The Booking of a Royal Enfield...

So now Classic 350 was sort of shortlisted, I wanted to have a deep comparision with Bullet Electra Twinspark for a final decision... and had fixed myself to book a Royal Enfield on 14th April.

Classic 350 is a true Classic Design with all the goodies like 

Powerful Headlight 60/55 W halogen compared to Electra's 35/35 W Halogen

Excellent Maneuverability because of its 18" rear wheel compared to Electra which has 3.25x19" tyres at both wheels

On looks front Classic 350 with its design & single seat scores high

With all these in my mind, you will be surprised to learn that I booked a Bullet Electra Twinspark on April 14th at Classic Motorcycles, Chennai, let me tell you why. I visited the showroom again on the day by evening, saw both the models very carefully and I know me well, if I take a Classic 350, I would surely change its seating, for comfort is something which I wouldn't compromise on and I was not sure how it would fit the cosmetic appeal of Classic 350 moreover I always enjoyed the Machismo Type handlebars, so I might change the handle bars even..... so again the appeal comes to play

Whereas Electra Twinspark with its plain look is always better to accommodate modifications and I don't have any problem with its plain looks, yup I have a problem with its headlight power but have studied that the headlights can be upgraded to better ones. On tyres I would have preferred a bit more wider tyre at the rear say something at least like 3.50 x 19" but have decided that will learn a bit more on tyres and will upgrade, if necessary, anyways both the headlight and tyre upgrade will not give more than minor cosmetic change....Hence Booked a Enfield Electra Twinspark

Royal Enfield "The Showroom Experience..."

I always wanted own a Royal Enfield, the thought is older than me because its genetic and to surprise its Maternal.... Interestingly My Mom married my Father for the reason that one of the common relatives told her that he owned two Enfield Bullets in Chennai......


I always feel that an Enfield Makes a Statement and always wanted to own one but never could really since either I couldn't afford its cost or sometimes its mileage and maintenance factor.... but now I can afford one as well as maintain but I've to find time to spend maintaining one..... So when the question of New Bike Came into picture Royal Enfield came in along with the 150cc's which I have elaborated on my previous post "Buying a New Bike...". Even though I don't own a Bullet I have driven Enfield Bullets of 1980's, 1990's and Thunderbird's of mid 2000, Infact I have driven a friend's Thunderbird from Chennai to Valparai and back.....


I visited the nearest showroom "Classic Bikes" located at Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai... I was recieved by Mr. Sudar, a sales guy with pretty decent knowledge on Bullets I clearly told him that I'm here only for my passion and I want to consider a Royal Enfield for my Next Bike...... Then came which model of Royal Enfield, offlate I had nice association with Thunderbird TBTS, so I told him "might be thunderbird but I'm not sure"... He suggested me to testdrive all the models so that I get a better picture, So I started with Royal Enfield Electra, it had nice feel of Regular Bullets, then I drove the Thunderbird, as usual the majestic cruiser Feel and then I drove the Classic 500.....what a bike, it gave a new perception to Royal Enfield......very minimal Vibrations, Slow Thump which I like and the way it pulled me just never believed it..... now my needs on a Royal Enfield Increased....I felt the Sound of Thunderbird and Electra were more, then he showed the up swept silencer and told me that the stock silencer will give a soft thump, and even arranged to show me that..... Then on Vibrations I felt Thunderbird Vibrated more than Electra & Classic... For this he replied "Sir, Any Royal Enfield Vibrates but we are there and would see to it that it vibrates a lot less" This started instilling confidence in me and I have also heard from Couple of Friends that their Service Centre is very good.... Now I wanted to buy a Classic 500, but my affordability could reach a max of only Classic 350 or Thunderbird TBTS..... So I thought I will try Classic 350 but unfortunately he didn't have one for test drive but he told that Classic 350 will not be like Classic 500 for reasons of extra power and Fuel Injection System, and on personal front he offered me that given some time he would try let me know where I can find a Test Drive.... I later left the showroom stating to see If I could make-up the Financial gap between 350 & 500.... Something more which I learnt was the Classic Series seemed more easy to handle in city than Thunderbird TBTS.


