Hi Everyone - I'm Iain; originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland, now living and working in Kolkata with my wife and 2 daughters. The other member of my family iis An Tarbh my Machismo 500 ... An Tarbh; pronounced 'an tarv'', means 'The Bull' in Irish. I sold my previous 350cc Machismo to get the new bike and though I was reluctant to part with my first Bullet it was in the end an easy decision as a friend was keen to buy the 350 and my heart was set on a 500 from the first day. When I heard about the release of new model I had to have one and I've been lucky enough to get what I'm told is the first in the East of India. The higher power will be good for touring in India and if / when I eventually return to the UK I want to take the bike with me; the 500cc will suit the riding conditions there better. I'm not overly bothered about mileage and new 500 LB is doing well enough in that regard anyway. Though I'd been happy enough with the kick start on my 350 I have to admit that the electric start is a nice touch too. I know some say the AVL engined, 5-speed etc. bikes aren't true Bullets and I have to admit to having similar thoughts when I was selecting my first Bullet. I spent weeks stuck between the Machismo, Electra, and the Standard 350; new versus old; thump versus performance - I just couldn't decide. I love the Standard 350 and came very close to going for that option. I love seeing standards on the road - there still is nothing to compare to these classics and I hope they're in production for ever. Because I have dreams of touring and want to take my Bullet back to the UK, the more recent models are perhaps better suited for me. Though I have total respect for the more traditional models when I thought it through I decided that nothing can stand still for ever. After all, the Enfield brand was founded and then thrived on technical advances and constant development. In the end I went with the Machismo simply for the looks and because I wanted a disk brake, a decision I have never regretted. My Bullet may be a modern AVL etc version but is still a BULLET! And a beautiful one at that ... Without progress we'd all still be riding 2bhp bikes with manual oil pumps! Whilst all true fans love RE bikes for their timeless design and classic status we can't ignore the need to keep pace with quality, safety, performance, efficiency, and emissions standards. I believe that Enfield are right to slowly evolve to attract new riders which in turn keeps the brand alive. They have developed new features, new models, and all important new markets but still offer the Standard 350 for the true purist. There's something for everyone except the kids who are only interested in speed and pretty coloured plastic fairings. The history of motorcycling is full of traditional stalwart manufacturers who closed down because they refused to progress. Eventually someone buys their brand name and revives it for a while with some 'modern classics' until the fashion appeal wains ... When you are privileged enough to own a Royal Enfield you get to ride a living legend every day! Also given that these machines stay on the road for more than 30 years we should perhaps consider ourselves as custodians rather than owners - your bike may last longer than you! What other maker offers such a unique balance of brand history, classic design, and modern technology? All Enfields (including the new LB engined bikes) are still built from solid metal and each reflects the original Enfield values ... that's what counts, and it's what we love them for. Also I'm sure that even the most die-hard Standard 350 traditionalist will admit that any modern RE is in a class of its own when compared to the hoards of plastic high revving hairdryers-on-wheels: Honda / Yamaha / Suzuki etc! Every Enfield still has a thumping heart that makes the regular mass market bikes sound like annoying insects. It would have been nice if the new 500 had been released with a more unique look as it is identical to the latest Machismo 350; given that only 500 are to be released they should perhaps have been a little more distinct from the other models. The small extra touches on the lastest bikes look very good though ... new bars, better switchgear, much improved mirrors etc. It also sounds much meatier than the AVL 350 and the performance is certainly very different ... and after all that's why you buy a 500! I was finally able to get away for a trip in July this year - from Kolkata to Darjeeling and back. I've submitted a trip story (more like a novel) about the ride so have a look; it's titled 'Bullet The Blue Sky' after a U2 song. The bike was excellent on the journey; the extra power and pickup was great on the highway and perfect for the hill climb from Siliguri to Darjeeling. I'd been keen to get away on a roadtrip for ages and couldn't have been happier with the performance of this new bike when I did. As I'd hoped, the new 500 has proven itself to be an excellent touring bike but the great thing is it is also great for the city. Nothing beats it for highway cruising. If RE release a 500 T-Bird I think they'll have prospective customers standing in line to buy them but there is nothing better than a 500 Bullet for me. ......................................................................................................... Thanks for visiting my number plate; maybe we can meet on the road sometime. If you've managed to read this far you hopefully like my page so please rate it - show some love for the Irish guy?? I seem to be getting a lot of hits and votes lately so a big THANK YOU to all who have rated my page! ......................................................................................................... On a seperate point; if anyone knows where to find Guinness in Kolkata please let me know ... I was lucky enough to find some in Delhi on St Patrick's Day but that was back in March!