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[Dan]

Hi all,
My names Dan,and I recently bought a 2004 Bullet 500 (proper classic type,4 speed,right change,drum brakes,all black!) having hankered for one for a while,i used to have original Brit bikes around 8-10 years ago but the prices have jumped so much i couldnt justify it,plus i dont have the time for constant tinkering like i used to,i had a 2006 350 bullet back in 2008 and liked it very much,but found it a bit boring when i had a load of BSAs and Ariels,but now its the perfect bike for me for all the reasons that RE use in their adverts (old bike,modern reliabilty...ish!)

Anyways im sure I will become an active member,with many questions along the way,first of which is as its my only transport im looking for a full avon fairing to fit to it,has anyone done it or have one for sale?
after a luggage rack as well if anyone has a used one (cant justify £65 for a new one,plus a box)

Also thinking about towing a swall trailer with it to take stuff to the tip etc,anyone made a towbar?
Im based in Pershore,Worcestershire incase there is anyone local reading this

all the best


Dan

[Thack]

Hi Dan, and welcome! I'm not sure why you say the 2004 Bullet you bought is likely to have "modern reliability". I owned one just like yours (though mine was an '02) and many of the important mechanical bits were much like the original British version. It had the disc front brake and electric start, but the engine was basically like the original Brit one. As such, it has most of the same limitations, such as a tendency to overheat and burn the exhaust valve when being used for sustained "modern" cruising speeds; a truly rubbish lubrication system (only 1.2 litres per minute at maximum revs!); and general all round fragility. Mind you, to be clear, I don't mean it's any worse than the Brit original, merely no better. The dealer I bought it from made it quite clear, in writing, that the bike was not suitable for sustained high speed use, such as on a motorway.



I had no problems with the electrical system (except for unreliable earth connections on the pilot lights, resolved in later models), although you should be aware that the alternator is pretty gutless so you might get a flat battery if you spend a lot of time in queues of slow-moving traffic at night time (as I did when commuting in the winter). I've suffered many problems with the rubbish Lucas electrics on old British bikes, so I would say that the Indian version is definitely more reliable in this respect.



The gearbox gave no trouble, although that gap from third to fourth is horrendous. The clutch was too heavy and prone to dragging, although that doesn't really count as a reliability issue. Brakes were totally reliable and the disc at the front was great.



In summary, mine WAS reliable for day-to-day use, and never let me down, but I wouldn't trust it to cope with "modern" traffic speeds.

[Scalyback]

Don't take your bullet anywhere near the tip, you'll scare the shit out of it, and it may never run reliably again!



Don't take it down the motorway either, that might well end up a one way trip. Classic engine bullets like cruising around 55 MPH.



Don't run it full speed. It will go faster, but the engine design was for chugging around all day, You try flat out for long, and all sorts of things happen (Bent, mushroomed pushrods for one)


Love it, take it down A and B roads, pose at the cafe Sunday mornings. Wait for old guys to approach you as 'they used to have one years ago'.



And do get it an avon fairing if you like, sounds good and a picture of the finished bike would be appreciated.



Welcome to the forum, I'm the eccentric one, but you worked that out now haven't you?