Hitchcocks Forum

Possible silly question but - what was the last Right Hand Side Gear Change model (sold in the UK) ?



Following on from that - what was the 'best' RHS gear change model (UK)?

I have a year 2007 Bullet, 500cc. It is right foot change / left foot brake.(No starter motor). I THINK they still did them in 2008. Can anyone say beyond that? -Chris

I bought my 350 4 speed Classic new in Jan 2009 when I found out that emissions regulations would be stopping import of this model into the EU during that year. Maybe some grey imports later, but I think you'll find official imports to the UK through Watsonian Squire stopped during 2009.

Oh the best model? That's easy. Mine... 2nd best was a 2000 edition of the same model that I should never have sold a few years earlier. Although SteveT has a very pretty maroon and chrome 500.

The last RH gearchange models were in 2008 iron barrelled classics (some lingered on in showrooms until 2009.
The 350 was kickstart only, the 500 was electric and KS.
The Electra leanburn was LH shift, as was the Sixty-Five. Bothe of these had the 5 speed box.
All these models were superseded by the EFI range.

The best ones were the original British made machines but the Indian ones slowly improved over the years so the later the better.

Thanks everyone. I do have a new Classic 500 EFi which I'm well happy with (keeper) but tend to prefer a RHS gear change: I like tinkering and there's not an awful lot to do on a new bike .

My left ankle is damaged it works but does not have full movement. I learnt on RHS gears (big clue). I find braking more balanced with left foot - right hand, there's not so much swaying about - tendency to pull the right bar (bike tips left) is counteracted by weight shift of stamping on the left peg (bike tips right). And it's more traditional..



Up to 2007 or thereabout - which models, both Classic and Bullet, any others?




ps - I have no idea why this is in 'social' I thought I posted in 'tech' - not that it matters.

The last of the classic 500's r/foot shift was made in Feb 2008 8B5214XX B

When I refer to the old iron barrel "Classics" I mean the Bullets.
You will find the four speed RH shift box a bit agricultural

PeterF re agricultural? - don't be so sure

I learnt on Bantam at 16yo and am now retired, then let me think, in no particular order :- Panther, BSA Sloper, Squariel, 3TA, Red Hunter, Redditch 350, and others, most of which were finds and rat bikes quickly passed on after resurrection, before going japanese and cars.

I kept the D14/4 a long time but eventually someone thrust what was then a lot of money into my hand. By the time I finished with it, it was 192cc and had an expansion box silencer, weighed 212-lb, shot electrics and a self-destruct gearbox. The CB400/4 was, nice. But was a does my back in caff racer and what the CGT should have been ('only' 37bhp & 33Nm at sewing machine revs)

One reason for considering another RE is plentiful spares.

OK jefrs, with a history like that you won't expect to "snick" the gearchange