Forum

[bikerbill]

Looking to a time when my 2010 Electra DL might become my only bike (age & infirmity creeping up)I was thinking about just going the whole hog and making it as good as it can be. It's an Enfield I know, and is what it is, but I love it and a little more poke and wherewithal for long treks would be nice.
Has anyone fitted the 535 kit? I'm wondering what other engine work would be necessary/advisable to do at the same time. And most of all, are the bearings up to it....?! I'm not talking about thrashing about at high rpm, I tend to bang along at 55-60 mph on the open road, with an occasional "thrash" at 70 for a few minutes when a stretch of dual carriageway is unavoidable. A little in reserve for hills would be handy... I have a tacho and rarely get up to 4000 rpm.
The bike's done 12,500 miles (Watsonian rebuild at 8,800!). It's always been a rattle box and is now burning oil, so it's got to be taken apart at some stage, which seems like a nice opportunity to upgrade everything in there that can be upgraded.
Anyone already done this on an EFI bike? Hints, tips & insight gratefully received...
Cheers,
Bill

[apparently lucky eddie]

The machine had a re-build at 8,000 miles??? And 4,500 miles later is already rattling and burning oil? That is a ridiculously low mileage to need anything other than a new tyre or maybe a spark plug. "Got to be taken apart at some stage"? Really? At only 12,500miles? You make it sound like it's a scrapper already. I don't know much about these new fangled UCE/EFI motors but I've had considerable experience of the old pre-unit engines in bikes that have done 4 or 5 times that mileage without so much as the head coming off for a decoke. Seems a bit daft to chuck good money at something so unreliable especially if any real (or perceived)increase in power might only make things worse. Consider the cost of a 535 conversion and what you might get for your bike if you sold it as it is now and perhaps investing in a new bike, even if it's a new Enfield, and running in very carefully might be a better bet.

[bikerbill]

Yes quite so. But it was a new bike in 2010, properly run in, regularly serviced etc etc. Within the first two weeks the rear brake actuator shaft sheared off, and within the first year it shed the heatshield, went through two sprag clutches, auto decomp fell apart, three starter relays, innumerable wiring glitches, needed a new chain, (there's more but I don't want to sit here trying to recall all the horrors)until finally, at 8,800 miles in mid-ride it suddenly started clattering like a skeleton shag fest on a tin roof. Large bits (1cm) of chewed up metal came out the drain plug and Watsonian came and took it away (still under warranty).
Which is when I concluded that Indian motorbikes must be assembled by discontented half wits in forest clearings using only stone tools and animal glues. And that mine was the Friday bike.
I also have a W650. Here are two bikes at opposite ends of the build quality spectrum. Nevertheless, the Enfield is enormous fun to ride and provides a degree of motorbiking pleasure I haven't had since I last rode one, and several other machines of the era, in the nineteen sixties. I bought this one because the idea of having an old style 500 single again, but brand new, was impossible to resist.
Had I known about Royal Enfield's shameful working practices or their version of quality control (a blind man snoozing in a chair) I might not have bothered.
However, I like the bike in spite of its troubles, and having upgraded everything else on it, would now like to know it has a decent engine. It's burning oil, it needs looking at. While it's in bits I might as well improve what can be improved.
As for chucking money at it - well, I wasn't asking a philosophical question. I was simply asking whether anyone here had any experience of the 535 kit on the efi bike...

[Craig]

Hi Bill.....
RE: The machine had a re-build at 8,000 miles??? And 4,500 miles later is already rattling and burning oil? That is a ridiculously low mileage to need anything other than a new tyre or maybe a spark plug. "Got to be taken apart at some stage"? Really? At only 12,500miles? You make it sound like it's a scrapper already. I don't know much about these .....Yes I Had a Bike Like This "A 1978 Meridian Bonnie:Triumph".....I Have Had Many an Indian Enfield Of Most Mark's Imported,Home Mkt ,Std And AVL" And (Touch Wood) I have allways been lucky.."GreatBikes"...But Like You said I think they is a Greater Chance of a Friday Bike,A Bad Importer,Or Random Owner Than Most...I Hope You Win Out in The End My Advice Is Keep them As Standard as Possible and ride Them every day...Ouyen: Cheers Craig

