I can't lie, I have quite a soft spot for the Royal Enfield. Back in 2009 it was touch and go if one would be following me home from Goa, this very dilemma will again be arriving Very soon. A guy we got to know at Babbots restaurant bar had/probably still has? a 500 bullet, chrome tank etc etc. i can't put my finger on it, it's just something that makes me feel it would look nice in the garage, and the odd plod out on a sunny summer evening would I feel give an imense feeling of nostalgia? Anyway Gill and I walked past it every day on the way out to the beach calling in for an ice cold Kingfisher etc for a week and as you do, eventually striking up a conversation all relating to motorcycles Anyway the inevitable happened and he asked if I wanted a go, probably wasn't my best decision having had a few Kingfishers and a chase or three of Honey Bee brandy during the day, but what the hell! I Rember it so well, setting off down a sandy track to the main road where I was to head off towards Calungute, with his wise words brakes not good and gears crash, oh and mind out for cow they sacred don't hit cow! woman child car dog no problem but never hit cow! Don't get me wrong, you wouldn't want to ride one very far for very long, wether or not it was the dusty roads but the handling was like riding on two flat tyres, but what a laugh. Anyway I'm rambling now sorry. On the Saturday evening we went to the night market at Anjuna, great place with live bands food from every corner of the world, lord Lucan didn't put in an appearance either. In the market right in the middle was a stand for selling these beasties, as you do all casual we made our way. Now here's the hit, with the rupee as it was at the time 68 to the pound I think? I could have had the 500 bullet delivered in a crate to any UK port of my choice for a grand total at the time for £2873.00 not sure if I'd have to pay import duty? He said not, then £100 for registration. Still think for under £3000 there's a lot of bike for the money. I did look at dealers in the uk when I got home, the same bike was over £5000. I think for fairness I'm going to leave my credit card at home. Just in case.
In my village, which still has a semblance of ruralism, There is a Morgan Car Dealer, who is also an agent for Royal Enfield and sells steam and traction engines. Every night I drive past it and straight back into the '40s.
There was and is something magical about their survival, youtube the video's of the factory and simple things like two brothers did all the pinstriping by hand on all the bikes. Granted the quality of the bike is poor but its was almost unchanged and a symbol of how it used to be. Slowly Emission and noise restrictions have changed them and now they are just to expensive. I always fancied having one so that i would have something to break down and tamper with. In the End I bought a Triumph Thruxton, it has the looks, modern engineering and with the after market TORS takes me back without any of the hassle of an old bike, cop out I know, I have got used to be pampered by reliable Motorcycles
