Hitchcocks Forum

Been a while since I posted - guess I've been busy....... The bullet is now just about sorted, I say just about as it stopped working yesterday due to a blocked fuel line/carb I took it off for an MOT, check over and at the same time had the clutch fettled and the fueling checked. The bike in the past always ran hot, chugging out pints of oil. After a bit of remedial action I got that issue under control(ish). However, a discussion with a fellow club member had led me to up-jet the carb significantly and 'hey presto' it now runs cooler, pulls like it should and more over holds it own in modern traffic and on the motorway, but only cruising mind; it will hit 80 with more to come but I suspect I'm seriously pushing my luck at this sort of speed so won't be repeating it. A round trip of 50 odd miles the other evening to visit a friend was a pleasure, what I didn't consider was the sort of 'crap' that was sitting in the bottom of the tank and despite filters on the tap and the one on the bottom of the carb it still managed to suck something into the jet an hour or so spent in the garage the same evening sorted the problem (I hope) but a test ride will confirm. The bike is a hoot to ride, I'm even getting used to the right hand gear change REgards & REspect to all. Skip

80? The speedo must have been knocking itself out and the engine pleading for mercy. I posted shortly after I got my 04 500 4 speed classic a question about how fast can they go? Replies were along lines of 'be careful'; 'it is a bullet'; 'chop head off piston if you do that' comments, so I sensibly eased off. I still would like to know though, what they can do. Mine has an open pipe and mk1 30mm carb, 225 main jet (it was cutting out at speed). I take it up to 70mph now and again but tend not to thrash the bike. However I use engine braking a lot, and have noticed a slight clattering has surfaced on the over-run - eg change down to third at 50 or into second at 20, roll off throttle and an intermittent rattle, like loosened pushrods, seems to happen albeit momentarily. Of course it might be my imagination. We reset the tappets about 1500 miles ago. My first Bullet, and loving it.....

I definitely hit 70 mph on my 350 with 1 1/8" 389, ported head, 8.?:1 piston (it has a .5mm copper head gasket so I'm a little unsure of the operating comp), ally barrel, improved ( Hitchcocks) cams and mag ignition. The only thing that stopped me seeing if there was more was an innate cowardice and a lack of faith in the bottom end. The speed it reached is credible as I have a real Smiths Chronometric fitted which I checked for calibration on the lathe.