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[Pathfinder856]

Good Morning

I have now sold my Harley and I am looking at a 2009 Electa The fuel injected unit construction engine
Are there any issues that I need to know about ?
It is low mileage and standard condition
What is performance like compared to a classic engined bullet and what performance mods are worth fitting ?
Are there any reliability issues with this model at all ?
I appreciate your advice on this guys

Regards

Richard

[Boxerman]

I'd be interested in replies to this question too. I bought a 2009 Electra at the back end of last year.
Haven't had any 'issues' with it, but I haven't done many miles on it yet, due to me being a fair weather rider nowadays.
Frank

[PeteF]

Swing arm bushes go early but Mr H has a fix and it's pretty simple to do.

[MartinB]

I've had a 2009 EFI Bullet Electra de luxe for 4 years now and while i only do about 1000-1500 miles a year on it (i have other bikes)compared to my Electra X (pre unit classic engine)it's loads better IMO.The sprag clutch went twice on my X,the clutch and gearbox are much improved on the EFI.Servicing is a doddle,the kick start and de-compressor are 100% more user friendly on the UCE.Mine's covered 11,000 miles and i have has no major issues.I had a misfire which i traced to a poorly connected HT lead and i had a new battery due to some problems with the electric starter.Mine's got our host's exhaust pipe and silencer and a K & N air filter element in the standard air box.Oh and mine leaks no oil whereas the Electra X used to leak a bit.Performance is slightly up on the Electra X as well.My swing arm bushes haven't gone yet but the bike is due for an MOT so we shall see...

[hagis]

Hi I have just completed 10,000 om my 2009 electra efi with no major problems, swinging arm bushes had to be replaced at 7,000 miles, the indian bushes are to hard so wear quickly, brit replacements are softer and easy to fit and should last a lot longer, its had a new rear tire, new chain, battery, routine servicing, and I have replaced the front drive sprocket one tooth bigger than standard this gives it an extra 10 mph in every gear, and 70mph cruising is easier on engine, so its serving me well and I look forward to the next 10,000 miles.

[Revband]

Hagis, surly not an extra 10 mph in every gear?, normally 18 teeth now 19 teeth, first gear plus 10 mph that would mean 10 mph per tooth 190 mph in bottom gear?. Cor blimey mister that's fast. I think you are having a laugh.

[Thack]

I agree - hagis has made a mistake. The calculation is easy: you are gearing it up by the proportion 19/18, which ups your gearing by 5.5 percent. So, whatever your top speed was in each gear, add 5.5 percent to it and that's the new speed with a 19 tooth front sprocket. I don't know what mine will do in 1st gear - 30mph maybe? So upping by 5.5 percent gives us a new top speed in first gear of 31.7mph. Fourth gear maximum is, what, 70mph? In that case the new top speed is 74mph.



So, NOT a 10mph improvement in any gear!

[Trev]

Had my 2008 efi for last 3 years putting another 5k miles on the 2k it already had, used as one of two Winter/crap weather bikes as well as some Summer pottering. I had to replace swing arm bushes (used Hitchcocks 'isolastic' jobbies) when I got it I had no service history so did oil & filter change, K&N air filter, new plug, changed brake fluid and junked the hideous standard silencer for a shorty from Bugad bikes (mine was the prototype). Since then I've done another oil & filter change, new chain, junked the standard shocks for £100 made in UK jobbies and swapped 18 tooth front sprocket to a 19 which has made a noticeable difference.
It certainly seems to pull a little better with the different silencer & K&N (maybe another 0.5 bhp!) but going for the larger front sprocket has made the most difference with top gear now comfortable at 60 even 65 but best of all 4th can be used for overtaking and held onto up to 60+ allowing me to overtake things other than just tractors now ; )
It came with a Hitchcocks single seat and rack and although the seat is very comfortable initially it's probably a bit soft as after a couple of hours my backside needs a rest, may add a topping of memory foam when I next take it off the road - want to change fork oil and another oil & filter change over the next month or two.
Only problems apart from swing arm bushes have been two blown pilot light lamps (now replace with LED's) and clutch cable snapped - 40 mmiles from home two up, not sure I would have made it home on many of my other bikes without a clutch, particularly as I even had to stop for petrol ; )

[nigelphoto]

Electrics - wiring manufactured on the principle that Blackbirds use to build a nest. Otherwise, stick to the correct oil 15w-50 semi synthetic, change it every 2,500 miles and the plug as specified by Chenai and the motor will last for ever.

[hagis]

Further to my comments regarding the fitting of a larger sprocket to my Electra, I would point out the 2009 e5 Electra is fitted with 19 inch wheels and has 38 teeth on its rear sprocket and 17 on the front as standard, this gives a secondary ratio of 2.23, if you fit a 18 tooth sprocket the ratio is 2.11,this means the front sprocket turns 2.11 times to turn the rear wheel once, Now I could go outside and measure the distance a 19 inch wheel travels with one revolution and as the Electras fifth gear ratio is 1 to 1, I could using distance and revs calculate speed but this involves time and distance and is a very complicated matter best left alone, My claim to an extra 10 mph is based on actual speedo readings -AND YES I KNOW SPEEDOS ARE WILDLY INACCURATE I HAVE CALCULATED MINE AGAINST OTHER BIKES AND IT READS AROUND 7 MPH FAST-my Electra would show 85 at full wack with standard gearing, with 18 teeth on the front it shows 95 on the speedo so is doing 86-87 max in 5th gear, In 4th gear it will show 70 mph on speedo so I stand by my claim of an extra 10 mph with 18 tooth front sprocket, I would recommend that anyone with an Electra E5 carries out this mod as the bike runs at 70mph much easier and you still have revs in hand to overtake and keep away from dozy car drivers. I am at present running in a continental GT 535 so will this benefit from the same mod?.