Hitchcocks Forum

My iron barrel 350 is ten years old next spring. I use it every day for a short commute and its hard life is starting to tell a bit in that there always seems to be something that needs doing (yes I know it's not a honda). However the pleasure I get from pottering around on it is second to none. So I have been wondering about trading to a new 500 bullet so get me around for the next ten years or so. I like the idea of a bit of extra power and of having a new bike again. Not so keen on stories I have read about quality control and all the requirements of power commanders and what have you to free the engine up a bit. Any thoughts from people who have made this swap would be welcome. Please don't advise me to keep both as I already have an xj900 divvy for touring and I don't want 3 bikes.

My 350 was Redditch and a long time ago, and it was a complete disaster of a rat bike, leaked oil copiously, slower than a Bantam. And yet is was fun for a while. The 500 EFI C5 I have now has proven pretty reliable, quality control probably better leaving the factory now as then for your 10yo. The only issues I've had with it have mainly been electrical connectors, all easily fixed. Yes, I have fitted a PCV but that is not necessary unless you also use a K&N filter as well as a free-flow exhaust (together they confuse the ECU); you can swap the pug-ugly silencer out for something better looking (and a lot lighter) without having to add the PCV.



What the PCV does is allow you to make adjustments to the injector, like you would with a carburettor. The injector is fly by wire from the throttle position sensor (and other stuff), the ECU has no adjustment. The PCV does allow you to trim the throttle response to remove flat spots, adjust the mix and the timing A/R. It does boost the mid-range a fair bit, with the correct map (Hitchcocks), it's no road rocket but a lot more enjoyable to ride than when I got it. I like fiddling with stuff, you don't have to go that way.



Or you could treat your old bike to a good service and keep using it

Didn't realise this was a repeated (second) thread.