Royal Enfield Bullet faster than you might think

[CrusaderPhil]

Just had a ride out to Betws Y Coed North Wales met a couple of lads from Liverpool one on a BMW 1100RT and one on Honda, coming back along A5 back to Bangor, I noticed a couple headlights behind and it was the 2 Liverpool Lads, when we pulled in at the petrol station the one with the beemer came and said that thing can shift, meaning my Royal Enfield 500cc Bullet Electra EFI was quick around the bends on the Ogwen pass, on bends it is pretty good, have scraped the foot rests both side more than once, only when you have to over take do you take a couple of hours planning the overtake

[Snowdonia Rider]

Maybe you're the guy I see shifting on an antique
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[orac]

or maybe they are slow... just a thought
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Current rides - 2016 Triumph Street Triple Rx, 1994 Suzuki Bandit 400 VM, TGB 204 Classic 125cc
"with nothing left to lose, there is everything to gain. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"

[Triton Thrasher]

Of course it's fast.

Practically all other bikes are much faster though.
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Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[CrusaderPhil]

[CrusaderPhil]

[stinkwheel]

They are slow bikes but they are in no way an ill handling bike.

Short wheelbase, modular frame construction with engine as a stressed member, realtively narrow tyres. You can chuck them around.

I've overtaken many other motorcycles on my 350 bullet before and in fairness, I shouldn't be overtaking anything bigger than a 125 (and even many 125s have a higher top speed).

Thinking about it, the most bikes I overtook was on the Bedgellert road which is very near the Ogwen pass. It seems to work very well on the roads round there. Although I think it's more that for some reason people shit bricks.

That notwithstanding, I'm firmly of the oppinion thast if I pass another bike, they were clearly riding like a pussy because I'd probably have been going faster on almost anything else (including my Honda H100).

In fact, I have opined that I should have an ANPR camera fitted the the back of the bullet and anyone I overtake should have their licence immediately revoked.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[CrusaderPhil]

[stevo as b4]

A whole different thing altogether, but yesterday I was thinking how slow these modern Enfield 350's are after following one in the van on an uphill dual carriageway where it wasnt even holding 45mph.

I thought my KMX or just about any light 125 should be able to smoke one in a straight line, if not necessarily through some twisty bends.

Later I came off a roundabout onto another uphill dual track, and left my van in 4th and floored it, (turbo lag and no power), but this YZF125R with a loud can just managed to pull steadily past me while pinned, before the road levelled out again.

This time I wasn't sure what to make of it, I mean I know these bikes are more show than go, and are not anything like as fast as they look. But a 75mph 125 must be better accelerating than an 65mph 11bhp CG etc, but it just didn't seem much better out on the road. A CG used to smoke cars off the lights to about 35-40mph from memory?

[Diggs]

I remember years ago riding big jap bikes with a bunch of mates down leafy lanes in North Yorkshire when a black bike with a single round headlight tagged on. We pulled over after a bit for nicotine and bullshit, and watched this old codger on an Enfield India come duffing past shouting "too much power lads" whilst pointing at our fire-breathing monsters.

Goes to show that any bike can be fast given big enough balls and the right roads.

Come to think of it, one of the fastest bikes I have ever ridden down tight country lanes was a tatty but sorted MZ Scorpion Sport which for the youngsters and terminally hip was a single cylinder four stroke with an engine taken from a Yamaha trailbike.
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[CrusaderPhil]

[stinkwheel]

[CrusaderPhil]

[CrusaderPhil]

[Rogerborg]

The 500s have a decent midrange, it's just that the midrange is at about 30mph.

They're not light, but they are reasonably agile, and you can throw them around surprisingly well, up to the limits of your tyres (I'm on some Elbonian ditchfinders at the moment). More to the point, it's bags of fun to do so.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[G]

I've overtaken plenty of bikes on my Charge.

(*Hybrid push bike, in some cases with a dog running beside me.)

It turns out a lot of motorbike riders don't make great use of their vehicles abilities for getting from A to B. Even had one case on an older push bike where I only just failed to beat a Harley through a set of 'twisties' - I still reckon if my wheel bearings weren't completely shot so I could brake later I'd have beaten them.

[CrusaderPhil]

[G]

Getting your knee down won't help you. Hanging off the bike will, if you're not doing it. Or getting a slightly more modern designed bike .

[CrusaderPhil]

[G]

You can get your knee down without hanging off (depending on bike and speed of course).

You can hang off and not get your knee down.
For the most part on track I'll hang off and not get my knee down - sliders cost money that could be spent on other things.

Hanging off keeps the bike more upright which means the suspension works better and can put you in a position the tyre offers more grip.

[CrusaderPhil]

[G]

Getting towards your 80s?

Certainly seen those in their 70s doing trackdays and enjoying them.

Or just not fit enough for them?

[CrusaderPhil]

[Rogerborg]

[stinkwheel]