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Hello fellow Riders and Thumpers !
Quick background , So I owned a Apache 160 Hyper Edge (2012 - 2019) it was my first bike during college days and I loved the aggressive posture and peppy throttle response of that bike ! Used it majorly to travel from home to college .. But later when during Masters my college was a bit far and the route was always jammed packed with traffic.. So started using local trains (infamous Mumbai's lifeline) for commute and Apache was not used much ... later after getting a job , I again tried switching to Apache, but then somehow I started disliking the aggressive posture and nature of the bike... You can't do a leisure ride on a Apache [emoji14] .. Trust me it's too difficult, the short gearing and peppy throttle response doesn't help either... Then I rode an Avenger 220 during a trip to Goa and was impressed by it's comfortable laid-back posture !
That's when I decided that's it is time to change my bike ... I needed something very comfortable and I wanted to ride leisurely (rather than continuously shift gears and race) But I was not sure about how much I will be using it to I was a bit apprehensive and finally decided to look for second hand options ... Test rode a few Avenger 200 Cruise but it felt like it was too short for me, literally looked like a praying-mantis (I am 5.10 feet) on it... But then while talking to my friends and relatives one of them suggest why don't you go for a Bullet !
And that Sentence bought all flood of childhood memories !!!
The Vintage Look ! The Thump ! The Road Presence ! A motorcycle with a great legacy ! And finally a motorcycle that stirs your soul !
After man sleepless nights I was convinced that I needed a Royal Enfield ... It was my childhood dream to own one .. And there's no better time than now !
Then the search began ! I was looking for a 350CC since 400 or 500 CC's were overkill for regular use (I would be majorly using it in city) . Although I liked the interceptor , 650 CC twin cylinder engine would toast my thighs in Mumbai traffic .
So the ideally options that remained were TBird, TBird-X or Classic .. ABS was a mandatory factor for me (at least single channel) . I decided to take test rides at Royal Enfield showroom . I liked the posture and comfort of TBird , but it didn't felt like a Royal Enfield ... it didn't related to my childhood memories of Royal Enfield . So I decided to try Classic ... Classic had that Royal Enfield feel , but the handlebar felt a bit low and riding position was not that comfortable (also the bike provided for test ride was not properly maintained and had clocked 50k+ on ODO) .
Then while roaming inside the showroom my eyes felt on this blue beauty ! This particular Royal Enfield looked so elegant and I could easily relate it to the vintage motorcycle that I had dreamed of !!!!
I asked about the bike and was told that it's called Bullet X and it's a modernized version was the Bullet Standard Model ... No wonder it looked so elegant and familiar ! So this particular model (Bullet) was launched 1932 and most of the parts and design remains the same over so many decades !
Unfortunately the showroom did not kept any Bullet X for a test ride ... I tried contacting nearby dealerships but no luck .. Again I came home a bit disappointed . I tried to browse and find reviews on this particular model but surprisingly I did not find any reviews ! But then suddenly all these ads started popping up (the all knowing Google was now aware that I was interested and started bombarding me with Bullet X on all sites
) .. One of the ads was OLX and I randomly clicked on it and I found out that one guy was selling a Bullet X which was barely used for 3 months ! I saw the pics and had a short conversation with seller and he seem genuine . I decided to check out the bike, so I rode 10km checked out the bike , took a test ride and I was impressed ! The torque was amazing . And the bike was also well maintained and had clocked around 2k on ODO ...
I was a bit reluctant on buying a second hand bike but then this seemed as good as new, plus it had 9 months official warranty left .. So even if I encountered any issue I could still claim things under warranty ...
So I finalized the price and decided to do the deal on following weekend !
And finally I bought home my dream bike !!!
The joy of owning something which you had dreamed about since childhood is priceless !
Now coming to actual review of The Bullet X ( I felt the above part was equally necessary since this isn't a bike that you usually buy by reading just the Specifications, Bullet is an emotion )
Pros:
The biggest pro is the thump and character of the bike ... You feel very relaxed and just feel like riding forever on highways with sunset on the horizon...!
