For better or worse

[Gone in 60]

On one of our walks, we saw a 350 Meteor recently with a big box attached, apparently doing food delivery duty. It was so quiet that Mrs G asked me if it was electric.

[GoldOxide_imp]

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....#pid298722

[pdedse]

So… someone’s digital ears were burning, and this might be proof that Big Brother is always listening….

I’m on the local dealer’s email list and lo and behold I got an email last night announcing that new Enfield models are now in stock. What are the chances. I took a “mental health day” today (truth told, I slipped and slammed my knee into the floor last night and it was throbbing this morning).

I coulda gone into the office in the afternoon when my knee felt a bit better, but I have time off to burn by the end of the year, so I stared my Christmas shopping with a stop at the RE dealership. They had a few INT and GT 650s, and I sat on both. immediately decided that the GT’s clip-ons and forward lean weren’t my gig. So, that’s the Thruxton equivalent.

The INT looked like what I imagine it is shooting for, RE’s version of an air-cooled Bonnie T100. Nice features like a Monza-style gas cap and center stand are nice. Seating position is similar, but the bars make for a further, wider reach than a T100.

Taking it in as a whole, it sure is nice to look at. But, thinking about it realistically, it would have to serve as a potential first bike for Mrs. Due to a short stand, it leans over quite a bit which makes it a hefty shove to get it up off the stand. The salesman commented that there are accessory blocks that can attach to the stand to reduce the lean.

He also said something interesting. “Ya know, in India, you see more of these than you do Harleys.” I would think so. They also had a few Meteor 350s. For a small displacement bike felt substantial to sit on. The salesman said that RE will be releasing a 650 version of the Meteor soon.

Still very interested in spending a day on one to see how much different it rides than my T100.

That always freaks me out! I told my 23 year old daughter about something similar that happened to me and her response was "isn't that cool how they've got you covered?"

[Tev62]

The Super Meteor is a good looking bike but Royal Enfield really need to get their weight under control. The new Super Meteor 650 is 241kg. That is 1Kg heavier than a shaft driven Triumph Tiger 1200GT.

[Gone in 60]

Hmm, that looks like it's going after the Triumph Speedmaster, doesn't it?

Mrs. G and I were walking last night to enjoy the town's Christmas lights, and started discussing what we wanted for Christmas. I said "remember when we were at the Bike Shed a few weekends ago, and saw that pretty orange Royal Enfield that was available for rent? I want to rent it for a day." She said that sounded like a wonderful idea, but quickly followed with "But you can't buy one! I don't remember how you snuck in a third bike last year... somehow you seem to find room for more!"

As for Big Brother (or should I say Big Siri) listening, yeah, it's creepy, but part of our modern world. That ad from the Enfield dealer is a mild example. Not too long ago, my partner and I were talking about businesses in our industry who had recently relocated. I'm sure our phones were out and on the table. Later that day, I got an unsolicited call from a commercial real estate agent asking if I was interested in relocating my business. Some are downright funny... we were talking about obtaining some hay bales for an event, and my phone started popping up with ads for farming supplies and horse feed.

I'm sure I could turn off Siri's voice activation and curb it, but when do I need Siri? When my hands are full or dirty!
- Riding somewhere unfamiliar, too lazy to take my gloves off - "Siri, navigate to the nearest whatever"
- Under Mom's car for the billionth time fixing something, hands too greasy to touch the phone: "Siri, look up a belt routing diagram for a 2007 Saturn"

[GoldOxide_imp]

The Super Meteor is a good looking bike but Royal Enfield really need to get their weight under control. The new Super Meteor 650 is 241kg. That is 1Kg heavier than a shaft driven Triumph Tiger 1200GT.

Hmm, the overall look is better than expected with the 650 lump.

Yeah, for that weight - I would want a shaft final drive - even if only a 650 cc mill. Yamaha did it routinely in the 80's. (e.g. Maxim 650).

[Gone in 60]

For the price point RE is no doubt going for, adding a shaft drive would probably bump up the tag quite a bit, but it would be nice.

[the Ferret]

The Super Meteor is a good looking bike but Royal Enfield really need to get their weight under control. The new Super Meteor 650 is 241kg. That is 1Kg heavier than a shaft driven Triumph Tiger 1200GT.

That's how they keep their price under control..cheap heavy parts. If the frame, fenders, headlight shell, side covers, rims are all steel, it adds weight,

[Gone in 60]

So, had to visit one of our vendors this afternoon, and lo and behold, they're just down the street from the local Triumph/Guzzi dealership, so I decided to stop in and peruse (and ask about the V100, which is now scheduled to arrive some time in March...)

On the used floor, they had a '21 Enfield Continental 650. It had either just been taken in on trade, or had been used by their staff, becuase unlike the other bikes in the showroom that were freshly polished up for sale, this one was pretty dirty and had clearly seen some rain riding and outside storage. It was a good opportunity to see one of these bikes in a condition that was clearly not pampered.

And, gotta say, it looked pretty good. Nothing was rusty, everything looked like it could be cleaned and polished up just fine, even if the nuts, bolts and plasics aren't completely up to Honda spec.

[GoldOxide_imp]

... are there such things as rusty motorcycles in SoCal?