Finally located the Bull 500. To buy or wait for the AVL?? - Team-BHP

Puffdamgcdragon · 19th March 2007, 16:33

Note from Team-BHP Support : Please do NOT use a cut-copy-paste job from word processors as the end result (lack of formatting) is an eyesore for other members.

Hi All.

As most of You already know, the company has stopped selling the Bull 500 in India for a few months now and after weeks of calling up dealers in Sikkim, Siliguri, Kolkatta, Delhi etc. ( I live in Sikkim) and talking to the Company as well as the regional manager (North East), I just couldn't get hold of the Bull 500. Everybody advised me to either I go in for the 350 or wait for the AVL 500, which has been due for quite some time now and the Regional Manager told me that it could take another couple of months.

The thing is, after owning several Enfields in the past, the AVL engine has never appealed to me. I know that it has a faster acceleration, is higher revving and is more modern as well, but it doesn't have the classic Bullet thump, nor it's lazy touring ability.

After much searching and networking, I finally managed to locate one dealer at Chandigarh, who claims to have a stock of 10 Bull 500s ordered fresh from the company. He said it should arrive at his dealership in Chandigarh within the next 20 days.

I'm quoted Rs 89,700/- ex showroom Chandigarh and I’ll have to go all the way there, get the bike, pay about 4 grands and book it in a train and come back along with it. Plus going and coming/ staying expense, etc. etc.

Drawbacks of the Iron engined 500ES- CB points, 4 gears and only one color- Black. Plus, it has 22bhp as compared to the 25bhp of the soon to appear 500ES.

I could live with the 4 gears and the CB points, I guess. Been riding 4 gear 350s with CB points for fifteen odd years now and read somewhere that I could convert it to a CDI ignition later, if required.

What concerns me is the pulling power, acceleration and torque, as compared to the regular 350 (18bhp) and the yet-to-be- released 500AVL.(25bhp)

I've never ridden a well maintained bull 500 and don't know how much more powerful it actually feels in real world scenario, as compared to the regular Electra 350 or the AVL 350 (Thunderbird/ Machismo).

I know I’m passionate about the Traditional Bull 500 but am beginning to wonder, is it worth all this trouble??? Should I plonk my money for yet another 350 that I can get in my town itself or grit my teeth and wait (2-3 months? 1 year?? 10 years???) for the upcoming AVL 500??

In a real world scenario, Does the 500 feel that much more powerful than the 350, to justify the extra expense and the trouble I’ll be taking to acquire it?? Is the difference that noticeable? Is it worth it??
On the other hand, will the upcoming AVL 500 be that much better than this?

Should I go ahead and pay the deposit for the bike at Chandigarh? Or do I wait for the AVL?? Should I just buy the Electra 350???

Confused. Please Help.
-Puffy.

Puffdamgcdragon · 20th March 2007, 11:59

Thanks for the editing. Sorry,GTO. Won't happen again. I await the member's Gyaan to my problems and cry-baby whining...

ad75 · 20th March 2007, 12:49

you might have to pay an entry tax for sikkim along with the road tax etc.entry tax is generally a % of the value of the stuff.it varies from state to state.

jkdas · 20th March 2007, 14:23

IMHO, wait. Have seen pix of new Bull with new engine.

esteem_lover · 20th March 2007, 14:33

Hey, puff the magic dragon, why dont you wait for a couple of months, i hear the 500 is coming soon. Might be worth the wait.

Puffdamgcdragon · 20th March 2007, 14:42

U mean the one sold abroad as the ElectraX? That's the AVL engined 500. Or do U mean the Tradational one- the Bull 500ES?

19th March 2007, 16:33	#1 (permalink)
Puffdamgcdragon BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gangtok, Sikkim. Posts: 116	Finally located the Bull 500. To buy or wait for the AVL?? Note from Team-BHP Support : Please do NOT use a cut-copy-paste job from word processors as the end result (lack of formatting) is an eyesore for other members. Hi All. As most of You already know, the company has stopped selling the Bull 500 in India for a few months now and after weeks of calling up dealers in Sikkim, Siliguri, Kolkatta, Delhi etc. ( I live in Sikkim) and talking to the Company as well as the regional manager (North East), I just couldn't get hold of the Bull 500. Everybody advised me to either I go in for the 350 or wait for the AVL 500, which has been due for quite some time now and the Regional Manager told me that it could take another couple of months. The thing is, after owning several Enfields in the past, the AVL engine has never appealed to me. I know that it has a faster acceleration, is higher revving and is more modern as well, but it doesn't have the classic Bullet thump, nor it's lazy touring ability. After much searching and networking, I finally managed to locate one dealer at Chandigarh, who claims to have a stock of 10 Bull 500s ordered fresh from the company. He said it should arrive at his dealership in Chandigarh within the next 20 days. I'm quoted Rs 89,700/- ex showroom Chandigarh and I’ll have to go all the way there, get the bike, pay about 4 grands and book it in a train and come back along with it. Plus going and coming/ staying expense, etc. etc. Drawbacks of the Iron engined 500ES- CB points, 4 gears and only one color- Black. Plus, it has 22bhp as compared to the 25bhp of the soon to appear 500ES. I could live with the 4 gears and the CB points, I guess. Been riding 4 gear 350s with CB points for fifteen odd years now and read somewhere that I could convert it to a CDI ignition later, if required. What concerns me is the pulling power, acceleration and torque, as compared to the regular 350 (18bhp) and the yet-to-be- released 500AVL.(25bhp) I've never ridden a well maintained bull 500 and don't know how much more powerful it actually feels in real world scenario, as compared to the regular Electra 350 or the AVL 350 (Thunderbird/ Machismo). I know I’m passionate about the Traditional Bull 500 but am beginning to wonder, is it worth all this trouble??? Should I plonk my money for yet another 350 that I can get in my town itself or grit my teeth and wait (2-3 months? 1 year?? 10 years???) for the upcoming AVL 500?? In a real world scenario, Does the 500 feel that much more powerful than the 350, to justify the extra expense and the trouble I’ll be taking to acquire it?? Is the difference that noticeable? Is it worth it?? On the other hand, will the upcoming AVL 500 be that much better than this? Should I go ahead and pay the deposit for the bike at Chandigarh? Or do I wait for the AVL?? Should I just buy the Electra 350??? Confused. Please Help. -Puffy. Last edited by GTO : 20th March 2007 at 10:30.

20th March 2007, 14:23	#4 (permalink)
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapuram Posts: 5,304 View My Garage	IMHO, wait. Have seen pix of new Bull with new engine. __________________ "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

20th March 2007, 14:33	#5 (permalink)
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras Posts: 4,956 View My Garage	Hey, puff the magic dragon, why dont you wait for a couple of months, i hear the 500 is coming soon. Might be worth the wait. __________________ "can't you hear me? What, do you have bubble gum in your ears ? like Mr.Bean ?" The Bean effect on my 4 year old

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20th March 2007, 11:59	#2 (permalink)
Puffdamgcdragon BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gangtok, Sikkim. Posts: 116	Thanks for the editing. Sorry,GTO. Won't happen again. I await the member's Gyaan to my problems and cry-baby whining...

20th March 2007, 12:49	#3 (permalink)
ad75 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 169 View My Garage	you might have to pay an entry tax for sikkim along with the road tax etc.entry tax is generally a % of the value of the stuff.it varies from state to state.

20th March 2007, 14:42	#6 (permalink)
Puffdamgcdragon BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gangtok, Sikkim. Posts: 116	U mean the one sold abroad as the ElectraX? That's the AVL engined 500. Or do U mean the Tradational one- the Bull 500ES?