I toured most of the US on a 1600cc Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad before relocating to rural New Zealand, buying a Royal Enfield Classic and commuting more than 100 km everyday. Here's why I like my Royal Enfield as a commuter bike:Nimble: even though it's heavier than most bikes its size (412 pounds dry weight -but I'll get to the advantage of that), I can still throw it in another lane at a moment's notice, and I can split lanes just as easily as a moped. And that's important, because New Zealand is the most motorcycle-friendly country I've lived in, and filtering to the head of the line at a stoplight keeps me from getting rear-ended like I did on my Nomad.Heavy: being a dense bike, it doesn't get thrown around like a kite in heavy winds, and Auckland is WINDY a lot. Also, lighter bikes are more likely to get stolen, as they can be picked up and thrown in the back of a pickup truck more easily.Mileage: I pay about $50 a week to go 550 km a week, back and forth between work. My partner pays twice that to go half the distance to her work.

I save $7,000 in fuel over the course of the year, which almost paid for my bike in the first year. And I have better range on a tank than my friend who rides a Harley with the same engine size.motorcycles for sale eastbourneVersatility: of those 110 km of my commute every day, 40% is on deep country roads, 40% is on the motorway, in 20% is riding in Auckland. bell motorcycle helmets south africaThere is always a difference in temperature and weather in those 110 km; bmw motorcycle parts lookupon those country roads it's all corners, on the motorway it's fairly straight shooting, and in the city it's a lot of slow riding and dodging cagers. motorcycle shops leesburg fl

My Royal Enfield goes as fast as it needs to. The only thing I wish it had was more "pick up" in fourth and fifth gear.Parking: I park my bike next to trees or up against walls, sometimes on sidewalks. motorcycle helmets in newcastleIn most places, it looks like retro artwork that belongs there. ducati for sale montrealI haven't gotten a ticket yet, but if I do, I will happily pay it because it will be less than the excess (insurance deductible) on my insurance policy if someone were to hit my bike. The ONLY time I parked on the street, someone backed into my bike, which brings me to my next two points…Royal Enfields inspire people: everyone talks to me about my bike, whether they like motorcycles or not. I parked on the sidewalk in front of a motorcycle shop, and a guy walks in solely to inquire about the Royal Enfield outside.

I park it outside a sidewalk café next to a tree, and two older guys want to tell me about their Royal Enfield back home, and their experience riding them through the Himalayas. And when some white hatchback backed into my motorcycle outside of a bar in Mount Eden, when I came out of the bank one of the bar employees came out and gave me the description and registration of the car that drove off after hitting my bike. "If I had a bike like that, I would want someone to do the same for me," he said.After-sales service: this is the only reason I'll switch bikes, probably to a Triumph Bonneville T100. The after-sales service is dismal. The original Royal Enfield dealership (the one that sold me my first two) was fantastic. They were open and available to me every day, not just to service my bike, but to teach me about Royal Enfields. "We take care of each other here," they said. Since 2016 when the dealership agreement went to bigger motorcycle shops, I haven't been able to get my bike serviced for anything, from simple parts to a serious warranty issue.

The parts guy at one of the new dealerships specified the wrong stock tire, and never got back to me about a replacement headlight. The original dealer that sold me my bike.But if you live in a country with a more stable arrangement with dealerships, getting the correct parts specified and the bike serviced should be easier, and then I'd keep the bike forever. I have a long commute into the city from the country, and I've been doing it in all weather conditions, and the bike handles well in anything.If your main concern is mileage, and you have a less adventurous commute, I'd say get a moped, or at least a smaller engine, maybe a 350cc. But to be completely honest, you won't be as memorable :-)16–21 September, 2013. Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500.I was going to turn 30 in 10 days and thought that this is a good time to go for a solo trip to ‘middle of nowhere’. I decided to ride to Spiti valley from the Rohtang pass route. I had already covered a bit of the Kinnaur route earlier that year on the motorcycle with a friend and wanted more adventure.

