Forum

[devon john]

i have just bought a 500eletric start classic bullet 2007.
i have been use to singles in the past but now i run big torque harleys.
i want to convert the bullet to a trail spec with the 612cc motor, i am not worryed about top end performance but want mid range torque
it would be good to here from some that have done this conv.
i want to ride at motorway speeds on a motorway if that makes sence ie 70-80mph!!
i do a lot of winter rallys so this will be the bike i will be using , we always do the Dragon rally and are planing a return trip to the elephant.
last month i road the foothills of the himalayas on an enfield we did over 1000mls and 40,000bends with no problems
any pointers welcome as this is a new bike to me and i am willing to learn

john

[Gwilly]

Sorry John, But converting an enfield to run at 80mph for more than a few hundred yards is going to cost a fortune.

My opinion is stick with the Hardly… Enfield is best for Dartmoor roads.. Not even a dual carriageway. NO definite NO..

Just sayin is all mate.. gwilly

[Craig]

Hi DJ and welcome, I tend to agree with Gwilly in that it would Cost too Much & still might Implode... But The Enfield is Still a Great Bike (Just Not fast) I have been to "The Dragon" and "France" and "Round Scotland" on My 350 std..Great fun & Handles the rough Weather & Snow Great...Just Not So the Motorway, Crusise all Day at 55mph and Last a Life time..But Faster and?!?..However Some On here are Running 612's and enjoying them. (But Not Fora 80mph Motorway thrash).... Cheers "Ride It & enjoy it"

[grunda 12]

Hi DJ I must say that if a 500 Enfield is only good for 55mph take it to the scrapyard , I had a 350 that would cruise all day long on the motorway at55/ 60 so if the 500 can,t maintain a better crack scrap it , I've just read American V magazine and they have a nice 1200 Sportster done in a trials style probably cheaper to go that way than the Enfield route ,while I,m on banging my drum I went to mad mikes do in September on my Electra x 500 ,over 50 miles each way at speeds of over 65mph and the last time I looked it was still a runner anyway DJ stick with the Harley it's a quality product although they are now making them in India for the Indian market they are also bringing out 2 new bikes both V2,s a 500cc and a 750 both water cooled in the VRod mould of engine happy days Paul

[Andy C]

John.

I used to have a 612 and can definately recommend it.

Like a certain lager advert says - reassuringly expensive.

Well able to hold 70 - 80 on motorways - I know I have done it, and it's smoother to ride than the 500.

I did the conversion myself and rode it pretty hard for several years, during which time it never let me down and was just plain fun to ride - if converting to 612 you will need to do something about the clutch though. Bob Newby conversion is a good way to go.

Anyway my 612 is a distant memory now - but a good one. The 612 was replaced with a late T140 that I simply could not refuse.

Would I have another? do bears shi* in the woods?

Hope this helps you make up your mind.

[devon john]

as i sead i road a Enfield in India there you dont ride fast as conditions dont allow!!
reading throught the 612 conv blurb to me it seems the way to a fast relyable bike that would be capable of safe motorway speed.
i see thers one or two of you dont think it suitable for what i want to use it for but i dont mind spending if it will do what i want.
iwont be selling my two big harleys but think the bullet will complament them.

john

[PeteF]

If you go to 612 you will be faster but you will not be reliable unless you spend lots of money on it. Just remember that, as designed, the engine was 350cc. If you're keeping the Harleys it would make more sense to use the RE for bumbling.

[Norm]

We have one here that has done 10,000ks since June when we put it together, it was ridden to Sydney and back last weekend about 800ks each way and it has been completely reliable except it is going through oil like there is no tomorrow.It has an Ace piston fitted and there is a problem with the oil rings, but hopefully that will be rectified later this week because this bike is then being shipped to Nepal to be ridden back to Aust through Burma/ Vietnam and other countries on a charity ride for Interplast who work with injured/deformed children in the region

[Phil Ashbrook]

If you could convert the oil pump to a new gear driven constant flow the engines can cruse at 90 but dont expect it to be a sprinter for the city , our hosts race bike had piston problems at first , if before you drop a liner create a smoth groove cnc oil slots in the barrel and run a pump line screwed into the cavity that feeds the slots on the liner , pistons with skirt grooves , I had a Honda /Cosworth CB 77 350r, radical solutions for sustained reving , the Enfield bore liner is too deep it misses half the fling off the crank . It could do with a half moon cut out . Our hosts offer an engine upgrade you cant break but its a kit you can grow with dry belt drive clutch coversions , this can even make a stronger 45 bhp Fury engine in our grasp . It's all about dreams bigger than our wallet in the end

[Phil Ashbrook]

Hey Norm I ran a new last over size Accralite/Omega forged piston 535cc + 20 thou , it got a clean up after 500 miles , under the eye glass it needed new rings ...they bedded in and out so I got new rings and gave them 100 miles and the bike burns no oil , a person might do that in the 30's TT but the rings were racing thin ..all is good as they will last a while now .