Model - Bullet Electra 2004
Year of Purchase - 2004 in bangalore
Odometer - 19000+odd
Service - All recomended service done. Ouil changed every 300 Km and more.

Service Centre 1 - Teknik Motors, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Service centre 2 - Soniya Bullet, Bhandup, Mumbai

I have some inherent problems in my bike right from the day of purchase. Numerous visits and spends in the aforesaid service stations have not resolved them.

I request all bullet gurus and enthusiats to please help me in this. I have some time and money to spend and I want to repair my bike to the glory it is worth of. I shall take my bike anywhere in and around Mumbai if anyone wants to have a look at it.

Help needed! please:


Problems -

1. Engine / Gearbox -

a) Noise - The engine gives out mechanical rubbing noise. This should
be common on electras, but after 20000 Odd km, should it not have
reduced? The STD 350s have such a nice smooth engine, the engine noise
is barely audible at low RPMs. In my case, the rider don't hear the exhaust note at all. However, the exhaust note is there and is very clearly audible to the pillion.

When I bought the bike, Tecknik Motors folks said it will reduce after 10k KM on the odo, but here is 20K and it's still all noisy.

b) Heat - I am sure that my engine overheats. It starts nice and smooth
in the morning but within 5-6KM of stop and go, it gets really hot. I can feel it in my legs.
The STD 350s run a lot cooler in same kind of traffic.

c) Adjustable Cam Spindle - I used to have very high tappet sound issue. The tappet would stay silent for varely 20km after adjustment and then back. So, the service guys installed the Adjustable Cam Spindle (from T-Bird). This stoppped the tappet sound totally. After every service, I pestered the guys to adjust the spindle (Somehow, they don't want to do it). This made the bike run cooler and silent for about 200 odd kilometers. After that, it's back to its noisy hot nature.

d) Spark Plug attachment - I bought a spark plug attachment from a petrol pump. It was some kind of coil which was to be fitted serially with the spark plug. This surely had a great effect on my heating and noise issue. I had it for about six months. Then some smart reared mechanic at the service centre simply threw it out! Back to old story again.

e) Jerky accelaration - The accelaration is very jerky, upto 50 kmph. The pick up isn't bad or so I think. But with every throttle input, the bike kind of jerks up and pushes ahead. Similarly, retardation/ engine braking also is very jerky. Releasing the throttle all the way also have a jerking efect on the bike (as if it has hit a brick on the road - except the jump). I have goten the clutch overhauled twice already - no resolution.


2. Suspension/ Tyres -

a) Wobbling - The bike wobbles every now and then, especially after hitting a pot hole or rough patch at speed (any speed). It feels like that the rear wheel has gone out of alignment. I have gotten rear wheel opened and fitted 100 times, no help. I have gotten the tyres out of rim and refitted also, no help.Instead, leaving the bike parked for 2/3 hours always takes care of it. After the rest, it runs properly in a straight line.

b) Front tyre grip - The front has disk breaks. It skids on loose pebbles even if breaked mildly. Should I change to radial tyres in the front? What are the options?


It would be really nice if someone points me to some threads here or elsewhere were such problems are discussed. Also contact info of some reliable mechanics in Mumbai (Central suburbs will be double help) where I can get my things done will be great.