"Royal Enfields are pretty special bikes," says Jim Pirie, owner of Il Motorino scooter and bike shop in Soquel, one of seven authorized dealers of Royal Enfields in California. "They have a vintage look and history, while having a very modern engine."
As Pirie explains, they had not been available here before, because California has very strict emission rules, and these vintage-style bikes didn't meet the strict standards. Now that the engines have been redesigned with fuel injection technology, the bikes have a cleaner burning engine and they are finally available for Royal Enfield enthusiasts in California.
"These bikes definitely cater to a niche market," says Pirie.
"They are for people who want something different. The bikes are replicas of the 1955 Royal Enfield models. They are clean burning, low maintenance, they are still hand built, and they are all metal - no plastic to be found in these bikes."
Pirie emphasizes that the Royal Enfields are great for beginners.
"They are about 29 horse powers, very easy to ride," he says. "They won't scare a beginner."
You can also customize your bike.
"There are lots of options: everything from adding seats and saddlebacks to adding a sidecar," says Pirie.
A Little History
The Royal Enfield Company started out as a cannon manufacturer in England in the late 1800s. They started producing motorcycles in 1901 and became one of the premier producers of motorcycles in England.
The production continued into the late 1960s. At that point, the company's Indian affiliate that had been established in the 1950s bought out the production rights, closed the factory in England and started producing bikes in India.
"They are still the predominant motorcycle brand in India," says Pirie.
Il Motorino
Il Motorino was established six years ago. At first, the company focused on selling scooters, primarily Piaggio and Vespa.
"We chose scooters because we tried to bring something new in the area," says Pirie.
"You can get pretty much anywhere on surface streets in Santa Cruz, you don't have to get on the highway. Scooters are low gas mileage (70-80 miles a gallon), and from a green standpoint, low emitters."
Il Motorino is now proud to add the Royal Enfields to its products.
"We looked for specialty dealers, focused on unique product lines, that were also well-established in their community with a proven track record of great service, " says Kevin Mahoney, president of Royal Enfield USA.
"For Santa Cruz and the northern Montery Bay area, Il Motorino was a clear choice."
Il Motorino just received the first shipment early November.
Customers can choose from two models: the C5 and the G5.
"The G5 has a little bigger tire and a long seat, while the C5 is a single seat model," explains Pirie.
Both bikes come with a 500cc engine.
While the G5 is available in black and vintage green, the C5 comes in maroon, black and teal.
Pirie points out that these modern-vintage bikes are surprisingly affordable. The base C5 model is $6,395.
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