Advice on older British bikes for a beginner?

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MTexile · #11 Unread post by **MTexile** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:30 am

Welcome aboard first of all, glad to see a new rider. Speaking of which, do you have your license yet? I'll assume Japan has some sort of training course for motorcyclists. Am all for anyone wanting to ride, just don't put the cart before the horse. Or even worse, decide on your first day of practice that you don't really want to ride - after buying your Royal Enfield...

TQueen · #12 Unread post by **TQueen** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:54 pm

MTexile: I don't have a motorcycle license valid in the US yet, although I can drive here in Japan. I will wait awhile after I finish the test to finally pick a bike.

I had not seen that Bullet C5 yet! I've taken everyone's advice found a dealer here in Tokyo. I'll be heading there next week to take a look at what bikes he has, although he says he has no C5 models. I found a dealer in Texas that does have some that I can look at when I return home next month. Its quite a bit higher on the price range than I was hoping, considering I could get a decent older bullet for less than 3000, but it might be worth the extra money if it will save me repairs.

Thanks again everyone!

jstark47 · #13 Unread post by **jstark47** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:27 am

TQueen wrote:I had not seen that Bullet C5 yet! I've taken everyone's advice found a dealer here in Tokyo. I'll be heading there next week to take a look at what bikes he has, although he says he has no C5 models. I found a dealer in Texas that does have some that I can look at when I return home next month.

If the Tokyo dealer has the EFI Classics at all, he may have a G5 even if no C5's. Reportedly the original shipment of C5's to the US pretty much sold out. But the G5 is the same new engine, etc, just a little less purist retro looking.

My wife test rode a G5 in April and liked it. With a single seat and more period-appropriate tail light and turn signals, a G5 can be dressed up nicely.

RockBottom · Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:48 am

This thread kind of confuses me since Royal Enfield is no longer a "British" bike.

jstark47 · Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:41 am

A 2007 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 is a British bike made in India. A 2009 Royal Enfield EFI Classic C5 is an Indian bike in vintage British style.

Clear???