Thanks for the info buddy. But what can be paid for a good condition bike.

i didnt know that, thanks for the info... currently i have a 1978 bullet.... its not mine sadly but am in love with the bike..... so am planning to get one for myself. how was the performance of the Electra 5 speed?

Friends (who are searching for CI bullets in 2010 and onwards),
You are too late to search for CI bullets.
In used market the CI bullet price is sky high (even higher than new one); especially right shift 4s models i.e. STd 350 & Electra 4S.
Myself is in search of a machismo 4s (AVL engine) in my city and mechanics are making more than 10k brokerage on a <25K bike.

I had never ridden an Electra 5S but it shouldn’t as good as 4S models (because of 5 speed gear box and lighter crank).
You can find Electra 5s near about 65k of 2007 make.
If this 1978 bullet is in good condition and you can get it for correct price, better to buy this one.

Cost of Cast Iron Bullets in Second hand market

Here in Mumbai, a STD CI 350 bike that was considered to be a piece of junk( requiring a proper overhaul) about a year back sells for nothing less than 50k. Immaculate bikes circa 2009 go for anywhere between 85k to 110k. The same goes for the 4 speed electra as well, the only exception being 5 speed electra that does not command that kind of crazy prices.

I am so glad I have an Electra 4S and have maintained it immaculately ever since I bought it in 2004!

Whats the difference in performance and maintenance between the std CI and AVL?

sorry for asking too many questions, dont want to be stuck with a lemon later on!

thanks.

Dude, you're buying a bullet. Be prepared to make a lot of lemonade

The good thing is that parts are cheap and even a complete rebuild will not cost you much. My advice is to buy cheap and rebuild it yourself. It's not rocket-science and you'll have me and the grumpy-but-good-natured Slingshot to help you.

My personal preference is the old-style pushrod-engined bullet, for its refinement and thump. However they need more regular valve-adjustment (this is not expensive or painful if you are able to locate a genuine expert near you).

And among those pushrod and cast-iron-engined behemoths, I find the 500 more preferable than the 350 for all reasons (bigger lump = bigger thump) other than fuel-consumption. If buying a 350, buy as old a bike as you can find. The pre-1978 bikes are awesome.

The experts can tell you the more intricate technical differences but from whatever I know, AVLs are noisier (due to the clattery overhead as opposed to the previous pushrod-driven valve-train) and are said to have a bit more power than the Cast Iron-engined bikes. Somehow I could never get the Royal Enfield feel when riding an AVL though.

Oh yeah, and keep away from "performance" parts sellers from Karol Bagh, LOL.

Hello Vivekjayasheel, i agree with you view on Pre 1978 bullets. I am currntly in talks with a 1973 bull. The bike is not in such a good condition, but the engine is claimed to be an sealed one(factory fit). original paint, single owner, , tyres need replacement. Rims are rusted. it come with a speedo lining from the rear hub.. price : 50 K. I wanted to know if this pricing is OK for Karanataka. As the prices are sky high in Bangalore..I am sourcing this outside Bangalore. Guys please suggest if you feel this price is OK for such a bike ??? I also wanted to know, if 1972 models of std bullet were with G2 engines ??

Just a personal opinion, but I wouldn't pay 50k for any bullet. And for the one that you have mentioned above, if it has clean papers, 5k is more reasonable.

Guys

Off late I have seen lotta guys looking in for Enfield's and with that option we tend to go to our known mechanic (Just Known) and check with them...these hooligans try to make cash out of it. No mechanic on this earth can say whats there in the engine unless and until he has had day in and day out with a Enfield.

Do not believe in any of the mechanics / brokers when you are planning in to pick a bike (not only RE)...If you are really keen in picking a RE...pls go by the contacts from any clubs, check out with those people, there are quite a lot of people who keep their bikes as good as new, they will go sit at the mechanic and get things done even for some minor work or do it off themselves.

Speak to some local clubs, or go for a new enfield UCE if you are not much acquinted for a Cast Iron Engine.

The papers are clean, and i will get the bike in running condition. I agree that the price that i am being quoted is high. I have been told that the owner will get a Insurance/FC done for this bike before he hands over to me(for 50K). I believe the owner stopped using this bull (or handed over to this mechanic only a few days ago) and after this it has been lying in a open compound. With some construction going on around the site, the bullet looks worse with all dirt and dust on it. I can hardly convince him for 45K, not more than that. I will have to check if can bargain on new tyres with in 45K. The only work i will have to get done on the bike after I buy would be a repaint (if the condition is found to be very bad after a wash) and may be a chrome plating on other parts if it is hard to get rid of rust.

how much would a chrome plating cost here in Bangalore. I have no idea on this. Can any one help me for some good location in Bangalore for chrome plating and cost calculation ? ?

I approached this bike only with a known mechanic. I don't really know the owner, but i am in talks with mechanic directly. The mechanics here in Karantaka are very clever, and they know that software engineers from Bangalore come looking for bullets, and they quote such prices. I also looked for some options to get bullets sourced from TN or AP, but i don't not have any good known friends who can help me. I went around some known mechanics in Bangalore, and asked him that i need a bullet somewhere within 25K-30K and i would rebuild it on my own. He started telling " 25K 30K mein milega to hum hi usko ready kar lega". I went across a few bullets on sale..nothing less than 65-70K in Bangalore...i some times feel RE should start producing those oldies again.
I also checked around for some advertisements on Internet..same story there !!

I already own two bikes, a HH-passion and a HH-CBZx, so i would not be using this bullet so often, so I am particularly interested in a CI bullet.

Most of the hype in Bangalore for bullets is far fetched. 45K for a bike in a dilipated condition is so not worth.. Anyways another good way to hunt a bullet is to go around the Hippie route/circuit i.e Goa, Gokarna, Hampi etc. There you may find a foriegner wanting to sell of his enfield as he is leaving the country. On my travels last december I came across two bulls this way. One a CI 500 that an Israeli gentleman wanted to sell off for 35k in Hampi and an Electra 2003 (Silver) a Briton wanted sell for 45k in Arambol, Goa. Both the bikes looked in good shape especially the Electra it was in top shape and both had the touring rigs mounted. I was on a driving trip and was faced with the problem of not having anybody to rid the bike. Or else..

Don't look at the odometer of an old bullet. fixing an odo is very easy. get the bullet checked frmo a trusted mechanic who can tell you if the engine is still ok or not.

If you would not be driving the bullet that often, the CI bullet (STD) would require more attention. in that case, preferably for for the newer UCE ones.

CI STD bullets comparatively need more maintenance, so be ready to get the battery recharged from battery shop if you don't start your bike for 3-4 weeks (the battery will drain out) and other quirks.

if you would like to go for CI bullet... prefer Electra

Electra with CDI ignition.

Hi Vivekjayasheel,

I am from Pune as well, can you let me know where i can expect to get some good old CI bullets? Any place you can guide me and help me to restore old bike as well. Currently i have received a quote for 70 K for 1965 G2.