[Ratz]

Hi there, my name is Ralf, 53 years old, from Germany and the proud owner of two Enfields. A 2006 Bullet and a 2014 Continental GT 535.
I own the Bullet since 13 years, she has 64k on the clock. The only major issue during this time was the inlet valve seat popping out at 30k. On this occasion (I accidently received a big tax return a couple of days earlier ) I decided to do more than just a fix. I increased the bore, ordered a new piston, Alpha crankshaft, Mikuni carb, bigger oilpumps, tuning cylinderhead and electric ignition- all english breakfast THE LOT 
She's a good, reliable runner ever since!
Cheers
Ralf

[gizzo]

Welcome, Ralf. Mine's a 2014 CGT too  55,000km on mine, so far.

[Ratz]

Hi Simon, thanks for the welcome!
You're from South Australia!! I lived in Adelaide/Glandore for 3 1/2 years    I often took my Bullet for a ride in the Adelaide hills or Barossa Valley,  Victor Harbor... I even rode the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne on my Bullet - those were the days !
Sometimes I regret I went back to Germany 5 years ago. Aussies are more laid back than the Krauts...
and the weather is better, too 
Cheers
Ralf

[gizzo]

Hi Simon, thanks for the welcome!
You're from South Australia!! I lived in Adelaide/Glandore for 3 1/2 years    I often took my Bullet for a ride in the Adelaide hills or Barossa Valley,  Victor Harbor... I even rode the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne on my Bullet - those were the days !
Sometimes I regret I went back to Germany 5 years ago. Aussies are more laid back than the Krauts...
and the weather is better, too 
Cheers
Ralf

Nice! I'm at Seaton, 15 minutes from Glandore. I bet you have the most regrets about moving back in the winter, though. Ride all year, here (but in winter, I'm more about surfing down Victor Harbor way). I rode my CGT to Jindabyne a couple of times. That's an epic trip on the thumper. Did the Great Ocean Road on my TRX850 but a trip on the GT is on the cards.
Cheers,s

[Richard230]

Very nice, Ratz. I love the looks of your 2006 Bullet. Very classic and traditional. 

[Ratz]

 8)Thanks Richard

[Taurim]

Welcome Ralf  ! Cheers from France 

I own a slightly modified and tuned 2017 535 GT 

I also own a small plastic and aluminium English car I use to frequently drive on a track in your country... In the Eiffel Hills south of Köln. You probably heard about it 

[KC1961]

Hi Ralf, welcome. I'm in Scotland and I've owned my GT for just over 6 years and about 13,000 miles.

[Bilgemaster]

Welcome aboard! That's a fine-looking and clearly hardworking Bullet. It's also interesting to see an '06 with a 4-speed gearbox--and a righthand shifter at that! Lovely...

[Adrian II]

What size is that VM Mikuni on the 2006? That bike looks like it has been seriously used.

A.

[Camreno]

God that bullet looks like it just belongs in Germany, so classic.

[Camreno]

Seems like we got people from all over the world! Im in the states, only had this bike for a few weeks. Just 1200 miles on it.

[gizzo]

...

[Ratz]

Hi all,
thank you so much for the warm welcome! People from all other the world are here, that's really cool!!
The Mikuni is a VM32, I ran it with a K&N in the beginning. Then I altered the original airbox to suit the bigger carb and installed an less restrictive airfilter. The silencer is produced in Germany by Sommer. The bore is increased from 84 to 87mm, that equals 535cc.I don't know the jetting by heart but will look it up on the next ocassion if somebody is intrested.
I'm going to try that carby on my GT as well. I'm not convienced by the fuel injection, the bike is hardly doing 120km/h...
And yes, I know that place called Nürburgring 
So, now I have to get rid of that snow, the wife's complaining 
Cheers,
Ralf
 

[Adrian II]

Much as I am enjoying this little iron barrel Bullet incursion into CGT535 territory  , it probably doesn't advance your quest for helping your CGT along its path to perfection..

I'm going to try that carby on my GT as well. I'm not convinced by the fuel injection, the bike is hardly doing 120km/h...

.

