Hitchcocks Forum

I've had my new Electra DL for a few days now and I have to say that it rides like a dream, just got to get used to a positive gear change when coming down through the box to avoid the false neutrals. I have a couple of little niggles, hope someone can offer advice. Firstly, the exhaust system slopes downwards towards the rear of the bike, a difference of 5/8 inch from ground level between the front of the silencer and the rear. It looks a bit banana shaped but there is no adjustment on either of the exhaust brackets to straighten things up. I can only think to file the hole in the rear bracket to give some vertical movement but I'm not too happy about doing this to a brand new bike. Does anyone know how to get the lovely straight exhaust line as in the Royal Enfield catalogues? The second little niggle is the rear brake pedal is set to high and my foot rests on it when riding. I went to screw it down with the adjuster only to find that it's impossible to get a spanner or box spanner on the lock nut; there isn't enough room for a standard spanner and the frame is too tight to the lock nut to get a box spanner or socket on.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Mick.

Brand new bike with two years warranty Mick. Take it back to the suppying dealer. They were, presumably, happy enough to take your money for the bike - any adjustments should be covered by them to keep their customer happy!

Bear in mind these bikes are made in forest clearings using only stone tools and animal glues - you're not going to get Jap consistency or build quality, and "quality control" is a bloke who may or may not be asleep as the bike is wheeled past him.
I have a 2 year old Electra DL which I bought new, and it has its own crop of idiosyncracies. The fact that the fuel tank is offset about 20mm to the left used to niggle me, but apparently it was a bodge to enable some new bit or other underneath to fit. When the heatshield vanished somewhere along the dual carriageway I took it back to the dealer and got a new exhaust. When the rear brake actuator shaft sheared I took it back and got that replaced too. When the sprag packed up I took it back and got that replaced. When the starter solenoid packed up I got them to send me a new one, and again the next time it packed up, and the next time. When it started clattering like a maraca band contest and big bits of metal came out with the oil, I sent it back to WS and they rebuilt the engine. It's still noisy from somewhere within, near the top, but what the hell, I just ride it when I'm in the mood for that old style 500 single ride, which is as often as weather allows. I bought a W650 for long rides and keep the RE for local jaunts only. For a new bike, frankly, it's a piece of shit. Just as a bike, it's a joy to ride. Sense of humour, willingness to nurture and forgive, and a dose of outright denial all required.....

Mick if it is new as in "Brand New".....take the thing back. If it was your wifes domestic appliance, or a new car that is exactly what you would do. If it is new as in second hand but new to you then take it back to the dealer. If it was a private purchase as in "new but second hand" then I am afraid that it is very much a case of caveat emptor.......unless you bought from a friend who is willing to sort it for you.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a few "falling" exhaust lines on Enfields - I suspect this wouldn't be considered a defect, but maybe loosening off and a bit of fettling will get the desired line - either by you or the dealer. My brake pedal sounds to be similarly positioned, and I ride with a slightly splayed foot, although I'm sure there will be a way of adjusting it and the dealer would sort it out. I do wonder why we are so critical of Indian Enfields - if that is the extent of problems so far, surely things can't be too bad....or maybe I am just an optimist and accept that these are not high quality (or expensive) bikes......

Alex I guess if it is new then you have every right to expect a motorcycle, royal Enfield or not, to act like a new vehicle. If you bought a £200 washing machine and it had faults from the begining you would want it changed ar at least repaired immediately. I certainly would. An Enfield may not be the most expensive bike on the market but to many 4 or 5 thousand pounds is a lot of hard earned money, and for that I would most certainly expect a machine of merchantable quality, fit for purpose and I often feel that Enfield owners are thought by the trade to be the sort who can be fobbed off with something along the lines of "What do you expect from a dated design/bike made in India/lowcost machine etc etc" Triumphs and Harley are both building factories to assemble bikes in India I bet they will be quality bikes. I bought a new Triumph Thruxton last year, £6700 or thereabouts on the road. No problems whatsoever with sprags, gear changes etc etc etc. That is what I expect from a new machine. Incidentally I have a 1958 Norton Model 50 which has done 83000 miles since its last rebuild in 1977. Tjhat is a British built single with a technology level the same as an English built Enfield and less than an Indian one. No problems with that either. You can see it at 1000 Bikes on the Norton Owners Club stand next weekend if anybody is going..

Dear MickB,

My EFI B5 is 6 months new and has the same two niggles. Regarding the silencer, the rear mounting bracket has a slotted hole where it mounts to the frame. I am quite sure on mine that if I loosen both brackets at the top, then I could lift the rear one one by about 5mm. The footbrake adjuster perhaps needs an open end spanner with the sides ground down, but I have lived with the footbrake position so far. In any case the back brake is just about useless. Otherwise I love the bike, except for the rattles from the engine, but above 75km/h, the wind noise cancels it out. Beware in very cold weather, that the bike starts fine, but do let it warm up for two minutes, otherwise if you ride straight, off, in less than a minute it may suddenly start cutting out. My dealer fitted a new ECU but with same result. Since I followed the handbook to the letter, no further problem.

Best of luck TrevorCH

Hi again,
Yes it worked. Raised the end by 15mm - now lies parallel to the ground, at the expense of two skinned knuckles. Inside is bolt 13mm AF, outside is 12mm AF.

Cheers TrevorCH

Ok I'll ask the question, what is an Electra DL?

Featuring a black and chrome tank with gold pinstripes and rubber knee pads, the Electra EFI DL captures the essence of the 1955 Bullet motorcycle.

Chrome mudguards front and rear, chrome tool box covers and authentic Avon Speedmaster tyres enhance the period appearance of this 500cc air cooled single and the impression of a classic British bike is reinforced by the exhaust note.

Just like its predecessors, the Electra's engine retains the pushrod construction, with a bore of 84mm and 90mm stroke.

In fact this is a case of old meets new, because this is a brand new engine, with fuel injection and unit construction. Power is increased to 27.5 BHP, with 41.3 Nm of torque at 4000rpm, while the wet multiplate clutch makes the 5-speed gearbox a pleasure to play with.

Cheers TrevorCH