[tharian]

Originally Posted by ArizonaJim

I don't know if the parts or kit are available but if I may offer a few thoughts?

With that many km on the engine, if you have been changing the oil regularly with a high quality oil it may not need the parts for a long time.

If the engine does show low compression readings or if it is burning oil the parts will need to be replaced to restore the engine to its best condition.

If parts replacement is needed, the cylinder walls will be found to have significant wear which will require re-boring and installing an oversize piston and rings.

The cast iron engines have an abundance of cylinder wall. Re-boring to standard oversize pistons should never be a problem. Sleeving it, which entails removing massive amounts of material and installing a steel sleeve should never be required.

Thanks for those inputs Arizona Jim. Very informative as always.

The engine as of now is running fine, I don't feel a lack of compression either nor any oil smoke from the exhaust. The oils have been replaced regularly every 5k kms and I plan to reduce that to 3k post 1lakh kms which is a couple of hundred kms away.
The reason I wanted the bore/piston kit is because, the bike is for keeps and there would be a point after which I will not be able to refurbish the engine anymore and I don't want to pack it up then, although used engines will be available., I would rather go for a new set.

[tharian]

Hit the lakh today.

The bikes odo reads 00250 Kms now.
What' better way to hit a big milestone, but on the highway.

Did the same ride I did as the first ever long ride around 11 years back when I was breaking in the engine.
Bangalore to Chitradurga and back. A round trip of 400 Kms. Back then the expressway was being built. This time around, it was lovely 6 lane road between tumkur and chitradurga.
One of the reasons I wanted to do this trip was to hit the lakh on the highway and to see how good the engine is. And was I surprised. A lakh run, un-opened engine performed brilliantly. Not one skip in beat. I was cruising at 70-75 and at times hitting 90. In fact the engine felt much smoother after the ride.
No overheating, no knocking or lack of power on climbs.
In fact I enjoyed the ride so much that I think I'll keep my Electra for the highway and the 500 for city use.
The fuel efficiency is a good way to check the engine health and I was getting around 28 kmpl.
Overall one of the good pieces from RE and one for keeps.

[tharian]

A lakh on the odo and the bike feels as good as new.

[adrian]

Originally Posted by tharian

A lakh on the odo and the bike feels as good as new.

One Lakh Kms with an unopened engine is certainly something to be proud of and speaks volumes on the way the motorcycle is being taken care by the rider. Congratulations and wish you many more miles with your Bullet.
regards adrian

[a4anurag]

Congratulations buddy for having a reliable beast with you. I know that feeling when the bike crosses the milestone. A very uncommon odometer click that hardly the common man can reach. Not many cling onto the vehicle for so long.

Bike looks very nice too even now, that speaks a lot about you and your maintenance.

Anurag.

[tharian]

Few more pictures of the ride I did to commemorate the 1lakh milestone.

[Rennjit]

Now, its time for a celebration
If there is a God of engines, you've really been blessed by him.

cheers.,

[Majumdarda]

Originally Posted by tharian

A lakh on the odo and the bike feels as good as new.

Cheers buddy. Thank you for sharing and wishing you miles of happy thumping.

[mobius 1]

Certainly heartwarming to see a machine reach a state where it runs out of numbers

If novice riders like me can do a job half good as yours, I'll consider myself insanely lucky!

Congratulations and wish you many more miles

[tharian]

Originally Posted by adrian

One Lakh Kms with an unopened engine is certainly something to be proud of and speaks volumes on the way the motorcycle is being taken care by the rider. Congratulations and wish you many more miles with your Bullet.
regards adrian

Originally Posted by a4anurag

Congratulations buddy for having a reliable beast with you. I know that feeling when the bike crosses the milestone. A very uncommon odometer click that hardly the common man can reach. Not many cling onto the vehicle for so long.

Bike looks very nice too even now, that speaks a lot about you and your maintenance.

Anurag.

Originally Posted by Rennjit

Now, its time for a celebration
If there is a God of engines, you've really been blessed by him.

cheers.,

Originally Posted by Majumdarda

Cheers buddy. Thank you for sharing and wishing you miles of happy thumping.

Originally Posted by mobius 1

Certainly heartwarming to see a machine reach a state where it runs out of numbers

If novice riders like me can do a job half good as yours, I'll consider myself insanely lucky!

Congratulations and wish you many more miles

Thank you all for your wishes.
I really had no clue I will be able to hit the lakh without any major work since all the bikes that I know of of this era had some work or other done to the engine.
It goes on to say that Enfields are actually not troublesome bikes. It only needs some care and regular maintenance and it can go on for miles serving you well.
As for the CI engines, I feel these are one of the few engine types that get better as it gets older and it does hold true in my case. The bike when new was rough, noisy , lot of false shifts . Now, gears are so good that it can be shifted like a sports bike gearbox, very slick . Engine is very smooth while running as well and not noisy.
I had a feeling that power had dropped, but in the last ride, I felt it was still up there. Probably not the same as when it was around the half a lakh mark, but given a good stretch of empty road, I am sure I can push it to its claimed top end.
This is one of those bikes that is a single rider bike and it adapts itself to that rider. A second person who rides my Bullet, may not feel the same for the same reason .
I would honestly would not want to change the engine or work on it since the character would change a lot. But having said that, I know this engine will not last forever.
I am on the other hand trying to get information on what the life of a CI engine would be or the maximum it can be used before a re-bore.
On my bike , I am guessing , another 20-30k kms is good to go.

