Friends, I am talking about the EFI Royal Enfield Standard 500 CC Bullet bike. I am riding it since February 2014. I have completed nearly 5000 kms in this bike. With that experience I am writing about it:
The look: Standard is always standard. The standard look of Royal Enfield is present in this bike. Full marks for this.
Weight: With a weight of more than 193 kgs(after fitting extra fittings like crash guard to the front, back etc., ), it is very heavy, but I never felt the weight to my legs or body. Gravity is maintained at the center of the bike and hence very good stability.
Braking: Because of the front disc brake, braking is very good for the front tyre. Even if the rear tyre is provided with drum brake, there is no problem at all in braking system of this bike.
Lights and Electrical system: With a powerful 55W/60W DC(and hence constant illumination like in a car!)(Kindly note that for some time, Royal Enfield company manufactured AC illuminated Headlight, which was the worst idea!), I am very much satisfied with the Headlight power/illumination of the bike. About other lights like, braking light, indicators, etc., are all nice. Regarding the electrical system, with a powerful 14Ah batter, two mind-blowing horns are provided. Very nice.
Mileage: Believe me! I am getting a mileage of around 41 kmpl. I admit that I never go above 60 kmph and never go for unnecessary acceleration. My place is of terrain in nature. Hence people in places having level roads can expect more than 41 kmpl with matured riding.
Cost: I feel that the cost of RE bikes are little bit high! But there is no alternatives to for RE bikes! So I don’t have an alternative choice in this regard! So no comments!
Seating comfort: The best ever I ever saw. The best part of Standard 500 is the seating position. Wonderful.
Thumbing of bullet: With the factory fitted exhaust/silencer pipe, you don’t have any thumbing. But I am getting the same much wanted "dug dug dug" thumbing by replacing the factory fitted exhaust/silencer pipe by Goldstar Glass wool exhaust/silencer pipe. Finally, just few words. Yes! Royal Enfield bikes have improved a lot! Quality has improved. Oil leaking(and many such problems which were present in the old iron casting type engines) are not there in the present aluminium casting engines. So I sincerely advise anyone who reads this to go for Royal Enfield Standard(Forest Green or Jet Black color are the only two colors available right now) 500C Bullet bikes without any hesitation.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Kiran K U
(kirangsch@gmail.com)