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[rustygman]

So my 2007 350 Bullet has a shot main bearing. The bike has covered 34,000 kilometers and is in pretty ratty shape but always looked after mechanically. I have been quoted around the £1600 mark for a complete rebuild by my local enfield independent. Now I am pretty mechanically incompetent but thought about stripping the engine down myself and farming out the bits that are beyond me but there is still going to be a cost involved (no idea what though). The bike was also due a bit of a spend, new tyres, headlamp shell, chain and centre stand and these things add up fast as you all know. I suppose I am just asking what would you do? I am attached to the bike having owned it from new but maybe I should cut my losses (I have been offered £400 for it as it is). My head says take the money and run but I always thought it would make a great retirement pottering machine. Dunno.

[Wheaters]

Two years ago I bought my 2004, 350 Bullet Electra with 3,000 miles on the clock for less than £1600..! I did have to spend £90 on a new exhaust valve seat and a new valve from Mr. H. to make it reliable (also did a little DIY gas flowing in the head; I never like to miss a chance to improve an engine's output while it's apart). Since then mainly just consumables replaced. I've just ridden it past 7,000 miles this afternoon and it goes very well for a 350 - easily kept up with my brother in law's EFI 500.

[Adrian]

£1600??? REALLY?



If you're anywhere near Gloucestershire ring Henry Price on 01454 261798, or sunny South Wales, our friend Bullet Whisperer at Performance Classics on 01550 777608 if you want a proper quote.



But for the cost of a new set of mains and a full gasket set I think I'd want to rebuild the engine myself, especially if the big end is still good.



A.

[stinkwheel]

You will be able to buy a complete running engine for less than £1600. Our hosts have one for £1000, just needs the green paint scraping off and bolting in.



Even a bullet with a blown engine is worth a lot more than £400. There is a half-dismantled engine on ebay just now for £350.



For someone who is happy with tinkering with those engines, a shot main bearing can probably be repaired for under £100 in parts. It's just time.



The 500 bullet my last project was based on cost me £800 and it had a dead big-end and had sat partially dismantled in boxes for 4 years. You could be pushing a 4-figure sum for a totally intact one which needs work doing. Especially if it's a runner, albeit roughly



The other thing to consider is stripping the engine out yourself and removing the primary and gearbox. Then you just need to hand an engineer a short-engine. Someone competant and experienced with them will probably have it stripped and rebuilt in a day. I reckon I could have a short engine apart then reassembled in a day if it was on the bench to begin with. The difficulty is finding someone competant. The gearbox and primary are (mostly) like lego to remove although you need to do it in the right order.



Or here's a thought. Yes, they do make great retirement pottering machines. There are also a lot of retired bullet enthusiasts, many of whom are bored and would probably like nothing better than to sit and supervise someone rebuilding their bike while being supplied with free tea and biscuits. So where are you?

[rustygman]

Agreed Stinkwheel, i did think doing the basic strip and giving my local enfield specialist the short-engine. I was just concerned that I could do all that and still have a large bill to pay but it is definitely an option. I am over on the kent/sussex borders but don't know anyone who would relish the challenge of fixing my engine for me other than a professional. Another point is that all my funds are going towards taking my yamaha 900 diversion around morocco for the whole of october so I suppose I either sell on now or put the bike away for a winter project. I am leaning towards saving this for a winter project and learning more about my bike.

[Adrian]

Roadstar Cycles in Dover? 01304 202881.

[John R]

When my main bearings went, Istripped it down and replaced them . I’m not the best of mechanics either but I did it all myself, biggest job Ipevrr done. While I was at it, I got s local garage to do the big end, and I did stuff like the oil pump spindle. It took me some time and I learned a lot. When I put it back together, I was amazed that it started first kick! I was rewarded y a really taught, fast bike. Very satisfying, well worth the time I put in.

[rustygman]

Thanks Adrian not heard of them but my local mechanic (Chris at C+C, Yalding) would be my man for the job. John R - did you keep a cost tally on doing all this yourself just for a rough idea?

[Norm]

My costs were about $850 AU to do a rebuild, roller big end, bearings,piston, hi cap pumps and a few other bits and bobs. This figure was just for parts

[stinkwheel]

The other thing is you don't have to do it now. As long as it's under cover, the main bearings will still be just as shot as they are now in 5 years time. If you're going to lay it up for a long while either drain the tank and dry store or brim it and add stabiliser. Put the battery in the airing cupboard, prop the tyres off the ground, spray something vaguely oily over anything you think might rust and it'll still be there when you're ready to do something with it.



Go to Morocco, have fun, fix it in the winter.



A classic engine bullet is a pretty unique bike and not getting any cheaper or easy to come by. If you sell it now, you won't get a cheap one later.