[Rshreyansh]

Thank you so much @SgtGAWD for writing this thread. This thread rekindled my love for old motorcycles. It is your thread that motivated me to remove the covers from my motorcycle and get it up and running.

Called my local FNG mechanic, he towed the motorcycle to the garage. Did the regular stuff as nothing was wrong with the engine or the motorcycle overall. Got it home and what a feeling it is to kick-start these old raw machines.

Though a lot of electric and cosmetic parts calls for replacement, will replace them once I get hold of the spare parts.

Here it is, thumping after 5 years of inactivity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APzjL0akDZY

[SgtGAWD]

It has been a long time since I updated the thread. College, dengue, and a plethora of Bengali festivities did their best to keep me away from my machine and the keyboard. Without much ado, I shall dive straight into the details.

14th Sept 2022
I was on my way back from college when I spotted a mountain of old parts outside my go-to mechanic's place. He was selling off everything he had accumulated throughout the years. I spotted a couple of CI engines and a few RX100 engines among the piles of other stuff. I began digging through the parts aimlessly to find anything that might be useful. Soon I picked up an AVL clutch cover. I was planning to change my clutch cover for quite some time now as my mechanic had told me that I'll need the AVL cover and a bigger clutch housing to accommodate a 4-plate clutch. I also found a solo saddle. The base plate was a bit rusted and so were the springs. The padding however was pretty much intact owing to the seat cover. I thought it'd be a fun project to install it on my motorcycle. I ended up buying the seat for Rs 250. I had to pass the AVL clutch cover because he was quoting too much for it and I wasn't sure of his claim that I would need it in order to upgrade to a 4plate setup. I had seen several online sources claiming that 4 clutch plates were a direct fit in the stock housing and cover. TBHPians, any help would be highly appreciated.

16th Sept 2022
One of my friends with a C350 had recently upgraded to a new leg guard because his old leg guard had started to rust a bit. I got a good deal on his old leg guard and picked it up for Rs 250. It was from a brand called Omesh and was structurally sound and the aforementioned rust took 10 minutes of scrubbing to remove and it looked good as new. I ended up installing it the very next day. My old fog lamp mounts did not fit the thicker leg guard and I had to improvise with all that I had . The new setup seems stable but has lesser scope for adjustment compared to a conventional mount.





18th Oct 2022
After recovering from dengue, I decided to make good use of the 10 or 15 days of vacation I had left. I decided to install the solo saddle as my motorcycle already has a problem ferrying a pillion due to a misaligned swingarm which causes the chain to rub against the chain cover [quite rhythmically if I am being honest ].
I started by taking apart the old seat cover and unscrewing the rusted springs off the baseplate. The seat was originally a leather solo saddle which the previous owner had decided to get padded and covered. I removed as much rust as I could from the metal baseplate and the springs. I used new nuts as the old ones were woefully rendered unusable by rust. I chose to ignore the padding for the moment and rushed to my local welder to get the seat fixed. So I proceeded to drag my motorcycle out and it felt heavier than usual. The front tire was alarmingly deflated and a closer inspection told me that my rusty old rim had punctured the tube near its stem. I decided to get it looked at later and dragged my motorcycle to the welder who thankfully lives 100m away from me.

I needed to get a hole drilled through the front support of the seat in order to fit the solo saddle. While I was at the welder, I decided to get my taillamp housing aligned as well as it was lightly skewed to the left. The seat was fixed soon after.






I must say, it was supremely uncomfortable in its stock form. The old padding did ameliorate matters a bit but as I found out later during commuting, the sides of the leather seat still dug into my legs whenever I had to put my foot down. However, the solo saddle did not disappoint in the visual department. I felt that my steed had never looked better and despite the noisy cams, I fell in love with it all over again. I got the seat padded and got a new seat cover from the nearby seat shop. The total affair costed me Rs 350 and the seat is as thick as a C350 seat now. I'll let the pictures do the talking.






I had installed new studs and they've turned out long enough to have quite a bit of thread left after installing the spring and rubber washers.







