[Livin On]

Having a bit of a difficult time talking myself onto the Street 500 with the Royal Enfield Continental GT sitting right there in range.

I mean the Enfield has a slightly larger 535cc engine, is arguably styled much more tastefully and costs $7200, only $500 more than the Street 500s MSRP of $6,700...

the enfield puts out 29 HP in a 405 lb (wet) package for P/W of 13.9, not exactly setting the world on fire but similar to the Street 500s 480 lb wet weight coupled with 32 BHP gives the Street 500 a P/W of 15 lbs/HP.

So for the Enfield you get a stunning bike, better performance and a true modern classic all for a similar price....

 

[Testiphony]

Both bikes are great looking and given that the specs are so similar it really comes down to taste. I have to say that the Harley Street looks like it may be more comfortable than the Royal Enfield Continental GT.

 

[Livin On]

the ergos on the enfield are actually not that bad as you would expect from a cafe styled bike....

 

[fkystreet]

hows it like getting parts for those Enfields? They are nice looking motorcycles but I have not seen a dealer ever.

 

[harleyhoonigan]

hows it like getting parts for those Enfields? They are nice looking motorcycles but I have not seen a dealer ever.

it's probably best to check with a motorcycle store that carries a wide range of bikes, likely they can get you the parts in a good amount of time.

 

[HarleyVest]

I always enjoyed the look of the enfields but never really looked in to actually owning one. Does anybody know the reliability of the engines in them?

 

[Yusef]

I've seen Enfields online but I've never seen any in real life. I haven't seen any dealers for them either. Are they even sold in North America? Maybe they are a European thing.

Great looking bike though. I would give it a test ride to see if it speaks to me.

 

[fkystreet]

I always enjoyed the look of the enfields but never really looked in to actually owning one. Does anybody know the reliability of the engines in them?

from research it seems like they aren't the most reliable. and getting parts can sometimes be tricky.

 

[Livin On]

th enfield will be released in the US roughly the same time the HD Streets are released...

 

[Puneet]

Actually I am reviving a dead thread! I have been averse to Enfields for long and have always relied on Hondas for my daily commuting. But Royal Enfield Continental GT Changed that for me; The bike is coming with newly designed by Harris Engineering Chassis, Brembo brakes, Good quality Italian Piaoli Shock Absorbers at rear, Pirelli tyres, Tachometer, FuelGauge, Aluminium wheels, quality paint job and all that chrome.
We in India are not getting Street 500 but Street 750. Now this very Harley after a recent test ride seemed to be Banglored Harley to me! Low quality indian vendor i.e. Endurance brakes that lack bite, front forks and rear shocks that are good new and don't know how these would perform in long term again from Indian vendor. No Showas or Sachs here! And worst are the MRF tyres that lack grip for which dealership is quoting a price of Rs 20000; compared to that SuperLow tyres- Michelin Scorchers cost Rs 30000 at dealership with all that Harley Stamping and comes with high speed rating.

 

[basuroy]

Street 750 is 7500 $ right ? Anyday more value for money than an enfield motorcycle at 7000+ MRP.

Only selling point of the conti-g imo is the cafe racer styling , I personally don't like it but if you do then it is worth considering.

 

[Puneet]

Well that's the USA price in India price difference between a Continental GT and HD Street 750 is Rs 250000 on road approx $4150. It's not that that I don't like HD Street 750; Actually booked it in in the very 1st week but the choice of vendors and their stuff is more suitable on Enfields. And Royal Enfield Continental GT is way good compared to Enfield standards.
Still Royal Enfield is the company that Harley thinks to be their true competitors in India and regard Enfield owners as their future customers. And in India where bullets are highly regarded and referred to as 'Raja Gaddi' - Vehicle befitting a king! I just couldn't help but compare most expensive but praised Royal Enfield Continental GT to Cheapest and much criticised on certain aspect Harley Davidson.
These bikes brands appeal to same class of people and looking at Continental GT and Street 750, both these bikes are different from their peers. Continental GT has a different Exhaust Note as compared to earlier Enfields also frame and shape are different which might not just appeal to traditional Enfield buyer.
Same is the case with Street 750 which has an engine and exhaust note similar to VROD and NightRod. Both of these bikes have not found favour with traditional Harley buyers who refer to them as 'Crotch Rockets' and not American. Street with parts from Indian Supplier bin might face similar dilemma in States though not much of an issue in India.
Moreover I messaged my grievances to HD India after taking a test ride and got a message today from their side that they are in the process of working on the product based on customer feedback and trying to improve it while thanking me for a feedback on Street 750. There also I didn't help but compare Street 750 with Enfield Continental GT and it's positive aspects.
Actually I don't mind if they take a cue from Enfield Continental GT and emulate the positive features in it thus making their products better and safer to ride.
Still haven't cancelled my Street 750 booking.

