Little bikes are fun.

[Chiogtr4x]

Submitted for your approval....my 'little guys'. The 278cc, spunky, zippy, and stylistically elegant Italian, and the utilitarian yet visually extravagant 350cc Indian. Both of them combined put out less 3 HP less HP than my 47 hp 650 Royal Enfield does.
View attachment 1036522

Maybe I'm missing something in your photo?
I see the ' Italian' ( assuming that's the blue scooter) and the Royal Enfield on the red ramp, right?

So where is the Indian?

- apologies if I got it wrong!

 

[Dan German]

We just installed a front tire on a 300 Vespa. The owner ride it here (Vancouver Island) from Quebec. He’s going to head for Cancun on it for the winter. Epic.

 

[Dan German]

Maybe I'm missing something in your photo?
I see the ' Italian' ( assuming that's the blue scooter) and the Royal Enfield on the red ramp, right?

So where is the Indian?

- apologies if I got it wrong!

The RE is Indian. The nation, not the brand.

 

[Frisco 57]

I dig minibikes! I got a couple that I've restored and ride around my neighborhood. I'm sometimes referred to in my neighborhood as the "Circus Bear!"

BTW the tee shirt reads "Send Lawyers, Guns & Money," it seems like the correct attire!

 

[Chiogtr4x]

The RE is Indian. The nation, not the brand.

Ok, got it!
I know nothing about bikes, other than that I love their looks and John's pics...

So the other Royal Enfield he refers to in OP, is a larger bike ( not in photo) right?

 

[39martind18]

View attachment 1036557

I really, most sincerely, desire one of this little rascals. HondaCT125 trail.

However, I’m 6’3” and ~235lbs.

My wife says I’d look like a circus clown.

I still want one.

Back around 1970, when I was 20 or so, my aunt and uncle bought the family a Honda Mini-Trail 50. My cousin was about 6'4" on his way to 6'6". He and I would go trail riding with him on that Mini-Trail 50. He had to steer that thing between his knees, and would even ride it up a large, leaning tree near his house. If he ever got in trouble on it, he'd just stand up and let it move out from under him- really funny to watch!

 

[Old Plank]

View attachment 1037002

We have a winner!

 

[Old Plank]

Anyone have or had one of these ... and if so, opinions? Honda Ruckus (49cc, which in some places like here is 1cc shy of needing a registration.)

 

[John Backlund]

It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

There's certainly some truth in this, but now that I think of it, I've never heard this stated by the owner of a truly fast bike.

 

[John Backlund]

Also like this. Probably why I am still alive.

...and married.

 

[Mouth]

Having had and ridden truly fast bikes, I really did have a lot of fun wringing everthing out of a CB500 trying to keep up with more modern >1000cc bikes.

 

[Knows3Chords]

A kid down the street from us growing up had a little Indian 20 and his brother had a Yamaha YZ80. Those things were a blast. The YZ was crazy fast. As a teen I had a Honda 90 and then a Yamaha 100 Enduro. That was before everything went to mono shock. Short legs didn't cut it after that.

 

[John Backlund]

Maybe I'm missing something in your photo?
I see the ' Italian' ( assuming that's the blue scooter) and the Royal Enfield on the red ramp, right?

So where is the Indian?

- apologies if I got it wrong!

Ah!.....a little trick I play on those who may be unfamiliar with modern Royal Enfield motorcycles....which are made in India, and are entirely an Indian company.

The Indian-made motorcycle is on the lift table.

If one chooses to be somewhat anal about it, Royal Enfield motorcycles are more honestly an 'Indian' machine than the original or Polaris-generated motorcycles of the same name ever were.

 

[Wildeman]

Yeah, little bikes are fun, I bust out the Bonnie or Sportster once in a while
Love my FLH!!!!

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Ah!.....a little trick I play on those who may be unfamiliar with modern Royal Enfield motorcycles....which are made in India, and are entirely an Indian company.

The Indian-made motorcycle is on the lift table.

If one chooses to be somewhat anal about it, Royal Enfield motorcycles are more honestly an 'Indian' machine than the original or Polaris-generated motorcycles of the same name ever were.

Thanks John,

To push my ignorance even further (btw, everything I know about motorcycles comes from your threads, here),
are the Royal Enfield bikes made in India, actually interpretations (updated, maybe?), of the original 'Indian' brand? Or am I off on this?

Where were original Indian motorcycles produced?
Thanks!

 

[Toto'sDad]

There's certainly some truth in this, but now that I think of it, I've never heard this stated by the owner of a truly fast bike.

Have you ever heard of an owner of a truly fast bike stating he liked to ride slow?

 

[Dan German]

Thanks John,

To push my ignorance even further (btw, everything I know about motorcycles comes from your threads, here),
are the Royal Enfield bikes made in India, actually interpretations (updated, maybe?), of the original 'Indian' brand? Or am I off on this?

Where were original Indian motorcycles produced?
Thanks!

”Indian Motocycles” (intentional missing “r”) were produced in Springfield Massachusetts. Royal Enfields were British, but so many were used in India, that they were produced there under license. When the British company folded, the Indian producers acquired the name and kept on making them. With India ascending as a manufacturer, and the popularity of “heritage” products, Royal Enfield is a far bigger motorcycle manufacturer than it ever was.

So, Royal Enfield=British style, Indian manufacture

Indian=American style, as interpreted by Minnesota snowmobile company.

 

[RollingBender]

Anyone have or had one of these ... and if so, opinions? Honda Ruckus (49cc, which in some places like here is 1cc shy of needing a registration.)
View attachment 1037037 View attachment 1037038

A couple friends of mine have the Honda Ruckus. One an older 2-cycle, one a newer 4-cycle. Highly recommended (no special license) scooter.

 

[KyAnne]

In order to enjoy riding a scooter, even one as classic, and yes...classy, as an Italian Vespa 300, one must learn to suppress one's vanity to some degree, and just allow the purity and pleasure of the experience to overcome all preconceived notions concerning riding such a machine.

Truth!