19th Oct 2022
I got my rim to the nearest wheel repair shop and he told me it can't be repaired anymore. He discarded the old tube and installed a newer tube with a patch of thicker rubber near the stem in order to prevent future punctures from the rusted edges of the rim. he told me to get a new rim ASAP.
I proceeded to go to my mechanic and told him to look into the ungodly racket that my engine was making. He told me to leave my motorcycle with him as he needed to open the head and check the piston. The next day he informed me that the head was okay and so was the piston. He also informed me that my engine was still running a Standard piston and had not been rebored yet. He told me that I needed a new cam pinion kit. I asked him if it would be a wise idea to get adjustable spindles with the new cams. He answered that he can manage without it. However, every online source seems to suggest in favour of eccentric cam spindles. TBHPians, kindly advise the best course of action. Thanks in advance

Here is a video of my motorcycle thumping peacefully after installing the new seat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OZsxBF9yoA

Bonus: Here's a photo of two rare Enfields from 2 different generations

[SgtGAWD]

Originally Posted by amit V8

I just came across this great thread.

Could you please tell how much you spent for the incomplete paperwork? What was the process?

I am looking to buy a CI model and have seen some with incomplete papers.

I had gotten in touch with an Agent back in 2021 while looking around for CI Bullets and he had quoted INR 15 to 20k. I am yet to complete the paperwork of my Bullet.

Originally Posted by Rshreyansh

Thank you so much @SgtGAWD for writing this thread. This thread rekindled my love for old motorcycles. It is your thread that motivated me to remove the covers from my motorcycle and get it up and running.

Called my local FNG mechanic, he towed the motorcycle to the garage. Did the regular stuff as nothing was wrong with the engine or the motorcycle overall. Got it home and what a feeling it is to kick-start these old raw machines.

Though a lot of electric and cosmetic parts calls for replacement, will replace them once I get hold of the spare parts.

Here it is, thumping after 5 years of inactivity:
http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=APzjL0akDZY

My pleasure Shreyansh! It feels great to see your RE thumping again. Wishing you smiles for miles on your machine

[Abhyjith K.A]

Was an absolute pleasure reading this. Reminds me of my own story with my Max 100 as a college student. It's really a privilege to be aquainted with any of these older machines from such a young age onwards.

Have a few wonderful memories with Enfields. One was a pristine older Bullet my uncle took me and my cousin sister for a ride on to the market when we were very young. I was at the front and was hugging the tank, feeling the rhythmic thumps as we cruised slowly. The other was my other uncle's Classic 350 that we both did a lot of rides on, back at my native place.

But the first time I ever rode one was my friend's bike. A silver 2015 or so Classic 350. That's when I understood what riding a Bullet meant. If that was so enjoyable on its own, one can only imagine how wonderful a CI engine would be!

We both still do a lot of rides together with my Max 100 and this unlikely combination somehow works wonderfully!



The red is a wonderful and somewhat rare colour. Looks so period. And I'd suggest saving up & getting the documents done ASAP. That was the first thing I did with my bike in fact (Also traffic cops in Chennai are quite strict, perhaps rightly so). The longer you drag it on, the more expensive it becomes.

Wish you a many happy rides with your wonderful machine. Keep it with you forever. It's worth cherishing for a lifetime

And finally, Jai Hind, fellow NCC Cadet!

Cheers & Happy riding!

[SgtGAWD]

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Was an absolute pleasure reading this. Reminds me of my own story with my Max 100 as a college student. It's really a privilege to be aquainted with any of these older machines from such a young age onwards.

Have a few wonderful memories with Enfields. One was a pristine older Bullet my uncle took me and my cousin sister for a ride on to the market when we were very young. I was at the front and was hugging the tank, feeling the rhythmic thumps as we cruised slowly. The other was my other uncle's Classic 350 that we both did a lot of rides on, back at my native place.

But the first time I ever rode one was my friend's bike. A silver 2015 or so Classic 350. That's when I understood what riding a Bullet meant. If that was so enjoyable on its own, one can only imagine how wonderful a CI engine would be!

We both still do a lot of rides together with my Max 100 and this unlikely combination somehow works wonderfully!

Attachment 2381194

The red is a wonderful and somewhat rare colour. Looks so period. And I'd suggest saving up & getting the documents done ASAP. That was the first thing I did with my bike in fact (Also traffic cops in Chennai are quite strict, perhaps rightly so). The longer you drag it on, the more expensive it becomes.

