Forum

[steveg]

Hi All


Had a test ride on a 2011 RE bullet EFI today , first time I have ever ridden a RE 


Lovely bike , but did really lack cruising speed , up to 50 mph bike accerlerated fine but really had to struggle to get the bike to 70mph , after 50 mph bike had loads of vibration 


I am quite a big guy so this does not help , but would have thought the bullet should have cruised at 65 - 70 mph ?


 


 


 

[Fido]

If you want to cruise at 65 -70 mph I doubt you will be happy with a bullet. I reckon it's for the likes of me for whom 55 mph is quite enough while most of the time I'm happy just below 50. Look at the thread about why people like their REs. It's not for a relatively high cruising speed.

[steveg]

thanks for the reply


I did really enjoy riding the bullet , but would want to use for a 50 mile commute each day , not motorway but A roads and dual carridgeway , so would need 60-65 mph cruising speed 


 


Guess RE is not for me


 


 

[rog]

If you had to struggle to get up to 70mph there's something wrong with it. Also a big single like the Bullet will always vibrate at some point, but this point can vary. I'm still running in my EFI, but my last bike (Bullet Electra X) was smoother above 70 than below.

[steveg]

I thought that the Bullet should have had more top end , I am 16 st which does not help


 


Maybe worth trying another bike ? to see if there was a problem with the one I rode , it was almost new and had done approx 900 miles , so would not have thought that there would be much wrong with it?


 Did make me smile riding the bullet


Cheers Steve

[trevorch]

Hi Steveg,


I rode a 2007 Bullet modified to 535 for the last 4 years and changed for the standard 500 EFI at Xmas. Since February I have clocked up 1,400km. Compared with the old machine, significant increase in power, but still much the same vibration level. Cruises nicely between 80 and 90 Km/h (50 to 55 mph), vibration is lower above 85 and I briefly touched 100, but since still running in I have not pushed it further. Just changed to an 18 tooth sprocket and believe it would handle a 19 tooth. A commute of 50miles, assume round trip, would be delightful on good Briish roads with a 50mph limit but to cruise above 60, I might prefer something smoother and with longer service intervals, but since I am retired the EFI suits me and still attracts lots more attention than HD's and big Kawis. BMW's nice but expensive. If still working, my choice would have been a Bonnie.


Livinfg in Switzerland, forgive me quoting km/h 


Good luck, whatever you decide. 

[Norm]

 W850 seems to be the choice out here if you want higher performance and they are not that much dearer that the Enfield

[steveg]

many thanks for the replies


 


had thought of trying a triumph bonni and a kawasaki w650 & 800 


 


cheers Steve

[STU]

Hi SteveG, I'm with Rog on this.


The Classic EFis that I have test ridden (about 7 of them) did vary a little in performance - the free flow silencers help a bit but all of them accelerated really well and the best of them held 72mph on the motorway with ease. Top speed normally seated was 82mph. I weigh 210lbs so am no lightweight.


My Electra XS with highway kit and our host full Goldy system will cruise at 75mph and rev out on standard gearing at about 90mph (will have to get 19T sprocket sometime!).


If the EFI you rode Steve was struggling to get to 70mph then it wasn't producing 28bhp!


DCould you ask the dealer for an alternative version?

[steveg]

Hi Stu


 


Going to try and get another test ride on another bullet , there's no way the one I rode was right 


 


Cheers Steve