There are mixed reactions when news reports came in of a motorcycle, albeit a 500cc priced at Rs.1,08,000. That is the new Bullet from Royal Enfield, and it will be powered by the new lean burn (LB) engine that was earlier being exclusively used only for their export model.
One of the risks of motoring journalists vacationing in the deep woods, where you cannot hear or see more than one odd motor vehicle in an entire day is that we can sometimes miss out on the new launches. So it was that I missed both the SX4 and Bullet Machismo product launches.
Obviously the first thing one would do on return is to check out these new wheels. Having left my own 1987 Bullet for service, I spotted the new Bullet Machismo. From far, or even from close range parked among other Bullets, it was difficult to distinguish the new model from the other siblings. But having seen the JPEG image received by e-mail on my laptop, the badge and colour coding difference could be spotted.
The reason for leaving my Bullet with the dealer was the problem of spewing oil tarnishing my trousers. Unofficially I was advised to substitute grease instead of gearbox oil, but being adamant they have welded the shaft through which the oil was splashing out. This is an inherent problem in most Bullets, and now for the first time Royal Enfield claims to have solved the problem.
The new LB engine comes with in an all aluminium block and head, replacing the older cast iron one. Lighter, it improves the power to weight ratio and horsepower is up to 24. The stroke is same but the bore is wider and the piston is flat instead of domed. Valve diameters are optimised for enhanced torque (4.1kgm) and fuel conservancy. Ignition switches from a contact breaker system to a transistor coil.
But all said and done, why would someone pay Rs.1,08,000 for a Bullet 500 Machismo, when our lakhiers could well afford to jump start to an imported Yamaha, Honda or Suzuki 750cc or 1000cc or even the Harley Davidson that is soon coming to India? Even old timers like me can pick up a Bullet from a Military disposal auction for about Rs.8,000 and restore it to Machismo looks. The cost of pants spoiled due to oil spillage is hardly Rs.4000.
And of course there is still the one-lakh rupee car to come. The Bullet 500 Machismo is missing out more than the familiar ‘thump’ of the engine that so characterises the heritage brand.
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