Author Topic: Announcement of 48 hp Bullet  (Read 17297 times)

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nigelogston@gmail.com

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on: January 24, 2011, 08:21:00 pm
"In a week already reverberating with   breaking news  of interest to RE fans worldwide,   who were treated to the inaugural launch and announcement of the  world release of  two mouthwatering   new Bullet 500 cc  models showcased in New York,  the disclosure of Royal Enfiield's move  to open a secomd  manufacturing facility   to keep up with the growing unprecendented demand for production of their highly acclaimed  new UCE Bullet motorcycles both at home and abroad ,and the Press Release indicating Royal Enfield's newly disclosed   plan to go toe to toe with business competitor  Harley Davidson in their domestic market in India with the planned introduction of two new large displacement twin motorcycle models after 2013,  now comes an announcement of even greater significance to afficianados of the vintage marquee . 
  Informed sources indicate that preliminary testing of  prototypes based on the tried and true "Iron Barrel" single cylinder motorcycle engine have shown the potential, with some optional modification from the base models, to achieve double the horsepower output and realistic top speed expections to reach "the ton" or 100 m.p.h.   These major performance enhancements, say the testers, have been achieved without the  sacrafice to  reliability or low end performance so characteristic of performance modifications applied ill advisedly to motocycle  engines which in general rely on high RPMs to achieve theri performance targets.   Instead, the Bullet prototypes,( not yet in production) have sought balanced and harmonized enhancement of breathing ot the engine with cam adjustments that emphasize low and middle range performance.  They have shown in trials that these levels of performance are easliy achievable below 6000 RPM , well within the reliable long term capacity of the Bullet lower end and long stroke con rods (which pose a practical limitation to "safe" revolution speeds but also confer on the engine it's hallmark high torque character).  Simillar improements in torque have also been observed with a broad flat torque curve throughout the useable range leading to a machine with "very tractable street manners " well short of full race tune. Individuals close to the development of this prototype say that the Bullets tested are very close in their performance to the Interceptor Mk 1 , and that the  weight advantage of the  big single compared to the twin makes them very comparable for real street use. This  points to the obvious implications of reduced fuel and insurance costs, details which will not be lost on fans of the iconic single.  (Their "Iron Barrel" prototypes still maintained an enviable 70 mpg fuel economy)
Asked whether similar or better results could be obtained with the newer UCE platform , the performance specialist indicated that although no formal testing or speccifications had yet been undertaken, there was no reason to belive that the same methods would not bring about large performance enhancements without loss of reliability .  No current production plans have been announced yet  , but the news is bound to be of great interest to both current and prospective  owners of Bullet motorcycles, and will likely become a decisive factor in the choice between RE's single and twin offerings, as well as attracting an even wider international following for the expanding brand ...................................................................


OK , so this isn't a real announcement, but there is nothing in it that is untrue.  the implications of ACE.Cafes's work with the Bullet engine and his very rational approach to performance enhancement mean that all of this is reality.   There is no reason it could not be reality with the UCE.  The technical   wizzards out there would know better than me what the implications of EFI settings and enhanced porting and breathing are, but I would think that a "Power Commander" could be scripted to this application, and I think that a 48 or higher horsepower  well mannered and durable Bullet is a very real possibility.  The implications of this are huge.  The sidecar crowd. the highwway crowd .   A cylinder head and crakshaft eschange program  and so on.  Even just knowing that with a finite set of practical and offordable mods you could turn your tame Bullet into a , welll .........."Fireball" when funds permitted and impulse dictated might be a major sellig point. (How many 883 Sportsters buy with the intention of later moving up to 1200?  )

Forgive the cheeky come-on, but I really think that what ACE is doing is bigger news than the "Twins " and could satisfy the hopes/needs of Bulleteers old and new.  Nigel


ace.cafe

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Reply #1 on: January 24, 2011, 08:38:39 pm
Nigel,

Grins! ;D

Of course, things like this are possible(but 48hp might be a bit optimistic), but don't seem to be in the desires for RE.
Wth the new UCE engine design, they certainly 'could' have picked a higher power figure, but I think they preferred to not do that.
It seems to be more of a choice on their part, and not a technological limitation.

