Forum

[Alan R]

Hi PETE F -------------- "our" little Red 125 is going great guns with over 1,300 miles covered to date----------I'm off to Andy Greenwood's Malvern Bike Autojumble tomorrow---------Take care and no "Delhi-Belly" please ??

[Adrian]

You have found the Listeroids! After Indian independence they still needed motive power for all the agricultural and small factory uses you described. What started as a source of replacements parts for the watercooled Lister CS1 single and CS2 twin range ended up with complete engines being built, now with a loyal following in the USA for emergency or off-grid domestic power plants. A lot of the parts are fully interchangeable with UK built Lister parts too. Sounds familiar?

So where have all the Bullets gone? I suspect of lot of the old 350s have indeed been stashed away, but by wily locals for restoration and export to the West as well as Japan. There's at least one video on Youtube of an old relic being dragged out of a pile of knackered 350s for rebuild, Indian dealers are still advertising them on ebay for export to the UK, quite often as 500 conversions or diesel conversions. But not with a Listeroid engine, sadly! I suppose you could bolt one to a really sturdy sidecar chassis with a chain drive to the RE clutch... Regards, A.

[PeteF]

Found a few more Bullets in Jaipur but it seems they are now a prestige item these days.

[Norm]

Peter so it all seems the same as in the rest of the world, Enfields are just an expensive toy

[Adrian]

Yep. Must stop commuting on mine! A.

[PeteF]

No back from the trip and can post a pic. of the Lister powered trucks.
They seem to be a local product as we only saw them around Jaipur.

[James BLT]

Bullets have long been a bit of a status symbol with the indian middle classes. In the cites they are less obvious because there are overwhelmingly outnumbered by other, cheaper and more economic options.

But believe me, Bullets are still around in a big way. Or at least they were 3 years ago when I was last riding around india on a bullet. Looking like I might get to go again next year. Love India (when travelling on an Enfield at least)

Peter F - Depending on what your ride . . . There are dealerships all over the place in india, If you can go to one you'll pick up a pair of the drum break shoes for about £8 (useful second pair given MrH's policy of needing old shoes from you when they sell you a replacement)

Had my Bullet for 6 years now since my first trip to India. Used weekly if not daily, she has only had 2 actual breakdowns (same week, same problem not solved the 2nd time). Lots of other little issues of course. Though I should touch wood, as she has been a little bit tricky to start of late. . .

[Norm]

Peter were you able to get a close up up pic of the compliance plate on that truck lol