Will keep this thread updated , but for now , like always , there is no issues to report. The bike is due for its annual service in another 2000 kms.

I had planned on replacing the rear shocks, the sprocket, clutch plates and getting few parts plated since they chrome has faded out . Have to mention in this case, all the parts that the chrome has faded out on were all aftermarket parts which were the muffler, handelbar and the front mudguard. All the other original parts have the chrome in top condition still.

As for the parts, they still work fine and have no sings of extreme wear, so are not going to be changed for now.

[tharian]

Spend last Sunday giving a good shampoo wash and polish for the bike as part of the 1 lakh kms occasion.

The plan was to visit Quantum Details for the same, but I decided on dropping off the 500 for the same at his place on a later date.

Unfortunately, Bangalore has been overcast since few days ,hence could not get the full satisfaction of my hard work on camera. I have covered her and have been using my 500 till the sun comes out since I have this bad luck by which it rains even in the middle of a non-rainy season, whenever I wash my bike.

Some pictures taken soon after the work and the rest will follow when the Sun is back.

[shan2129]

That's a big achievement for any RE owner. Wish you many more happy miles on your love.

Day before yesterday, I picked up a 2002 Bullet electra blue CDI ( I am guessing the same as you ). I used to own a STD 350 2009 model & then upgraded to TB500. Though, my CI engine bug was crawling deep inside me.

I was searching for a good condition CI 350 STD, but to no avail. Recently, one of my Riding group member decided to upgrade to a CL 350 lagoon & I made the deal to pick up his '02 Electra for 50k. The bike was not in a very maintained condition ( cosmetically ) but the engine has never been opened & the odo reads 48990. The sound of the engine & other performance parts are amazing.

So I decided to give it a STD350 look. Apart from the paint job, I have already changed all the cosmetics, cable, rods etc.

My question here is : What generally must be done with CDI type ignition, I mean, no point ignition, so, no advance retard to be set.

Any pointers on this bike would be awesome.

Also, I noticed that the Air filter is in the resonator chamber & there is no oil catcher ? right ?

[tharian]

Originally Posted by shan2129

That's a big achievement for any RE owner. Wish you many more happy miles on your love.

Day before yesterday, I picked up a 2002 Bullet electra blue CDI ( I am guessing the same as you ). I used to own a STD 350 2009 model & then upgraded to TB500. Though, my CI engine bug was crawling deep inside me.


My question here is : What generally must be done with CDI type ignition, I mean, no point ignition, so, no advance retard to be set.

Any pointers on this bike would be awesome.

Also, I noticed that the Air filter is in the resonator chamber & there is no oil catcher ? right ?

Thank you and congratulations on picking up the Electra.

From what you have described, it sounds like the early 2002 model which were the first Electra's which were available for few months before the upgraded Electra was sold later in the year.
By upgraded I meant for emission purpose few parts were added and changed.
Your Electra would have the long bend pipe/short bottle muffler set up , and yes it did not have a oil catch can and the filter was the old type instead of the circular one in the side box. Unless, the previous owner had changed all these to the old type.
These bikes were troublesome since it was made before the upgrades and the overall quality were not great, so it is good you are doing up the bike.

Coming to the engine, it is a good sign that it has not been opened till date and if you are a thoughtful rider, it will take you over a lakh without trouble, provided of course it has been used well by the previous rider.

The CDI unit is trouble free and that is the best part of this model. You don't have to worry about ignition timings and it can run without the battery. The failure rate of the CDI unit is very less. Mine failed just once in the last 12 years and a lakh kms.

As it ages, it feels more like a STD350 heavy crank.
Enjoy the ride.

[tharian]

Gave the old lady some help in breathing.
Fixed a K&N conical filter and a 95 main jet upgrade. Not a significant change , but the engine seems to a bit more torquey and free now and sounds like a steam engine.
Did a short ride today and it was happy.

Clocked 101000 kms.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by tharian

Gave the old lady some help in breathing.
Fixed a K&N conical filter and a 95 main jet upgrade. Not a significant change , but the engine seems to a bit more torquey and free now and sounds like a steam engine.
Did a short ride today and it was happy.

Clocked 101000 kms.

I see from the photo that you have reverted back to the long OE silencer. I have been thinking of doing the same for my Std 500 for some time now. How does she feel after the long silencer? Any difference noted (besides the sound)?