Royal Enfield Adventure Riding – Kickin’ it Helmet Stories Style
The Berkshire Triple, an event hosted by the Berkshire Trail Riders in Massachusetts allows riders to choose between an adventure ride, a dual sport and a turkey run. Since I have not really spent any time riding off road this year the adventure ride was the perfect choice.
The route featured 140+ scenic miles that rambled through tar, dirt and seasonal roads in the gorgeous Berkshire Mountains. When I first saw the length of the route, my butt contemplated a revolt. Sitting on the Husky TE310 for 140 miles is a unique brand of torture.
My darling Kenny, perhaps half kidding at first, suggested that I do the ride on the Enfield. Laughter ensued. (Not by me.) But you know? It really seemed like the perfect choice. Vir, Harsh and the gang over at Helmet Stories ride their Enfields up and down the Himalayas, for cryin’ out loud. Dirt roads in Massachusetts oughtta be a piece o’ cake, right? Any street bike can do that.
So, I decided that the little Enfield that could would be my steed for the ride.
Again, laughter ensued.
“Hahahahaha, we’ll ride behind you to pick up all the stuff that falls off! Hahahahaha.”
😕 ::shakes fist::
When Kenny and I rolled in to camp, and my pokey, petite, low-slung bike mingled amongst the tall, leggy fleet-footed dirtbikes there was some more doubt that floated around. BUT I BELIEVED in the little Enfield 🙂
When Sunday morning dawned and we made our way to the riders meeting, I pulled in on the little Enfield feeling excited and happy.
Riding along on the dirt roads the Bullet seemed perfectly at home. The way that it carries its weight and its physical size immediately put me at ease. Strangely enough, I don’t think I’ve ever had quite such an easy comfortable ride on any bike on dirt. The Enfield just happily scampered along through the woodsy roads. We were never far behind any of those leggy orange beasts.
By the time the ride was just about to come to a close, while I enjoyed the big pan-like, sprung seat – I watched my fellow riders wiggling around, hanging cheeks off, standing up – trying to find some relief for their sittin’ muscles. THAT was when me and the little Enfield had the last laugh. 😆
The Bullet performed beautifully. Nothing fell off, nothing felt scary or weird. It just motored along, puttering up and down hills like a little mountain goat. It turned out to be the perfect bike for the day. It was the most fun I’d had on a ride… since last time.
Comfort always wins out! Nothing worse than a case of monkey butt and sore ‘sitting bones’. Cool! Glad you took your comfy bike. I bet you will see more Enfields in future 😉
Want One. Just don’t think I could have it as my only bike. Am a strong believer in the any bike is an adventure bike thing. Had some great of of road adventures in my brother’s K75RT and his SV650S. Saying that, neither of them faired as well as your bullet. Blew fork seals on the k bike and lost the back break on the SV. Yep. I want a bullet.
…not to mention, plainly, simply, riding a legend and traveling in style. Those Royal Es are super cool with their too-legit-to-quit vintage vibe (and vibes too, no doubt). I wonder how memorable a ride it would have been from the saddle of just another dirt bike. You’d have had a great time, sure, but how memorable would it have been?
Your post is further defense / argument / reason / whatever for having more that one type of steed in the stable, for the same road is seldom the same when ridden, and NEVER the same when ridden on a different bike.
Back in 2011 I added an XR1200 to the stable, company for my F800GS. When I called to add the new machine to my policy, I had to explain to the agent that it wasn’t a change, but an addition. Her response was “You know, you can only ride one at a time”. I laughed, of course, but it was obvious that she wasn’t a rider, or that she was allowing a private prejudice or personal argument to affect her professional judgement.
I have to admit, I’ve always like the look of the Enfields but have not had a chance to ride them. This little piece just makes that desire to ride one all that more powerful.