Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet Electra & AVL => Topic started by: jdrouin on August 06, 2007, 08:52:02 pm

Title: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: jdrouin on August 06, 2007, 08:52:02 pm
As someone new to motorcycling, I'm wondering what the main differences are between owning an Electra and a Classic Bullet ES 5 Speed.

I understand that the Electra engines are generally more reliable, but how much so? The bike would be used for daily commuting (+/- 15 miles each way, rain or shine) and a couple of 500-mile trips in the Summer.

From a maintenance perspective, are the Classic and Electra really all that different?

I would appreciate any insight you might have, especially from anyone who has owned both.

Thanks,

Jeff

Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Thumper on August 06, 2007, 09:08:35 pm
As someone new to motorcycling, I'm wondering what the main differences are between owning an Electra and a Classic Bullet ES 5 Speed.

I understand that the Electra engines are generally more reliable, but how much so? The bike would be used for daily commuting (+/- 15 miles each way, rain or shine) and a couple of 500-mile trips in the Summer.

From a maintenance perspective, are the Classic and Electra really all that different?

I would appreciate any insight you might have, especially from anyone who has owned both.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff:

For a list of differences, see:
http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,47.msg151.html#msg151

Maintenance-wise it's a wash. Both require about the same amount of maintenance. The Electra's intervals are every 3000kms (1864 miles).

Matt
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: luoma on August 07, 2007, 01:02:42 am
I bought an Electra becuase they did the AVL engine right. The engineers incorporated the same kinds of improvements that owners have been doing for years.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: dewjantim on August 09, 2007, 10:10:03 pm
Its strange that in India the riders prefer the old Iron barrel engine to the new AVL. Seems as though they have a lot of overheating problems on the new engine. The feeling here seems to be that the AVL engine is better. It must be the difference in cruising speeds between the two countries. About 55-65 here in the good ole USA and around 30-35 in India where the roads are more than just a bit primitive. I prefer the old engine, not because it is better, but because it is more true to the original design. Both are good engines. Take your pick, you cant go wrong......Dew.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: RagMan on August 10, 2007, 12:30:14 am
I will be able to do a comparison side by side, in January, when I will have one of each.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: luoma on August 10, 2007, 03:12:27 am
Traditionalists will always prefer the old-style engine, but I think they will warm up to the AVL as time goes by. When AVL reengineered the motor, they were careful to incorporate modifications that the RE owners community had been doing to their own machines. I take this a a compliment to the RE faithful. I took several years to decide what RE I wanted, and read the catelog cover to cover, planning what I would want to do to the bike once I got it. When the new engine came out, I was pleased that most of the work was done for me. I added a performance kit, 19-tooth sprocket and solo seat. The bike is now perfect for me. Very little maintenance and loads of fun.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: jdrouin on August 10, 2007, 02:15:40 pm
Thanks for all these responses so far. While I understand the mechanical differences between the two models, what I'm really wondering about is how the experience of owning them would differ. In other words, is the Classic motor more likely to break down? To need more daily/weekly/monthly adjustments than the AVL? Are there differences in the types of regular maintenance tasks I would need to perform?

I understand that both models need a fair amount of DIY maintenance -- which is what I want. I was just trying to get an idea of just how much less the AVL might require, which by all accounts doesn't seem to be much less than the Classic (which is fine by me).

Dewjantim's comment on the AVL overheating at low speeds, if true, tells me that the Classic motor might actually be better suited to what the majority of my riding style will be. I live in Brooklyn, NY, where I commute to places in Brooklyn and Manhattan by bicycle just about every day. I'm almost always traveling faster than vehicle traffic (which rarely exceeds 25 mph), and in fact it's quicker for me to bike to any given place than to take public transportation. The motorcycle is more for fun and recreation (and the reward for finishing my dissertation), though it will occasionally be used for practical commuting and traveling to Summer conferences.

And hey, if it's got the romance of drum brakes and a carburator, I can live with that.

