Author Topic: New Bulletmeister here  (Read 11269 times)

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birdmove

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on: December 26, 2007, 11:34:42 pm
    Today I finally bought myself a new 2007 RE Bullet 500 Classic in the British racing green color. I first read about these interesting machines maybe 15 years ago. I couldn't believe they were still making Royal Enfields in India! Since I'm 54 years old and have ridden motorcycles since I was about 8 years old, I was there in the 1960s when the British bikes still ruled the motorcycle roadways.I rode a 1965 BSA 500 twin to high school when all the other guys were driving cars (which I had no interest in since they didn't have two wheels!). So I read about these bikes in some motorcycle magazine of that time, but I don't think they were available in the US back then.
    The last few years with the internet and a dealer network being established here in the US there has been lots to read and digest.But until today, I somehow never got a chance to take a Bullet on a test ride. I had the week off, so I drove down to Vince's in Olympia, Wa and took out a nice silver Classic for a ride. First, I was pleasantly surprised in how quiet the engine was. I had read over the years that the Bullets can be a noisy bunch with lots of valve noise etc.This engine was quiet!! It took a little while to warm it up, but that is normal for any modern day carb'd motorcycle engine.Next, I was noting how the transmission shifted.It basically "snicked" into gear like a Japanese trans with no grinding whatsoever (unlike the Buell Blast, which is a great thumper too-but they all seem to grind badly into 1st gear). Neutral was just as easy to find as the 20+ other motorcycles that I have owned-another good thing here.I did miss a few shifts on both  my two test rides (one on the silver bike, and one on the green one I bought) and got a few false neutrals.
    Vince was careful to let me know that I am not riding bike made for the US freeways, but that its a back road cruiser.I knew that from my research. The Bullets, at least in stock trim, are certainly no powerhouses, but then I new that too going in, and they generally run better after the breakin.
    Anyway, though I have some of those post-purchase jitters, I am hoping for a long positive relationship with my new Bullet Classic. I know the engine is being dropped in favor of the newer lean burn engine, and then the newer yet unit construction model.Vince pointed out that in India, they have laws that for 10-15 years they must still make parts available for this bike, and that they have been around for so long that parts should not be a problem.
     So now on to the break in.

    Jon in Puyallup, Wa.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2007, 01:46:53 am by birdmove »
Jon in Keaau, Hawaii


Chuck D

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Reply #1 on: December 26, 2007, 11:53:11 pm
Hey Jon, congratulations and good luck. I hope that you use this forum as a diary of your break in progress. Happy new year!  Chuck
Ace "Fireball"#10 (Beefy the Bullet to her friends.)
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prof_stack

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Reply #2 on: December 27, 2007, 12:53:49 am
Congrat's JON!  Vince snared another one.  Maybe I'm next...

Get that front drum bedded in correctly or plan your stops beforehand.

Which of these three Greenies did you buy?  (photos taken 8/14/07 at the shop)


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birdmove

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Reply #3 on: December 27, 2007, 01:50:20 am
    Mine would be the bottom one. The bike comes with a spare throttle and clutch cable, at least one inner tube, and Vince threw in a couple of spark plugs and a quart of engine oil in case I need to add a bit. He's having his winter sale until Jan. 2nd per his website.

    Jon
Jon in Keaau, Hawaii


charte

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Reply #4 on: December 27, 2007, 03:24:46 am
Jon, welcome!

I felt the same way, and now I'm on Bulllet number 2.

We hear you man.
1969 Bullet
2007 Triumph Rocket III Classic
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fredgold52

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Reply #5 on: December 27, 2007, 03:33:37 am
Great choice, Jon.  I have a new 2006 '65' waiting to be picked up at the dealers.  Personally, I think going with an RE is a good idea.  I know I'm planning on enjoying mine for a good while to come.
2006 '65' and a 200cc Stella, Indian all the way


birdmove

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Reply #6 on: December 27, 2007, 07:38:40 am
  Yep-the 65 is a fine looking bike too. My dealer had two of them for sale.Both were new and had some modifications already done to them.One had a different exhaust and carb.I didn't want to spend that much right now, so I went for the all stock green Classic.

