Hitchcocks Forum

Hi
On my 2007 (registered 2008) 350 Bullet (iron type) it is fitted with the very very long silencer, what looks like a complicated / convoluted air filter arrangement and has the air thingy ('PAV'?) plumbed into the exhaust pipe.

Gather this 'stuff' may have been introduced for emmissions before the Euro3 got the better of the old bike and 'outlawed it'....but have noticed old magazine articles and the like show bikes without this sort of stuff on.

Is there a benefit in changing to an alternate setup - and if so to what and how?

I did browse on the parts on this site and got a wee bit confused about the variety of bits and pieces and noted there seems to do a 'plug/bolt' for the 500 'air connector to the exhaust' but it says not for the 350....which seems to suggest a new exhaust. I'd rather not replace things if I didnt need to but wondered on a 350 what works best re the: Silencer
Exhaust; Air Filter and assume some alternate jetting in carb to suit.

Any thoughts on the 'best setup' would be appreciated.

M

Firstly easiest to change air-filter , restrictive silencer and carb. jets and see how you go, some people dislike the exhaust noise on a less restrictive silencer (i love mine) but may be prudent to when you rev it.

Hi Mate. I've done pretty much everything you mentioned, together with the close ratio gear cluster, and to me it's all very worthwhile. It transforms the bike and gives around 25% more power without ever touching the engine proper at all. (Although note that this does not mean your bike will go 25% faster! - maybe 10%). When the PAV (Pulse Air Valve) crap is removed, one of Mr H's conical air filters fitted, and a free flowing exhaust the bike will probably pull another two teeth on the gearbox sprocket. This gives a much less 'fussy' top gear, and on a 500 means cruising at 60ish isn't a problem. Mine gives a top speed around 80mph but I don't really like putting Indian engineering to such a test for any length of time(!). One thing to bear in mind is that when all such changes have been made your carburration (sp) will be well up the swanny, but the parts catalogue gives a good starting point (currently page 14) to sort things out. However your bike will most probably have a mind of its own. My bike needed a larger main jet than currently available and I had to resort to putting a 1.5mm drill through a main jet to get it right. You'll have to ask our hosts why the Exhaust Blanking Plug won't fit the 350, as I'm sure plenty of people have removed the PAV system (which incidentally simply admits fresh air into the exhause pipe to pass the emissions test). If I can be of any more help just ask. Cheers and good luck!

Just to add - here's a piccie of my silencer which I got from RM Motorcycles in Beverley. I've never seen one exactly like it but it works well and the quality seems fine.

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r57 ... s2/248.jpg


I hope this works now paragraphs aren't allowed!

Hi MHSilverW

I second everything that Riggers et al say, have done the same to my Classic 500, the difference is very noticeable, particularly in mid-range acceleration in top gear (which you need a lot on the road...). I'd say go for it, but do be prepared to fiddle about to get the jetting right. Much better to start with a bigger (richer) jet than you think you need, as it is much better to waste an infinitesimal amount of petrol than burn a hole in your piston!

NB my Classic doesn't need a PAV to inject air into the exhaust system, it does that as standard with Enfield's patent leak-o-matic exhaust....bit noisy though!!!

Cheers

TimG

Hi RIGGERS ---------- I think that silencer is the one fitted to the Bullet 65 as standard. I had a 65 in trials trim but changed it to a "despatch riders" look which meant taking off the turn-up section of exhaust to give a horizontal fitting. I seem to remember it looked much like that ie shorter than the "Long-Tom" standard pipe and more proportional. Hello to MHSILVERW----- I'm hoping most people will agree that the 350 compared to the 500 is a more balanced and generally "sweeter" bike to run. Of course you don't HAVE to change anything at all !!! ( Uh-oh, our hosts are frowning at me I think?? ). If you're happy as she is then that's fine--certainly the CHEAPEST option to follow and ORIGINAL LOOKING to boot !! BUT---------------if that urge to tinker gets the better of you ( it ALWAYS does for me I'm afraid to say) then follow RIGGERS, NEDDY, and others as between us we've probally done all the mods, tweaks, "improvements" etc that Mr H & Co. can dream up (Plus a few they haven't ). But most of all------HAVE FUN WITH THE GUN!!!!!! ---------we do, despite what might appear to be point-scoring off one another. Nothing like competition to bring out all the different experiences, ideas and the like. Please do keep your postings coming as any forum is the richer by way of variety, IMHO. Good luck with the bike.

I don't know about the 350 motor, but the 500 has a highly restricted exhaust pipe with a catalyst thing jammed in it. Getting that (and the PAV rubbish) off of my bike probably made the biggest single improvement, followed by carburation then finally the silencer.

Hi,
That all sounds encouraging. Waiting for a comment/email to see if the PAV blanking 'nut' will fit on the later 350's. Although from the last comment about 'restrictive exhausts': does this mean that a different silencer and the blanked off plug may not be the way to go and to actually replace the exhaust pipe and silencer?
From the 'thread' it seems the change is 'common' on the 500's - is this true for the 350 too?
What sort of effects does this have on the 350 or is this only noticable on the bigger lump?
Regards
M

P.S. hit enter before finishing..ooops.
Does/did these final 350's have the catalyser as well as PAV - how can I tell?
M

Hi,
Maybe a daft question about the PAV gubbins. Does it have ANY benefits? i.e. is it suppossed to help promote a more efficient combustion, with the aim of resulting in slightly better performance or in these austere time miles per gallon (or both?)?

So would changing the silencer but leaving the PAV 'bits' in place have any merit?

Just a thought; before I attack the bike with the spanners and the bank account with the bill for parts!

M