Wish you a many happy rides with your wonderful machine. Keep it with you forever. It's worth cherishing for a lifetime

And finally, Jai Hind, fellow NCC Cadet!

Cheers & Happy riding!

Thanks Abhyjith!
It is delightful to hear about your fond memories of Enfields. The Classic 350 is a beautiful machine (especially in its BS3 avatar) and does somewhat capture the charm of the CI Bullet. Also, your Max 100 looks gorgeous. I see that you have got C350 mirrors on it. Do you face any issues with vibrations because that was what forced me to shift to Electra mirrors on my Bullet.

Jai Hind and happy riding to you too

[SgtGAWD]

The thread has been lying inactive for a long time as I was too busy with my semester exams and a host of other stuff. The updates on the Bullet have been plentiful in between and I have kept track of all of it. So here it goes

28th Oct 2022
I left my bike with my mechanic to get the cam work done. He told me to get a Cam Kit (part no 141991) and Timing Gear (part no 140115). They ended up costing me Rs. 2270.
I had also gotten hold of a fuel tank as my tank was not straight and got it painted for Rs 400. I opted to go for a plain red colour instead of the erstwhile chrome and red as the rest of my motorcycle was red already.

05 Nov 2022
My mechanic called me up and told me that my motorcycle was ready. I went to pick it up and upon starting her up, I felt a marginal reduction in sound. There was no clatter at idle however once the motorcycle reached high RPMs while riding or went beyond 30-35 km/h, there was a discernable clatter from the engine. My mechanic told me that the sound was from the big-end and required a full engine overhaul. He advised me to get it done after a year or so of riding as the motorcycle was still usable and only advised me to get the oil changed regularly. Needless to say, I was disappointed and the motorcycle began to spend its days in the garage

19 Dec 2022
One fine day, I gathered up the courage to ride again on my flawed machine and went to the garage to take her out. I was greeted by a dead battery. I grudgingly took the battery to my usual charging guy and he told me to collect it in the afternoon. When I went to him in the afternoon, he informed me the battery was dead and didn't charge at all. He pointed out that I had taken the battery to him about a dozen times in the last 8 months and there was probably something wrong with my charging system. He advised me to visit a proper wiring specialist in Calcutta and get it looked at. I proceeded to send my battery off for replacement and got a new unit from Exide soon enough.

Being nearly at the end of my patience with the machine, I decided to get a bigger RR unit instead of the puny one in my Bullet. I went ahead and purchased an RR unit with auto cutoff and it costed me Rs 480. However the ampere meter still barely moved on accelerating and I concluded that there is something wrong with the alternator. So I took my Bullett to Calcutta. My father knew someone called Mr Subal in Bonhooghly, a few kilometres from my place. This gentleman owns a garage but is famous for being the wiring wizard and my dad was confident that he can sort out my charging issue. Upon seeing the bike, he got to work and soon identified the issue- the alternator was okay but it was wired incorrectly by my mechanic while swapping my wiring. All it took was 10 minutes and my battery was charging like new again. He also took my motorcycle for a spin and advised me to get new clutch plates and some gearbox work done. But he refused to work on my bike because he had too much on his plate. So I went from one mechanic to another and ended up with a variety of suggestions. Some refused to touch the bike and advised me to take the motorcycle to Wellington and get it overhauled from there while others blamed the air filter for all the noise. Fed up, I decided to return home.

