of Royal Enfield USA, said the object is to expose the Royal Enfield to people who don't know its history or how far it has come.

"Few people know about us and even fewer have had the opportunity to experience these outstanding new motorcycles firsthand. We would like to share our story and product with them and this tour will help us do just that,” Mahoney said, in the press release.

Royal Enfield may be the world's oldest motorcycle brand, as it claims, but a new engine and design have turned the Royal Enfield Bullet into a classic looking motorcycle with modern features and reliability, he said.

According to the press release, the combination of a rich heritage and an improved engine should appeal to "a broader consumer audience."

To participate in the Royal Enfield Experience riders must meet these requirements:

• Be 21 years of age.
• Wear a DOT approved helmet (yes, even though Florida doesn't require it).
• Wear long pants and sleeves.
• Carry a motorcycle endorsement on license; you can not ride on a permit.
• Eye protection advised (sunglasses OK).
• Gloves are always a good idea.
• No open toed shoes; shoes that protect the ankles preferred.

Royal Enfield to riders: Get on and ride it!

Royal Enfield motorcycles may someday be so well known in the United States that riders won't have to try to explain what they are to drivers stopped at a traffic light.

Royal Enfield will offer demonstration rides at Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Fla., Wednesday March 3 through noon Saturday March 6 at the Scooter Superstore on U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach.

Requirements:

• 21 years of age.
• DOT approved helmet (yes, even though Florida doesn't require it).
• Long pants and sleeves.
• Motorcycle endorsement on license; you can not ride on a permit.
• Eye protection advised (sunglasses OK).
• Gloves are always a good idea.
• No open toed shoes; shoes that project the ankles preferred.

Address is 1459 North US Highway 1 Ormond Beach, (386) 671-1977.

This "Royal Enfield Experience" should rocket the brand to a new level of prominence. Hundreds of people will be able to say they not only know what a Royal Enfield is, they've ridden one — and probably liked it. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising.

Visibility at Bike Week likely will telegraph the message that customers are welcome and catered to; you don't have to bring special knowledge or your own tools; did you know there's even a dealer near you?

The Royal Enfields they see will look well made, be easy and fun to ride, reasonably priced and come with a warranty. Waiting for their chance to ride they'll meet other people who are interested and enthusiastic.

In addition to Daytona Bike Week, the Royal Enfield Experience tour plans stops at the Americade rally June 7-12 in Lake George, N.Y.; Laconia Bike Week, June 12-20 in Laconia, N.H.; and, yes, Sturgis, S.D. Aug. 9-15.

So much for riding "The Motorcycle They Never Heard Of."

Maybe soon, when the guy in the pick-up rolls down his window, he'll yell, "Hey, is that a Royal Enfield?" instead of "What year is THAT thing?"