Day 1: Gurgaon to Manali. 5AM - 7PMThe ride was smooth as silk. Almost 600 KMs, no issues, no pain. After a few hours of riding, you start feeling one with the motorcycle. Your zone extends from your body and the motorcycle is an extension of yourself. You are reminded of the quote from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (book) -In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame.On a cycle the frame is gone. You're completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.Enfield Pros: Comfortable, Smooth, FastEnfield Cons: None as yetDay 2: Manali to ChanderTaal. 8AM - 5PMIt was a Tuesday. Rohtang pass is closed for local tourists and only those who are crossing over to the other side for Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India or Ladakh Region, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Crossed Rohtang comfortably, there was one water crossing which we, I and the motorcycle, managed with ease.The road (I should actually call it a stretch) from Khoksar(Google Maps) to Batal(Google Maps) is a terrifying one. It was the most beautiful landscape, nevertheless. We had to negotiate with some difficult water crossings filled with stones and boulders. I had never done large water crossings before and at least 3–4 times the 200kg motorcycle stopped or fell down in middle of the water crossing. I was distressed that what if it doesnt start in middle of this water crossing. Thankfully, it started every single time with ease.I reached batal by 5 and then moved towards chandra taal (Google Maps) from there. The steepest road that I have travelled. The sunsetting view with the massive gorge on left has stayed with me since then. But i’ll be honest, I was scared. I camped at chandra taal and slept.This was the day when I started feeling that bond with my motorcycle. I sensed that it was a difficult stretch and we did it together, in middle of nowhere.

A breakdown would have left me stranded in that sparse population and no network area.Enfield Pros: Robust for tough conditions, Reliable in unknown times.Enfield Cons: Heavy, that’s all.Day 3: Chandartaal to Kaza / Kibber / Komic. 5AM - 6PMI thought i’ll leave at 6 AM. May be it wanted to rest till there was enough sunlight. The sun came up at 7 and warmed it up and we left at 7 towards the amazing Kunzum pass. The road from Losar to Kaza was pleasant after the batal stretch the previous day.Went on to Komic, which they say is the highest inhabitable village in Asia. Felt on the top of the world. By then, we had become good friends and I didn’t feel alone anymore. I recorded messages for my family and my girlfriend (now wife) from ‘top of the world’. Spent time with Buddha at the Langza village near Komic. One of the best days of my life.Enfield Pros: Very friendly, Reliable in low oxygen and high altitudeEnfield Cons: Average Battery Condition. Day 4: Kaza to Manali. 5AM - 4PMThe other day I did the difficult stretch in afternoon, and thus those innumerable water crossings.

Decided to cross that early on the trip back to Manali. Crossed the difficult stretch with ease. I was aware of what was coming this time and it surprisingly felt really ease this time around. Both of us smoothed out from Batal to Rohtang.On Rohtang, the rear disc brake stopped working! I rode quietly till manali using the front brakes. I was scared then. But now 2–3 years later, I am confident to ride anywhere only with the front brakes. I’ve gotten used to it. Saw the huge Himalayan griffin vultures really close that day. What a mind boggling experience that was!Took it to the workshop and stayed over in Manali.Enfield Pros: Stays with you in difficult times till you become complacentEnfield Cons: Well, when everything is easy and in control, it can surprise youDay 5: Manali to Gurgaon, 6AM - 7PMCakewalk. Found the return really boring. But kept thinking about the last 4 days, I had discovered a bit of myself. Realised the importance of the loved ones even more. The whole experience was therapeutic.

I had made a new friend.Now answering the question -Mileage is not much of a question here. I am sure there are other motorcycles in the market that would make you feel that bond, that will help you discover yourself. For me it was enfield and I know a few more guys who have felt the same. One should allow enfield to take you to yourself. Sometimes, that can be in middle of nowhere like spiti valley, or on Kashmir to Kanyakumari road, or in your daily commute to work.It’s a friend you would like to have. Also, Reminds me of a quote from The Motorcycle Diaries“I finally felt myself lifted definitively away on the winds of adventure toward worlds I envisaged would be stranger than they were, into situations I imagined would be much more normal than they turned out to be.”"It Is War-Worthy". will complete the journey and not ditch you half way through it Light and Heavy The Manly Sound of ExhaustReliabilityRepairabilityRiding ComfortCity and Country FitMileageValue for Money