Hitchcocks Forum

This bulet mania, makes me wonder, I gave up a perfectly good Bullet just on 6 years ago, and yearned for one again ever since!
I was just browsing that well known auction site, when a 2004 Thunderbird jumped out at me with just 40 MILES (71kms) on the clock!
It had been stored un-ridden and un-registered until 16 June this year, so nearly as new, it found its way into a scappy's in Wales, but they registered it and it was bought by some-one who only had it a week and put it up on eBay, buy it now or Best offer!
I had a figure in mind I thought would be rejected but made a typo error for an even more insulting offer, after I realized I felt a bit rotten and sorry for such cheek, but to my surprise he took it!
It had been imported February 2004, got all the import/HMCE papers, MOT etc with it, unfortunately no owners manual, but its basically an Electra AVL 350
Any way a few days later.................I'm out on a test ride, only to find it had sicked up a nappy brown concoction of oil and 11 years of condensation from the crank case through to the air box and a bodged up air filter, my theory is 'some one else' had the same happen, and panicked to the point of selling it!
Any way, new filter and plate later, all new oils right through, 11 year old oil could not be trusted, (use only 2 lts in the engine, I found this with my last Bullet!) and 1/2 a tube of Solvo its in near mint condition.
Enfield seem to have improved their chrome since my last 2002 Bullet, the worst bit was slight 'etching' on the fork top stanchions, nothing to worry about but it now sports a pair of rather natty pair of bellows not only to hide it but in my opinion looks better any way.
I will be changing the bars from semi ape-hangers to standard Electra as soon as they arrive, and in the longer term swapping the tear drop tank for a proper one, the only draw back being I loose the fuel gauge as replacement tanks dont seem to have the square hole to take my sender unit.
In the mean time I'm still 'running in', but I have intentions of riding the North Coast (Scotland) route, probably next year now, such is the faith I have in my 'Bird!
This is my 2nd Thunderbird, my first being my very 1st road bike, a 1954 Triumph 650 T/bird with a Monza side car, arrrrrh, those where the days, but going back even further, my 1st Royal Enfield was a track bike for riding over the field's (perfectly acceptable in those days!), nearly broke my leg jumping a dumped Volks Wagon on it when the rear frame/suspension collapsed after a hard landing!
Evil Knievel I was not!!!
So, back on a Bullet, and enjoying every minute that the Scottish summer allows, if you see a Silver T/bird parked up in Scotland, could be any where, come and have a chat, you might be able to tell me where I can get a nice hot cuppa!

Terry

It's a known illness and I have it bad.



Once you have had an re, or certainly a bullet, they have you.



and they like to help spend your money on spares, upgrades, add-ons, and often, oil!



The 'it' becomes 'he' or 'she' and then it gets named, and then you finally realise that to the very perceptive, the bike is a living entity.



And that is when you come to the agreement with the bike, "I'll look after you and in return, you run well."

Others may take a smile at this, but I can put money on the fact that Tornado, my bullet and Kevin, my Meteor Minor will both start first kick! They know which side their bread is buttered!

Thunderbolt did as well... Must learn to let go...

When I bought my Lightning. It was an un-registered machine that had lurked in a garage for 11 years (Actually, it was one of a pair). Anyway. When I got it. It had 128kms on the clock and hadn't been started for years. When I did get it going. It puked up a heap of 'nappy filler'. It still had the original transit oil in it (Just like your machine)! Unlike your bike. I stuck with mine and it goes fine. As for the other Lightning. I've seen it on Ebay twice since I bought mine and it still wasn't Registered.

I have a 2005 Electra AVL 350..in machismo style (so same frame n wheels etc as std 350) It s a great bike and that 350 AVL Motor grows on me, i like it, its in daily use with an Amal mono block on and returning 80mpg...Enjoy and welcome back :0)

The more I hear about the 350 AVL Thunderbird and Machismo models, the more I think Watsonian-Squire, the previous importers, made a mistake in not offering a UK spec 350 AVL. The Thunderbird styling wouldn't have sold too many over here, but something in the style of the 500 Electra-XS which they did later put out, would have been a a very nice looking bike, which I think is where is where Thunderbird 2 is heading. Or they could just have launched the Machismo, re-named of course. Good job the Welsh scrap yard boss thought it was too nice to break. I like the idea of the CDI ignition on the K/S versions being independent of the battery.



There was an early 4 speed AVL Machismo up on ebay lately in what looked to be very nice condition. I was sorely tempted, but the garage is full.



A.

Barry_Q, there is a Lightning up on eBay right now, second time in a week as first time it did not sell.
Only seen 1 in real life, about 5 years ago at the Bristol Bike show parked up out side, at 1st glance looks very much like the T/bird.

Terry