15 Mar 2023
I wasn't riding much and it had been a year since the last oil change. Although it had only been 250 kms, I decided to get the oil changed as it would give me the opportunity to some of the other work done as well. Having had enough of my local mechanics, I went a completely new mechanic a few kilometres away from my place at Dharsa. My dad knew this guy and vouched for his work. I gave my bike to him and informed him about all the issues and he told me that my motorcycle needed a new chain sprocket to solve the issue of the chain rubbing while carrying a pillion. I also had a nasty experience of the rear sliding out on hard braking due to the worn out 20 y/0 Dunlop at the rear so I decided to get a new tyre too. The mechanic had an old C350 rim lying around which I picked up for Rs 600 to replace my front rim. So I went ahead and procured the following parts:
Motul 20W50 3L: Rs 850
Rolon Chain Sprocket Set: Rs 1450
Michelin Sirac Street 3.50/19 Rear tyre + Tube: Rs 1750 (I think I got a sweet deal on this)
Spoke kit: Rs 700
MK Clutch Plates: Rs 330
Air Filter (RE OEM): Rs 75
Oil Filter (RE OEM): Rs 30
He worked on the bike for a week or so. When I arrived to pick up my motorcycle, I had mixed feelings. I took the bike for a ride and rode it till 60-65 km/h and there was no clatter. The gearbox was considerably smoother and the bike felt livelier. The Michelin felt good and improved the braking. However, the chain issue persisted. My mechanic also informed me that he did not replace the oil filter and the front sprocket both of them were still usable. I also faced an issue with the spark plugs turning black and so he also replaced the spark plug and the plug cap. Moderately satisfied, I took my motorcycle home.


Elofic Filter vs OEM filter. OEM filter is less restrictive.


Michelin Sirac Street at the rear


4th April 2023
In order to test the limits of my machine after the service, I took the daring decision to take my Bullet all the way to college. The journey was a mere 13 kms however most of it was through the heart of Calcutta in peak rushhour traffic. My motorcycle performed okay and I did make it to my college without stalling. I also spotted 2 or 3 CI Enfields chugging along on their office commutes. The motorcycle delivered a mileage of 20-22 km/l and that was the only disappointing part about the entire day.


The farthest it has gone from home- 13kms

Present Day
I have ridden the Bullet for 60kms since the last service. The crank sound has returned whenever I am in second or third gear and have to accelerate even moderately. However the bike chugs along fine till 65km/h which is more than I will ever need on city roads. There is also an oil leak which my mechanic has attributed to the bearing of the front sprocket. It is causing the gearbox to lose oil which is causing stiffer shifts. It is also causing the chain to move side to side causing the chain noise.

Future Plans
I went down to my garage today, armed with a tube of Autosol metal polish and an old toothbrush and began polishing the forks, timing chest and clutch cover. I mindlessly scrubbed away while thinking about the future of my machine. After much thought, I have made a decision to replace my CI bullet with a newer RE or get a smaller second bike. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with the Enfield and it has vastly enhanced my knowledge about motorcycles. However, the constant maintenance and lack of practicality for my use case render it as nothing more than a weekend toy. Paperwork has also been an issue and I had approached an agent who quoted 30k for getting the papers up to date. However, the cops in WB are lenient and never have I ever been bothered by them about the papers (probably because of the red colour and the police decals). One of my friends was stopped once but he was let go when he politely explained about the hassles of sorting out paperwork for a vehicle from the 80s. However, not all cops may be so kind and it is better to be safe than sorry. I have two avenues to go on right now.
Keep the Enfield and get a smaller bike: This makes sense as I will get a sensible ride for now and restore the Enfield later when I have the finances to do so. The only problem with this option is that the only bikes that appeal to me other than a Bullet are the Hero Impulse and XPulse. The Impulses are hard to come by in my city and I shall avoid any FI XPulse due to my obvious apprehensions about anything other than a carburettor. That only leaves BS4 Carb XPulses for me which are hard to find too.

Replace the Bullet with another Bullet: I recently had the privilege to ride my friend’s C350 BS6 for 30-35 kms and came to the realization that the UCE engine isn’t half bad for my use-case. It delivers decent FE and once you plonk in an Indori exhaust, it sounds nearly identical to a CI bullet minus the thump and all the clatter from the engine. Moreover, the reliability blew me away. The only issue is the vibration but I realized that my CI vibrates equally but I am oblivious to it, perhaps due to the rose-tinted glasses. However, I still feel that the Classic is not the bike for me due to the 18” wheel at the back. An Electra or the Standard would be the perfect replacement for my Bullet and that brings us to the same problem– availability.


