Author Topic: What's the average life of a UCE engine?  (Read 20148 times)

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AussieDave

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Reply #15 on: December 26, 2013, 10:08:47 pm
Bare , I beg to differ about the de carb . If you look at the state of my piston and cylinder I think you'd agree, notwithstanding any de carb additives I may have failed to use!
"Glorious,stirring sight! The poetry of motion! The real way to travel! The only way to travel! ... O bliss ! O poop poop ! Oh my! Oh my!" - Toad of Toad Hall.


gremlin

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Reply #16 on: December 27, 2013, 12:30:41 am
Regular Maintenance, Ride till it breaks, Replace parts with better ones...

+1
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Ducati Scotty

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Reply #17 on: December 27, 2013, 01:21:56 am
Might the decarb still apply in India?


Gypsyjon

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Reply #18 on: December 27, 2013, 01:38:17 am
I never had a Harley - I was told by a mechanic who works on Harleys - he was obviously referring to the older models as the newer ones would be serviced by the dealership. Saying this most Harley guys out here only go for a Sunday ride and probably cover only 5000 to 10000 km a year - so that would be an engine re-build every 5 to 10 years. And yes some bikes go forever but also bear in mind that in the 70's and 80's 100000km on a multi cylinder car was regarded as high mileage?

My last Harley had about 90,000 miles on when I sold it. The only repair it ever needed was an ignition switch. It burned no oil at all between changes. The guy I sold it to now has over 130,000 miles (Not kms), he reports no issues. He did put in new spark plugs at 100,000 miles.


Roeland

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Reply #19 on: December 27, 2013, 09:40:32 am
OK - that sounds better - let's hope that the UCE engine proofs to be lasting that long too or at least half of the Harley's mileage. I covered so far about 24000 km, had a top end rebuild under guarantee around 4000km (alternator came loose - seized the piston and cracked the cylinder head), started using oil around 8000km and changed to the larger 535 piston at 11000km. Since it has been trouble free for 13000 km and requires absolutely not a drop of oil.


ssg

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Reply #20 on: December 27, 2013, 04:18:13 pm
I have talked to a senior RE mechanic,he told me that UCE engines have much longer life and can run happily for many thousand kms.Much relieved :)


meph1st0

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Reply #21 on: December 29, 2013, 04:11:59 pm
I have a UCE350 and completed 40000kms. Engine is still stock and can still hit the same top speed as before. I don't see any reason to open the engine. Don't believe these mechanics, maybe their business has gone down after the launch of UCE. I have seen/heard many mechanics spreading some unwanted rumours. FYI, I got fed up service centre and been doing the service and maintenance myself after the first year.
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle


ssg

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Reply #22 on: December 30, 2013, 12:51:23 am
Absolutely:)...indeed their business has gone down due to UCE.So they are now trying to guinea pig the customers.


Sectorsteve

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Reply #23 on: January 01, 2014, 09:23:11 pm
Im up to 40000kms now and im so happy that i can jump on my C5 and ride non stop for 650kms with no troubles. The only issues ive had is the dreaded cheap ass sprockets. gone through 2 in 6 months (20000kms) great bike, love it alot.


trimleyman

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Reply #24 on: January 05, 2014, 11:39:11 pm
Well , I have not enough time to spend in the saddle of my 2011 G5 . BUt at over 14,000 miles have had very few issues. Did have a problem keeping oil in as it would blow into the airfilter box and then spill all over the rear tyre (not very safe) which I rectified with some repiping and a couple of strategically placed filters. Sprockets, after changing up to 18 teeth front (sourced for the UK and UK made) and a standard rear straight from an Indian parts supplier (which looked like the braking surface might cause issues but actually greatly improved the rear brake) Have been no problem . Only two things ever stopped the bike . The kickstand cut-off switch (now dis-connected) and the HT (spark-plug) cap failed. With no cat converter (Indian short bottle silencer) and a K&N filter it is as quick as needed to keep with freeway traffic round the SF bay (65 to 75mph in the early morning) and does everything I ask of it. Comparing it to the bikes I had in the , 60s, 70s and 80s (with the sole exception of a 1978 Ducati 900GTES) it has been very reliable so far.
Now 2011 Royal Enfield G5 and just added 2014 Continental GT and latest 2015 Ducati 803 Scrambler Urban Enduro
Then:-
1978 Ducati 900 GTES
1969 Ducati 350 Desmo Racer
1972 Mototrans Ducati 250 24 Horas
1965 Triumph Tiger Cub 200
1967 BSA Bantum


caricabasso

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Reply #25 on: March 18, 2014, 06:04:41 pm
My B5 has two years at the end of March and has traveled 29,000 kilometers.
I did not record failures of relief, I just replaced the starter relay and removed the decompressor.
The engine still has the initial power and there are no signs of wear, such as oil consumption.
I must say that it seems to have done the running just now
 The chain has been recorded only once in 3000 km and currently shows no elongation.
Seddo say that I put the spray grease every 400-500 miles.
I've known people who have traveled more than 50,000 km before it even needs to be revised engine.
I think that an appropriate use of the bike allows many way to go to overhaul the engine.


suitcasejefferson

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Reply #26 on: March 19, 2014, 02:27:11 am
Several members of another forum I belong to think my RE will blow up within the first few thousand miles. And I'm sure it would if you rode it like a new Japanese bike, cruising at 80 mph and using full throttle a lot. I don't intend to ride mine that way. I didn't get it for traveling around the country on interstates.

Many AMF Harleys needed rebuilding right off the showroom floor. The EVO fixed all that. It was a 100,000 mile engine easily. Unfortunately, Harley went backwards in reliability with the Twin Cam. The cam drive chain and tensioner have been known to fail at 30,000 miles or less, taking the rest of the engine with them. If you replace these parts ever so often you should be ok. An EVO Sportster engine will last forever if properly maintained.
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Royalista

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Reply #27 on: March 19, 2014, 01:38:08 pm
The way they are built they should go on forever, and then some more.
I see them going up and down the Himalaya's several times a year, under a tourist notably, and surviving. Wouldn't expect that from any other bike. Still for a bullet, just another ride in an ever growing chain.  ;)
moriunt omnes pauci vivunt


mattsz

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Reply #28 on: March 20, 2014, 12:06:32 am
The average life of a current, 5-year old design?  Who knows?

It's going up all the time...  8)


suitcasejefferson

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Reply #29 on: March 20, 2014, 12:50:57 am
I have watched a bunch of those Enfield tours on Youtube. Seems they will go over, under, and through just about anything. But one thing I did notice is that they were all going fairly slow. I think a big part of making an Enfield engine last a long time is not to ride it really fast. There are many people out there cruising at full throttle on the freeways. I suspect those engines may not last very long. You should be able to ride around the world a few times if you just slow down.
"I am a motorcyclist, NOT a biker"
"Buy the ticket, take the ride" Hunter S. Thompson