"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