First prolonged exposure to a C350

I also spotted a CI Electra 5s ES today at a motorcycle dealership and couldn’t stop myself from checking it out. I took a test ride and felt truly the best the CI engine had to offer. The shifts were as smooth as a C350, the thump was better than my CI and there was negligible engine noise. Plus, no CB points thus resulting in better reliability. However, being a CI engined Bullet, there will be engine trouble in the future and the sprag clutch will inevitably give up someday and the FE, though marginally better, will never be as good as a UCE. Also, it will probably be sold off by the time I find a buyer for my RE.







Whichever route I choose, I shall ensure that there remains at least one RE in my garage at all times.

Regards,
Sparsha


At least the forks look shiny

[masterChief007]

Hi Sparsha, it was a pleasure to read through your restoration, even I restored my std ci a few months back. It is an absolute bliss to be riding it slow. Mine is a 2008 model std 350. What I observe is that many people even now stare at the beauty of my bike at traffic stops, and why blame them ? At each stop in my highway rides I am busy clicking bike pictures rather than that of the nearby scenery !! I have been taking it to my office commute/excercise/small groceries and even highway riding.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...tant-work.html (Resurrecting a Bullet Std 350 CI - Suggestions on the important work)

Originally Posted by SgtGAWD

I gave my bike to him and informed him about all the issues and he told me that my motorcycle needed a new chain sprocket to solve the issue of the chain rubbing while carrying a pillion.

Do you see the issue only when with pillion/heavy load on the back seat? Maybe the chain is rubbing due to the loose chains after the loaded rear suspension is somehow reducing the chain tension. Try tightening the chain a bit and see if this is improved if not try out the sprocket change. Best way would be to ask 2 people to sit on your bike and check the chain slack before and after the load addition.

When you get enough funds, try the valve clearance checks too and avoid reboring the cyclinder if on inspection you dont have scored cylinder.

[SgtGAWD]

Originally Posted by masterChief007

Hi Sparsha, it was a pleasure to read through your restoration, even I restored my std ci a few months back. It is an absolute bliss to be riding it slow. Mine is a 2008 model std 350. What I observe is that many people even now stare at the beauty of my bike at traffic stops, and why blame them ? At each stop in my highway rides I am busy clicking bike pictures rather than that of the nearby scenery !! I have been taking it to my office commute/excercise/small groceries and even highway riding.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...tant-work.html (Resurrecting a Bullet Std 350 CI - Suggestions on the important work)



Do you see the issue only when with pillion/heavy load on the back seat? Maybe the chain is rubbing due to the loose chains after the loaded rear suspension is somehow reducing the chain tension. Try tightening the chain a bit and see if this is improved if not try out the sprocket change. Best way would be to ask 2 people to sit on your bike and check the chain slack before and after the load addition.

When you get enough funds, try the valve clearance checks too and avoid reboring the cyclinder if on inspection you dont have scored cylinder.

Hey masterChief007. I have been following your thread for a time but couldn't get the time to comment. I remember reading through your stories of having the block rebored at 12k and asked my mechanic to check whether I was running a standard bore or a rebore when he opened up the head for sone work. . I believe you've been fortunate enough to have a post 2004 heavy crank Standard. The newer machines have much better quality standards and are a joy to ride.

The chain issue isn't noticeable when I'm riding solo. However the addition of a pillion worsens things. The rear sprocket is new and I will try tightening the chain on my next visit to the mechanic.

Regards

[Gordon]

An Xpulse is not going to break the bank and its a solid bike for reliability and cheap labor/spares. With all the paperwork you'll need to go through to even sell the bike and the amount of work the new owner will need to put in, you may not get good value. I say keep the Machismo lying around. Work on it as and when you get the time and ride it occasionally. You'll still get to live both worlds.

[Abhyjith K.A]

Originally Posted by SgtGAWD

Thanks Abhyjith!
It is delightful to hear about your fond memories of Enfields. The Classic 350 is a beautiful machine (especially in its BS3 avatar) and does somewhat capture the charm of the CI Bullet. Also, your Max 100 looks gorgeous. I see that you have got C350 mirrors on it. Do you face any issues with vibrations because that was what forced me to shift to Electra mirrors on my Bullet.

