R.E.cheap wheels and tyres

That wasn't what they said. RE aluminium rims are not polished is all - better IMO, as they are anodised so don't require polishing. The RE wheels have not been "downgraded since launch" at all. At launch, same as now, some models got clear anodised rims, others got black anodised - all down to the tank & mudguard colour.

The change to Indian made Ceat tyres (which were developed for the bike) was due a change in taxation by the India Govenment - imported items started to get taxed to give an incentive to Indian manufacturers to develope competitive products. Given that RE make a whole lot more bikes than the new BSA are ever likely to, this will obviously cost them a lot more than it costs BSA in extra costs to import a limited number of foreign made tyres.

MCN fuel consumption figures are, at best, a bad joke that bear no relation to reality.

Nigel B.