It seems you have a choice, Taurim's own CGT has managed 160km/h + with fuel injection, others have also had good results with a VM Mikuni of some description, though a VM34 or even a VM36 could be a better idea. ISTRC the CGT has a larger bore throttle body than the other EFI Bullets. Maybe try a Dell'Orto PHF? In the UK Paul Henshaw has tuned a number of carburettor-fitted CGT535s with some success, have a look on his You Tube channel.

If that wasn't enough, you can fit a custom solid billet alloy cylinder head kit from Ace Cafe, and Hitchcocks' will at some stage want to release their 4-valve cylinder head kits onto the market. If not, that's a lot of investment sitting un-sold on their shelves.

A.

[Taurim]

165 at the GPS with injection and stock piston/crankshaft is possible 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k2PjlxD66w

If you have the time to read 25 pages 

https://forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php?topic=29864.0

[Ratz]

Hi Adrian,
thanks for the different sources you've mentioned, I'll check them out.
In my hands a powercommander will eventually go up in flames, computers and programming isn't mine... So it will be the carby road to go down.
I'm not keen to do the ton on the GT. I'll be happy to get her up to 140km, just like she should. I also have some cold starting issues to be solved - probably due to the K&N and GPR silencer.
The air/fuel ratio can be easily adjusted with a carburator, the Amal is really sexy, it would be the perfect fit!
And a four valve head, oh yeah!
Now it's winter and I have the time to soak up all the information, hints and tips provided by this great forum.
Hopefully I also can participate somehow!
Cheers
Ralf

[Ratz]

Hi Taurim, RESPECT!
Thanks for the link, I'll go through it.

Amitiés
Ralf

[gizzo]

IMO , reliability mods should be higher on the list of things to do than HP ones.

A couple that come to mind :
replace primary chain with non OEM

Replace exhaust valve with a 1 piece non OEM (squish mod while the head's off)

Bypass the side stand switch

Check clutch and flywheel bolt/nut is tight & loctited (while you're doing the primary chain)

Anyone think of other things? I think these things are worth doing, especially seeing Ralf's bike is a first year built one.

Then go nuts building HP.

[Adrian II]

If there are reliability concerns, then I would also replace the original con-rod for one fitted with an Alpha Bearings big end conversion, this has the UK-made crank pin as well as the con-rod big-end eye machined out for a hardened outer race instead of relying on the  con-rod itself to provide the outer bearing surface. Same item as available for the Electra-X and the 500 EFI Bullets.

https://accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-shop/crankshaft-engine/22876

A.

[gizzo]

If there are reliability concerns, then I would also replace the original con-rod for one fitted with an Alpha Bearings big end conversion, this has the UK-made crank pin as well as the con-rod big-end eye machined out for a hardened outer race instead of relying on the  con-rod itself to provide the outer bearing surface. Same item as available for the Electra-X and the 500 EFI Bullets.

https://accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-shop/crankshaft-engine/22876

A.

I see your point but it doesn't seem like the big end is such a weak point on the UCE? Maybe it depends on whether Kuldeep was paying attention when he was whacking the crank true at the factory. The things I mentioned were easy fixes to prevent known problems occurring to those early GT's. In any case I've done those jobs to mine and haven't spat the primary chain from the case or dropped a valve. If the big end does fail, I'll certainly upgrade to the H one....

[Ratz]

Hi guys,
thanks for the input, looks like 55000km can be done on a early CGT without major alterations!
And yes, reliability is a bigger concern than HP.

Cheers
Ralf

[Arschloch]

Hi guys,
thanks for the input, looks like 55000km can be done on a early CGT without major alterations!
And yes, reliability is a bigger concern than HP.

Cheers
Ralf

Hi Ratz,

The reliability for a 535cc single is fine. It won´t be ever as reliable as a 1000cc bike that runs on 10-20% power output most of the time, that´s got to be understood.

For me some more power was important since overtaking something that moves about 80kmh on the "bundesstrasse" is a pain in the Arsch with a bike that hardly does 120kmh peak.

Tthe realiability issues are to be found in the chassis and wirering components, most all of them have been tackeld here on the forum so there is information to be found should you need it.

prost,
O.

[gizzo]

Hi guys,
thanks for the input, looks like 55000km can be done on a early CGT without major alterations!

So far, so good. Let's see if it makes it to 100,000 without major fixing. I hope so.

