[Mikey82]

I,m looking at a 2011 Bullet 500 very soon, the chrome version it’s been stood up but looks as though it can be sorted.
As I,m looking for a thumper bike, I,m thinking this may be the one but clueless.
It’s had a new speedo, it’s mot expired last year, it’s mot advisory was front brake binding not excessive adding up previous mots it’s done approx 8000 miles.
Seller is asking £1500 is that the going rate?
What do I look for ?

[Paul W]

Sounds like a very reasonable price.

[Adrian II]

2011 would be an EFI bike, so if you buy it, you should probably post some pictures in the Bullet with the UCE Engine section.

A.

[Mikey82]

2011 would be an EFI bike, so if you buy it, you should probably post some pictures in the Bullet with the UCE Engine section.

A.

Thanks Adrian, didn’t realise it was an UCE so I have posted pics in the correct section

[SteveThackery]

Thanks Adrian, didn’t realise it was an UCE so I have posted pics in the correct section

Sorry, Mike. I, too, thought it would be an AVL. I've messaged you accordingly.

[Adrian II]

Some Electra-X models did sit in dealers' show rooms for a while after the EFIs came out, I saw one for sale on eBay with a 2010 registration. Handy for the ULEZ?

A.

[Mikey82]

How do I check if Electra x ?
year is 2011 any major differences this one def efi
Is Electra x a bad bike?
Thanks again

[Adrian II]

The Electra-X has been sat in the naughty corner since 2006. The pictures you posted in the UCE section are definitely the later EFI model, an Electra-EFI de luxe by the look of it.

Do an internet search for Electra-X pictures, you'll soon see the difference compared to the 2011 bike. RE used the Electra name on several totally different models, including some Indian home market 350s.

A.

[SteveThackery]

How do I check if Electra x ?
year is 2011 any major differences this one def efi
Is Electra x a bad bike?
Thanks again

The naming is complicated, as Adrian says.  It's easiest to forget about it and just think in terms of the three generations: iron barrel, AVL, UCE.

The iron barrel is closest to the original 1950s Brit bike, but the ones imported en masse to the UK have electric start. The AVL has a number of internal improvements, but still has a separate gearbox. The UCE is even better internally and is unit construction - the engine and gearbox are part of the same casting.  It came to the UK with fuel injection.

I my opinion (and it's unpopular) the iron barrel is indeed a "bad bike". The AVL and UCE are not.

You can easily tell the difference between the AVL and UCE: the former has a carburettor. Also, the engine castings are different - do some Google image searching to familiarise yourself with the differences.

It's important to emphasise that the Bullet and Classic are fundamentally the same bike - they differ only in the cosmetics. I think you would enjoy both, but you may find you have a preference.

[El Saif]

Even cast iron Bullet diehards admit that the 4 Speed Albion gearbox is crunchy with lots of false neutrals.

The AVL separate gearbox has 5 speeds, non - crunchy and has no false neutrals.

Retro fitting the separate gearbox with 5 speeds to cast iron Bullets is a popular modification.

Those who want to replace the cast iron Bullet engine with a diesel engine, prefer to use the separate gearbox with 5 speeds.

[tooseevee]

How do I check if Electra x ?
year is 2011 any major differences this one def efi
Is Electra x a bad bike?
Thanks again

     My 2008 AVL Classic has the Electra-X engine (electronic ignition, electric starter, carburetor, 5-speed).
Electra-X factory inspection stickers are still all over my engine.

      The overall bike, however, is not an Electra-X. It is a Classic as it has a front drum brake, NOT disk.

       Your bike, Mikey, is the later fuel injection engine.

        Adrian, correct me where necessary.

[Adrian II]

No, you're bang on the money, there. 

The AVL classic may have been down to pressure from Kevin Mahoney on the factory to come up with something that looked more like the classic Bullet. I think American buyers wanted the old style tool boxes and other tin ware rather than the slightly odd styling of the Electra-X. The UK and European importers never went for this, "You'll have the weirdo tool box and you will like it!" Many didn't...

Again the word "Classic" was bandied about a lot by the RE India marketing department. The early EFI 500s were the Electra-EFI in the UK which I gather were sold as the G5 Bullet in the USA, the Classic (EFI) came out shortly after which was the model C5. The Electra EFI and G5 continued the Electra-X styling, while the Classic/C5 had the traditionally styled tin ware and 18" wheels.

The iron barrel is closest to the original 1950s Brit bike, but the ones imported en masse to the UK have electric start.

In the IB's later years the UK importers offered the following choice: 4-speed 350 kick start, 4-speed 500 kick start, 4-speed 500 electric start, 5-speed 500 electric start, but only as the Sixty-5 model in the UK (the US and Europe got the 5-speed E/S de luxe, as well as some Sixty-5s sold in the US), and the Electra-X 5-speed AVL 500. I went to the Watsonian-Squire open day in 2008 where they had the last of the dinosaurs on display.

A.

[Mikey82]

Just like to say Thankyou for all the advise 👍
I bought it for 1250 needs a clean, but sounds very nice not tappety  as I expected and starts easily…
Now to get a new battery lots to choose from any help/advise welcome

[Adrian II]

Hydraulic tappets on the UCE models quieten them down if you like that sort of thing.

I'd go for a Motobatt MBTX14AU battery, but just go on-line and check the dimensions against what's already on there before you order.

A.

[SteveThackery]

Just like to say Thankyou for all the advise 👍
I bought it for 1250 needs a clean, but sounds very nice not tappety  as I expected and starts easily…

Yay! Good for you.