I haven't read the posts above in detail, just took a glance at them. Some points:
You don't buy a Royal Enfield for fuel economy. You buy it because it is Royal Enfield. If you want fuel economy, buy a
bike instead.
"Royal Enfields are for people who don't have any job", my father says most of the time. No matter what, something
will go wrong with it. You have to maintain it with all efforts. To quote Sharry Mann from a song, "Bada bullet pyara si, aap na nhaude bullet chamkaunde"(Loved bullet a lot, used to wash it regardless of whether I've taken a bath).
Continuing with the above song, "Te holi chalaunde"(and rode it slowly). I see many Bullets, Classics and even Thunderbirds cutting between traffic and overtaking everyone. No, that's not what a Royal Enfield is for. For all that, there are
bikes.
You pay close to 2L for a RE, that is considered as a "premium bike" by many. Obviously you will get brilliant after sales service. No. You are supposed to maintain it yourself, the "service" at the service center is not the Royal treatment Royal Enfield deserves.
Bikes get that treatment at their centers.
So a Royal Enfield is not for fuel economy, easy maintenance, or even power. Then what is for, you ask? I don't know. But I can relate it to an iPhone ad, "If you don't have an iPhone, you don't have an iPhone". I don't think, at all, that comparing the legendary REs to iPhone does justice, because iPhones are not great but REs are incredible. Why? I don't know.
Oh, and these were just [STRIKE]problems[/STRIKE] experiences related to Royal Enfields in general. Let's get specific to TB500:
The rear seat is not at all good. It's too small for anyone to sit comfortably for more than 15 minutes.
The back support for rear seat is virtually non-existent. Every time RE is accelerated, the pillion would feel he's about to fall down.
Maneuvering it through Indian roads will terrify you.
But then why do I like it? I don't know. Is it the white ring in headlamp that smiles at you? Or the roar it produces when you pull the accelerator? Or the open mouth almost every passerby has when they hear the roar(roar on stock exhaust; not bullet's thump thump)? Or just because it is a Royal Enfield? Again, I don't know.
It's like what
redeff feels for his Audi A4(Team BHP). It's not the most sensible choice, but it's what he loves. Similar case with most of Royal Enfield owners, and I hope in some time, you too. Congrats on your Royal Enfield.
