Forum

[Norm]

I have a Bullet sitting here and I have no history on it as it was bought to be converted into a Carberry but that didn't happen so little attention was paid when it was bought a few years ago. I am not sure but I think it might be a Bullet 65 but I know little about what makes a Bullet 65. It is electric start, 5 speed has fork gaiters but the motor doesn't have the tank breather and timing chest return that the later electric start bikes have. Is there any particular years they were produced and did they come out before the influx of the cast engine Bullets before they were discontinued.

[Alan R]

Hi NORM ------------ the BULLET 65 name was a marketing ploy to sell into the UK what, at the time was the basic Iron engine bike with electric "leg"---fitted a year or two before--- and the then-new 5-speed g' box ( L/H shift)added. At the same time they were being sold in Europe and the USA as their current "new" model alongside the more traditional 4-speed Classic machines in 350 & 500 sizes. The addition of fork gaitors ( thin, plastiky items that cracked easily I found.)---the ribbed seat cover-----the "magic" colour schemes----the better Headlamp and bulb---were supposed to capture the Spirit-of-the-60's---allegedly !!! Also they had a much shorter standard silencer that actually looked in proportion to the rest of the bike. The one I had continued with the same breathing set-up as the Classic range ( it being an iron engine anyway.) In this country the next model released was the ELECTRA X which still had the same 5-speed box but now the engine had been totally re-designed thus making the Bullet 65 the last of the true REDDITCH-related models. I wish they had done a Classic with the 5-speed box and NO starter. The influx of the iron engines was the result of Royal Enfield being given an extra few years of selling them before the European Emission Laws were to be applied to the bikes that they produced.The big Jap companies etc were already compliant as they were deemed world suppliers---whereas Enfields weren't. The Bullet 65 was only on sale here for a few years I believe----best ask our hosts on that one---- before the deadline for non-compliant engines was reached. Towards the end they were virtually giving them away----especially the 350 which, at that time it seemed most preferred the 500 ( Both Classic models ). That's my understanding of the history and evolution, anyway.

[STU]

Yes Norm, Alan has got it right. The Sixty-5 ( to give it its proper name) was a very nice bike. Mine was finished Magic Black, if the one that you have is in its original colour than it is likely to be metallic blue, metallic red or the black described above. These colours were adopted for the Electra X range, which effectively superceeded the Sixty-5 in the UK.
It was only ever offered as a 500 and was on sale from 2003 until about 2005 - or until dealer stocks ran out. To be fair, the Sixty-5 did sell quite well because people (like me) who were brought up on Jap bikes were familiar with the left shift one down four up gear pattern. I don't think that many at all went unsold in the UK and my dealer certainly did not give it away!!!!
Another identifying feature of the Sixty-5 is flatter handlebars, which along with the flatter seat, shorter exhaust and gaitors gave a much sportier look than the old classic 500.
I'm not sure Norm but it may be that none of the Sixty-5's had the breather system that you describe. Because the Electra X 'replaced' the Sixty-5 by around 2005 and the classic 350 and 500's continued being listed until 2008 - perhaps it is only the very last E-start 500's classics that had the breather developments?
That's how I understand them anyway Norm. Pity about the Carberry though - I really wanted one of those and a Sixty-5 would have been the best place to start, in my opinion.

[Norm]

Thanks Alan and Stu,
The info you have given seems right for this bike. I had never heard of Sixty 5's being brought out here but that isn't to say one wasn't slipped into the container coming here. This one is the blue one and does present very well. I looked at the build date on the right swing arm mount but where the factory fitted the centre stand spring mount they took out most of the last number