1. Torque feels phenomenal
2. Handlebar is bit raised than Classic so feels more comfortable
3. Gear ratios seems perfect and well spaced ... You can easily pick up the bike in second gear from standstill without giving it any throttle (Surprisingly I did not had a hard time finding neutral)
4. Vibrations seems less than other RE's that I have rode(Classic,TBird) (maybe because this bike is new, or the vibrations creep in at much higher RPM than Classic due to different Sprocket used in Bullet X)
5. Front Disk Break with ABS has a good bite and gives you ample confidence to handle this heavy bike .
Cons:
1. Suspension feels a bit stiff, I can literally feel the jerks from small stones travel to my back .
2. Rear Tyre is too thin . Rear tyre profile is 90 90 19 (same profile as front tyre) .
3. Rear mudguard touches tyre on speedbreakers if your pillion is above 80 kg . (just for reference my weight is just 65 kg, so I don't think bike is overloaded is rear pillion is 80 kg)
4. Rear Drum brakes ... well they are drum brakes, would be have been awesome if rear disk with dual channel ABS was an option .
I have used the bike for around 500 km approx until now . Had planned long rides in March and April ..... But Covid19 ruined all the plans
Mods:
Now coming to another exiting part .. I always wanted to customize my bike... give it a personal and unique identity and make it tailored for my needs .
Planned Mods :
1. Change seat :-
I am planning to install those good and comfy bucket seats. Reason being I want to reduce the height a bit (even though I am 5.10, I cannot touch both my feet flat on ground , and it makes a bit uncomfortable in city traffic) and the stock seat uses highest density form so it feels a bit hard .
2. Change Tyres :-
The stock tyres are very average , especially the front one is just cheap ribbed tyre (gives it a classic retro look, but safety comes first). So I am planning to upgrade to either Michelin Sirac Street or Ceat Grip XL .
3. Change rear Rims to Classic350 profile :-
The rear tyre is too thin,and the max upsize is 3.50 (from 3.25) ... But it also increases height by a few inches and like I mentioned rear mudguard already touches with heavy pillion on stock tyres... upsizing will worsen that situation . So I am planning to put Classic350 tyres, which will reduce the rim diameter to 18 inches ( from stock 19 inches) and will also allow me to install a fatter tyre of 110 or 120 profile .
4. Change Rear Suspensions :-
The rear Suspension feels too stiff . I have set the preload setting to 4 (I guess there are 5 settings in total), still doesn't feel that great. In Apache I used to feel the suspension move a little bit when-ever I sat on bike ... But in Bullet it doesn't seem to bulge at all ... Maybe because I weight just 65 Kgs... But anyways I want to make it suitable to my use.. I was planning to swap it with Classic-350 (since it is a direct fit , and is gas charged and feels a little bit softer) . But then since I am changing it anyways I was thinking about going for Apache 180 2V suspensions . (I've seen threads and videos where people have fitted it perfectly) . But I am not sure about the length (Can someone tell me the exact measurements of Apache's suspension??) Would love to hear if anyone has better suggestions !
5. Upgrade to Alloy Wheels and tubeless Tyres :-
Getting puncture fixed in tube tyres is a cumbersome process . ( the whole wheel needs to be removed ) ... But then I don't trust local brands like Parado and Erado . So I am waiting for Official Royal Enfield Alloys .. RE has released Alloys for Dual Disk bikes, but there is still no option for Single Disk . Until then I am sticking to good'ol spokes .
6. Change Handle Bar :-
Although the stock handlebar is pretty comfortable (unlike Classic) . I want some even more comfy ... So I was looking into the one that seems most recommended, the RD350 handlebar . But I am still on lookout for options.
