Royal Enfields From India, Anyone Had One? Any Good?

Thanks for the thoughts on it. I must admit I have been wondering whether I did the right thing, especially given what folks have said about Superbikefactory but I think I'll be alright as I think the pictures and all the add-ons suggest a bike that has been well treated and cared for. I do think I will be taking the screen off it @Alatamoc although I don't know if I will want to sell it right away as I might see if it fits my 2014 Bonnie and whether it is any use for the sake of comfort. I've never actually ridden a bike with that kind of screen before so I have no idea what they are like to ride with. I don't even know what they cost/are worth.

Can I ask if you know why it seems to be a 'thing' to re-locate the reg/rectifier on Bonnies? It does seem to be in a rather odd place but I wouldn't have thought that it would actually impair it's function.

 

A Sasquatch conversion? That sounds a wee bitty strange

I had hoped that reg/rectifier problems would have been sorted out by these days. Every Suzuki GSX I ever owned or knew of had duff Reg/Rectifiers that burnt out and took the alternator stators with them. Luckily my friendly breaker back in those days (Tam's Brig Breakers in Ayr who I think are now long gone) had plenty of the 'go-to' replacement Honda Superdream one's on hand for me. I am a little puzzled by so many people talking about 'Optimates' and battery problems as well as I never suffered battery problems back then and a dead battery didn't kill anything else as far as I can recall.

 

I wasn't aware of this 'idler boss' business. That is a little worrying and I am surprised that, according to the TTP page on their fix, it applies to bikes from 2001-2016. I'm amazed that Triumph didn't take care of this themselves even if it was only an outside possibility.

 

Very kind of you @Tiglet It was very much a spur of the moment thing. I had inquired about the bike via email and was unexpectedly phoned back. Having prevaricated for some time as evidenced by this very thread, I just suddenly decided to jump on the spot or I would have continued to hem and haw until someone else bought it and then cursed myself.

 

I have now logged in to the Superbike Factory 'Garage' and I have to say the have been honest about the bike. In the page where you agree to buy there are a good number of photo's of 'problem areas' on the bike and they have been thorough. There are six, yes six! photos of the Givi hard panniers in close up showing the scuffs on them. They have clearly been well used but, of course, they weren't necessarily new when they were attached to this bike. The other details are close ups of some form of crazing or scratching in the chrome of the back of the mirrors and some scratching to the tank and front mudguard. They also provided details showing that a new reg/rec and Battery have been fitted (apparently ordered on the 31st so well before I did the deal) and she is currently at the MOT testing station. The buggers at Bear Scotland better get the Rest and Be Thankful cleared and re-opened shortly as she might be coming my way sooner than I expected and I don't want any delays!

So far and fingers crossed my experience with Superbike Factory is going better than I expected given gen gathered previously about them. Yes their inventory isn't perfect but they seem to have been very honest about everything so far and considering that she cost a lot less than my other 2001 Bonnie I think she is still very much a bargain.

 

OK now I am looking at suitable tyres. I am thinking that Mitas E07+ look like an interesting option but apart from anything else I need to find out something that perhaps someone here can enlighten me about. Never having dealt with trail tyres before and, in particular, these heavy walled types, are they easy enough to put on yourself with a pair of decent levers? I've done tyres for myself and friends back in the past without problem including for Fireblades, R1's and GSXR's but never these types. DIY or do I take me wheels to a tyre fitting place?

 

I'm all for having a bash at it just wondered if they might be too tough. I prefer putting/taking my own tyres off/on rather than having to drag the wheels away for a two hour return journey to pay someone else to do them and possibly wreck my rims at the same time. Got all the neccessary gear - Compressor, levers, guards and muskles so no excuse really.

 

Hey I just realised that, with this thread and my final decision I have literally dodged a bullet that almost had my name on it!

On the subject of those disintegrating bosses - Any idea just how high a percentage suffered it? At a £100 it seems like an expensive little lump of alloy and, having three Bonnies that's triple the pain. Searching the internet I could only fine two cases actually detailed. It's certainly not mentioned in the articles I found on the lines of "Five problems to know about Bonnevilles'. Reg/Rectifiers, alternators and batteries seem to be the favourite sources of faults.