I'm curious as to how aesthetically authentic this new unit construction Enfield will be. If it turns out to be a modern fuel injected engine in a G model (or similar) body, as suggested once by Kevin, that would be pretty amazing, but it would also be more "forced," since the G hasn't been in continual production like the Bullet. That's where the Bullet has its authenticity in the face of other brands that simply resurrect or try to approximate a past style for nostalgiac (or marketing) reasons. I can't wait for the reports of the Birmingham bike show this Fall.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Thumper on August 10, 2007, 04:28:21 pm
Thanks for all these responses so far. While I understand the mechanical differences between the two models, what I'm really wondering about is how the experience of owning them would differ. In other words, is the Classic motor more likely to break down? To need more daily/weekly/monthly adjustments than the AVL? Are there differences in the types of regular maintenance tasks I would need to perform?

I understand that both models need a fair amount of DIY maintenance -- which is what I want. I was just trying to get an idea of just how much less the AVL might require, which by all accounts doesn't seem to be much less than the Classic (which is fine by me).

Dewjantim's comment on the AVL overheating at low speeds, if true, tells me that the Classic motor might actually be better suited to what the majority of my riding style will be. I live in Brooklyn, NY, where I commute to places in Brooklyn and Manhattan by bicycle just about every day. I'm almost always traveling faster than vehicle traffic (which rarely exceeds 25 mph), and in fact it's quicker for me to bike to any given place than to take public transportation. The motorcycle is more for fun and recreation (and the reward for finishing my dissertation), though it will occasionally be used for practical commuting and traveling to Summer conferences.

And hey, if it's got the romance of drum brakes and a carburator, I can live with that.

I'm curious as to how aesthetically authentic this new unit construction Enfield will be. If it turns out to be a modern fuel injected engine in a G model (or similar) body, as suggested once by Kevin, that would be pretty amazing, but it would also be more "forced," since the G hasn't been in continual production like the Bullet. That's where the Bullet has its authenticity in the face of other brands that simply resurrect or try to approximate a past style for nostalgiac (or marketing) reasons. I can't wait for the reports of the Birmingham bike show this Fall.

Maintenance will be comparable between the models.

In stock form my AVL LB engine, here in Virginia, ran fine in the summer heat. Not a single sign of distress. With a performance kit installed it runs cooler (due to a richer fuel mixture). Based on my experience with the AVL LB engine in stock form, I'd have to say that you don't have anymore to worry about, in terms of overheating, than any other air-cooled engine.

You might consider the future of the AVL LB engine however. The Classic has been around forever and there is a wealth of aftermarket and OEM parts available. With Euro 3 standards and our own US EPA standards, it is unclear to me the future of the AVL LB engine. I understand that the unit construction engine will have to replace the Classic and AVL LB engines in Europe because even the AVL LB engine won't meet the Euro 3 standards. Will this new AVL LB engine continue to be sold in the US for any length of time? Will it possibly replace the Classic here in the US, or will it be overtaken by our own EPA regulations? Unless the AVL LB engine has a strong market somewhere in the motorcycling world (like India), the parts supply will drop off fast for it. As an owner, this concerns me.

Matt
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: luoma on August 10, 2007, 11:50:46 pm
Except for adjusting points on the classic, the two should be the same. Please don't confuse maintenance with repairs. These are tough bikes. They are made to handle some of the worst riding conditions in the world, and have been doing it for a long time. If you are prone to looking after your machine, the amount of fiddling needed will not seem like much.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: deejay on August 11, 2007, 01:52:23 pm
The feeling here seems to be that the AVL engine is better.

