Hitchcocks Forum

Hello,

What CRUISING and TOP speed should I expect with iron cast Bullet 500, 5 speed, year 2006?

Peter

Hi Peter. Hmmm, this one could rack up a few pages of replies ... totally standard machine, about 65mph top cruising speed, flat out, perhaps nudging 80mph. There are all sorts of extras, modifications etc that could alter these figures. Regards, Paul.

I’ve never quite understood this idea of a ‘cruising speed’. It’s often referred to but what does it really mean? On my fist bike – a lightweight Suzuki – I cruised all day flat out. Not that ‘flat out’ was very fast! On most of the other bikes I’ve had I ‘cruise’ at whatever speed I feel safe. Whatever speed I chose seems to be no problem for the bike itself. On my Bullet the ‘cruising speed’ was what the bike felt happy with – and that was about 55mph. But that was what I felt happy. No doubt the bike would go all day at a higher speed – but a higher speed would have been uncomfortable and stressful for me rather than the motor. I think that generally it’s not the engine’s ‘cruising speed’ but the rider’s ‘cruising speed’ that’s more to the point!

Cruising speed I can get my head around, it's this mythical riding season I can't.

I've often considered cruising speed to be whatever the bike can travel at in top gear at 2/3 of maximum engine speed.

I'd agree with Paul, I cruise my iron 500 at up to 60mph, beyond that feels stressed. I've had it flat out twice, both times a touch over 80mph. I always think of cruising as about 20mph off top speed, but I guess its the speed the engine is happy to hold all day without causing too much stress and risking a blow up.

Forgot to mention, that's using the standard 17t sprocket.

It's mostly to do with engine vibes and engine noise. If the engine progressively vibrated more as the speed increased but then went on to a smooth patch further up the speed range I bet that would feel like the natural cruising speed even though the engine was having to produce more power than the speed just below the smooth patch. Also you might have noticed that wearing ear plugs can easily make the bike feel more relaxed and let you cruise happily at ten MPH faster....engine noise is always concerning so the less you hear the less you worry.....Les

It seems that most of these answers are along the line that it's the rider’s subjective response that determines cruising speed – an engine might seem stressed to the rider when objectively it may not be stressed. I’d agree that the determining factor is almost always vibration – at least as far as a Bullet is concerned. (My little Suzuki didn’t vibrate at any speed of which it was capable – most other bikes I’ve ridden have rarely been troubled by vibration, at least not until they reach speeds at which any attempt at cruising on UK roads would be to invite disaster!)

My definition of cruising is a speed at which both the bike and rider are comfortable. If one or the other is stressed it just ain't cruising.

i have a 535 classic bullet with lots of mods ,,,,, true cruising speed 60-65mph ,,, speedo reading 70-75mph .this is a loaded bike with camping gear !!

thats from my sat nav above these speeds its not comfortable for long distances ,

its a great bike for A and B roads ,,, i have done over a 1000mls in a weekend on the old girl .

just done the dragon rally on her around 600mls so its being used ,

john