7. Exhaust :-
How can a Royal Enfield bike ever be complete without a proper exhaust thump ! Again , I am not looking for loud free flow exhausts like Red Rooster . I am waiting for the Official Royal Enfield legal exhausts that they had announced last year . I will be going for Straight Cut design (seems loudest among the lot).
8. Backrest/Back Rack :-
Stock one is just too thin and doesn't provide any back support to pillion, so I am planning to add a good back rest along with a rear rack ... But I am looking out for elegant options which won't affect to flow and design of bike ... There is one provided by Bandidos Expedition carrier with back rest .. or the one from Venom .. Both are a bit costly though .. Still on search for perfect fit.
9. Handguards :-
For me primary reason for buying this is that it protects fingers during front collision (had one on Apache when a *$&% Rickshaw took a U turn without checking on rear ... Had bruised my fingers from collision and my final university exams were couple of weeks away) , and secondary reason is it protects levers in case bike falls.
10. Turbonix Crash Guard :-
This particular crash guard feels so safe . In case of fall bike won't be damaged at all... But only thing that I am worried about is that it will be too big for regular city commutes and parking ... [Anyone using this ? Please help me out on this]
11. Aux Lights Setup :-
Looking for a elegant Aux Setup. Don't want to install heavy mounts . Still on lookout for reliable and elegant options.
12. Grills for Front Headlight :-
I want the Bullet Trails grills ... But they are a bit costly from R.E. official site ... (Costs about 1200) https://www.royalenfield.com/in/en/gma/1990664/ .
Nothing similar is available in market at the moment ... I don't want those grills with vertical lines. looking for mesh grill ones which give a classic retro look .
Completed Mods :
None at the moment .
So I will be updating the mods in this thread after I have completed installing each one of 'em and also post periodic reviews. Do post your suggestion for mods or places where I can get them done!
Meanwhile I am also looking for good Rider Groups (I am still an amateur, so planning to start from small trips) .
Also I don't see any other Bullet X thread here, so feel to use this thread for basic questions and queries .
[@Moderators - Feel free to move this thread to DIY or Accessories or Modifications thread if you feel the content is more towards that area.]
Quick background , So I owned a Apache 160 Hyper Edge (2012 - 2019) it was my first bike during college days and I loved the aggressive posture and peppy throttle response of that bike ! Used it majorly to travel from home to college .. But later when during Masters my college was a bit far and the route was always jammed packed with traffic.. So started using local trains (infamous Mumbai's lifeline) for commute and Apache was not used much ... later after getting a job , I again tried switching to Apache, but then somehow I started disliking the aggressive posture and nature of the bike... You can't do a leisure ride on a Apache [emoji14] .. Trust me it's too difficult, the short gearing and peppy throttle response doesn't help either... Then I rode an Avenger 220 during a trip to Goa and was impressed by it's comfortable laid-back posture !
That's when I decided that's it is time to change my bike ... I needed something very comfortable and I wanted to ride leisurely (rather than continuously shift gears and race) But I was not sure about how much I will be using it to I was a bit apprehensive and finally decided to look for second hand options ... Test rode a few Avenger 200 Cruise but it felt like it was too short for me, literally looked like a praying-mantis (I am 5.10 feet) on it... But then while talking to my friends and relatives one of them suggest why don't you go for a Bullet !
And that Sentence bought all flood of childhood memories !!!
The Vintage Look ! The Thump ! The Road Presence ! A motorcycle with a great legacy ! And finally a motorcycle that stirs your soul !
After man sleepless nights I was convinced that I needed a Royal Enfield ... It was my childhood dream to own one .. And there's no better time than now !
Then the search began ! I was looking for a 350CC since 400 or 500 CC's were overkill for regular use (I would be majorly using it in city) . Although I liked the interceptor , 650 CC twin cylinder engine would toast my thighs in Mumbai traffic .
