Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum
Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: Mr.Mazza on October 01, 2013, 03:56:33 am
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Hey all, just a few quick questions about highway speeds on the new Enfield.
The stock top speed is around 70mph yes? Is hitting this speed on the edge of the bike exploding? Would it be comfortable cruising this all day?
Also, would swapping out sprockets for one less tooth improve this at all?
I ask this, as I am planning a trip around Australia, on an Enfield or the like (Maybe even an Iron Barrel) and that's a 14,000 km (8700 miles) round trip, on nice highways, through desert lifeless plains, but most of our highways are 69mph (110 kmph)
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ive been around aust twice - its a long trip so i'd say forget about this or you will be walk'in the nullabor and thats a bloody lonk walk!
I ask this, as I am planning a trip around Australia, on an Enfield or the like (Maybe even an Iron Barrel) and that's a 14,000 km (8700 miles) round trip, on nice highways, through desert lifeless plains, but most of our highways are 69mph (110 kmph)
go buy the uce it will sit on 100 to 110 if i was younger i'd do it on one. in the early 70's a friend and i purchased a new 125 cc rd yamaha then rode from orange nsw to adelaide and back.
so 40 years back if a 125cc two stroke can do it - so can this.
that said on a trip like that 110kph on a uce is actually gps read at bit over a 100kph. do the right thing by the bike and you'll be right with great economy to boot.
besides if you strike any drama - quick post on this forum for a quick reply.
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Sounds like a fun trip to me! I'm a very new rider (<3 months ever riding before) so take this as you will.
I occasionally hit the highways around me and my comfortable cruising speed is 65-70mph. Still getting used to wind blasts/turbulence while riding that fast but the bike sounds/handles fine. A little wobbly but I usually am wearing a nice size backpack to and fro 8)
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I have a 2013 C5. I can travel at 70mph but as for cruising at this speed for hour on end I feel you would be asking a few favours!. I am not widely experienced however my own gut sense is that settling for a cruising speed in the range 90-100 kph is far more comfortable. Nothing feels overly stressed. Rather than focusing on a number that you 'should' be able to achieve I would suggest listening to the machine and let it inform you where it is happy. Slowing everything down is relaxing. The machine comes into it's own when it is contentedly chugging along with occasional blatts and pokes as the terrain and spirit requires. Cruising around Australia sounds great. It is a dream I have also. Go for the byways and backroads as much as possible. I wish you every success and enjoyment on your venture.
Das
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Actually, for the new Unit Construction Engine, the top speed is 82 mph (132 kmph) but the engine has to be well broken in before this speed for any length of time won't overtax the engine.
These bikes can cruise at 65 mph all day long but they are really happiest at around 60 mph.
The old Iron Barrel on the other hand will overheat if you push it at 65 mph for any length of time. Their happier at 55 mph. :)
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Cheers guys, I was thinking of sticking around 100kmph haa, and I'm planning this for 2015, 100 years since ANZAC landing, leaving from the dawn service in Melbourne and doing it to raise money for LEGACY (Supports vets)
Doing it with my best mate hopefully, no support crew, just my mind, saddlebags and what on our backs.
Think it'll work?
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sounds good. all the best
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G'day Mazza sounds like a great plan and a damn good cause. My grand uncle was killed in that landing and nieces husband served 5 tours with special forces ( I think it was 5) in Afghanistan and while being a top bloke had a really hard time re-adjusting to civilian life.thankfully he had a supportive wife and family and is now doing well. I've never served and have no idea what these guys go through but I do know that it is really hard on some though they be highly intelligent , motivated , and commpassionate these conflicts sure take there toll . Best off luck with it. By the way I ride a g5 around rural vic a fair bit and it goes fine at legal speeds all day with occasional excursions into the 120-130 region . I say go for it, and keep us informed. Cheers, D.
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These bikes can cruise at 65 mph all day long but they are really happiest at around 60 mph.
S'true for me...
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Recently rode 2000km over 3 days, riding at 110-120kph for 3 hours, ten a 10 min break. The uce runs soooo well. 18 months and 30000 Kms later. Going well.
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If you don't have a windshield on it, you should try the flyscreen from Hitchcocks. It really makes a lot of difference without having a big windshield in front of you.
Bare
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Try to find away to carry stuff without the backpack, like maybe a pack over the back fender. Backpacks are fine for running errands and commuting, but get tiring and burdensome on long rides. Others may disagree, but my days of wearing a backpack full of crap ended when I left the Marines.
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I commute on mine on the Interstate (I-10 into Houston, Texas) 36 miles each way. I normally run about 70 indicated (which is a true 65 mph), with the occasionally run up to 80 indicated (about 75 actual) depending on traffic. I get better than 65 mpg that way, and the bike is holding up just fine (should hit 10,000 miles in the next week or so).
Of course, 35 mile blasts are not the same as all day rides.
I went up a tooth in front, but honestly I don't notice the difference. I have what in the States is called the B5 model. Also, for what it's worth, I have a Givi Airstar A602 screen, which does a good job of keeping the blast off of my chest. Freeway riding without a screen of any sort felt like my shoulders were going to be pulled out of the sockets!
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thats good to know bare about that flyscreen....like the look of it but thought it would do nothing...
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I've done an 900 km trip in a day stopping for fuel only. It was on 120 kph (indicated) most of that time. No problems whatsoever. Sectorsteve the screen makes a world of difference when travelling. I've got the screen and two leather saddlebags fitted, everything else including the sprokets are standard. Fuel economy was up around 30 km/l for the trip.
Cheers :)
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Thanks for the advice, this is really just long term planning, I don't even have my bike license yet!
The plan is to fit ourselfs with intercom system, and so go-pros to blog it all.
Backpack would really just be a camels pack (Water sack) looped in under helmet
Two saddlebags each bike, and a small fuel jerry on one, maybe even a water jerry.
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I think it's been covered above, but the UCE is the best choice. Remember that at cruising speed you don't want to be topped out or near topped out. You may need to accelerate or put on throttle to roll through curves, and at 55 mph a typical Iron Barrel won't cut it - strong headwinds and long upgrades will take their toll on your speed. It feels lousy to be topped out when cruising. Isn't safe in traffic either.
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I had my C-5 Classic on the Pocono International Speedway. We got 3 laps of the 205 mile tri-oval. Top indicated speed was 87 mph. I thick it would have done 90, but it only had 600 miles on it and I did not want to push it too hard. It had saddle bags and a windshield on it. Bigger than the fly one, and just big enough to hide behind.
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Try to find away to carry stuff without the backpack, like maybe a pack over the back fender. Backpacks are fine for running errands and commuting, but get tiring and burdensome on long rides. Others may disagree, but my days of wearing a backpack full of crap ended when I left the Marines.
+1. I use a messenger bag when I commute but I wouldn't want it or a backpack for a long ride.
Scott
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I have a D&D full exhaust which adds about 3 HP and I can hit a bit past 90 indicated. Feels like 130 though.
75 is fine to cruise at. Really feel like the exhaust just gave it that needed little extra power to be happy on US freeways. Getting the bike fully broken in helps too. By fully broken in I mean like maybe even couple thousand miles. I would say my bikes feels better than it ever has with about 4k miles on the clock and a few services under its belt.
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Getting the bike fully broken in helps too. By fully broken in I mean like maybe even couple thousand miles. I would say my bikes feels better than it ever has with about 4k miles on the clock and a few services under its belt.
True on the fully broken in part. mine rides a lot smoother and less vibration at 100kmph and above after 2000km