I have no reason to believe that RE couldn't equal the power of a similar single-cylinder Japanese bike, if they really wanted to.
So, I conclude that they really didn't want to. And that's fine.

The engine is still pretty new on the market, and mods and accessories traditionally lag the time-curve a bit,because people have to follow-on to the new releases.
Things will come along, I'm sure.

The old Bullet had about 50 years for these various things to be developed over time.
It took me about 5 years to do what I did with the old Bullet.
The UCE will see its time come.


« Last Edit: January 24, 2011, 08:52:26 pm by ace.cafe »
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ScooterBob

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Reply #2 on: January 24, 2011, 08:45:48 pm
Nigel - You are absolutely correct in your assessment of ACE's work on the Iron Barrel .... He is a tuner par excellence! I'm currently working on optimising the fuel curve on the UCE with the Power Commander for smoother overall performance - and I have a couple of hopefuls for "bolt on performance" - we'll see. I'm juggling a couple of other projects at the same time, so keep your fingers crossed for a little respite - and a little dyno time for me! In the meantime - Keep up the gREat work, ACE!
Spare the pig iron - spoil the part!


Ice

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Reply #3 on: January 24, 2011, 09:11:20 pm
48 HP ? maybe they were measuring at the end of the crank shaft or perhaps it was typographical error.
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nigelogston@gmail.com

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Reply #4 on: January 24, 2011, 09:44:25 pm
Its a fiction   I just picked the number 48 because it is less that twice the current UCE output.. (nobody measured any such thing) ...and I don't actually think it is that wildly impossible  based on what ACE has already shown with the Iron Barrel   Even if it were 38 that would be pretty great,,,,the numbers don't matter so much as the ride, and from looking at the real time video clips of a Fireballed Iron Barrel against another performance  enhanced (unspecified) Bullet, there is just no denying............it is way faster.    waaaaaaaaay faster   And street performance not dyno tests are the litmus.    Though the  hp doeesn.t matter, still I think  ..the dyno test I saw being performed  was rear wheel and the suggestion was that it doubled the stock Iron barrel power   ???18 or 22 depending on what report.  Either way, greased lightening.  It can be done, and the UCE should be putty in the hands of a master (like ACE) or anyone else who takes his lead and follows the same methodical principals. .   Nigel   


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GreenMachine

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Reply #6 on: January 24, 2011, 11:49:56 pm
Nigel: u had me for about 3/4 of the way into it....nice story though..
Oh Magoo you done it again


ace.cafe

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Reply #7 on: January 25, 2011, 01:01:18 pm
Nigel,
Just from a quick cursory look at the critical factors, I' going to estimate that the UCE could probably get into the same potential power neighborhood as the old Iron Barrel Bullet, if both are fully modified.

From what I can see, the reason the UCE has that bit of extra hp and torque over the Iron Barrel in standard tune is that the UCE has the compression boosted 2 points higher, and I think that is accounting for most of the difference.

The hurdles to overcome on the UCE will be a bit different. But in the end, they are both the same displacement, same bore/stroke, similar port angle, and similar layout, so in the hands of an experienced tuner they would probably end up around the same power levels in the end. I really don't see anythiing on the UCE that would lead me to believe it would reach higher potential power than the old Bullet when fully modified.
Of course, I'm quite open to any technical discussion about the subject, if anyone disagrees.

« Last Edit: January 25, 2011, 01:16:31 pm by ace.cafe »
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nigelogston@gmail.com

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Reply #8 on: January 25, 2011, 02:25:40 pm
sorry wrote that on the fly between work stops, and the more excited I get the worse my typing becomes.I think you can get the jist of it though.   I am not talking here about every ______ Dick and Harry doing this mind you.     Nigel


nigelogston@gmail.com

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Reply #9 on: January 25, 2011, 05:40:09 pm
All understood.  Part of my motivation in proposing this is that
a) I love the bikes and the brand
b) I love seeing stuff done right and getting the most out of something
c) I  like seeing entrepeneurs catch the brass ring, and , looking at all the welter of Bullet talk out there, there is no question in my mind that what you are accomplishing , and more imortantly , how you are accomplaishing it is the premiere way to go with the Bullet.
d) the UCE is here to stay, and I truly believe there are going to be a Tsunami or puchaser in the future.  They have captured something fundamentally appealing about motorcycling that other brands are missing. and their price point is not bad either.  If anything they have shot a little shy (as you have pointed out they very conscioulsy did ) of the performance taste to the averabe NA buyer, but that is just a window of opportunity for you.   Hence, among those new buyers of the brand is going to be a growing number of enthusiast who "want a little more" .  In this sense the recession and de-escalation of the material aspirations plays into the hands of RE as they are offering a quality vintage product with growing pretige in a market glutted with too expensive over featured subspecialized bikes.   People will always want good basic bikes.  The fuel economy (even modded up) is also in their favour, as is insurance.
e) the market is global
d) no, I doubt RE will ever enter this market themselves , or even back a favoured horse
e) everything starts as an idea.  I am no mechanic.  I don't even know some of the rudimentary things about engines that are obvious to someone with your background.  But I know ideas.  And this is an idea whose time has/will come.  That, you see is  why I have talked it up here on this forum :  Not to corner you, or get any kind of commitment from you, but really for the benefit of the hundreds of other slilent reader viewing these pages, and , yes , to put a bug in your ear.  Build it and they will come.  It can be done.  It will be done .  Question is only, who will do it and when.Regards, and , as always, thanks four your articulate carefully considered responses .  Nigel
PS  I am a doctor.   You would think if anyone ,I could afford an "expensive" bike But truth is, nothing appeals like the Bullet:  and I don't think I will be alone in that reaction once people start to see them.  Just wait till they see them go like stink .

Anyone else out there have thoughts about this?     


Ice

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Reply #10 on: January 25, 2011, 06:05:31 pm
Yes I do.

 The UCE is RE's future.

 I think a team ( I.E. Ace, Chumma, Scooterbob ) working in concert could readily adapt Fireball concepts and principles to the UCE,,,,,,But someone or a group of someones would have to fund the project.

I see California as the key to all this.

IF California with its large market falls in love with the UCE and the Fireball Idea the demand will materialize and then the economy of scale could begin coming in to play.

I have no real idea about the European market.
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nigelogston@gmail.com

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Reply #11 on: January 25, 2011, 06:12:56 pm
Actually Ace (and Ice) wrt the erroneous  perception that the modded bikes will "blow themselves up", from a PR/sales pont of view , a name change might be in order :    "Fireball !?!"   How about  "Super UCE"     "Speeding Bullet"  or "Cannonball" Nigel


Ice

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Reply #12 on: January 25, 2011, 06:27:49 pm
 Good point especially since Fireball moniker is associated with the Iron Barrel lump.

 For UCE applications I would like to see the applied technology concept called some else still relevant but different.

 Cannonball is inspiring, relevant and clever. It also relates to vintage advertising and slogans.

"Goes like a bullet Made like a Gun" ( cannon logo )
Old school big bore cannons had a single barrel  ;)
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chumma7

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Reply #13 on: January 25, 2011, 06:34:40 pm
"Cannonball" is actually the name that me and Aniket have been referring to the impending 1070 dual fireball that we will be building together sometime very soon.  
Funny how enfielders think alike.
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ace.cafe

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Reply #14 on: January 25, 2011, 06:47:48 pm
Yes I do.

 The UCE is RE's future.

 I think a team ( I.E. Ace, Chumma, Scooterbob ) working in concert could readily adapt Fireball concepts and principles to the UCE,,,,,,But someone or a group of someones would have to fund the project.

I see California as the key to all this.

IF California with its large market falls in love with the UCE and the Fireball Idea the demand will materialize and then the economy of scale could begin coming in to play.

I have no real idea about the European market.

Ice,
There is VERY low probability of anything like this being applicable in any state using a tailpipe sniffer at inspections. There would by no means be any expectation of something like this meeting emission control standards. I might be good, but real miracles are a bit out of my league.
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