 

[Sherri]

hows it like getting parts for those Enfields? They are nice looking motorcycles but I have not seen a dealer ever.

Yes, there are Royal Enfield dealers in the USA.
Royal Enfield Motorcycles - United States Dealer Directory

 

[Sherri]

Haven't ridden the Continental GT, but last year I test rode the Royal Enfield Bullet at a dealership in Arizona. Fun little bike but very different ergonomically from a cruiser. Very light (about 400 lbs), very nimble, fun to ride. Not very powerful, you're not going 75-85 down the interstate on this bike. The chatter from salespeople and a couple owners who were there was that they have build-quality issues, things constantly break.

 

[Desert Tortoise]

I have looked at the Enfield and think it is crudely made. I would never waste money on one. It's a relic like the Sportster. You buy it for a particular look, but don't puff out your chest and fool yourself into thinking it is a quality motorcycle or one with competitive performance and handling. It isn't. You are just buying a name attached to thoroughly antiquated machinery, just like a Sportster or most of the rest of the Harley line for that matter. Kludge.

 

[stude]

I have looked at the Enfield and think it is crudely made. I would never waste money on one. It's a relic like the Sportster. You buy it for a particular look, but don't puff out your chest and fool yourself into thinking it is a quality motorcycle or one with competitive performance and handling. It isn't. You are just buying a name attached to thoroughly antiquated machinery, just like a Sportster or most of the rest of the Harley line for that matter. Kludge.

Oh, come on now D.T., a Sportster may be antiquated technology and a relic, and performance lacking when compared to a similar sized non-HD bike, but it is a QUALITY antiquated relic. At least give credit where credit is due. Maybe we have different perspectives on quality?

I happen to like my "antiquated machinery", and I was fully aware that it was not top of the line performance and handling when I bought it. But I don't need more power, or better handling, or better brakes for the type of riding I do. Now, you mentioned in another reply that the VRod is not your ideal bike as it is too heavy, too long, etc., but yet you bought one and apparently enjoy it?... no difference, really, eh?

All I can say is it would be a very boring world if we all liked the same thing and rode the same bikes. Variety is the spice of life, right?
Ride on and keep the shiny side up!

 

[Desert Tortoise]

Oh, come on now D.T., a Sportster may be antiquated technology and a relic, and performance lacking when compared to a similar sized non-HD bike, but it is a QUALITY antiquated relic. At least give credit where credit is due. Maybe we have different perspectives on quality?

I happen to like my "antiquated machinery", and I was fully aware that it was not top of the line performance and handling when I bought it. But I don't need more power, or better handling, or better brakes for the type of riding I do. Now, you mentioned in another reply that the VRod is not your ideal bike as it is too heavy, too long, etc., but yet you bought one and apparently enjoy it?... no difference, really, eh?

All I can say is it would be a very boring world if we all liked the same thing and rode the same bikes. Variety is the spice of life, right?
Ride on and keep the shiny side up!

I wouldn't consider any of the air cooled Harleys to be high quality motorcycles. Far from it. Harley cuts all kinds of corners on brakes and suspension. They just throw more material at problems instead of doing some engineering, you wonder if their engineers know about CAD programs the way they build their crap. They put effing Locktite on everything, even the darn brake bleeder nipples (and they use a ridiculously small hex head on them, it's almost impossible to bleed the rear brake on a V-Rod at least without rounding the stinking nipple), instead of addressing the vibration that causes things to work loose. Fasteners are automotive sized, needlessly large and heavy for what they are required to fasten. That whole bike should have been buried and replaced by 1977. It was obsolete even before then.

I bought the only version of the V-Rod that Harley ever made, really the only bike they have made in three decades, that I would have even considered and that is the Street Rod. It has a unique frame never used on any other V-Rod, so it has plenty of cornering clearance, additional suspension travel at the rear so it rides nice, braided brake hoses on the front so you have great brake feel and less rake than other V-Rods for better steering. The riding position is normal, meaning a slight lean forward to the bars and the foot pegs mounted below the seat/tank (or in the case of the V-Rod the air box cover) junction. None of this feet forward, drag your heels on even a mild corner nonsense while your vertebrae are compressed by the ride from the slammed rear suspension.

