Royal Enfield 350 classic

[Count Steer]

I can't decide whether they're genii for thinking there's a decent size market for these retro bikes or whether it's really obvious that the market (at least in the UK) is mainly blokes with disposable income that remember these bikes from first time around.

What else should they conjure up from the dim and distant past? BSA Bantam, Rocket 3, Vincents? Get the prices right and they'd sell a few.

You'd have to be over 65 to remember shite like Enfields first time round.

Well they stopped production in Redditch in about 1967 (and Bradford on Avon in 1970) but the bikes stayed on the road (well, some of them!) for a while after that. My first motorcycle was registered in 1963, but that wasn't when I bought it. Also, some of us remember the bikes our dad's had too.

However, a trip to Rykas or Newlands Corner will confirm that there are plenty of 65+ bike fans out there, with disposable income.

[Dodgy69]

I think they appeal to the 50+ folk because many folk of this age have had all sorts of bikes but maybe not a classic. Many will have faster bike's already in the garage, big tourers, off roaders but maybe not an old looking classic.

Yep, they're slow plodders, happy at 50/60, if it went 140 mph I wouldn't buy it, I have other bike's for that. It wouldn't do in a single bike garage but to add something a bit different , definitely, and with the modern classics you shouldn't have the roadside worries.

I'll keep my eye out from a secondhand one but won't rule out new for 4k.

[KungFooBob]

I'm not 50.

I've got a modern adv/touring bike, an old sports bike and an Enfield. I'm on the look for a small JDM 90's trail bike to complete the set.

[Rockburner]

I can't decide whether they're genii for thinking there's a decent size market for these retro bikes or whether it's really obvious that the market (at least in the UK) is mainly blokes with disposable income that remember these bikes from first time around.

What else should they conjure up from the dim and distant past? BSA Bantam, Rocket 3, Vincents? Get the prices right and they'd sell a few.

You'd have to be over 65 to remember shite like Enfields first time round.

The demographic for the buyers would more likely be "My Dad/Grandad had something similar and he was cool!"

[mangocrazy]

You'd have to be over 65 to remember shite like Enfields first time round.

In 1967 when I was looking for something bigger than the 90cc Honda C200 I had, the choice of secondhand bikes I could afford in my local dealers was either a Honda CD175 or a Royal Enfield 250 single. I chose the Honda, and never looked back...

[Mr. Dazzle]

I can't decide whether they're genii for thinking there's a decent size market for these retro bikes or whether it's really obvious that the market (at least in the UK) is mainly blokes with disposable income that remember these bikes from first time around.

What else should they conjure up from the dim and distant past? BSA Bantam, Rocket 3, Vincents? Get the prices right and they'd sell a few.

You'd have to be over 65 to remember shite like Enfields first time round.

The demographic for the buyers would more likely be "My Dad/Grandad had something similar and he was cool!"

I like the (1969) Bonnie, my Dad (67) doesn't care. From his POV it's the bike old men and poor people ride cause they couldn't afford something newer. From my POV that mantle belongs to the 80s/early 90s stuff you lot all love

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm not 50.

I've got a modern adv/touring bike, an old sports bike and an Enfield. I'm on the look for a small JDM 90's trail bike to complete the set.

I'm 56, I definitely don't want an Enfield, and wtf do you want something like a Serow for, they weren't that good when they were new, look at a Beta Alp if you want a slow trail bike.

[Bustaspoke]

I like the (1969) Bonnie, my Dad (67) doesn't care. From his POV it's the bike old men and poor people ride cause they couldn't afford something newer. From my POV that mantle belongs to the 80s/early 90s stuff you lot all love

I like the looks of the 69 export Bonnie,however the idea of owning & maintaining one is another matter.I can see a 'modern retro' T100 865 FI fitting in the garage at some point.

[KungFooBob]

I'm not 50.

I've got a modern adv/touring bike, an old sports bike and an Enfield. I'm on the look for a small JDM 90's trail bike to complete the set.

I'm 56, I definitely don't want an Enfield, and wtf do you want something like a Serow for, they weren't that good when they were new, look at a Beta Alp if you want a slow trail bike.

I want a kdx or at a push a klx or maybe a CRM.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I like the looks of the 69 export Bonnie,however the idea of owning & maintaining one is another matter.

You sound like a wise fella

[Ian]

I like the (1969) Bonnie, my Dad (67) doesn't care. From his POV it's the bike old men and poor people ride cause they couldn't afford something newer. From my POV that mantle belongs to the 80s/early 90s stuff you lot all love

I share the same POV, I'm 60 - Bonnie's were dogs that grebs, elder brothers and people who couldn't afford a decent bike rode. In early 80s it was all about Kawasaki & Yamaha. I feel no nostalgia for them and even 'didnt get' the T100 I had on loan for a week. Meh.

