So you did proceed to enjoying a pint after parking the bike!?
Seriously, really am so relieved the bike has passed the MoT. There was the worry that it might require 'impossible' changes - for example, if the headlamp needed adjustment it's not obvious how to do that with the fixed casquette arrangement. Or other problems like if the brakes had not been up to scratch. But now I know we can have a long future together.
Nearly one year of owning this bike and I've done so much to it. Without wanting to tempt fate, I now have a useful, classic, road legal, starts readily, looks and feels like 1940s motorbike. Sounds old fashioned, looks old-fashioned, returns 80mpg (UK gallons), starts conversations - that can be a mixed blessing - still needs the carb tweaked, will have another go at making the wiring tidier.
Will no doubt get around to looking inside the engine but the Royal Enfield has such a basic engine. All parts for the bike are readily available and not outrageously expensive.
And it still makes me laugh out loud when we're out together.
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The odometer now reads about 1850 but might not get in many more miles this year . . .
Word is, these old iron barrel engines will do 60 all day, 70 on the odd occasion and 80 - once.
Unfortunately, seems there is a grain of truth. The Indian pistons have a cooling/expansion slot cast into them which gives a weakness and can lead to the top coming off the piston. Hitchcocks sells a forged piston, made in Britain, much stronger and eliminates that particular failure.80 - once , that’s too funny, but probably true!
Today, added more throttle and the bike actually accelerated.
Not a lot to report. With freezing temperatures, snow on the ground, more on the way later today and the garage colder than a witch's tit even working on the little Bullet is on pause right now.
In another place, the Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum, the question was asked why owners of iron-barrel Bullets seem to be posting less often. Are they - the owners that is - dying off? Or have they discovered that there are other bikes with FI and e-start and given up on 'proper' Bullets?
Here's my shot at an answer:
We own and ride a useable and functional antique, and I'm lucky enough to live in a quiet rural area with thousands of miles of country roads and little lanes to explore in an unhurried manner. Often find meself laughing out loud as we bop along and it's the implausibility that sommat so ancient in looks and design is actually a very nice motorbike to ride. But that does require involvement.
Mrs has asked me why I don't buy one of the 350 'classics' - similar olde worlde styling but modern reliability and all for an affordable price?
Sure it's tempting to go and spend 4 1/2 grand and have a pretty little 350, undoubtedly would be fun to ride, but that's where the experience stops. Pastiche styling, bike under warranty, dealer servicing or bid adieu to the warranty, plug into the diagnostic computer to check it all works? Nah! I'll stick with a basic old plodder that requires the owner to embrace it's foibles but rewards with a sense of achievement when it all operates correctly.
It's a real shame if the puddle of people happy with the quid pro quo of riding and tinkering is gradually drying up but I hope to soldier on for as many years as possible with my museum piece.
Not a lot to report. With freezing temperatures, snow on the ground, more on the way later today and the garage colder than a witch's tit even working on the little Bullet is on pause right now.
In another place, the Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum, the question was asked why owners of iron-barrel Bullets seem to be posting less often. Are they - the owners that is - dying off? Or have they discovered that there are other bikes with FI and e-start and given up on 'proper' Bullets?
Here's my shot at an answer:
We own and ride a useable and functional antique, and I'm lucky enough to live in a quiet rural area with thousands of miles of country roads and little lanes to explore in an unhurried manner. Often find meself laughing out loud as we bop along and it's the implausibility that sommat so ancient in looks and design is actually a very nice motorbike to ride. But that does require involvement.
Mrs has asked me why I don't buy one of the 350 'classics' - similar olde worlde styling but modern reliability and all for an affordable price?
Sure it's tempting to go and spend 4 1/2 grand and have a pretty little 350, undoubtedly would be fun to ride, but that's where the experience stops. Pastiche styling, bike under warranty, dealer servicing or bid adieu to the warranty, plug into the diagnostic computer to check it all works? Nah! I'll stick with a basic old plodder that requires the owner to embrace it's foibles but rewards with a sense of achievement when it all operates correctly.
It's a real shame if the puddle of people happy with the quid pro quo of riding and tinkering is gradually drying up but I hope to soldier on for as many years as possible with my museum piece.
Well said!
What you said, AdamC (and Raymond of course) I am also perhaps a wee bit younger than some on the forum at 57, but the knowledge and experience shared here has enabled me to enjoy this old bike way more than I otherwise would have. Wrenching on it has made it my favourite bike out of the 7 I've had over the years.
It's a real shame if the puddle of people happy with the quid pro quo of riding and tinkering is gradually drying up but I hope to soldier on for as many years as possible with my museum piece.
I'm sure a few of us 'old guard' are passing over to heavenly motorcycling nirvana beyond the pearly gates.
My dad was a genius engineer in my eyes; making parts to keep his charges running when 'old parts' were not available, or affordable.
My family story is similar. So sad.I think you guys are right on the mark. I believe with every generation we are moving away from mechanical interests and towards electronics and high tech interests. Looking at my own family, my grandfather was a farmer in Missouri in the early 1900’s. He was a skilled blacksmith and mechanic out of necessity because they lived in a remote rural area and when things broke you had to be able to fix things yourself. When my father was a young man he began working the farm with my grandfather, they pooled their money to buy a Model T truck to use on the farm.
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I remember my father talking about how creative and hands on they had to be with repairing their equipment. He told me how that old Model T lost a crankshaft bearing once and my grandfather dropped the pan and cut a piece of leather from his belt to use as a temporary bearing.
My dad was also a very accomplished mechanic, I learned a lot from him. He rebuilt car and tractor motors, built the house we lived in on the farm, he could fix anything!
Fast forward to my generation, I grew up in the muscle car era, every high school boy worked on cars, we did all our own maintenance and service work and tune ups. But compared to my father, my experiences were much more limited. My family moved to the city in the 60’s , and consequently I grew up as a city kid.
Now the next generation…..my two sons, they grew up in the computer age, playing with Nintendo games. Try as I might , they had no interest in learning how to work on things, they don’t like to get their hands dirty. They’ve done alright for themselves, one works in an office for the state, the other is a medical tech. But when something needs fixing, they pay for it to be done.
I now have four grand kids, and I’m quite sure none of them will ever hold a wrench or learn how to fix….anything.
My dad doesn't turn wrenches. Never did. He was a school teacher. My grandfather came to the U.S. in 1923 with $20. He was an adult. He found a job in a factory. I didn't know him as somebody who could fix stuff. Then me. I'm a licensed Airframe & Powerplant mechanic. While I can't hold a candle to many of you on this forum, I do a far better job of fixing stuff than most people I have to pay to do it.I think you guys are right on the mark. I believe with every generation we are moving away from mechanical interests and towards electronics and high tech interests. Looking at my own family, my grandfather was a farmer in Missouri in the early 1900’s. He was a skilled blacksmith and mechanic out of necessity because they lived in a remote rural area and when things broke you had to be able to fix things yourself. When my father was a young man he began working the farm with my grandfather, they pooled their money to buy a Model T truck to use on the farm.
View attachment 232033
I remember my father talking about how creative and hands on they had to be with repairing their equipment. He told me how that old Model T lost a crankshaft bearing once and my grandfather dropped the pan and cut a piece of leather from his belt to use as a temporary bearing.
My dad was also a very accomplished mechanic, I learned a lot from him. He rebuilt car and tractor motors, built the house we lived in on the farm, he could fix anything!
Fast forward to my generation, I grew up in the muscle car era, every high school boy worked on cars, we did all our own maintenance and service work and tune ups. But compared to my father, my experiences were much more limited. My family moved to the city in the 60’s , and consequently I grew up as a city kid.
Now the next generation…..my two sons, they grew up in the computer age, playing with Nintendo games. Try as I might , they had no interest in learning how to work on things, they don’t like to get their hands dirty. They’ve done alright for themselves, one works in an office for the state, the other is a medical tech. But when something needs fixing, they pay for it to be done.
I now have four grand kids, and I’m quite sure none of them will ever hold a wrench or learn how to fix….anything.