So the ideally options that remained were TBird, TBird-X or Classic .. ABS was a mandatory factor for me (at least single channel) . I decided to take test rides at Royal Enfield showroom . I liked the posture and comfort of TBird , but it didn't felt like a Royal Enfield ... it didn't related to my childhood memories of Royal Enfield . So I decided to try Classic ... Classic had that Royal Enfield feel , but the handlebar felt a bit low and riding position was not that comfortable (also the bike provided for test ride was not properly maintained and had clocked 50k+ on ODO) .
Then while roaming inside the showroom my eyes felt on this blue beauty ! This particular Royal Enfield looked so elegant and I could easily relate it to the vintage motorcycle that I had dreamed of !!!!
I asked about the bike and was told that it's called Bullet X and it's a modernized version was the Bullet Standard Model ... No wonder it looked so elegant and familiar ! So this particular model (Bullet) was launched 1932 and most of the parts and design remains the same over so many decades !
Unfortunately the showroom did not kept any Bullet X for a test ride ... I tried contacting nearby dealerships but no luck .. Again I came home a bit disappointed . I tried to browse and find reviews on this particular model but surprisingly I did not find any reviews ! But then suddenly all these ads started popping up (the all knowing Google was now aware that I was interested and started bombarding me with Bullet X on all sites
) .. One of the ads was OLX and I randomly clicked on it and I found out that one guy was selling a Bullet X which was barely used for 3 months ! I saw the pics and had a short conversation with seller and he seem genuine . I decided to check out the bike, so I rode 10km checked out the bike , took a test ride and I was impressed ! The torque was amazing . And the bike was also well maintained and had clocked around 2k on ODO ... I was a bit reluctant on buying a second hand bike but then this seemed as good as new, plus it had 9 months official warranty left .. So even if I encountered any issue I could still claim things under warranty ...
So I finalized the price and decided to do the deal on following weekend !
And finally I bought home my dream bike !!!
The joy of owning something which you had dreamed about since childhood is priceless !
Now coming to actual review of The Bullet X ( I felt the above part was equally necessary since this isn't a bike that you usually buy by reading just the Specifications, Bullet is an emotion )
Pros:
The biggest pro is the thump and character of the bike ... You feel very relaxed and just feel like riding forever on highways with sunset on the horizon...!
1. Torque feels phenomenal
2. Handlebar is bit raised than Classic so feels more comfortable
3. Gear ratios seems perfect and well spaced ... You can easily pick up the bike in second gear from standstill without giving it any throttle (Surprisingly I did not had a hard time finding neutral)
4. Vibrations seems less than other RE's that I have rode(Classic,TBird) (maybe because this bike is new, or the vibrations creep in at much higher RPM than Classic due to different Sprocket used in Bullet X)
5. Front Disk Break with ABS has a good bite and gives you ample confidence to handle this heavy bike .
Cons:
1. Suspension feels a bit stiff, I can literally feel the jerks from small stones travel to my back .
2. Rear Tyre is too thin . Rear tyre profile is 90 90 19 (same profile as front tyre) .
3. Rear mudguard touches tyre on speedbreakers if your pillion is above 80 kg . (just for reference my weight is just 65 kg, so I don't think bike is overloaded is rear pillion is 80 kg)
4. Rear Drum brakes ... well they are drum brakes, would be have been awesome if rear disk with dual channel ABS was an option .
I have used the bike for around 500 km approx until now . Had planned long rides in March and April ..... But Covid19 ruined all the plans
Mods:
Now coming to another exiting part .. I always wanted to customize my bike... give it a personal and unique identity and make it tailored for my needs .
Planned Mods :
1. Change seat :-
I am planning to install those good and comfy bucket seats. Reason being I want to reduce the height a bit (even though I am 5.10, I cannot touch both my feet flat on ground , and it makes a bit uncomfortable in city traffic) and the stock seat uses highest density form so it feels a bit hard .
2. Change Tyres :-
The stock tyres are very average , especially the front one is just cheap ribbed tyre (gives it a classic retro look, but safety comes first). So I am planning to upgrade to either Michelin Sirac Street or Ceat Grip XL .
