Owning a Royal Enfield

Welcome to the Royal Enfield team!

Now that you have bought your dream bike, a new or near new Royal Enfield here are a few tips to help you enjoy your future journey, and time with Royal Enfield.

  • New Royal Enfield Warranty is for three years (3 years) with unlimited kms – the contract is between your bike and the Royal Enfield factory.
  • If you sell privately or trade your bike for another, the warranty goes with the bike.
  • Normal wear and tear items like clutch plates, chains, brakes and tyres are not covered.
  • Your 500km, 5000km, & 10,000km services within the 3 years must be done by an Approved Royal Enfield Dealer for your warranty to remain valid.
  • In some overseas markets some ‘Service’ are included in your machine purchase, there are NO free Royal Enfield Service in New Zealand.

New Bike Riding Tips

  • A new bike needs running in, the parts time to bed in – follow the Owners Handbook guidelines.
  • Before starting the bike pull the clutch handlebar lever in 4-5 times.
  • Your gearbox will be stiff and will take a few thousand km to become free.
  • Be patient with early gear changes, best not to be rough and force the lever too hard.
  • Learn to make gear changes a smooth operation
  • When stopping get in the habit of keeping your legs apart to help stabilise the bike  -  this habit will be invaluable when you have to stop on a hill or uneven ground.
  • Make a habit of changing into neutral while the bike is still moving very slowly in 1st or 2nd gear before you come to a complete stop with the brakes. With a new tight gearbox this tip is invaluable (I’ve been doing it on all my bikes for over 50 years).

Regular Maintenance

  • Tyre pressure, if your bike sits in the garage for a week your front tyre pressure could drop up to 5 psi (pounds per square inch)  -  if you leave it like that your bike can become unstable, and cause premature tyre wear.
  • Always check your tyre pressure cold before every weekend ride – at home, and pump up then. Gas station guards if you can find one are often erratic, and your tyre will be warm giving a false reading.
  • Chain wear – if you do not lube your rear chain every 500km you will prematurely wear out your chain and sprockets (a future service cost of 100s of dollars). If you get caught in rain, lube your chain when you stop at home, or the motel or motor camp.
  • The chains on Royal Enfields are basic economy chains but need regular maintenance. Use a can of chain spray but only when the chain is hot after a ride (or if you do it cold it will flick allover your bike, and potentially your riding gear).
  • Clean and polish your bike, you find potential problems and protect your bike for potential resale if you aim to progress to a bigger model.

Problems

If you are not sure about any of the above you can call me on 022 154 0334, as a 16 year old I bought a new BSA 500 in Dec 1972, made lots of mistakes but loved my years on the bike. On my retirement as a gift to me I purchased a new 2022 Scram 411 and no ride a 2021 Interceptor 650 set up for 2 up touring. I also have a 2019 Himalayan 411 set up for solotouring and around town. In the past 3.5 years  I clocked up 3,200km on a new 2024 Maroon Bullet 350, and 700km on a 2017 Classic 350. All the bikes have been fab to ride and at 5,000km service on the Scram 411 in 2023  I had a rear shock bush replaced under warranty at the authorised dealer.

In total I have covered 29,400km on 650, 411, 350 with no problems except my used 411 Himalayan purchased at 9,500km died at 11,000km. At the 10,000km service I should have asked the dealer to fit an iridium spark plug. If you follow the service schedule under your warranty, you will have a great run from your Royal Enfield

Warranty Problems – in my experience the majority of the problems owners may have are in not understanding the process, or a staff member at your dealership not understanding your problem fully.

Call Robert Cochrane 022 154 0334 if you need help.

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Written by Robert Cochrane – Director &Founder, NZ Royal Enfield Riders Club

Club webmaster, public relations & events manager

Reporter & Photographer for Kiwi Rider Magazine (Est 1984)

Over the past 50 years Robert has competed in Classic Trials from 50 years of age on, been involved in both the classic rally movement and was founder President of the NZBSAOC in 1978.

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