[bikerbill]

Yes it seems just a matter of luck with these bikes - which is unacceptable in a new machine which isn't exactly cheap. Leaving it standard isn't really an option - loose parts, wrongly fitted parts, unbelievably shoddy wiring, sub-standard materials & workmanship, bits of rag left inside the casings, well meaning but clueless importers...
On the other hand there are efi machines which reportedly have done 20,000 miles without a glitch. Three years on I'm past being angry & disenchanted and I just get on with improving what can be improved to hopefully end up with a decently made motorbike. Which is what I thought I was paying those useless bast***s for in the first place.

[grunda 12]

hi bikerbill ,i am not surprised at your tales of woe now lets cut to the chase i would think that if youve done 12500 miles that a big end dissaster is probably around the corner unless you had that at 8000miles?anyway if you go 535 if it were me i,d spend £300 on mr h,s big end beef up also replace all the main bearings then fit the 535 kit and run it in accordingly obviously you,ll probably want the injection remapping or a power commander or upgrade to one of mr h,s carb conversions then my friend you might stand a chance of having a halfway resonable bike !(please note i have the disspleasure of working on one of these EFI,S REGULAR!)I FIND THEM NO WAY NEAR AS GOOD AS THE IRON BARRELLED CLASSICS although my well sorted electra x is good now it may appear at mad mikes doo in september if i,ve not bought my new harley happy days paul.

[bikerbill]

Thanks for the info Paul. Apparently the bearings were done at the rebuild. I'm guessing big ends only, not mains. I'm realising the big bore idea is going to involve an awful lot more expense if the job's going to be done properly. Initially I'm wanting to stop the oil burning and carry on riding the thing - hopefully I might get away with just rings... ever the optimist....
There seem to be all sorts of opinions about the bottom end of these engines. I've been told they're rock solid, and I've been told they're a disaster-in-waiting. All I know for certain is that like everything else on these bikes, they're put together by people I wouldn't trust to screw a lid on.

[trevorch]

I just sold my Bullet Classic EFI (2011 model) after 8,000km trouble free enjoyment, however, needs must. I converted my previous machine to 535, the power gain is not so signifiant, but a little more torque was welcome.

My German dealer does a 535 EFI conversion, using the original barrel, new piston but same compression, Power Commander and a short non cat. silencer, also 18t sprocket.

Result is very good and without changing big end or main bearings. I will buy another Bullet Classic EFI in 2014, with above mods. and trust I do not get a Friday bike. I really miss the old one. (EFI I mean.)

Good luck,

Trevor CH

[bikerbill]

There is a noticeable improvement from simply ditching the stock silencer in favour of something less restrictive. I like the Watsonian Goldie but had the Hitchcocks efi silencer for a while. Both good, but loud (Hitchcocks more so). I like the 18t f.sprocket too, and AM 26s in place of the awful skidmeisters originally fitted to the Electra (strangely, the Classic has the AM26s as standard).
Best of luck with the next bike - hope you get a good'n...

[MadMike]

I've said it before and will say it again. I cannot believe the degree of tacit acceptance that an engine needs a complete rebuild with so few miles on the clock, and I don't actually care where it was built or what it is called when I say that. Some have seen it, but let me remind you that my 1958 Model 50 Norton has covered a trouble free 83,000 miles since its last rebuild in 1977, and as Mr Grunda will testify it does not leak oil. It was rebuilt in 1977 after covering some 50,000 miles and after years of total neglect. I truly admire all of you for your patience and perseverence in continuing to accept such small mileages as normal and spending so much money in attempting to overcome the problems. As for fitting a 535 kit.....well do not fit this unless you change every bearing in the engine and possibly the transmission to cope with the increased power and torque. If you get failures with standard engines you are bound to get them with a 535 unless you do the job, and I mean the WHOLE JOB, properly.