It isn't a sport bike, but....

Nithesh

MotoGP
Apr 5, 2014
India
Ahh RE. Repair Everyday :D

There's a fun story behind this bike. Back in India where its made, RE launched this 500 model first and told customers it was pretty much an exclusive item. A few months down the line RE launches the 350 version with near similar design. As usual, customers who paid a premium for the "exclusive" 500s got angry and began dumping their bikes in the garbage dump in protest. RE apologizes and offers them some deals which had hardly any takers.
https://www.news18.com/news/auto/ow...appy-with-classic-350-abs-launch-1868147.html

https://www.cartoq.com/royal-enfield-responds-to-angry-classic-500-pegasus-owners/
 

skeletor

2015
CBR650F ABS
Dec 13, 2018
Ahh RE. Repair Everyday :D

There's a fun story behind this bike. Back in India where its made, RE launched this 500 model first and told customers it was pretty much an exclusive item. A few months down the line RE launches the 350 version with near similar design. As usual, customers who paid a premium for the "exclusive" 500s got angry and began dumping their bikes in the garbage dump in protest. RE apologizes and offers them some deals which had hardly any takers.
https://www.news18.com/news/auto/ow...appy-with-classic-350-abs-launch-1868147.html

https://www.cartoq.com/royal-enfield-responds-to-angry-classic-500-pegasus-owners/

Too bad. Are they unreliable bikes? I have never seen one here.
 

Nithesh

MotoGP
Apr 5, 2014
India
Let's just say, back where its made, RE is often referred to as a poor man's HD.
Anything you think of the Harley stereotypes also applies to RE owners/bikes.
An average American HD customer is very identical to an average Indian RE customer in almost every single way.
An average HD bike has 99% of the quirks and features an average RE bike will have.

Ever see the HD guys meme about "plastic toys" when they refer to fully faired sportbikes? RE owners are the same.
Ever see the HD guys defend oil leaks from engines as "Marking its territory"? RE owners spout the same.
Then there's this ideology that an unreliable bike maketh a man. Because any guy who isn't wrenching on his bike every weekend to fix those factory niggles isn't a "real rider". :rolleyes:

Infact, looking at the growth of RE in India, Harley decided to take a gamble on the Street 500 and Street 750 series. Unfortunately an entry level HD which is the Street 750 sits at about $8k while you can buy an RE500 for $3k or the new RE650 Interceptor/Continental twins for $3k aswell so HD is starting to sink.
But knowing RE and their last new launches (Continental GT500/ Himalayan), they are yet to learn that Quality>Quantitly. They're solely focused on selling more bikes and that comes at a cost. You'd think they'd have found all the niggles while road testing pre-production mules around a subcontinent but more often than not, its the customers who end up looking like test mules.

Imagine buying a brand new bike, giving it the first wash and realizing the electricals are effed up? Or buying a bike, taking it home and seeing rust everywhere in 24 hours?
https://auto.ndtv.com/news/13-royal...blems-that-only-an-owner-can-tell-you-1994314
 

The Earle

2019
CB650R ABS
Feb 18, 2019
I love this bike, there is one in the garage up the road from me and I’m tempted to buy it and have it as a fun Sunday ride.
 
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