Based on my last post, I can see why a reader might assume I’ve hit a midlife crisis. Two motorcycles in less than two months. Really? Keep reading and let me explain.
Death In Paradise -Royal Enfield with sidecar
After enjoying my little Honda Trail 125 on and around the trails of California’s Sierra Nevada, I realized pretty quickly that I loved riding a motorcycle. However, I wanted something with a little more pep to get me up and down the backroads and highways of California’s foothills and Gold Country. Little did I know I would discover my next bike during my nightly television habit.
Kendra and I love to watch British crime dramas. We tend to jump back and forth among a few favorites and one of those is a fun show called Death in Paradise. This show is set in a fake Caribbean island community. The law enforcement team in this small island community includes Officer Dwayne Myers who rides around the island investigating crime on what I thought was a very cool antique motorbike/sidecar combo. After a quick Google search, I discovered that the bike used on this show is not an antique. In fact, it is still currently in production and my world was opened up to the Royal Enfield family of motorcycles.
“Made Like A Gun”
When it comes to motorcycles, few brands hold a level of history and admiration as Royal Enfield. At the turn of the 20th century, Royal Enfield was known in England for small arms fabrication. In 1901, they built their first motorcycle and created the slogan for their motorbikes that also paid homage to their beginnings: “Made like a gun!” As I filtered through their inventory of sizes and shapes, I kept returning to one bike, the Classic 350. It was the perfect “next bike” for me. Fast enough for the highway, but not a bike that I would take down the interstate for a tour.
Style That Stands the Test of Time
Royal Classic 350 - Eastern Stanislaus County
As I prepared to add another motorcycle to my garage, I recognized that motorcycles have always been a staple in the lives of adventurous individuals. I think about Steve McQueen escaping the Nazis as he jumped the barbed wire fences in Germany. Or my personal favorite, Indiana Jones with his father in the sidecar as they also escaped Nazis. It does not matter if you are a young enthusiast or a seasoned rider seeking a new thrill, motorcycles evoke a sense of freedom and excitement that few other modes of transportation can replicate. If you try hard enough, you can almost feel yourself ridiing next to Peter Fonda in Easy Rider.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 helped me identify with each of those examples and it’s one of the reasons why this bike appeals to such a wide range of riders with it’s timeless design, classic lines, and iconic thump. This motorcycle epitomizes an era where style and substance were intertwined. Riding the Classic 350 has been an opportunity to relish in the nostalgia of a bygone era, where attention to detail and craftsmanship meant something.
A Practical Choice
Furthermore, buying a Royal Enfield Classic 350 was not just about looks or style. Look it up on the website and you will find out that these bikes are just so damn cost effective! Sure, it has gorgeous lines, but this bike is also very reliable and can be used for both a daily commute or a weekend trip through the back roads. It rides very comfortable and has great fuel efficiency, making it an ideal partner for someone who wants to ride over to the local coffee shop or open up the throttle through the local foothills.
The only downside to this bike I have found is the time it takes to pull out of a parking lot. Seriously, I was not prepared for the constant conversations and questions from anyone and everyone who watches me get on this bike. I have found I need an additional 15 minutes to every shopping trip for the onlooker who wants to know more about the bike or ask a few questions.
2023 Royal Enfield Classic 350
Age is Just a Number
So, what about the midlife crisis? I really don’t think that is what is going on here. Whether you're in your twenties or your fifties, the desire to experience the thrill of the open road on a modern classic is what’s really at play. This purchase is not so much an indication of age-related insecurity or an attempt to recapture lost youth.
If you’ve been reading theMangoTimes for any length of time, you can appreciate that both of these bikes are just an ongoing affirmation (or maybe an invitation) to embrace the adventure that lies ahead.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch