Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Did the older bullets come with short bottle silencers as standard from the factory?

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Yes all the Older Bullets came with Short bottle as standard fitment, until later in late 2000s I guess they introduced this long bottled silencers on Electra and altogether a different type of silencer on Thunderbird (long rocket shaped silencer, which does not come in new Thunderbird or in any other Bullet now).
Actually whatever silencer now comes on Bullet is also actually long bottled silencers, as when you remove the heat shield from the silencer you can see the shape clearly and it is a long bottled shape silencer.

RE Classic for ur needs...

Hey mate... Nice to hear you upgrading from a 125 to a 350. I think an RE Classic would be best suited for your needs mentioned. I've owned a Machismo 350 which was heavier than the bulls nowadays and trust me... Once you get used to its weight and how to throw it around, you'll be absolutely fine... Unless most of your travel is just complete choke-a-blocks.

About maintenance and reliability, an RE is surely not as reliable as the Jap bikes but most if its troubles are minor and as indicated by you, doesn't really seem to bother you so no issues. Electricals used to be one big issue before but someone with a 2010 up bullet should be able to give us guidance on that.

Some things I want to make sure to add... Pay heed to the running-in period and don't stress the engine, means you don't stress it both ways whether it be by high rpm or by higher geared engine knocking. Keep your oils topped up and in decent condition always. Don't forget to carry spare chain link locks when you travel outside of town. And lastly, ride it like a cruiser... Don't make redlining on a bullet a habit.

Have fun on your new ride mate.

Cheers.

Re: RE Classic for ur needs...

Apart from feeling a BULLEEEEET stuff, go with some practical aspects of RE.
Electra is anytime better in comfort for rider as well as Pillion.

RE is not for speed at all, it's handling is not that great at >100kmph. So <100kmph tyres of CL and Electra won't matter to much.

As far as traffic is concern RE was never that great in traffic, it's riders perception getting use to.

Buying bullet needs to think like a bullet.

Go with Electra if you need Pillion comfort!!

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

It is very evident from your post that you have decided for CL350. I certainly appreciate that. Most members here do not have clarity when they begin the thread. Initially ask for opinion, then switch over to other options and end up abandoning the thread which is bothersome.

Okay, now that you have decided on CL 350, just go for it! Consider this, if CL 350 had such a lot of issues do you think the company would leave it at that? Would it still have long waiting periods? People would have ignored bullets altogether which in turn would have lost its demand thereby the waiting period should have also come down.

Maintenance is not be overlooked for any bike be it a Bullet or even a TVS XL. I've seen poorly maintained Bullets of professionals to well maintained TVS XLs that is used by grocery merchants. I am sure many would agree on this. Maintenance is directly related to the owner of the motorcycle. While I prefer to change oil every 2500 kms, wash and polish the bike every week or once in 10 days, few may do so only at a point when the bike can no longer get dirty. Be prepared to spend some time with your 'would-be CL 350' and get in sync with it. It would be completely worth the pain wherever it is your body .

A few suggestions to keep away the rusts on 'your' CL350-
1. Do not wash the bike with hard/salt water - if you do not have options, run down a stream of mineral/RO water in the end, especially on the nuts, crevices and joints.
2. Immediately wipe it off with chamois cloth and allow to dry.
3. Polish with economical motomax or little expensive Meguiar/Mothers brand after it is dry - Apply, wait for haze and buff with microfibre cloth.
4. Wax the bike with the method above.
5. Spray considerable amount of WD-40 or Zorrik on all joints, nuts, crevices and allow to penetrate. Wipe off excess spray. In fact you could spray this even before commencing wash as well to keep moisture at bay.
6. Use Brasso and apply it on rims, spokes and chrome parts. Allow to haze and buff it off with microfibre towel (or) use WD-40 or Zorrick with cotton and wipe off.

This activity should set you back by 2-3hours and 250/- on a weekly off plus some frowning faces from people in the family .
Ensure you start the mission early morning and be back at home by 9AM to avoid the frowning and denial of breakfast

Keep us posted! Hoping to see ya soon on the CL350!!!

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Agree on almost all of your points except this 250 rs weekly. It won't cost much, since being a prudent caretaker of my Bull I can say that

Use a chain spray, I use ROLON, cost 120 rupees goes easily for 4 to 5 spray and duration of spray is around 400kms.
R-Seal polish which I apply after cleaning, 100 rupees, easily goes for some 10 wash, very less is required.
And WD-40 around 200 rupees.
Then I always take it for pressure+diesel wash in the garage to make sure every cell of the Bull is cleaned properly, one wash 70 rupees, I usually get it done on an average gap of 20-25 days and in between clean it myself.

So altogether it cost around 200 to 250 per month.

R-Seal - around 10 rupees per application (only required after big water wash)
Chain Spray- 30 rupees per spray, 2-3 times a month so around 70 rupees a month
WD-40 - Add 70 rupees for it per month
Water and Diesel wash - Say 90 rupees a month (considering 20-25 days gap)
So adding all- Around 250 Rupees a month

Isn't this a sensible breakdown of the cost

Only when it is pouring heavily and no-stop from the sky and the beautiful Indian roads adds to the make up of the Bull it becomes really difficult to keep it shiny everyday else it does shine

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

This is what happens when you type faster than you think .
The 250/- is of-course monthly and your break-down is very useful .

Won't diesel wash take away the clear coat over time? Did you check it mate?
Diesel washes are primarily done on engine bay and under chassis of cars which I do as well.

Just wanted to make sure .

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

You are absolutly right. The diesel is never applied on the painted parts intentionally it is only restricted to rims, engine cover, crank case, brake lever, crash guard etc. Basicall only to non painted metallic parts and it helps in not letting water stay on those parts.


Sent from my X10i using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Does CL350 comes with O-ring chain or conventional chain. Chain sprays are only recommended for O-ring/x-ring/y-ring chains.

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Yes CL350, CL500 and all other Bullets comes with O-ring chain.

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Actually i don't like the rear Tyre of Electra.. That's the main reason i am going for classic..!!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Upgrading with new tyres, means adding extra bucks..!! And i think it will not look as nice as classic..!!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Thanks a lot for such a nice reply..!! Thanks again..!! It almost cleared 80% of my queries.. But in you reply also you have mentioned that, once the clutch wire broke.. And i think its a big problem, if you are in a long distance ride, or going for some work.. The clutch wire may cost very less. Its not about the price, its about the problem it can create at that situation.. And being a very heavy bike, we also cant push it on the road for a long time.. And this clutch breaking problem is a common issue in bullet i think.. Because many people are complaining on this issue..

And what about the tyres..?? These are not tube less... What to do when its punctured..?? OMG..!! Cant think about the situation..!! Can we replace it with tubeless tyres..???

Hope to get nice and useful replies from your side.. and suggestions are always welcomed..!!!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

I also like the up-swept silencer, but my question is.. Does it has any impact on the FE..?? Or is there is any problem, if we change the factory fitted silencer..?? In many Google images i see all the bullets "Mostly Classic models" have this up-swept Silencer..!!
Should i change my factory fitting silencer at the showroom itself at time of buying..?? How much extra will it cost..??

Attaching the picture of my dream bike.. Shall i upgrade it like this..??

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Thanks for your valuable suggestions..!!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Thanks a lot dude.. Frankly speaking.. This the is best review i have ever come across..!! Well defined and suggested..!! After going through your reply.. Now i think, i can surely go for a booking..!!

One last question..
Among the 3 shades of classic which one should i prefer..?? Black...?? Maroon..?? Silver..??

Frankly saying.. I am totally confused in this segment..!!

Help me bro..!!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

After Going through your review, it seems that.. All that heavy maintenance cost hype for the bullets are just rumors..!! If we want something royal, then we can at least do this much of care for the great royal..!! Cheers dude..!! Really a nice reply..!!

Frankly speaking.. You all are really making my way smooth for the booking of the ROYAL..!! Now i think, i can move on..!!

And have my own ROYAL in my garage..!!

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

First of all thanks Shaswat for finding some sense in my reply, it gives pleasure to help fellow bikers with any sort of query.

Clutch cable braking is not a big issue, don't worry. Happened in my case does not mean that is the pattern, my friend has completed close to 23K on his Electra and it has not broken No machine is perfect, even the finest of the machine in this world is prone to getting kaput I had Avenger 200 before Classic and for that clutch cable had got broken at very early stage so it happens. Don't worry. Go for the love the pleasure it gives is unmatched, trust me. I never had a great liking for Bullets before but it made me fall in just one test ride (test ride of my friend's Electra)

No it does not comes with tubeless tires and I have no idea whether it can be changed to tubeless one as I never thought about it hence never tried to know it.



You can change the Silencer to up-swept one, it would cost 3.5K if you take it from RE showroom. No impact on mileage but do not go for the Silencer change for AT LEAST 2000 kms which is the running period. Now many people would say 1000 is fine, 500 is fine, after first service is fine but I would STRONGLY recommend change the Silencer only after 2000 Kms. The affect is not immediate but gradual.

And there are many aftermarket good silencers are available even the up-swept one.