[Ratz]

Hi Gizzo, I hope so too, fingers crossed!

Hi O.,
that's fully understood and I completely agree. But it also depends on the sort of 1000cc bike. I owned a Ironhead and finally gave up after a 5 years ordeal...  that bike was a real pain in the arsch 
The GT is the replacement for the Ironhead 

[Arschloch]

The Ironhead looks really sweat though...

[Ratz]

Thanks, but she was a real bitch...
... one day riding - two days wrenching   

[Guaire]

"tuning cylinderhead"

Hi Ratz - welcome to the forum.
  Short of replacing the entire head, you have the option of stainless steel valves. The intake is 1mm oversize. With stock valves the heads are friction welded to the stems. These valves are all one piece.
Cheers,
Bill G

[Adrian II]

I see your point but it doesn't seem like the big end is such a weak point on the UCE? Maybe it depends on whether Kuldeep was paying attention when he was whacking the crank true at the factory. The things I mentioned were easy fixes to prevent known problems occurring to those early GT's. In any case I've done those jobs to mine and haven't spat the primary chain from the case or dropped a valve. If the big end does fail, I'll certainly upgrade to the H one....

It's the same design of con-rod and big-end on the EFI and CGT as on the Electra-X, only the later ones don't have the bronze bush for the gudgeon/wrist pin. I think it IS fair to say I have come across fewer reported examples of EFI/CGT big-end failure than on the Electra-X, which I hope is down to improved quality control/material selection/processing, etc. but it's still not unknown. Conduct your own risk assessment!  It will be interesting to see what sort of mileage figures 535 owners have been getting, especially for the more highly-developed ones, which are presumably the most enthusiastically ridden.

A.

[gizzo]

It's the same design of con-rod and big-end on the EFI and CGT as on the Electra-X, only the later ones don't have the bronze bush for the gudgeon/wrist pin. I think it IS fair to say I have come across fewer reported examples of EFI/CGT big-end failure than on the Electra-X, which I hope is down to improved quality control/material selection/processing, etc. but it's still not unknown. Conduct your own risk assessment!  It will be interesting to see what sort of mileage figures 535 owners have been getting, especially for the more highly-developed ones, which are presumably the most enthusiastically ridden.

A.

Good on you, Adrian. Thanks for that. Personally, I haven't seen many high milage ones around here. I met chap at a bike show a few years ago who'd ridden his AVL bullet around Australia 3 times. He said his crank failed at 17,000km and the replacement one was still going. I don't remember the  milage on his bike but it'd be getting up there after 3 laps.
As I said, mine's 55,000km so far. Runs great, sits on 120 for hours if it needs to and gets ridden "enthusiastically". It's not stock but not a super hotrod like Otto's one. Wish my big end luck!

[Taurim]

It will be interesting to see what sort of mileage figures 535 owners have been getting, especially for the more highly-developed ones, which are presumably the most enthusiastically ridden.

11 000 Km so far. Bought it at 5500 Km. We'll see 

Fingers crossed 

[Arschloch]

Good on you, Adrian. Thanks for that. Personally, I haven't seen many high milage ones around here. I met chap at a bike show a few years ago who'd ridden his AVL bullet around Australia 3 times. He said his crank failed at 17,000km and the replacement one was still going. I don't remember the  milage on his bike but it'd be getting up there after 3 laps.
As I said, mine's 55,000km so far. Runs great, sits on 120 for hours if it needs to and gets ridden "enthusiastically". It's not stock but not a super hotrod like Otto's one. Wish my big end luck!

Thanks.  ...compared to most anything that folks ride around on an open A license it´s still a lame duck though. 

[Adrian II]

@ Gizzo,

the big-end design was simply copied from Japanese practice instead of the old British style which has the hardened steel outer race pressed into the rod. If Nipponese singles get high mileages from this, dear old RE (India) ought to be capable of it. Later Electra-Xs were supposed to be better, but my first one was a fairly early '05, the big-end lasted 17.5k miles/28k kilometres, some were failing a lot sooner. Fast forward a few years and your own CGT would seem to proof that RE did indeed up their game if it' has been happy with serious use. It's more the occasional one failing now rather than whole batches, AFAIK.

