jmwildi Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I know this is a really general question but any help you guys can give would be much apreciated. Does anyone know of any horrible problems or shortcomings that the late 1960's Royal Enfields had or have? I'm not sure of the exact year or model so I'm not really expecting specifics, just looking for general kinds of problems such as "the electrics on all of them suck." I might be able to post some pics of the bike on Saturday if I can get ahold of them. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I really don't remember any specific problems with the Royal Enfields. I only knew one guy that had one back then. I don't think they had problems like the Nortons or Triumph/BSA. The Lucas electrics will be troublesome, there will be that. A scratch built wiring harness will usually go a long ways to fixing most electrical problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wfrpalm Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 If you haven't already check out this site. www.enfieldmotorcycles.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 If you haven't already check out this site. www.enfieldmotorcycles.comyeah but... those are the new Enfields. A lot of those parts won't fit. Aren't vintage either, if you're trying to maintain the vintage status. There are places in Britain that stock and/or make the vintage parts.Burton Bike BitsFeked Classic Bike PartsHitchcock's MotorcyclesWebBikeWorld Royal Enfield Rebuild Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmwildi Posted July 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 Awesome, thanks. I'm not even sure I'm going to buy it yet, the guys who's selling it is kind of a flake. He got the bike for free from his uncle. It doesn't run, he doesn't ride, and his total plan was to fix the bike up and sell it but he doesn't really know anything about bikes. I think he underestimated the amount of work it would be. I did look at the Enfield mc site and was kind of saddened to see the new Enfields are from India. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschoolsdime92 Posted July 9, 2010 Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 the new enfields are produced in india, and parts are available, and the electrical systems still continue to suck. I can't say much for the old ones other than they look neat, and the shifter is probably on the right instead of on the left, just like the triumphs where, but I can't garentee that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmwildi Posted July 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 (edited) I'm pretty sure the controls are reversed but it's not the end of the world. If I even buy it I've got to get it running before I need to worry about riding it. The Indian owned and produced Enfields are dispointing but I also saw that Norton is making bikes again and they look nice. Not sure if they're made in England or if they were sold off too but they only have a handfull of dealers in the US right now anyway. Edited July 9, 2010 by jmwildi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorifto240 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 There was an article in Sport Rider a few years ago that dealt with a motorcycle trip to India, they rode Enfields for it. The writers kept saying the damn things were bulletproof, and if I remember correctly, one even ended up in an open sewage pit.They just pulled it out, wiped it off, and started it back up. I can't find the article online though. SorrtyIt's hard to believe now, but British production used to be the best of the best. And I think that Enfield was out of business before the quality of Britain went belly up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschoolsdime92 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 There was an article in Sport Rider a few years ago that dealt with a motorcycle trip to India, they rode Enfields for it. The writers kept saying the damn things were bulletproof, and if I remember correctly, one even ended up in an open sewage pit.They just pulled it out, wiped it off, and started it back up. I can't find the article online though. SorrtyIt's hard to believe now, but British production used to be the best of the best. And I think that Enfield was out of business before the quality of Britain went belly up.Who says britain has bad quality products? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorifto240 Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Who says britain has bad quality products? The eighties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmwildi Posted July 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 ^ lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimR Posted July 31, 2010 Report Share Posted July 31, 2010 There was an article in Sport Rider a few years ago that dealt with a motorcycle trip to India, they rode Enfields for it. The writers kept saying the damn things were bulletproof, and if I remember correctly, one even ended up in an open sewage pit.They just pulled it out, wiped it off, and started it back up. I can't find the article online though. SorrtyIt's hard to believe now, but British production used to be the best of the best. And I think that Enfield was out of business before the quality of Britain went belly up.I've actually been on that trip. Got better than 2500 km on Indian Enfields. IMHO, they suck. The reversed controls aren't an issue, but the front brake is positively useless and the rear is dangerous--long mechanical lever gives you enormous leverage which leads to easy lock-ups. So the bike sucks. But if you're a real wrench, they are bullet proof. I had a roadside mechanic re-set the timing by eye--open cover, insert screwdriver, twist and you're all done. If you're an Indian mechanic. Transmission is a 10-speed--4 forward, 1 neutral and 5 false neutrals. All that said, they are an endearing ride. Classic single cylinder blat from the exhaust. Street, dirt--they don't care. And the Indian versions (since 1958) are at least as good as the English. Don't let that distinction fool you. It's a hobby, not a reliable ride by today's standards. If you really like the old English classics and you're a good wrench, go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmwildi Posted July 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2010 Cool, thanks for your take on them. I'm not what you might call a "real wrench". I can do basic maintenance but that's about it. I was looking for something to learn more mechanical skills on. The guy with the Enfield I was looking at flaked so I went with another bike that was a better deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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