Forum

[Cov Lad]

I recall reading that Bullet engines respond better when gear changes are not done too quickly but the engine is allowed to rev slightly higher. I would be keen to find out if they are tough enough to be ridden full throttle for extended periods, or should this be avoided. does anyone ride their bullet like they stole it without the engine going bang?

[Bullet Whisperer]

Here's how I ride my 350 ...
https://youtu.be/RBPg_Xj2X04

[John G]

My Bullet (2005 4 speed) 500, seems happy enough to rev, the vibration tends to damp down an over enthusiastic throttle hand though. One note of warning, however, mine has twice chucked its oil out through the air filter, and all over the back wheel, when on an extended run, say 30 or so miles of fairly spirited riding. Both times I traced it to goo in the breather pipes, resulting in back pressure in the engine building up, forcing oil out. It appears to be a weak point in the older design of engine. Watch out for this if you have an older model.

[Adrian]

Not all older Bullets, it's mainly the 2004 - 2008 models with the blockage-prone catch can and badly routed pipes system.

Junk the whole system.

Just fit a short 90° section of the old breather hose to the breather exit from the oil tank, then a suitable non-return valve, and then a longer piece of hose along the rear chain guard to the back of the bike, making sure the pipe has a clear slightly downhill run all the way. finally plug off the gloop return from the now junked catch can to the back of the timing chest.

A.

[PeteF]

Not all older Bullets, it's mainly the 2004 - 2008 models with the blockage-prone catch can and badly routed pipes system.

Junk the whole system.

Just fit a short 90° section of the old breather hose to the breather exit from the oil tank, then a suitable non-return valve, and then a longer piece of hose along the rear chain guard to the back of the bike, making sure the pipe has a clear slightly downhill run all the way. finally plug off the gloop return from the now junked catch can to the back of the timing chest.

A.

Absolutely right Adrian.
The catch can system is very badly designed and not fit for purpose.
It was fitted in as a cheap and miserable way of complying with emissions regs.
The fact is, when it goes wrong, it causes much more emissions problems.

[PeteF]

Yes, you can ride a classic iron barrel model "like you stole it".

If you like rebuilding engines

[Bullet Whisperer]

One of the best ways to bu**er up a Bullet engine is to ride around slowly in a high gear and make it slog up hills - that will see them off faster than, shall we say, 'spirited riding'.

[PeteF]

I agree BW but there's spirited riding then there's trashing the poor thing.

[Rattlebattle]

Dunno about iron barrels but apart from not slogging the engine I would say the UCE models need to be properly warmed up before spirited riding. (I would think that applies to all engines, except maybe two-strokes which seem to run better when cool). The valve seat inserts expand at a different rate to the alloy head and it’s best to get both up to temperature before caning the engine.

[Bullet Whisperer]

What can cause valve seats to loosen - and I have first hand experience of this - is letting the engine slog up a long hill in a high gear, preferably two up, getting everything nice and overheated while beating the crap out of the big end, right before a long descent straight afterwards, with the throttle shut. Halfway down the hill, there will probably be a horrible, very loud sound like pinking, only much worse - this will probably be the exhaust valve seat jangling around in the cylinder head. It was the only time I rode a 500 Bullet like that, while on a run with the REOC near home and I thought 'when in Rome' and plodded around with everyone else. As luck would have it, I realized what was happening, after seeing the exhaust system was still where it should be and not jangling on the road surface and causing the terrible noise. I changed down, opened the throttle and applied the brakes while going down the hill until it sounded more normal and ran properly again, then I took it easy for a mile or two before stopping and letting the engine cool for half an hour or so, before riding home much faster!