More reliable? Maybe, just maybe. Better? I would have to disagree. Nothing beats the classic engine in my book.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: No. 5 on August 11, 2007, 02:36:45 pm
Having just made the decision myself, here's my $.02. Reliability and maintenance were not an issue. I wasn't buying a bike just to ride it. What mattered to me as a new rider was the front disc brake and how it looked. I went with the Electra. But as I look through the catalog at seats, exhaust, luggage carriers, tanks, etc, You can do much more with the classic. In the end you always wish you'd bought the other one.  ;D I'll have to get both (don't tell my wife)
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: luoma on August 11, 2007, 03:53:13 pm
I think you will be happy with your decision, but you will wonder what it would be like to own the classic, I do. As for the looks, I still think the classic delux is the best looking. The main problem with the Electra's styling is that the seat doesn't look right. I installed a tan solo and pad on my green bike and it looks perfect. When the new model comes out, I'll begin to drool again.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: hutch on August 11, 2007, 04:24:25 pm
In 2005 I bought a Classic because the lean burn was unproven and I wanted something that had a history of sucess. I also had looked through the parts book and saw how few parts were available at the time. In 2006 I bought a Suzuki Savage 650 single for the same reason as the Classic, it had a 20 year history of dependabillity. Kevin has stated that more parts will become available for the Electra in the future and that sounds great. After hearing of all the good things about the Electra Lean Burn I was hoping to buy one next year. That would give me the '67 Interceptor,a Classic and the Electra, which I planned on putting a Watsonian Trials kit on from the UK. It would be a disapointment to say the least if the lean burn were to be discontinued so soon. As Matt said, parts could be a problem. Most people believe the Savage will no longer be able to meet EPA standards and it will also be phased out. I often wonder what the EPA standards are on all these space shuttles that burn a hole right through the ozone. It burns my butt that  they pick on a little single cyclinder motorcycle, but big companies and big Government get away with doing what they want. I now do not know weather to grab up an Electra quick, or not, because of possible parts problems in the future. RE has been continuosly building bikes longer than any other company in the world, and I would hate to see them go under or quit importing again, just when they are getting a good share of the US market. That would be sad indeed. I have been following RE since 1965 and there is just something bout the name and the look of the bike that hit a chord with me. Maybe it is that with the last name of Hutchinson my English roots run real deep. In my family history, my ancestors actually moved to Canada during the Revolutionary War, and were faithful to the king of England.Unfortunately they quit importing  RE's to the US when I was ready to buy. I was so glad when they came back to the US market, I would rather have a garage full of RE's than any other bikes. If all my other bikes get sold, that just might be the case. I still would love to find a 50's Indian RE or a 1953 Meteor in that beautiful Bronze color. I just love RE's         Hutch
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: prof_stack on August 11, 2007, 04:39:49 pm
Yesterday I talked on the phone with the closest RE dealership, some 60 miles away.  The owner, who drives a Classic, said he has sold two Electras and a lot of earlier versions of RE.  His shop has been honored by RE in the past as a top dealership.

When I asked him "Electra vs Standard Bullet" he said that for most people style of riding the Classic holds up as well as the Electra.  His BIG CONCERN about the bikes is to make sure the running in (break-in) is done absolutely correctly.  Then he said that over 90% of the problems RE owners have are owner induced (i.e. improper maintenance).

Finally, he said that I should buy one and that he has a sale coming up but he'll give me first dibs this coming week.   ::)   (Yeah, my wife rolled her eyes at that one!   ;D)
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: luoma on August 11, 2007, 10:33:12 pm
You really can't go wrong with which ever RE you end up choosing.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: birdmove on August 12, 2007, 05:46:02 am
    Hello Proff_stack. We seem to keep running into each other.I am also a RE Bullet fan.You must be reffering to Vinces in Olympia? I want to go test ride a Bullet but its going to be tough as I have Sundays and Mondays off. Theres a very cool video on youtube.com of a guy with a great looking blue Classic Bullet talking about it and then gong on a ride.Don't watch it because if you do you may run out and buy one.
    It would be really interesting if I got a Bullet and rode it to work at the HD/Buell dealership I work at.Wish there were a few more dealers around and they were opened more days.

    Jon in Puyallup, Wa. USA
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Leonard on August 12, 2007, 12:59:25 pm
   Theres a very cool video on youtube.com of a guy with a great looking blue Classic Bullet talking about it and then gong on a ride.

    Jon in Puyallup, Wa. USA

That blue Classic to which you are referring was recently for sale.  Don't know if it still is or not, you can check on Yahoo Groups "royalenfield" for information.