If I were looking at a CGT 535 for serious and sustained hooligan use the Alpha Bearings conversion would still be top of the list, along with the other upgrades listed. I shall probably never own one, at least not whole one, there is a sort of weirdo project I have in mind, but I will need to see what the current going rate for used kidneys is.

A.

[Arschloch]

11 000 Km so far. Bought it at 5500 Km. We'll see 

Fingers crossed 

20.000km for mine.  ...second crank´s got about 3000km. The good news is the engine can be rebuild in a matter of hours provided you have good spare part accessibility.

[Taurim]

I don't know if it's a good news. I'm not that impatient 

[Arschloch]

I don't know if it's a good news. I'm not that impatient 

 ...agree there is still the winters and bronterocs aren't running around yet, plenty of time to do that job.

[Taurim]

Bronterocs ? Don't look up 

[Luki1975]

Hi,

I'm Frank from Leipzig. 46 years old and owner of a 2016 Conti GT535. I bought the GT already converted into a Cafe Racer (I earn no credit for this.)

The previous owner didn't use the bike for riding and fortunately I found this GT in February 2019 for sale.

Currently 5000km ridden but since 2000km the oil consumption seems to be very high (approx. 150ml per 250km). The cylinder head has been replaced by a new one but without an improvement.

I will keep an eye on this and will go back to the garage if necessary.

Kind regards,
Frank

[gizzo]

Welcome aboard, Frank. Nice looking bike you have there. The black and silver works well.
maybe it's burning oil because the PO didn't follow a good break in procedure? Mine also burns a bit of oil but nowhere near like yours. That seems quite excessive. On the up side, removing the head and cylinder to fit new rings is super easy and shouldn't cost much.

[Taurim]

Welcome Frank !

As Gizzo said most probably it's a cylinder/rings sealing problem caused by an improper break-in.
You should check the cylinder walls with a cheap endoscope to see if there is any scoring marks.

[Arschloch]

I would check not to overfill it, in which case some oil may be consumed through the vent pipe from the gearbox into the airbox. Checking the oil level on these bikes can be a bit challenging.

[gizzo]

I would check not to overfill it, in which case some oil may be consumed through the vent pipe from the gearbox into the airbox. Checking the oil level on these bikes can be a bit challenging.

Good point...

[Luki1975]

Thanks for the welcome and hint regarding the oil consumption.

I have a sophisticated oil level check procedure  An overfill is nearly impossible. Every time I've checked the airbox I've found the box dry. 

Next action will focused on the piston rings.

Thanks again.

[Captain Bob]

Welcome aboard Ralf.  I am also somewhat new here.  I have a 2014 CGT as well and am from the states.   Both of your bikes look great!  I just picked my bike up a month or so ago.  Haven't been able to ride it due to winter weather.  Too much white stuff on the ground.  However, took it for my first ride yesterday.  It only had 500 miles on it when I bought it, so it is still breaking in.  I wasn't expecting much performance wise and wasn't disappointed.      She is nimble and likes to go around corners but I need to get some decent rubber on her.  The original tires are hard as a rock and I wouldn't trust them to any hard cornering.  I will ride it for a bit then start playing with the engine.  It definitely needs some help with the fuel map.  I will probably start off with a better breathing pipe, air filter and install a Power Commander. I will then take to a guy I know who can put it on a dyno and properly tune it.  This guy is really good and has built/tuned many engines for pro's that drag race and run at Bonneville salt flats.  He will get as much HP and torque out of her as possible given those changes.  I want to keep it somewhat reliable and do not want to turn it into a race bike, but would like to get a few more beans out of her and better response on the throttle.  I am not impressed with the stock fuel map at all.  It will be a fun project.  I am quite interested in the changes to your bullet and would like to hear how the performance changed from stock.  If you get a moment, please let us know!

[Ratz]

Hallo Frank, ein herzliches Willkommen aus Franken. Deine Conti sieht echt sexy aus 
Hopefully a set of new piston rings will sort your problems. You may contact Flo Nytz for further advice. He usually has all the required spare parts in stock. Flo is very friendly and always happy to help.
Beste Grüße nach Leipzig,

Ralf

[Luki1975]

Hi Ratz,
Danke und Grüße,
Frank