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[pd110961]

bit of advice needed here folks.. whilst I'm loving my 2006 registered Bullet 500, the righthand gears is messin' with my mind.. I've been with left hand gears for 37 years.. I CAN concentrate and get it right 90% of the time, but in stressed conditions, its a mess. Also, the front drum is a bit poor, and the rear drum crap.

Before anyone says 'set the brakes up correctly' etc. the Mrs is loving the 500 so much (and we have a 2002 Bonnie in the garage to use, as well as a Burgman 400) she says why not look at a swap for a left hand gearbox / front disc brake model.

so.. the main question is, for those who have driven / ridden both, how good / bad is the standard front disc brake set up? I ask this as I have had bikes with such different front disc efficiency.. my mates Harley 1200 sportster is as bad as my Enfield, my Bonnie is good, my mates Blackbird 1100 is stunning.

comments / advice / ridicule welcome.. I'm going on holiday tomorrow, in the caravan with WIFI so look forward to browsing the comments and chatting.

I'm pretty sure I could get the £1700 that my enfield stands me at back, and get the updated bike for a grand more.

[Nettshubby]

I have had early bullets, 1993 and a Superstar with right change 4 speed. My present bullet is a 2003 Sixty5, with front disc and left chamge 5 speed box. The box is a vast improvement on the four speed, filling and evening out the gaps of the 4. The disc, again, is very good, a world apart from the drum, though as you don't want to hear, I set my 2ls drum up properly with a small mod to the linkage and it would howl the front tyre if used hard. Overall if you prefer the iron head classic look, get a Sixty5, ditch the PAV system, fit a cone filter and freer silencer, upjet the carb, (i can give you my settings), and enjoy the ride.

[Nettshubby]

By the way, my wife had a 2003 Sportster and nearly ran into the back of me at the junction at the end of our road! I de-greased the discs and fitted EBC pads all round and the brakes were then as good as any Japanese bike of the era.

[pd110961]

what was your mod to the linkage?

[Nettshubby]

Basicly I did the same as Hitchcocks did. Check out their method in the technical notes tab on the left, under front brake adjustment. I used a length of stainless threaded rod, fixed the end in the long lever, then drilled out the trunnion in the short lever and used a nut and lock nut on the outside. The front long lever is then pulled on with the handlebar lever and held on. The other short lever is then pulled on and the nuts tightened to lock the shoe in contact with the drum. Release the front brake lever and you're done! Both shoes now contact the drum together. Oh, and I fitted a pair of shoes from H's with English linings.

[Thack]

I wonder why a 2006 bike has right hand gears and a drum brake.



Anyway, I can say for sure that the five speed box is a massive improvement, and the front disc is just fine. You really won't be disappointed.

[Jack the Lad]

I've got a 2010 Electra EFI, the disc brakes are fine for modern conditions and the performance of the bike and good enough to keep a dozy old git like me out of trouble when I nod off for a moment! I used to miss gears occasionally when I first got it, but I've either got used to it or it has bedded in micely by now (15K miles) and I haven't missed a gear for ages. An EFI Bullet has the best bits of an old plodder but with the essential reassurance of modern technology. A bit like me, with my hearing aids and pacemaker. Treat it like any other modern bike - just get on and ride and ignore it between scheduled services.

[Nettshubby]

Thack, you just woke me up! Forgot to say that my Sixty5 had had the disc conversion done before I bought it. Of course, they normaly have the 2ls front drum. Sorry for any missleading!

[simon]

As for having two bikes with the gear levers on opposite sides. I've had the 860 Ducati with its Americanised left hand change and the Bullet with four speeds one the right. Not only this but one is one up three down and the other one down four up. For the first few times I rode them there was the occasional unintended breaking when trying to change to top and the white knuckle handbrake use when the foot brake seemed to select a gear with less engine breaking. However the good news it almost never happens now. Once I'm on the process is sub cortical and the body seems to know what to do. It is I'm convinced good for the mind and part of my battle against dementia.