     Jon
Jon in Keaau, Hawaii


mbevo1

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Reply #7 on: December 27, 2007, 02:10:47 pm
Jon -
Great to see another Greenie...

Lots of things you can mess over the winter that don't cost much - My biggest pain (shared by others) is the oil catch-can bodge... darn thing just gets plugged up and the motor starts using oil... sometimes at an alarming rate!  Many solutions for this one - I used the "Oil Breather Fix" I documented in the Tech Tips section of the forum.  Easy to do,  and it worked!

I'd put a fuel filter on it, too.  Doesn't take much to get grit in the carb and start having strange flat spots and misses, poor idle, etc. 

I've been fairly successfull in keeping my modifications in line with my budget, but Kevin says the new catalog should be out in January...

Enjoy!

Mike and Stumpy in Michigan
'07 Classic - Stumpy
'10 C5 Military - Sherman


mbevo1

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Reply #8 on: December 27, 2007, 02:51:44 pm
Another thought...

I think most of us probably installed a 7" headlight, too...

Mike and Stumpy in Michigan
'07 Classic - Stumpy
'10 C5 Military - Sherman


birdmove

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Reply #9 on: December 27, 2007, 06:03:43 pm
    THanks for the tip. I better pick up a manual.So far, after taking the bike on a fee rides I'm enjoying the ride.Only problem is the rpms seem to hang up a bit.The idle setting is about right, but when riding the rpm doesn;t come down between shifts like it should.
    Oh yeah, I posted a photo here of the new Bullet outside my garage.This website makes posting photos real easy for a computer dummy like me.

    jon
« Last Edit: December 27, 2007, 06:05:25 pm by birdmove »
Jon in Keaau, Hawaii


Foggy_Auggie

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Reply #10 on: December 27, 2007, 09:01:46 pm
Only problem is the rpms seem to hang up a bit.The idle setting is about right, but when riding the rpm doesn;t come down between shifts like it should.
       jon

On your choke lever there is a rubber "hat" that seals between the the choke push rod and the carb housing.  When pushing down the choke lever and then pulling it back up this hat will lift off the carb housing causing a tiny air leak around the choke push rod (it's the push rod seal).  This will cause RPM hang times when closing the throttle.

Spray some Chain Wax or silicone spray on the choke push rod.  The problem is the rubber seal sticks to the push rod - it shouldn't.  Also, everytime you release the choke by pulling the lever up - finger push downward on the rubber seal to make sure it's against the carb housing.

This fixed my same problem.

May want to give the rubber intake tube clamps an extra quarter turn of tightening.

Regards, Foggy
Diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

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birdmove

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Reply #11 on: December 27, 2007, 10:32:41 pm
    Thanks, Foggy. I'll take a look at thoses areas too.Vince also suggested I check the cable to see if its rubbing on the gas tank.I did looses the intake rubber clamps and rotated the carb a little to the left as he suggested.I'll look at that rubber hat as you mentioned too.

    Jon
Jon in Keaau, Hawaii


RagMan

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Reply #12 on: December 27, 2007, 11:54:41 pm
Welcome, I know you will enjoy the Bullet more than most bikes you have had. I didn't think I would, but I do.
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abe

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Reply #13 on: December 28, 2007, 01:11:09 am
Jon as I too approach the 50 yr old mark I have been looking at the classic, and lurking on this site for sometime.  Its funny I just talked to Vince today, I am trying to get up there from Portland tomorrow and buy a black and chrome classic.  Man he is going to have a good month!

abe out....


birdmove

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Reply #14 on: December 28, 2007, 03:16:57 am
     Abe, be sure and ask him to take out the silver Classic for a test ride (assuming theres no snow). I almost bought that one as I also liked the silver very much, and that bike ran and shifted really well.He also has a used 2006 Elektra with the lean burn engine with about 400 miles and some monthes left on the warranty-if you'd prefer the newer engine.He did have a black Classic in stock and two 65s.The red 65 is a great looking bike too. He is having a nice sale through Jan 2nd-14% off which makes the price much more attractive on his leftover bikes.Mine is an '07 and I got it for the sale price.Let us know how it all turns out.Vince is a great dealer and certainly among the best in the country consistantly.

    Good luck, Jon
Jon in Keaau, Hawaii