I would not have wasted my money on any other V-Rod because they are too low, steer miserably and ride harshly due to the whimpy 3 inches (76 mm) of rear suspension travel. The engine is a gem, but the rest of the bike is primative. At least with the Street Rod Harley for one shining moment got it mostly right. In fact, I steers better and rides as well as the 2013 FJR 1300 I tested last year. You can't say that about any other bike Harley makes.

 

[Schakz]

Well that's the USA price in India price difference between a Continental GT and HD Street 750 is Rs 250000 on road approx $4150. It's not that that I don't like HD Street 750; Actually booked it in in the very 1st week but the choice of vendors and their stuff is more suitable on Enfields. And Royal Enfield Continental GT is way good compared to Enfield standards.
Still Royal Enfield is the company that Harley thinks to be their true competitors in India and regard Enfield owners as their future customers. And in India where bullets are highly regarded and referred to as 'Raja Gaddi' - Vehicle befitting a king! I just couldn't help but compare most expensive but praised Royal Enfield Continental GT to Cheapest and much criticised on certain aspect Harley Davidson.
These bikes brands appeal to same class of people and looking at Continental GT and Street 750, both these bikes are different from their peers. Continental GT has a different Exhaust Note as compared to earlier Enfields also frame and shape are different which might not just appeal to traditional Enfield buyer.
Same is the case with Street 750 which has an engine and exhaust note similar to VROD and NightRod. Both of these bikes have not found favour with traditional Harley buyers who refer to them as 'Crotch Rockets' and not American. Street with parts from Indian Supplier bin might face similar dilemma in States though not much of an issue in India.
Moreover I messaged my grievances to HD India after taking a test ride and got a message today from their side that they are in the process of working on the product based on customer feedback and trying to improve it while thanking me for a feedback on Street 750. There also I didn't help but compare Street 750 with Enfield Continental GT and it's positive aspects.
Actually I don't mind if they take a cue from Enfield Continental GT and emulate the positive features in it thus making their products better and safer to ride.
Still haven't cancelled my Street 750 booking.

Hi can you please show us the revert mail from HD. Also if you let us know the email ID. I also want to highlight few issues.

 

[stude]

I wouldn't consider any of the air cooled Harleys to be high quality motorcycles. Far from it. Harley cuts all kinds of corners on brakes and suspension. They just throw more material at problems instead of doing some engineering, you wonder if their engineers know about CAD programs the way they build their crap. They put effing Locktite on everything, even the darn brake bleeder nipples (and they use a ridiculously small hex head on them, it's almost impossible to bleed the rear brake on a V-Rod at least without rounding the stinking nipple), instead of addressing the vibration that causes things to work loose. Fasteners are automotive sized, needlessly large and heavy for what they are required to fasten. That whole bike should have been buried and replaced by 1977. It was obsolete even before then.

I bought the only version of the V-Rod that Harley ever made, really the only bike they have made in three decades, that I would have even considered and that is the Street Rod. It has a unique frame never used on any other V-Rod, so it has plenty of cornering clearance, additional suspension travel at the rear so it rides nice, braided brake hoses on the front so you have great brake feel and less rake than other V-Rods for better steering. The riding position is normal, meaning a slight lean forward to the bars and the foot pegs mounted below the seat/tank (or in the case of the V-Rod the air box cover) junction. None of this feet forward, drag your heels on even a mild corner nonsense while your vertebrae are compressed by the ride from the slammed rear suspension.

I would not have wasted my money on any other V-Rod because they are too low, steer miserably and ride harshly due to the whimpy 3 inches (76 mm) of rear suspension travel. The engine is a gem, but the rest of the bike is primative. At least with the Street Rod Harley for one shining moment got it mostly right. In fact, I steers better and rides as well as the 2013 FJR 1300 I tested last year. You can't say that about any other bike Harley makes.

I would have never guessed that the Street Rod is so different than it's VRod counterparts. Kind of makes you wonder why they don't use the improvements on all the VRods.

We definitely look at quality differently. I like classic cars and trucks, maybe that carries over to liking my archaic Sporty. Lol. Now I am kind of anxious to hear what your opinion is of the Street after a ride.
Unfortunately, it sounds like we won't have any at the dealer here until June.

 

[Puneet]

Hello!

Hi can you please show us the revert mail from HD. Also if you let us know the email ID. I also want to highlight few issues.

No E-Mail, just messaged from FaceBook and got a reply back. I will copy the contents of the message below.

Hi Puneet. Thank you for your feedback on the Street 750. We will be making adjustments to the product based on customer feedback. As for the Harley-Davidson SuperLow, it is available but the waiting period is long. Thanks!