Royal Enfield

Certainly the 'older' models of these are now classics. But are the new ones, made in India, also classics? If not, will they become classics as they age, or was there a certain time when the model range stopped being classic (e.g. bikes made before 19xx ARE, those after AREN'T...)

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I went to a dealers yesterday where they sold these "old" Enfields.
Bit of nostalgia for me as my first ever bike was a Royal Enfield many, many years ago.
They seemed rather cheap to buy but I wasn't tempted.
One struck me as strange though was a secondhand one all of 2 years old that had a tank saver sticker on an alloy tank. Just looked all wrong somehow.
In answer to your question, don't know really, sorry.

I think the India ones are viewed in classic circles as having character but not necessarily as classics.
It's a bit of an odd thing actually since the Redditch works sold all the tooling & machinery to Enfield India and basically upped sticks and went to the sub continent.

So there is definately continuity, albeit a little broken at times.

That said, the original Enfields aren't as sought after as say BSA's & Triumphs or even Ariels of a similar vintage.

In short, sort of.

Olly wrote

Certainly the 'older' models of these are now classics. But are the new ones, made in India, also classics?

If a Manx or 7R replica made from new parts is eligible for classic bike racing, why shouldn't an Indian Enfield be considered as a 'new' classic'? I think they are, in that they have the right identity to be a classic and emulate the look and sound of the same.

Or course the purists will sniff at grey porridge like the Bullet ever being thought of as any sort of 'classic'.

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If it barks and wags its tail it's probably a dog

To be serious - No, in strict age terms of course a 2005 bike cannot be a classic BUT as it is a bike with a design thats 60 years old, needs to be ridden with all the skills needed of a 60 year old....and gives all the satisfaction of a bike of that era then , yes it's a "classic".
For me the facts are that
1). Even living in a fairly remote part of the country, I can get a full spares service within 36 hours to my door.
2). Such is the support for the marque that I choose several avenues of modification kit, from Trials to Vintage look and pretend Cafe racer to really hotted track bike.............. all with a massive Owners Club backing.
3). Spares are really cheap - and for a pensioner that matters.

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Hendon Shuffler & Spanner Addict

BigFella wrote

, needs to be ridden with all the skills needed of a 60 year old....

Should that be skills needed by a 60year old?

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Everyone is entitled to my opinion.