Regards,
Leonard
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: prof_stack on August 12, 2007, 04:16:04 pm
    Hello Prof_Stack. We seem to keep running into each other.  I am also a RE Bullet fan.  You must be reffering to Vinces in Olympia?  I want to go test ride a Bullet but its going to be tough as I have Sundays and Mondays off. Theres a very cool video on youtube.com of a guy with a great looking blue Classic Bullet talking about it and then gong on a ride.  Don't watch it because if you do you may run out and buy one.
    It would be really interesting if I got a Bullet and rode it to work at the HD/Buell dealership I work at.  Wish there were a few more dealers around and they were opened more days.
    Jon in Puyallup, Wa. USA
Hey Jon, yeah Vince is the man.  Trouble is, I don't have a trailer or pickup to haul a new RE home.  Concerning the Suzuki GZ250, I test rode it and came away only mildly enthused.  It makes perfect rational sense that the GZ is as fast and more reliable than the RE.  But that won't get me to buy the GZ.  My next bike will be a single-cylinder, though.  Which HD/Buell shop do you work at?  DHD?  Dest/Tac?

I've seen the YouTube video.  Cool stuff.  I think the owner got tired of having to fix it, but I could have misread the Yahoo RE group page.

Yesterday I talked to the RE shop up in Burlington.  All they have left is an '06 Electra which "normally sells for $5995, but we're blowing it out at $4995, and no I don't know what a sprag gear is."  Yeah, for sure.

I'm planning to head to the RE shop Tuesday and test ride a Classic and an Electra.  Then I'll make some decisions.  Vince might be willing to deliver.  We'll see...
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: hutch on August 12, 2007, 05:54:50 pm
I just priced a new Electra from my dealer here in MI and it was $5200 plus tax,title and setup. He also has a 2006 left for $4995.   Hutch
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: justin_o_guy on August 13, 2007, 12:23:51 am
I knbow Ive seen something about a "Bike in your driveway" program. I have no idea what it means or what it costs.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: birdmove on August 13, 2007, 04:30:17 am
[Jon, yeah Vince is the man.  Trouble is, I don't have a trailer or pickup to haul a new RE home.  Concerning the Suzuki GZ250, I test rode it and came away only mildly enthused.  It makes perfect rational sense that the GZ is as fast and more reliable than the RE.  But that won't get me to buy the GZ.  My next bike will be a single-cylinder, though.  Which HD/Buell shop do you work at?  DHD?  Dest/Tac?

I've seen the YouTube video.  Cool stuff.  I think the owner got tired of having to fix it, but I could have misread the Yahoo RE group page.

Yesterday I talked to the RE shop up in Burlington.  All they have left is an '06 Electra which "normally sells for $5995, but we're blowing it out at $4995, and no I don't know what a sprag gear is."  Yeah, for sure.

I'm planning to head to the RE shop Tuesday and test ride a Classic and an Electra.  Then I'll make some decisions.  Vince might be willing to deliver.  We'll see...
[/quote]

    I work at Destination HD/Buell in Tacoma. Please writeup your thoughts on the test rides here.I'd love to hear your opinion. Let us know what models Vince has in stock too.

  Thanks, Jon.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: scoTTy on August 13, 2007, 04:39:26 am
in my hot rodding days of autos I always broke them in pretty hard...to get the ring ridge higher.. stretch the rod..

I don't have 400 miles on my Electra yet.. but I have been up to ..speedometer wise.. we know its less ...65.... then just let the engine slow itself down...

It's getting smoother and more responsive already..

course i never got over 30000 miles out of an auto engine before it blew :P
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Leonard on August 13, 2007, 11:26:52 am
I knbow Ive seen something about a "Bike in your driveway" program. I have no idea what it means or what it costs.

It is a delivery program.  CMW will get you with a dealer that will, for a fee, arrange to deliver you a motorcycle.  Haven't heard of too many that have done this, maybe someone with experience will speak up.
--Leonard
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: gapl53 on August 13, 2007, 05:10:31 pm
I knbow Ive seen something about a "Bike in your driveway" program. I have no idea what it means or what it costs.

