Royal Enfield

from April Issue of Thunder Roads Tennessee and Kentucky

Chaplain’s Corner – By Pastor Ron Baptiste

BIG-SMALL THINGS

About nine years ago, Marine Veteran Aaron Voigt set out to do something different concerning firearms manufacturing. The end result was the little single shot .22 LR / .22WMR handgun that folds up to the size of your credit card. The Lifecard. I first saw LifeCard in an outdoor backwoods’ survival magazine. It was an odd place to find it as it wasn’t the big bore primary pistol one would normally think of carrying in the woods. Nonetheless, it intrigued me. After a quick search for the company, Trail Blazer Firearms, I perused their inventory. The LifeCard comes in .22LR and .22 Magnum. At 1/2 inch thick, weighing less than 7 ounces, and completely ambidextrous, I needed one of these to have in my handlebar bag. I was interested in the .22 Mag, but it wasn’t available, so I picked up the .22LR. I’m glad I did. It’s not my go-to-gun when I ride, but as it easily fits into my pocket, it’s definitely my backup. And with the current availability of .22 rounds, it’s both cost effective and as a defense of life weapon. The LifeCard comes in a variety of finishes and colors ranging from Matte Black to Nickel plated, camo and even a design that looks just like a credit card. Lots to choose from. Both versions are constructed with prehardened steel and aluminum. All parts are anodized making it corrosion resistant. The frame, when closed, is sleek with zero snags. The only noticeable difference is in the handle of the .22LR-it’s molded from polymer making it a tad lighter. Out of the box it’s a great gun. With three steps, unfolding the bottom half to convert into the handle, manipulating the upper serration to open the barrel to insert a round, and pulling back on the plunger, it’s ready to go. This all takes practice and regardless of any firearm you carry, repetition builds skills and muscle memory. For me, I place the LifeCard muzzle end first in my pocket so that when I draw it, the handle release serration is right where it should be at my fingertips. And within 2-3 seconds, its on-line. When fully closed, there’s no way for it to discharge-none. This is not the gun to have should you find yourself in a protracted firefight. And if you’re in the latter, that may have been your first mistake. Nonetheless, both the LR and magnum versions come with an internal three round storage capability in the handle. Reloading can cumbersome so situational awareness and practice are important. Depending on the LR/WMR and finish, this big-small gun is right around $350 and as it’s a Veteran owned and operated business, there are discounts for Military and LEO’s. Stop by and see our friends at Tennessee Gun Country and ask to see the LifeCard.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Thunder Roads® Magazine Owners/Publishers. Any content provided by our authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

As more riders take to the streets and trails, there are bikes ready and able to accommodate their interest. We’re excited to give a nod to the resurgence of Royal Enfield. From Café Racers such as the INT650, and its upscale GT650, to the aggressive dirt hungry Himalayan 410. Having seen a selection of models, not only are they retro eye candy, but the prices are even more attractive. One can get into a 650 Series around $6,200 and the Himalayan begs to be dusted up at just over $5,000.

The 650 Series have that sculpted tank tucked-in riding position that is unmistakably Café racer and along with the retro clip-on handlebars that give these bikes that total vintage look, you’ll be ready to lean into some tight twisty’s, with both power and style. The Himalayan is Royal Enfield’s answer to delivering a quality Adv/Dual Sport machine that can easily perform in the toughest conditions. From its Half Duplex split cradle frame, its On/Off rear wheel switchable ABS feature that allows a rider to have more control for off-road conditions to its versatile mountpoints for extra fuel storage or hard bags.

This is where practicality meets frills, useable frills. Royal Enfield integrated a Blue Tooth App Nav system, the Enfield Tripper, that links to your phone. Next to the speedo is a smaller dial style gauge navigation pod that displays directions via arrows that fill in as the next turn approaches. No more hard to see temperamental touch screen to fool with. The app also allows the rider to enter up to 20 waypoints along the route so they’ll still have directions even in low-signal areas. Plus, the pod comes with a built-in USB charging port.

Our friend’s over at Alcoa Good Times are proud of their line up and invite you to stop by for a demo.