Thanks, everyone.

by Paul , Monday, February 09, 2015, 10:14 (3580 days ago) @ Jared

The feedback is GREATLY appreciated. Right now I'm down to the top two - which were my first choices in the price category anyway. Walking back from running errands I stopped by the dealer for number 3 and a client just pulled in on his month old bike. Got to sit on it (no one seems to do test rides around here) and it is oriented towards folks with a much shorter inseam than yours truly. Sitting with a comfortable angle on my knee left me sitting halfway up the front of the rear seat. Not good for short hauls, it'd be horrible on long hauls. Even worse than the XL 200.

They are all single cylinders. Top one is a 350, second one a 220 and the long shot choice is a 500. All made in India. Time will tell how it works out. No plans to buy anything 'til we get back this fall as there's no good in letting warranty run on a parked vehicle. But I want to have my homework done on it long before then. The two manufacturers are Royal Enfield (blame it on Slowhand) and Bajaj. The RE has a long history of building bikes. Bajaj has taken over the 180-220 CC "crotch rocket" market (which displacement are considered "big bikes" down here) in these parts. Reliable, economical, relatively powerful. The Avenger should follow suit as it's built on the same basic engine. But the classic look of the Royal Enfield Rumbler combined with the torque potential are singing a siren song. If it's good enough for the Himalayas, the Andes should be a piece of cake. Maybe in March I'll get a chance to stop by a dealer and have a hands on look at one. They reportedly do test rides, too, so that may be in the cards as well.

As stated, time will tell. In the meantime, thanks for the edumication on the subject.