Bullet on a booster

The Bullet is back with a powerful 500 cc engine and great handling. But if you are going for looks, the Rs 1 lakh tag may seem a bit expensive

Many know it as an ancient, leaky, noisy motorcycle, but for hardcore bike enthusiasts, the Royal Enfield is India8217;s version of the Harley Davidson. Let8217;s face it, the Bullet is the only true cruiser available in the country. The big daddy of two-wheelers finally gave in to the competition8212;the demands of die-hard bikers, that is8212;and recently launched the new Machismo LB 500. The Enfield beasts might not be as technologically advanced as Honda, Bajaj or Yamaha, but it8217;s still the only bike manufacturer that enjoys a cult following among different generations.
The Machismo LB 500 has an all-new aluminium Lean Burn LB engine unlike its previous cast-iron motor. This is the second LB, the first being the 350 cc engine which powers the flashy Thunderbird and the little brother Machismo.

Style/ Design
The roar of the machine can easily be mistaken for a regular Bullet, which is very disappointing. For a bike that costs over Rs 1 lakh should make people turn and stare. Instead, it8217;s the Thunderbird that has the expensive and majestic look, something the 500 LB lacks big time.
The bike8217;s styling is identical to the 350 cc Machismo. The seat, the chrome petrol tank, instrument panel are all borrowed from its sibling. The seats are extremely comfortable and the riding position remains the same, which is ideal for long hauls, but the side view mirrors are too small to be functional.
The one difference in this 500cc bike is that it gets bigger cooling fins on the engine, and the boxes on the side have the Machismo 500 sticker. It also gets a new, round tail lamp, which brings back memories of the good old speed king, Yamaha RD 350.

Engine/ Gearbox
The new LB motor uses a high air-to-fuel ratio, which increases fuel efficiency. The aluminium alloy engine not only reduces the weight and provides better cooling but has increased the power from 22 bhp to 24 bhp. The 500 cc8217;s stroke length 90 mm is the same as that of the 350 cc, but the bore has increased from 70 mm to 80 mm for the displacement of a bigger motor.
The Machismo breathes through a new carburettor and the ignition formalities are taken care of by Transistorised Coil Ignition TCI, which ensures smoother rides and battery charging at low speeds.
The five-speed gearbox comes with the shifter located on the left side. The gearshift is not exactly slick, but then there won8217;t be any false neutrals either to trouble you. The smooth engine and gearbox will tempt you to ride off in the sunset on full throttle, but the vibrations of the Machismo continue to be a bit unsettling. A word of advice: just cruise the bike at a relaxed pace because revving it hard will make some tender parts of the body ache within minutes.

Performance/ Fuel economy
The new, improved engine is more willing to rev than the old 500 cc. The top speed is 122 kmph, which is 7 kmph more than the previous model. The handling of the bike is good enough for you to zip around during traffic jams with minimum gear shifting. It cruises easily at 80-90 kmph. The bike8217;s brakes are also very efficient as it comes with a 280 mm front disc and 152 mm drum at the rear. The Machismo returns a respectable 42 kmpl on the highway and 35 kmpl in city limits.

Last word
If you think Royal Enfield is for old timers, think again. The powerful Machismo LB 500 cc can zoom past most of the modern, hi-fi bikes. Available at Rs 1.08 lakh, the bike is definitely expensive, but lacks the looks and presence of a mean machine. It8217;s worth it if you can go beyond the looks. The icing on the cake would be if Enfield takes out a Harley Davidson lookalike or at least a Thunderbird powered by the LB 500.