OK. So can black be any day bad especially in case of Bullets. The answer is BIG NO. Black is one color for which you do not need to think if it would look good or not but do I vouch for Black, NO. (aaph-course not else I would have had Black Classic and not Silver ). Black is good but quite common and personally some how I feel the road presence is not felt much, I mean the Bullet looks to be lost in the chaos of the traffic.

Maroon, a big no cause it looks good only when it is dead clean and shiny. Even a little bit of dirt on it makes it's presence loud and clear (Now this was the color I was initially going for but good that I changed my mind later).

Silver. YES. The Bull looks superb in this color. Not common, even dead dirty still looks good, makes the road presence of the Bull more prominent and easy to maintain (maintain in the sense you don't need to clean it everyday to look good )

But at the end of it all, it is completely personal thing and nothing universal.


You are absolutely right. At least I felt so. I don't think that I do anything special to make it moving (touch wood, chair, table, tree )
This is all hyped and a little bit of credit for this tag should be given to the CI Bullets which has the ultimate authority and ownership of it (no war here but who wouldn't agree that CI Bullets are more maintanenace demanding). And then this legacy carried forward and the notion of maintenance attached to the Bullets is the general perception Only a perception? NO. They are indeed relatively- a little bit relatively more care demanding (rather maintenance demanind).

As I said before new UCE engine Bullets are maintenance free on most, most of the areas. But a little bit care is what it ask for and who would not like to offer at least that for such a beautiful peace of love Don't we need to take care of things to make sure they are working fine.

My 2 cents, absolutely forget about this maintenance, quality this blah blah blah and go for it. You gonna love it, the feeling is unmatched, the pleasure is unmatched. After all for nothing Royal Enfield is around for more than 100 years, the oldest motorcycle still in production.

Cheers and do update us on the progress

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

@Shaswat I owned a Thunderbird for 2.5 yrs and currently owns 200NS. Like every bike, Bullet also has it's pros and cons. Only thing you have to see is if the pros is more important for you and if you can live with the cons.

Let me share my experience. I had a Pulsar 150 (14bhp) and wanted to upgrade to a more powerful bike. Back in 2009, i din't have much options. I liked Bullet right from childhood days, so I bought a 2nd hand TB from a friend's friend. Well maintained bike 20K kms done 2006 model, AVL engine. It sounded much better than the current UCE twin spark engines. 18bhp and 21NM torque is what made me buy this bike.

The feeling of riding an RE, like many mentioned here, is very different. The thump of the engine and the attention you get makes you feel even better There is no doubt about comfort. Just hop on the TB and ride till the roads end or the tank dry up

Now the issues (applies to all models), which comes as a part of a heavy bike like Bullet: Changing cables, bulbs, chain sprockets, tyre etc more frequently than any other bike available in market. Changing drum brakes is much more frequent, I still can't understand why such a big bike comes with a drum @ the rear Engine oil changed every 3.5 to 4K kms and needs double the quantity. 200NS needs a change only after 7K
I had to change the tube everytime i got a puncture. All other bikes comes with tubeless these days.
And NO you cannot put tubeless on a BULL unless you change to alloy wheels, which will crack if you go off-roading.
Zig-zagging in traffic is possible, but not like you do with the other 150-200 ccs. The actual strength of the bullet is it's good high end torque. So by the time the bike hits 60kmph, your friends with a R15, CBR or 200NS would have crossed next signal. I enjoy that these days :P
So buy a bullet if you don't mind the lack in instant power, and doesn't want to cruise above 120kmph. Bike starts vibrating after 100kmph itself. Older versions like the one I had used to vibrate after 80 itself.

Honda, Yamaha, TVS and Bajaj has outgrown and raced past RE in terms of technology and reliability. My 200NS has done 18000 kms in 11 month. Not a single part changed. Only the servicing as per company manual is being done. I can top @140kmph and cruise @120kmph all day. I negotiate corners @80-90 with confidence.
But I still turn my head when I hear the thump and let him pass me I still miss that feeling of being a king on the road!

I agree that TB was a wrong choice for my riding style. So make your choice wisely, as 1.5L is not a small amount

If you want a relaxed ride, not worried about the top speed and acceleration and ready to dedicate time for the maintenance, then the BULL is for you.

Else if you are the type who wants that adrenaline rush, drool on Rossi's cornering and don't want to worry about taking the bike to a service center frequently....go for CBR250. Very comfortable and well refined.

Cheers

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Looks like you had AVL engine Bull?


Sent from my X10i using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Need the experts help in deciding my first ROYAL ENFIELD...!!

Yes, it had AVL engine. I guess the UCE started with twin spark.