Hitchcocks Forum

Has anyone actually ridden their Bullet flat out? I wondered at what speed the engine would red-line at. I've always chickened out at about a true 60mph (GPS), as the engine sounded like it was about to detonate into a million bits and I was having handling issues! It still had some speed in it though. (1999 2000 with gas flowed head, competition valves, free flow air filter and exhaust, 18 tooth gearbox sprocket).

Midge, is your bike a 350 or 500?
A 500 with the tuning mods and gearing that you have listed will surely get to over 80mph. It may well sound busy over 60 but singles do tend to as they just have one piston doing all the work!
To answer your question I just once held my Electra XS flat out down a slight gradient on a dual carriageway. It reved out (about 5500 rpm) at about an indicated 91 mph. The bike has the Highway Kit and our hosts straight through exhaust and Goldy silencer. It still has the standard 18 tooth sprocket but I am holding back going to 19 tooth because the bike doesn't need any more speed - the chassis couldn't handle it and I enjoy the pulling power in top up any hill.
By the way I don't believe that the odd top end blast damages a well maintained bike, the engine has been designed to work at its maximum power revs!

Yes Midge, once on a slight down hill gradient on my 99 classic 500 engined bitsa. Sounded like it was about to self destruct as well as shake my fillings out but the 1953 350 frame and spindly swinging arm felt stable. The needle oscillated wildly above 80mph but the true top speed was hard to tell. I don't like doing although I do regularly use it hard through the gears and hold it at an (indicated) 60 when cruising.

chris ,i once had a simular incident fillings rattleing,i could hear (i can,t hold her captain she,s gonna blow)unfortunatly i can,t remember what i was riding don,t think it was a bullet downhill though?

Hi guys---------have just got home after a 60 mile ride, most of which is on a "Fast" small, cross-country A-road and dual carriageways. My 2005 Classic 500 has}---Hitchcocks forged piston with 1mm compression plate which I estimate to give approx 7:1 CR....Bronze guides, oversize exhaust valve. Breathes through a Tea-caddy, 28mmm Mikcarb with 30 pilot--130 main---No.3 slide and 19T sprocket. PAV removed---plain,open down-pipe and a standard "Long-Tom" silencer cut down by 6". Cams are road standard, points are timed at standard settings and an irridium plug is fitted. Using "Super" grade petrol I now cruise at 60mph----climb hills at 60mph and peak-out at approx 85-90 but I don't need to do that as the ability to keep the overall CRUISE speed higher than before is a blessing, ----especially when two-up !!It's the great ability to SLOG uphill at 55-60 using the low CR to it's max. effect OR tootle along at 45-50 on any country B-road. Next year will see the 20T sprocket used to keep the same performance but at a slightly lower rev. range. For the handling it's Hitchcocks softer fork springs with ATF oil BUT I have also tried just changing to ATF oil on No2 Bullet with just as pleasing results AND not paying out for some new springs. New ARMSTRONG shocks on the rear set at No. 3 (Mid) position. Standard 4-speed box NO MODS. Speeds gained from Kawasaki W650 riding alongside -----------Brave soul !!!!Please DON'T quote speeds from your standard Enfield speedo------they are, um----optimistic to say the least!!!

I've had Bertie to an indicated 80mph, didn't hold it for long though,wanted any engine left at the end of the ride, would like to have known the true speed..

-------------probably 50 but don't it SOUND good ??

-------------probably 50 but don't it SOUND good ??

ello---ello, how did that happen??? /....how did that happen????

Hi STU----that's an ITALIAN DE-COKE you have in mind there ---look at this }--------http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=21888 ---------- great fun on a Bullet I would imagine ???? I would def. go for a 19T--- it just keeps those revs down a bit.