It is a delivery program.  CMW will get you with a dealer that will, for a fee, arrange to deliver you a motorcycle.  Haven't heard of too many that have done this, maybe someone with experience will speak up.
--Leonard
That's how I purchased my first Enfield, over the phone with a credit card. The closest dealer to me is 2.5hrs away. Called CMW's to inquire about the program, they said to make the arrangements through the closest dealer. That dealer delivered it on the date, and at the time I requested. He was very prompt. The paper work came along with the delivery and we did the transaction in my garage. I was very pleased with how everthing went. The cost from that dealer was an extra $100.00 for the delivery. I though that the cost was reasonable, considering that with the transaction time, it took them 6hrs round trip at minimum.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Leonard on August 13, 2007, 09:42:51 pm
That's how I purchased my first Enfield, over the phone with a credit card. The closest dealer to me is 2.5hrs away. Called CMW's to inquire about the program, they said to make the arrangements through the closest dealer. That dealer delivered it on the date, and at the time I requested. He was very prompt. The paper work came along with the delivery and we did the transaction in my garage. I was very pleased with how everthing went. The cost from that dealer was an extra $100.00 for the delivery. I though that the cost was reasonable, considering that with the transaction time, it took them 6hrs round trip at minimum.

I went the same route except I drove the 265 miles to pick mine up at Ron's Cycle in Tulsa, OK, even hauled it back down there a couple of weeks later for a free 500 mile service.  The mech, who had a lot of Brit bike experience, let me watch and ask questions, very nice folks.
--Leonard
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: dewjantim on August 14, 2007, 04:44:12 am
I wrote my dealer a check for $2800 for my RE Classic 500. It is a 2000 model and that was in 2001. It was new, that is the best $2800 I have ever spent.......Dew.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Land Surveyor on August 16, 2007, 01:25:30 am
RE: The EPA.  I understand that even Harley Davidson is going to fuel injection now.  I have further heard that air-cooled engines are on the way out as they have a harder time meeting the pollution specs than liquid-cooled engines.  I guess that explains why so many Japanese Harley copies have blacked-out radiators stashed between the down tubes.  The fins are just for show.

I think that's also why there are so few 2-strokes now.  Well, that plus the US market never really warmed up to them.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: birdmove on August 16, 2007, 04:48:33 am
    True-as of 2007 all HDs are fuel injected.The Sportster line was the last hold out for the carb'd Harleys.

    jon
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: scoTTy on August 16, 2007, 04:51:30 am
Quote
I just priced a new Electra from my dealer here in MI and it was $5200 plus tax,title and setup. He also has a 2006 left for $4995.   Hutch

 paid 4800$ for my 2007 X
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Sam on October 01, 2007, 10:26:56 pm
    True-as of 2007 all HDs are fuel injected.The Sportster line was the last hold out for the carb'd Harleys.

    jon

It's the '08 model year that, like cars, appears in mid '07, that's 100% injected, just to clarify. And I very much don't want one.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Thumper on October 02, 2007, 12:50:47 pm
    True-as of 2007 all HDs are fuel injected.The Sportster line was the last hold out for the carb'd Harleys.

    jon

It's going to be interesting times. Can't wait to see what changes the next few years brings to the RE.

Neither the Classic nor the Electra engine will meet the new Euro 3 standard.
How long before the US EPA standards restrict these two models? (Especially the new 2008 California code). And for the sake of economy, will RE only export those Euro 3-compliant models?
That's the big question because it would mean the end of both engines stateside.
Will the Electra X be a stop-gap measure for a few years and continue to meet US EPA standards; thus allowing it to be sold here.
Will it (the AVL LB) still be sold anywhere - or will parts quickly dry up for the short-lived engine?

I hope the new generation has the horsies to pull a sidecar at 55.

How's that for a can of worms?

 ;)
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: longstrokeclassic on October 02, 2007, 01:44:56 pm
From the last set of 'rumours' I recall;

The iron barrelled 'classic' bike at some point will no longer be exported from India simply because of ever increasing emission regs demanded by the majority of its export customers.
It will however continue as a home market model providing there is a reasonable demand.
So spares availability should pose no problem for the foreseeable future.

