Surprisingly reliable Desert Storm 500. Review on Royal Enfield 500

I wanted to go on a long journey, so, before I bought this bike I had test driven Honda CBR 250 which was also within the same price range. I had almost brought CBR 250 but for the attraction for a Bullet. I could not decide for almost 15 or 20 days.

When I did a second time test ride of Classic 500, I somehow, decided that I should buy it. The second time test ride was in traffic on an upwardly inclining road and the time was a peak traffic time. I somehow felt that royal en-field was better for long life. My earlier experience with Ninja 250cc was not so good as far as spare parts in an unknown far off places and also it was damn costly  to repair. One fairing replacement because of breakage had cost me 25, 000/= rupees. Honda also has a fairing and sooner or later you would have to replace for cracks and breakages. In the long run within 2 years Honda 250cc engine is becoming rough. When I had test driven used Honda CBR 250 which were put up for sale, I came to know this. I did at least three such used Honda test rides from salaried class owners who looked like responsible riders.

I purchased this Royal en field Desert storm 500 cc bike for Rs.1, 74, 550/= on 14th June, 2014 in Hyderabad and till now I completed a riding of 900 km without any issues at all. In this period I did a 241 km non-stop riding to SRISAILAM  climbing over the Nallamalla Hills  through the forest and back again next day to Hyderabad. It was a total of 482 km, exactly three days after its purchase.I stopped on the way to take photographs or to take break fast or tea and it may be a total of 4 or 5 times. I held the bike on a speed of 75 to 80 kmph on a constant basis without changing much. The bike brought a smile or even a happy laughter as it was climbing long, upwards inclining roads on the Ghat sections of Nallamalla hills without any higher roar, without any strain of engine and most surprisingly without any change of gear. It was just going up in that same 5th gear! I did not even increase the accelerator. I changed gear only when I had to slowdown for whatever the reason like for example an oncoming taxi in a rash manner etc., In that case, because I slowed down on the upwardly inclining road I had to change to lower gear from 5th . Otherwise unbelievably there was no need!. At one point of time I roared with a happy laughter.

There were speed breakers in this thick jungle in the middle of nowhere and I had to apply brakes in emergency. The rear brake do not work or it is useless. The front brakes are damn good and sharp.

While on return journey, even when I was 100 km away from Hyderabad, the horn stopped working.

In the first service which I gave at 630 km odometer reading I told the problems of horn and rear brake. Horn came back and the rear brake now work to a certain extent which is useful to slowdown on U turns etc.,

I went an another ride of 110 km(to&fro) from Hyderabad in a  hot sunny day only day before yesterday . It touched speeds of 100 kmph for a very brief time, though it is going at 100 kmph, the vibrations are high. These will probably reduce by 2000 km. I expect it because on Srisailam riding, touching speeds of 90 kmph was very difficult, it was a very conscious effort and the vibes were extremely high by 100 kmph even for a few seconds. I know it was a run in period but you can go to higher speeds for a very brief moments and must come down very quickly to very low speed( during run-in periods up to 3000 km) .

At 100 even the foot pegs were vibrating. But after first servicing, it touched 90 kmph when I did not notice it and immediately I brought it down to 80 kmph. I am at present riding it 80 kmph on highway roads.

So far so good. The stability and torque of this mahcine and its specific character enamors you. No doubt it.

The riding style must be very different for this machine. You must increase the acceleration very slowly and allow it run for considerable time and distance in that range and then increase again. Bullet 500 reaches 60 kmph even before you notice it, so riding below this range is difficult. It appears like 55 or 60 when you are actually going at 80 kmph. At this seed it is extremely comfortable. You can sit upright and ride. A loud horn, thumping sound, big body attract people. Other commuters and even truck drivers on the highway respect you. Its pick up is very high up to 80 kmph. So, you can beat other jap vehicles.