Mar 16, 2012 12:23 PM
32587 Views
First to make things clear I don't own a RE classic 500. This review is based on my research, test drive and learning from experiences of my friends who are owning RE. This bike looks amazing no doubt about it. There no other bike in Indian market come near this in looks. Sure, but hold on for a sec. The looks are amazing when you see them for hours in their website and when a guy crosses you in a fair distance in the road. You feel, you need to get on this one point of time in your life. BUT when you go closer and have look at it... you will be starting to disappoint and when you touch and ride the disappointment will grow further. You will easily identify small dents here and there. The painting would be imperfect. The mud guards would be mis-aligned from wheels. You can easily find these things even in a polished show piece prompted under neon lights in the show room.
So the only advantage, 'Looks' itself needs some serious reconciliation.
Test Drive : I am 6ft 1in height, and when I got on to this machine, I was uncomfortable. The pedal position is too narrow to rest them in a comfy position. My leg has to bend back from knee to reach them, this result in pain in upper and inner part of thighs. After moving for few yards I had to stop the vehicle and had to stand up to free the strains in the thigh parts closer to the genitals. So if you are tall it probably going to be uncomfortable for you.
I drove about 10 km in this bike, handling, changing the gear were nightmarish. It vibrates like a industrial grinder. You could see only blur images the rear view mirrors. You feel a great deal of palpitation at your genitals. The machined wobbled on high speed and you will never feel safer while turning in high speed.
The thumping, ah dear, this would be the reason many of you loved RE, yea me too. But I realized its great when you listen it from a distance when someone riding it. But, when you are one it, you won't use the word 'thumping' anymore you would say its 'noise'. Pure and irritating noise. The noise go up as you accelerate more and it was not fun any more. To be candid, I was not proud at all riding this one, I felt the on lookers sympathized me rather than amazed.
It weights heavy, and having the large dimensions, it was very though to take it from parking and park it back. There is no promising technology in fuel ingestion or in engine acceleration or emission. The disc brakes were ordinary. I seriously don't know why this machine costs 1.6 lachs.
Verdict : Don't go for this machine, its worthless and it may be pain in the butt to own this one.