Later got to drive the Classic 350 from a Friend's Friend of mine, the Bike was good enough if you don't compare it with Classic 500.... So I decided that I would go in for a more practical Choice of Classic 350 since more of my driving would be in City or might be my life is replicating the "Fox & the Sour Grapes" story.......


The attitude at the Classic Bikes "Buy a Royal Enfield, for anything on it we are here...." So If I buy Royal Enfield it would be Classic 350 and it will be from this team......


Now the only choices are

350CC Segment Classic 350 (Approx 1,25,000)150cc Segment its CBZ Xtreme (Approx 74000) (Ref: my blog" Buying a New Bike")
....... Let's see if my heart wins or my brain, because my final choices don't compete with each other

Buying a New Bike...

Adecade on a Pulsar 150 Marking more than 1,00,000 kms, a trusted friend than a bike, he knew me as a Bachelor, Lover boy, Husband and now a Father. We went together to see my wife, buy my first car and carry many more memories together....... He has never let me down. Simply a part of my life... Having seen him age gracefully, I thought of another bike that would reduce my bikes load.....
So Now comes a question Who will stand near him..... based on some driving experience on my friend's Bikes I shortlisted a few
Suzuki GS150R
Honda Unicorn
CBZ Xtreme
The Royal Enfield's 350cc Thunderbird & Classic 350
.....I'm not for the Front Lean Sports Driving style, so that would reflect in my selections...
Now I went on to check all my selections in detail.....

Suzuki GS150R....
A bit taller & wider than my bike, Flaring Headlights, the Muscular Tank and the Consoles Look made me fall for it, controlling my emotions I took a test drive, It was awesome feel to drive this beauty. Now The Showroom experience with Sri Balaji Suzuki, Chennai, was something called "The Royal Experience"
Since I liked the vehicle I started learning about the vehicle and I learnt that the Vehicle is offered with High-end Technologies and there were problems of Rusting & Engine Noise after a few thousand kilometers but learnt that these issues were rectified by 2010 end itself.... Now that I have learnt & felt the Suzuki GS150R in full I started to study on the Quality of Service at their Service Centres, to my dismay I learnt that their servicing quality is not up to the mark in Chennai, Online reviews shared many bad experiences at service centres and with such high-end technologies in the bike I cannot trust a Local Mechanic.....
in short According to me Suzuki GS150R, the best 150cc bike but I don't know Where I can Service it.

Honda CB Unicorn...
To my knowledge it doesn't have any latest technologies, but I have heard its a excellent vehicle to drive......I went to a showroom in Anna Nagar, I asked on Unicorn, the first info he gave was 3 months waiting period, he didn't talk about the bike at all and this took me by surprise... Still I told him I don't mind the waiting period, the next thing he said was "I will bring the booking form"....... I said I would like to have a test drive, he just looked at me and said its a very good vehicle as if to count on him, I left the place and told them I will be back tomorrow..... the next day I called up for a test drive and the reception told me "No Test Drives"...... I decided not to buy this bike for their attitude no matter how good the vehicle is.....

CBZ Xtreme
My friend had purchased it recently and have driven the bike for quiet some distance..... Nice heavy feel, I feel the power is translated very nicely while driving, have good service centres and the CBZ name is on road for over a decade now, so the improvisations and innovations have made the bike translate what it is meant for.....
Went to one of the top Dealers in Anna Nagar, the sales guy was good and very patient he educated me on couple of more options also.....even here I wanted a Test Drive, but he couldn't help since they were no test drive vehicles....so I left the place, right from the very next day, the back end team started to call me asking to come and book the vehicle....

Royal Enfield's
That Experience I would present it in a Seperate Blog...

Note: What ever shared here is my Experiences and I mean no offence to anybody

Latest Plans

This weekend, I will be on the wheels and have a plan to cover around 1300 kms. Will be driving from the sun-blessed Chennai to the rain blessed Chinna Kallar (Valparai).