Jai Hind and happy riding to you too

Thank you. It's been a while since and she's undergone a ton of changes appearance wise



As for the mirrors, I switched back to stock mirrors, then went for RX 100 mirrors, then came back to the Royal Enfield mirrors with the RD handlebar yet again in the meantime. I guess the vibration part depends on the motorcycle itself. I never had any issues with it vibrating and blurring up on the move at all. But it does, while idling in traffic. That's how my bike is. The mirrors are so beautiful. That's why I came back to them.

I can understand your frustrations and was quite surprised to see the longest you had taken it is to college at 13 kms. If you want suggestions from my side, I'd steer you towards a two-stroke if you want a secondary bike. You know, enjoy them while they're still around. I ride mine daily to college, plus do longer trips on it too (Check out my threads). Never let me down even once. Much simpler to restore & maintain. Gives excellent mileage at the same time too (Mine specifically). But you still have to find a good mechanic.

If you're looking towards getting a Classic 350, I'd also recommend you to try the newest J Series Classic 350 Reborn. I haven't ridden it yet, but have ridden a friend's Hunter 350 with the same engine and it's truly a gem. Will feel like a completely refreshing & different experience coming from a cast iron model, in a good way though. And by the way, even I share the same sentiment as you (Preferring carbs and having no electronics), but it still managed to bring a smile to my face.

If you're still gonna have your Machismo, then I'd recommend you to find a good mechanic first (Talk to long term owners & find out), save up and tell them to completely restore it to perfection in one go. It's also possible to convert it to CDI (From the Electra) I guess, if you want lesser maintenance.

First bikes always remain etched in our hearts forever

[MVM]

Originally Posted by SgtGAWD

I have made a decision to replace my CI bullet with a newer RE or get a smaller second bike. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with the Enfield and it has vastly enhanced my knowledge about motorcycles. However, the constant maintenance and lack of practicality for my use case render it as nothing more than a weekend toy. Paperwork has also been an issue and I had approached an agent who quoted 30k for getting the papers up to date.

Ahh the harsh truth. I know how much it hurts to let go. I've desperately wanted a vintage Yezdi for the last 2.5 years of my life. It was one of my key motivators during my competitive exam preparation. I had even put a photo of a Yezdi Roadking on the wall of my study table. It was only after clearing the exam that I realised that I would be spending hard earned money on what would be a constant headache to both me and my family. None of us at home have the time to run around town procuring rare parts or sitting with the mechanic while he works on the bike, not to mention the unreasonable prices that owners quoted for their bikes. I've seen ads on Olx/Facebook marketplace where people are asking 2-2.5 lakh rupees for a Yezdi. I need a bike that I can trust and the Yezdi is incapable of doing that purely due to its age. It has also become increasingly hard and expensive to get insurance,FCs and RC transfers for older bikes and I don't know what will be the consequences of the 15 year vehicle ban. I made the decision to stop looking for Yezdis after my interaction with an overly obsessive owner who humiliated me (He told me that I wasn't fit for anything in life) for not riding his bike (which was for sale) properly.

Originally Posted by SgtGAWD

Replace the Bullet with another Bullet

This would be the option I would choose. As much as it hurts, it would be a better option in the long run. It will eliminate a lot of unnecessary hassle and headache from your life. Procuring parts and finding competent mechanics will only become harder as time passes. I have a HF100 currently and I will probably go for a newer bullet in a few years.
Let us know what you choose.

[Abhyjith K.A]

Originally Posted by MVM

Ahh the harsh truth. I know how much it hurts to let go. I've desperately wanted a vintage Yezdi for the last 2.5 years of my life. It was one of my key motivators during my competitive exam preparation. I had even put a photo of a Yezdi Roadking on the wall of my study table. It was only after clearing the exam that I realised that I would be spending hard earned money on what would be a constant headache to both me and my family. None of us at home have the time to run around town procuring rare parts or sitting with the mechanic while he works on the bike, not to mention the unreasonable prices that owners quoted for their bikes. I've seen ads on Olx/Facebook marketplace where people are asking 2-2.5 lakh rupees for a Yezdi. I need a bike that I can trust and the Yezdi is incapable of doing that purely due to its age. It has also become increasingly hard and expensive to get insurance,FCs and RC transfers for older bikes and I don't know what will be the consequences of the 15 year vehicle ban. I made the decision to stop looking for Yezdis after my interaction with an overly obsessive owner who humiliated me (He told me that I wasn't fit for anything in life) for not riding his bike (which was for sale) properly.