( I think late grey framed OIF A65s are kind of pretty (yeah I know ) but I know their mechanical shortcomings! FFS a bush on the crank that spins and cuts the oil supply what were they thinking)

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm not 50.

I've got a modern adv/touring bike, an old sports bike and an Enfield. I'm on the look for a small JDM 90's trail bike to complete the set.

I'm 56, I definitely don't want an Enfield, and wtf do you want something like a Serow for, they weren't that good when they were new, look at a Beta Alp if you want a slow trail bike.

I want a kdx or at a push a klx or maybe a CRM.

The KDX220R is a proper piece of kit, really excellent bike, the SR is pale imitation, the KLX250 has a great chassis and a mediocre engine, the 300 is better, but not much, CRMs vary, some are great, some aren't, the ARs can be absolute pains, but they're all over 20 years old now, really look at what your buying, all of them can kill expensive suspension bushes and bearings, look at power valve linkages on KDXs, cam bearings on KLXs, everything on CRMs.

[KungFooBob]

I traded a JDM DR250SHM for a UK model 220R, the KDX felt half the weight and double the power, it was loads betterer than my dad's DRZE... except for having to carry oil if venturing a long distance.

I just fancy something slow for plodding down the local Derbyshire lanes, having looked at the other thread it seems there's a lot of TET near me. I'd quite like an older DT175MX or a KE175, but they've started to get expensive and I think they'd struggle to move under my massive girth.

The later KLX250 and CRF250/300 look great, but would stretch my non-existent budget.

[ChrisW]

Serrow's are fine for what they're good at, which is probably mainly looking a bit like an off-road bike whilst having the road performance of something like a 350 enfield, or that sort of thing.

I happily used one for a couple of years for the Primary school run.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Got held back a few years did ya?

[ChrisW]

Year 7 this September, can't wait

[Rockburner]

Serrow's are fine for what they're good at, which is probably mainly looking a bit like an off-road bike whilst having the road performance of something like a 350 enfield, or that sort of thing.

I happily used one for a couple of years for the Primary school run.

I had a very fun day out on a Serow with a few Vder's back in the day. It seemed pretty capable over the Ridgeway area we were riding on.

[KungFooBob]

Back in the early 00's my mate who worked for EMAP invited me to join him for day out in Mansfield to test some 'cheap' off road bikes for the Comic.

The bikes were all provided by 'The Off Road Centre' in Mansfield, which I don't think exists any more.

I turned up on my KDX220R (which I had purchased from The Off Road Centre) and tagged along.

My mate was on a KDX200SR, the shop manager was on a CRM250MK2 (iirc) and Chris Walker (yes that Chris Walker) was on a 225 Serrow.

1. Chris Walker took the piss out of my packet fresh 'No Fear' mx pants, they where white, yellow and black... very, very white.
2. Christ Walker told me he was convinced he was going to have to call the air ambulance when I didn't know where I was going and dropped into a massive dyke at full throttle and launched out the other side doing a 'superman', I still have no idea how I stayed on.
3. Chris Walker bought me a coffee in the Limes Cafe on the A614.
4. Dunno if it's still there (Couchy will know), but there was an area called 'The Desert' that was an old sand quarry, someone had built a massive super cross stylee jump. The only person brave enough to take it was Chris Walker... on a Serrow. He was quite literally jumping over us on the Serrow
5. The shop manager having local knowledge persuaded my mate to take the worlds deepest rut and full throttle... he went from 30-0 in 2m and proper flew over the handle bars. We all laughed. A lot.
6. My KDX blew the headlamp bulb and I rode home (from Mansfield to Doncaster) in the dark with no head lamp.

The places CW was going and the thing's he was doing on the Serrow, put us all to shame.

EDIT:

AHA!

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/20 ... of-winter/

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I traded a JDM DR250SHM for a UK model 220R, the KDX felt half the weight and double the power, it was loads betterer than my dad's DRZE... except for having to carry oil if venturing a long distance.

I just fancy something slow for plodding down the local Derbyshire lanes, having looked at the other thread it seems there's a lot of TET near me. I'd quite like an older DT175MX or a KE175, but they've started to get expensive and I think they'd struggle to move under my massive girth.

The later KLX250 and CRF250/300 look great, but would stretch my non-existent budget.

I'm in two minds about getting another trail bike, thought 1.buy another IT175, thought 2.get a cheap Chinese 4 stroke trail bike and enjoy how crap it is.