How capable is a Royal Enfield...?

[Swart Gevaar]

Thanks Chris.

[Lem]

I would definately say look at the Bajaj range

they have a 180cc in various models. All of them road bikes however, but they should be capable & economical to run.

[Vulcan]

I would definately say look at the Bajaj range

they have a 180cc in various models. All of them road bikes however, but they should be capable & economical to run.

I agree, my first bike was a little Bajaj Avenger. Very tough.

[TheBear]

Possibilities (not sure if they make anything that meet the other requirements as I haven't done much research):

Bajaj:  Made in India.
KTM:  Smaller bikes made in India.
Adly:  Made in Korea.
Hyosung:  Made in Korea.

[Swart Gevaar]

Possibilities (not sure if they make anything that meet the other requirements as I haven't done much research):

Bajaj:  Made in India.
KTM:  Smaller bikes made in India.
Adly:  Made in Korea.
Hyosung:  Made in Korea.

Thanks, but I am not sure if the Bajaj will smoke the pipe... The bikes will not be used for commuting or tourism and must be able to run in desert conditions.

[the_BOBNOB]

i think it will be easier if you list the countries that are not disqualified

from the looks of it only india qualifies

the other brands that will qualify is exotics and will be way way way to expensive

india you can look at

hero
bajaj
tvs

the enfields are great - but they are now where near R9k for a 350cc

i were in india a while ago and went to a couple of royal enfield dealerships

the 350c sells for 1 lahk 30 (ie. 130 000 indian rupees or R20k) the 500 sells for 1 lahk 70

the indian bikes are very good but they dont do scramblers - everything they build are road bikes

a bajaj with some knobbies on will do the job

[jagter]

Sounds like you have a near impossible task.  Maybe a crate full of Indian bikes, that you retrofit yourself for desert use with oil coolers, knobblies etc.

Edit: Are these bikes actually going to get used for real? or is it maybe just to fill some random requirement on their side. Maybe they'll just stand around and you can basically send them anything.

[KaTooMatt]

Why don't you get a bunch of Yamaha DT's

Ship them to SA. relabel them with an exciting and colourful stickers. Offer to source spares as required. Once you have the project and they complain about your expensive spares tell them all Yamaha spares also fit. I believe most aid agencies in Africa use Yamaha so spares should reasonably accessible.

You'll need to reprint all the paperwork. You'll need to sandblast all the Yamaha castings but if it means that much to you probably the best way to go.

It seems anything else will just leave you holding the baby with a bad deal.

[ZooDog]

ktm is the answer haha are they also off the list.

[Swart Gevaar]

It is a difficult one I have to say. But, we are proposing the RE Desert Storm with knobblies. Apparently it will be used for sure.

I would've much rather proposed a KLR, XR or XT type of bike, but, as said above, it looks like only India qualifies on this one...

Thanks anyway for all the comments and 2c's worth 

[2StrokeDan]

I smell a Gupta......

[Swart Gevaar]

I smell a Gupta......

Mmmmm.... Now that you mention it... 

[badballie]

OK so here is my suggestion 

Look at the Bajaj Pulsar 180 or more realistically the 220 and RE 500

Set up a proposal with both options (obviously there will be quite a price difference)

See if you can get demos of both bikes.

Take them to Thimes in Boksburg for some testing in sand etc. Do tests two up and take pics video footage, do report on capabilities etc.

You say this is part of a HUGE contract, possible acquire one of each to demonstrate to client their individual capabilities and make a choice from there.

You can also play around a bit, see if fitting knobblies and higher fender on the BP will make it more suitable etc.

Check out some reports on Baja offroad and obviously there is much info on RE doing offroad etc

http://www.yogeshsarkar.com/trips/ramgarh/jamwa_ramgarh_tal.html

http://www.mitchellkphotos.com/blog/2012/06/12/riding-a-motorcycle-around-ethiopia/

pulsar off roading two guys abhishek n vikas.....part 1

[Hammerhead]

Difficult one!
I would also have said Bajaj, but otherwise try and import some AJP's.
Made in Portugal!
Engines based on the Honda XR's

There is always the Aprilia RXV450 / 550
 

[badballie]

Difficult one!
I would also have said Bajaj, but otherwise try and import some AJP's.
Made in Portugal!
Engines based on the Honda XR's

There is always the Aprilia RXV450 / 550
 

No Europe

[Hammerhead]

Demmit!!
Bajaj then!
BTW: I use a bajaj pulsar 180 as a commuter. 60km round trip per day (includes 8km kaaaark dirt road). Nothing has broken, nothing has fallen off (on 32000km at the mo)...
I will think long and hard before I take it OFFroad or into deep sand with a pillion though!

[Swart Gevaar]

The bikes will be used for patrol riding. I think that the RE is a much tougher option as everything is made out of steel and there are no plastic components. Also comes in the right color option already too

[badballie]

One needs to remember though, we are looking at Bajaj from an SA perspective, here it is a small cc, relatively cheap and reliable commuter.

On the flipside

In India, where the bulk of them are obviously sold, it is a "top end" bike for most and used for just about any type of riding on any type of terrain.

Baja India even labels it as an "Adventure" bike !!!!

Not to mention a stunt bike !!!

[Swart Gevaar]

Something like this

[badballie]

The bikes will be used for patrol riding. I think that the RE is a much tougher option as everything is made out of steel and there are no plastic components. Also comes in the right color option already too

 

But if they are a very strict on the 175cc requirement, it may be good to have that option available as well.