This would be the option I would choose. As much as it hurts, it would be a better option in the long run. It will eliminate a lot of unnecessary hassle and headache from your life. Procuring parts and finding competent mechanics will only become harder as time passes. I have a HF100 currently and I will probably go for a newer bullet in a few years.
Let us know what you choose.

A friend of mine has a pristine 1985 Yezdi CLII. He found it fairly easy to restore and does ride it a lot. I think you're in an even better position, being in Bangalore. Just try finding a bike with a very good engine. The cosmetics part can easily be worked upon later.

Papers have become more expensive to make current though. I'd say keep it as a weekend toy and save up till you can make them current. It's all about patience.

Yezdis & Bullets share almost nothing in common. The Yezdi being a two stroke won't even have close to the number of moving parts a four stroke bullet has. Plus, those two stroke engines (Not the Roadking) date back to the 50s and were built to withstand harsh conditions and usage. Even the short stroke Roadking engine is no less tough.

Converting them to run on CDI solves many problems of maintenance and also significantly improves mileage. I'd still advice you not to give up your dream.

If you truly want a Yezdi, nothing else will truly satisfy you, how much ever self explaining you do.

And others' opinions and words can stay as that. Opinions & words. Insignificant.

As for finances, if spending money on something genuinely adds value to your life and makes your experience of life better, I see it as an investment for satisfaction and happiness and not as an expense. Just do it in a regulated way and you'll be good to go. Again, it's a question of patience.

It's not the practical decisions you make at the end of the day that you cherish in your heart forever

[justin.das]

Originally Posted by MVM

Ahh the harsh truth. I know how much it hurts to let go. I've desperately wanted a vintage Yezdi for the last 2.5 years of my life. It was one of my key motivators during my competitive exam preparation. I had even put a photo of a Yezdi Roadking on the wall of my study table. It was only after clearing the exam that I realized that I would be spending hard-earned money on what would be a constant headache to both me and my family. None of us at home have the time to run around town procuring rare parts or sitting with the mechanic while he works on the bike, not to mention the unreasonable prices that owners quoted for their bikes. I've seen ads on Olx/Facebook marketplace where people are asking 2-2.5 lakh rupees for a Yezdi. I need a bike that I can trust and the Yezdi is incapable of doing that purely due to its age.

Yezdi's are not troublesome as you think they are very reliable if properly taken care of. Being an old bike there is always a risk of finding a good example but if you manage to find one it will be a pleasurable ownership experience. Regarding the availability of parts, there are online sellers who are dealing with both used and new parts you can place an order and parts will reach you! Find a competitive mechanic locally and your problems are solved. Yezdi's are Forever Bike Forever value as their tagline said and they are an appreciating asset as well. Roadking will cost you 1.2 lakh and Up look for mechanical perfection, not shiny paint and chrome. I am saying this from my experience with these beautiful bikes, I own a Yezdi 250 Cl2 ( points ignition ), Yamaha RD350 running on Points, Bajaj Chetak - Points Ignition and restoring 1971 JDM Honda Cb 350 Twin as well

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

A friend of mine has a pristine 1985 Yezdi CLII. He found it fairly easy to restore and does ride it a lot. I think you're in an even better position, being in Bangalore. Just try finding a bike with a very good engine. The cosmetics part can easily be worked upon later.
Converting them to run on CDI solves many problems of maintenance and also significantly improves mileage. I'd still advise you not to give up your dream.

As far as I know, very few Roadking came with points all others are CDI from the factory.

Originally Posted by SgtGAWD

Replace the Bullet with another Bullet: I recently had the privilege to ride my friend’s C350 BS6 for 30-35 km and came to the realization that the UCE engine isn’t half bad for my use case. It delivers decent FE and once you plonk in an Indori exhaust, it sounds nearly identical to a CI bullet minus the thump and all the clatter from the engine. Moreover, the reliability blew me away. The only issue is the vibration I realized that my CI vibrates equally but I am oblivious to it, perhaps due to the rose-tinted glasses. However, I still feel that the Classic is not the bike for me due to the 18” wheel at the back. An Electra or the Standard would be the perfect replacement for my Bullet and that brings us to the same problem– availability.

