What Next?

[Duccout]

Update:

The Ducati GT1000 has gone to its new owner, all the way from Essex to Wales. I was a bit sad, we had some good times together in those 16 years, but all good things come to an end, including my strength!

By way of compensation, this morning I ordered the old man's superbike to replace it, a Royal Enfield Hunter 350. It may be a tad slower........


Cheers,

Colin

[Duccout]

Just a brief update: I have received the Hunter and given it a once-over, although I have not ridden it yet due to weather and other commitments, first impressions are very good; it is well finished and sensibly equipped, although the electrical loom is a tad messy and the engineering is very basic when compared to a modern Ducati, although at probably half the price, that is understandable.

I am not impressed with the supplying dealer's PDI though - the chain was adjusted very tightly and the tyres were over-inflated by about 10 LB PSI each, so I am glad that I checked before riding.

I'll report back after I have got some miles in.


Cheers,

Colin

[blethermaskite]

Congratulations Colin on your new buy, we will look forward to your tribulations as you fit clip ons and rearsets and an open mega, Enjoy and be safe .
Cheers,
George

[Duccout]

Quick update.

Love it! Beautiful gearbox and transmission, wonderful front forks, like floating on air, engine is Torquey and silky smooth. I did have problems at first because the exhaust is so quiet, it was difficult to know what the engine was doing at any given revs, but I am tuned into it now. One negative point is the rear shocks, which I was prepared for after reading road tests; the spring rate is way too hard, apparently because in India riders carry a lot of luggage (don't know why they could not have fitted European spec shocks) causing the back-end to skip about, so I have bitten the bullet and ordered a pair of Hagons to replace them, as well as a bigger gearbox sprocket.

I honestly do not know how Enfield can produce this bike for the money, including a centre stand.

Cheers,

Colin

[Paradiso]

A friend who I ride with has one and he loves it. Had a few long ride outs, me on a BMW R1100GS. Despite the low hp, it seems to have lots of torque and pulls well up the hills. Seems to handle well around the twisty lanes when I'm following him.

[Duccout]

Just a quick update on the Hunter.

I am coming up to the first service. I have made a few mods - Hagon rear shocks, which are much better and boy how the quality has improved since I last purchased Hagons; 16t gearbox sprocket replacing the 15t, which has given more relaxed cruising; and a nice new bench seat (£70 from India, delivered) which is higher and allows me to move about more.

I recently made my favourite journey along the Essex lanes to Sudbury, Suffolk, and the bike performed great and was much less tiring than my 1000cc Ducati; on the 5 speed Enfield I only needed top and fourth, but on the 6 speed Ducati I was up and down the box all the time.

Definitely a modern version of the 350 Ducati!


Cheers,

Colin

[George]

Good to hear you are enjoying it. Yet another vmcc club member recently bought one to replace older Honda cbr 500 and he loves it. It would seems Enfield have produced a modern classic winner, if that is not a contradiction of terms.

[Duccout]

Hi George,

Hope that you are ok. I forgot to mention the handling of the Enfield -it is outstanding! It steers so naturally and inspires so much confidence that I am enjoying cornering in a way that I have not for years. It really reminds me of the revelation in the handling that I got from my very first Ducati 350 Mk III all the way back in 1975.


Colin