The AVL lean burn will continue but will come with a Japanese fuel injection system, to enable it to meet anticipated emission laws. - N.B. Considering The UK will need its new Electras supplied with fuel injection in only 4 months time I'm surprised not to have seen or heard anything further on this yet - although please note last paragraph.

The Unit Construction Engine (UCE),the latest factory model, has fuel injection as standard to meet all anticipated emission requirements. As a bonus it also has hydraulic tappets.

The phasing of the model change is dependant on when the latest emission regs come into force in each export market.

Europe begins with EURO3 emission regs from 01Jan 2008.

The cut off date has just passed in the UK (at the weekend) so any Indian production 'classic' or Electra not already recorded as being in the UK can no longer be sold from the start of the new year.

Ric.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Thumper on October 02, 2007, 01:52:32 pm
Ric,

Good information, thanks.

I had not heard of the approach to match the AVL LB with fuel injection in order to meet Euro-3. That's actually good news for us Electra X owners. All I had heard was that the new UCE was the solution.

Matt
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Sam on October 02, 2007, 02:13:27 pm
Somehow, tweaking the ECU with a mouse doesn't have the same tactile satisfaction as swapping carburator jets; and when it breaks, the fix is never cheap. I guess that's why I like these dinosaurs. Ah, well; progress must progress.

I would think that with thousands produced every year for the last 50 years or so, parts for the iron barrel engine would be abundent for the next few decades, at least. There's still a pretty good supply of Harley shovelhead and panhead parts, and the last shovelhead was produced in 1984. Of course, the parts supply is not through the regular dealer network; my local dealer can't seem to find parts for last year's model.

Never mind, different rant.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: luoma on October 02, 2007, 04:02:23 pm
It will be a shame to see the old REs go away, but I would be willing to bet that when the date is announced here in the US, sales of existing stock will be brisk, and resale values will skyrocket. After that, the aftermarket will kick in to take up the slack. Someone may even start producing vintage-style kit bikes by purchasing RE engines.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: LJRead on October 02, 2007, 06:52:07 pm
I ordered a parts manual which should show the parts for the lean burn setup and the Classic.   I should be getting it in a week or two.  I want to find out just what parts are interchangeable between the two types.  They look so similar I have a feeling that many of the parts are.Mine will be a lean-burn 350.  There are thousands of these in India and now they are selling the 500 cc Machismo there, so I shouldn't think parts will be that much of a problem.  I'm sure CMW will always be able to tap into India for parts on the lean-burn and will probably stock up on them as well.

There is also the question as to whether India will replace the lean-burn for home consumption right away.  I rather doubt it as hundreds of village mechanics as well as the buying public there love the engines as they are.

Then, living here in the middle of nowhere, maybe I'll buy more spares than is normal just to have on hand.  I've done that for my other equipment and it is like life insurance, better if you don't have to use it, but there if you do.  I have even looked into the cost of a complete engine, around $1,100 U.S. from India.

Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: Thumper on October 02, 2007, 07:30:01 pm
I ordered a parts manual which should show the parts for the lean burn setup and the Classic.   I should be getting it in a week or two.  I want to find out just what parts are interchangeable between the two types.  They look so similar I have a feeling that many of the parts are.

Let us know what you find out. From what little I've read, although they are similar in design (and more so in concept) there are very few interchangeable parts.
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: LJRead on October 02, 2007, 09:30:28 pm
Thanks for at least this information, I'll do a study when the parts manual arrives and let you all know what I find - you may well be right, I just don't know.  Larry
Title: Re: Electra vs. Standard Bullet
Post by: longstrokeclassic on October 05, 2007, 10:53:49 pm
From the last set of 'rumours' I recall;

The AVL lean burn will continue but will come with a Japanese fuel injection system, to enable it to meet anticipated emission laws. - N.B. Considering The UK will need its new Electras supplied with fuel injection in only 4 months time I'm surprised not to have seen or heard anything further on this yet - although please note last paragraph.

[Having seen the new bike ...

http://royalenfieldlesite.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1649&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=165

It looks like fitting FI to the electra was perhaps just rumour-  they've called the new engined model the Bullet electra  EFI >:(