Forum

[Norm]

Andy,
problem is 500 is too small to pull a chair on modern roads in this day and age

[bikerhifinut]

Just wee bit extra grunt so it can hold 55mph would be enough for our uses for now. If I want to go fast I have a Triumph 955i to scare myself on.
ANyway it's a bit off topic. The bikes only done 900 miles so far in over 2 years and i have done most of them since october!

[Beezabryan]

I don't think the Bullet was ever intended to be a sidecar tug, merely Watsonian trying to drum up some extra business perhaps.

[bikerhifinut]

What bike ever was designed as a sidecar tug, except perhaps the panther 600 type of yore?

The Enfield has a robust steel tube frame which makes it easier to rigidly mount a chair and from that point of view it's a suitable bike. I think it handles very stably, and certainly better than the lightweight MZ combo I had a few years back. There's other issues to take into consideration too. But My feeling is it shouldn't be too difficult to find a few extra BHP and ft/lb of torque from the engine. I think it has very good characteristics for sidecar use, the long stroke motor feels good at lower RPM and I feel its an advantage that the bike warns me before I thrash its poor little nuts off.

This is off topic now so apologies. I would like to tackle the lighting issue first. no point being able to do 65 mph if the headlight is only good for 35mph!
So:
Has anyone fitted spots, or perhaps preferably, a second headlight on the sidecar? I just feel that a well adjusted additional light will make all the difference.

Andy

[Norm]

Andy, "the Enfield has a robust steel tube frame", you have obviously never had the motor out of one because without the motor they are like a floppy wet rag

[bikerhifinut]

No I haven't had the motor out of one, and frankly I hope I don't have to have the motor out of it.
I'm perfectly aware of the engine being used as a stressed frame component. However the outfit seems nicely put together and the chassis seems well enough stitched together, It's a conventional twin shock thing which makes it easy to get a chair attached. I'd have thought if the bike wasn't suited to the chair, Watsonian wouldn't have recommended the model we decided on.
Can we please keep this on topic and if anyone has fitted an additional headlight or spots I'd be interested in their experience.

Andy.

[Norm]

Really sorry for offering you any advice Andy, I won't bother in the future

[Scalyback]

Other than the screws in the headlamp casquette, or bending the bulb tabs, I can't think of much else.



I suppose that the rear shock adjusters only change the ride, not the height of the rear end?



You should be good with at least 70 watts, possibly up to 90W. look up super bright LED's (in the USA) it cost about 15-18 quid with postage but if you order a tail/stop lamp (number 1157 for a bullet), then you do not have to worry about extra power drain when braking or holding on the brake at lights and junctions, as the LED bulb uses just about bugger all wattage. This allows you to put a lower power bulb in the bike headlamp, and a more powerful and correctly aimed one on the chair.



Also, the LED brake tail light should last forever, but is certainly bright!

you could also change instrument and tiger eyes (pilot lamps) for LED's these are all BA9S bulbs (32 degree 12v type), also good from the supplier above, damn bright, very white or green and blue for main beam neutral and indicator lamps in the speedo. these do help save a little power, and the instrument lights can be seen in sunlight!



Don't try changing out the four main indicator lamps though... Superbrights are polarity dependant and don't work without re-wiring the sockets on a bullet. It's odd, as the rest of their lamps seem to work when connected either way.



Hope this helps. I have no idea if a 500 bullet is suited for a chair, but good luck with it, hope you get it sorted!



Simon

[Scalyback]

For those wondering about LED tail and other lights, here Thunderbolt shows off tail light plus the pilot lamps. The speedo backlight and the headlamp pilot are still incandescent bulbs.(at the moment!)



Simon

[helgajones]

Hi there! Thank you for posting this. I hope that you will be able to get your headlamp fixed. It is not easy to have your headlamp broken especially if you are not financially stable. You should try visiting a car shop in order to get it fixed.