Forum

[Velominatus]

Ok, I think it's going to be a Bullet for the better half (not to be confused with "the bullet!).

I know I want an 03 to 07 (I think) as I prefer the look of the pre-unit and 5 speed bikes, which puts me in Sixty 5 and from what I can work out Electra territory. The thing is I'm not too sure of the specs for each bike, and the Electra's seems to be cheaper, not too sure why.

Also what's the riding experience like for each bike, which is easier to live with for an experience motorcyclist getting on a classis (but with LH gear change)? We're not looking to tear the road up but easy 50mph to 60mph would be good.

Finally, is there a book, WWW site or anything that gives the specs and some road test for the models as it's difficult to work out what is what on such a long model run.

[Norm]

A Bullet for the Better Half, get a UCE more reliable and less maintenance

[Velominatus]

UCE?

Unnecessary TLA use...

[Norm]

You obviously have very little Enfield knowledge if you are unaware of what a UCE is, so this is exactly why I have said a UCE, Unit Construction Engine, built after 2009

[papasmurf]

Attempt at posting a video of woman hand starting an Enfield:-

[papasmurf]

Oh "bother" just the link:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfrDoZ5qEdU

[Scalyback]

Hi Velominatus,



what you can get depends on which country are you in.





If you want a LH gear change (I guess you not in the USA or you would have said LH shift) Theere are classic 02-07 models with LH gears, but they were exports to North America, as the USA has regulations about which side the shift is on.



For most of the rest of the world, the classic models are right shift, the current fuel injection models (EFI UCE versions) are left shift.



Classic carburetion models will do about 55-60MPH, but they prefer 50 - 55 MPH and will criuse happily at this speed. They need periodic adjustments to push rods, primary chain tensioner. They have drum brakes, You need more positive gear shifting, a good strong clutch hand on a 500 bullet,and the clutch adjustment can be annoying.



HOWEVER... They are very interesting bikes to ride, with the neutral finder lever and brake/gear arrangement. You don't just let the bike carry you along, you have to ride it. I find my classic is seriously rewarding, and is my favorite of the two, the other being...



My 2010 EFI is another pushrod engine, but has automatically adjusting hydraulic tappets so no adjusting and the automatic primary chain tensioner takes that bit of maintenance away too. The engine is still a single OHV vibrator, but these will typically do 70-80 MPH, but cruises happily about 65-70. There is less to maintain on them, and they have front (+ rear on the GT's) disc brakes. they are LH shift and although they ride more like a modern bike, they have a sound about them, and great looks that will have people coming up and asking about it.



If you have little time, and are used to LH gears, then a current UCE EFI model, whether a Bullet, Classic (Not to be confused with the 'classic' or 'iron' engined pre 2007 carburettor bullet) or continental GT, will look good, and ride nicely. IF you buy a new bullet, follow the running in instructions. You cannot see but also cannot undo the damage that ignoring this will do inside the engine.

If you have a little more time and like to potter about with you bike, then a pre 2007 classic iron engine with RH gears can be something special. I found my gears hard to lear and nearly gave up, but now I almost live to ride my older bullet.



One of the Electras, the Electra X model, tends to be the unfortunate 'avoid at all costs' bike. hey say there is no shame in crying, but there is also no point in buying an Electra X just to prove that fact. [Source - Norm's guide to Enfields]





Whichever way you decide, you can always ask for advice here.











tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium

[Adrian]

Pre-unit and five speed in this country is indeed limited to the Sixty-5 or Electra-X as far as official imports go.



The Sixty-5 has built up a bit of a following, not fast in standard trim though a bit of mild tuning won't ruin it, and it still has the traditional Bullet charm. The Electra-X with the lean burn engine is IN THEORY a tougher beast with a hydraulic front disc brake, but three known weak spots, the sprag clutch in the electric starter mechanism, cam followers whose feet can snap off and cause mayhem in the timing chest and the occasional flaky crank-pin, have damaged the model's reputation. This is a shame, because if you get a good one it can be very enjoyable, as I have found, despite the first and second of those happening to me! (Nothing that can't be fixed).



If you look on the Real Classic archives here you can scroll down to the Royal Enfields and read up on their tests. http://www.realclassic.co.uk/profiles.html



Reagrds,



A.

[Norm]

The main point in question here is the fact the bike is not for him, it is for his better half, we all know how hard it is to keep your own pre UCE bike running, so unless your better half is happy to break her fingernails and have greasy hands, my original suggestion stands

[Velominatus]

Papasmurf, Scalyback, Adrian; many thanks for the help, quite used to Classics as I run a DBD34 as my everyday bike, and have owned a 56 T100 and B50. I'm just looking for something for the better half to get out on as it's not fair on her to take the M1000 out when I'm riding my BSA and not my Duke. LH shift is important as she's not ridden RH shift is sensible, in fact it's the one thing that attracts me to a bullet as the other option would a T100c or A7 which are both very easy to live with.

The speed seems about right for use around back lanes, green lanes and B roads where I mainly ride the BSA, and getting some off road capability into a Bullet and reducing the weight is also seems simple.

The chap who I use for my Goldie parts hand starts them, which is something I've not yet mastered.