3. Change rear Rims to Classic350 profile :-
The rear tyre is too thin,and the max upsize is 3.50 (from 3.25) ... But it also increases height by a few inches and like I mentioned rear mudguard already touches with heavy pillion on stock tyres... upsizing will worsen that situation . So I am planning to put Classic350 tyres, which will reduce the rim diameter to 18 inches ( from stock 19 inches) and will also allow me to install a fatter tyre of 110 or 120 profile .
4. Change Rear Suspensions :-
The rear Suspension feels too stiff . I have set the preload setting to 4 (I guess there are 5 settings in total), still doesn't feel that great. In Apache I used to feel the suspension move a little bit when-ever I sat on bike ... But in Bullet it doesn't seem to bulge at all ... Maybe because I weight just 65 Kgs... But anyways I want to make it suitable to my use.. I was planning to swap it with Classic-350 (since it is a direct fit , and is gas charged and feels a little bit softer) . But then since I am changing it anyways I was thinking about going for Apache 180 2V suspensions . (I've seen threads and videos where people have fitted it perfectly) . But I am not sure about the length (Can someone tell me the exact measurements of Apache's suspension??) Would love to hear if anyone has better suggestions !
5. Upgrade to Alloy Wheels and tubeless Tyres :-
Getting puncture fixed in tube tyres is a cumbersome process . ( the whole wheel needs to be removed ) ... But then I don't trust local brands like Parado and Erado . So I am waiting for Official Royal Enfield Alloys .. RE has released Alloys for Dual Disk bikes, but there is still no option for Single Disk . Until then I am sticking to good'ol spokes .
6. Change Handle Bar :-
Although the stock handlebar is pretty comfortable (unlike Classic) . I want some even more comfy ... So I was looking into the one that seems most recommended, the RD350 handlebar . But I am still on lookout for options.
7. Exhaust :-
How can a Royal Enfield bike ever be complete without a proper exhaust thump ! Again , I am not looking for loud free flow exhausts like Red Rooster . I am waiting for the Official Royal Enfield legal exhausts that they had announced last year . I will be going for Straight Cut design (seems loudest among the lot).
8. Backrest/Back Rack :-
Stock one is just too thin and doesn't provide any back support to pillion, so I am planning to add a good back rest along with a rear rack ... But I am looking out for elegant options which won't affect to flow and design of bike ... There is one provided by Bandidos Expedition carrier with back rest .. or the one from Venom .. Both are a bit costly though .. Still on search for perfect fit.
9. Handguards :-
For me primary reason for buying this is that it protects fingers during front collision (had one on Apache when a *$&% Rickshaw took a U turn without checking on rear ... Had bruised my fingers from collision and my final university exams were couple of weeks away) , and secondary reason is it protects levers in case bike falls.
10. Turbonix Crash Guard :-
This particular crash guard feels so safe . In case of fall bike won't be damaged at all... But only thing that I am worried about is that it will be too big for regular city commutes and parking ... [Anyone using this ? Please help me out on this]
11. Aux Lights Setup :-
Looking for a elegant Aux Setup. Don't want to install heavy mounts . Still on lookout for reliable and elegant options.
12. Grills for Front Headlight :-
I want the Bullet Trails grills ... But they are a bit costly from R.E. official site ... (Costs about 1200) https://www.royalenfield.com/in/en/gma/1990664/ .
Nothing similar is available in market at the moment ... I don't want those grills with vertical lines. looking for mesh grill ones which give a classic retro look .
Completed Mods :
None at the moment .
So I will be updating the mods in this thread after I have completed installing each one of 'em and also post periodic reviews. Do post your suggestion for mods or places where I can get them done!
Meanwhile I am also looking for good Rider Groups (I am still an amateur, so planning to start from small trips) .
Also I don't see any other Bullet X thread here, so feel to use this thread for basic questions and queries .
[@Moderators - Feel free to move this thread to DIY or Accessories or Modifications thread if you feel the content is more towards that area.]
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