Owning a Royal Enfield is a matter of pride for many. There are endless debates on the thump of the old cast iron engines and the reliability of the modern UCE ones. For all its legacy and the respect it commands on the road, it still is a big, unwieldy machine weighing almost 200 kilos with a full tank! And that means owning one works on your body in more ways than one.
Exhibit A: the centre stand. It is a body weight exercise requiring the application of pressure on a focal point while using the right technique to gently plop the rising motorcycle on its haunches. Often mistaken for a feat of brute strength, it is more about technique and works the calf and back muscles most. Getting it off the stand will also, depending on technique, work the lower back or shoulders. Just be careful with momentum.
Next we have the kicker. A much less formidable opponent now than the machines of old, but still a formidable adversary on a cold morning. A couple of kicks to get the oil flowing, and easing it past decompression stroke gets the legs and shoulders working, before the entire muscle system smoothly arcs to deliver one steady kick. If you do it right, you're rewarded with the throaty roar of the engine coming to life. If not, more exercise for you.
The last and most formidable one, dreaded by every owner, is pushing a broken-down Royal Enfield. The occasional breakdown is unavoidable and sometimes a little locomotion is necessary. This is a full-body exercise that requires balance and foresight, such as building momentum before a slight incline. Preferably done with a light fuel load.
It's all a little daunting in the beginning, but when you successfully manage these exercises, the feeling is worth it.
Kick on this
* Using the right technique to gently plop the rising motorcycle on its haunches is about technique and works the calf muscles
* Getting the Royal Enfield off the stand works the lower back or shoulders
* Pushing a broken down Royal Enfield is a full body exercise