I am really late to this thread. Nice write up kudos . Just adding my two cents to your thread, Royal Enfields stood the test of time, and as you said you can still see many CI bullets in daily use. Your bike's reliability woes are because of its past owner's negligence and lack of periodic maintenance. Once you restore the bike to its prime these bikes will serve you for years to come. Don't hear what these mechanics says procure original parts /OEM parts and restore as specified by the company on WorkshopManual and you are good to go for the foreseeable future.

[SgtGAWD]

It has been quite a while since my last post. The summer vacation and the anticipation of semester exams had kept me from posting. However, with the exams being postponed indefinitely now due to ongoing Panchayat polls now in WB, I finally have no excuse to not update this thread .

Without further delay, let me share the main update-- My 1995 Bullet 350 is no more (with me). She has been replaced with a 2017 BS4 C350. With that out of the way, let me get to the details.

THE DECISION

In my last post, I hinted at my intentions to replace the Bullet. However, I decided that I did not need to rush ahead with my decision this time and proceeded at a slower pace. I put up an advert for my motorcycle and informed a few people in the community about my decision. I had decided upon a price of 55 to 60k. This amount was decided after taking into consideration the total amount of Rs 57480 that I had spent on the motorcycle (excluding fuel and including the price of the motorcycle) The responses were few and the prices I was offered were way below my expectations with the incomplete paperwork proving to be a huge hurdle. So I continued to use the Bullet as usual. I did use it more as it was performing really well after the oil change. The Motul oil was performing great and the gearbox felt smoother than before. The motorcycle performed so well in fact that I logged 300-350 kms in 45 days (the motorcycle had run 750-800 kms in the last 1 year of ownership )


After a fun ride in the rain

Moment of appreciation in the parking lot

God has his own plans for everyone and he had a good one for me. Word got around in family circles about my Bullet and soon enough, someone was interested. I was contacted by a police officer previously posted in my hometown and he asked me about the details and more photographs of the motorcycle. He liked the Bullet and offered to buy it. He was soon to be transferred elsewhere and the Bullet would be kept in my hometown for him to be used whenever he returned on leave. I agreed on the condition that I shall hand over the motorcycle to him once I am able to source a replacement. I did this because I did not want to rush into buying an unsatisfactory machine again.


A glance at it's future home

THE TRANSITION

Thus my search for a UCE RE began. As mentioned previously, I was inclined to get a STD or Electra sheerly due to the nostalgia factor. However, as anticipated their unavailability in the 2nd hand market forced me to consider C350s as well. I had scoured the market for a C500 a few years back and knew a few dealers. I visited them and test-rode a couple of C350s. They were mostly BS3 models in rough shape and long story short, I zeroed in on a 2017 BS4 C350 with 23787 kms for Rs. 1.05 L. I will now go into great detail about it in this thread and in all probability anywhere because the Classic is a ubiquitous machine and has been well-documented by better writers in greater depth before. Another ownership review will be a drop in the ocean.

The transition was deliberately kept as swift as possible in order to avoid any reconsiderations. I took out both the machines and washed them before proceeding to transfer a few of the goodies that I had installed on my bullet over to the Classic. The G2 handlebar, RVMs, and the crashguard were transferred and I managed to strip the RH yoke while swapping the handlebar [recurrent issue- this was the 3rd time this happened]. I decided to go to my mechanic to get it fixed. On my way to the mechanic, the bolt holding the right fork to the nacelle decided to come loose and fell off. I stopped and looked around for a good 10 minutes before cursing my fate and riding slowly and carefully to my mechanic. Upon hearing about me selling off the motorcycle, he remarked that I could've kept it in storage for future restoration. Even I had considered that however space and budgetary constraints would not allow it. So I simply smiled back. He proceeded to install the new yoke and a spare rusted bolt from his heap. He charged me Rs 80 for the bolt which I grudgingly paid all the while reminding myself why I had gone forward with my decision and thinking to myself that my saga with unscrupulous mechanics ends here.


C350 seeks blessings from his predecessor

All three rides- oldest to newest lined up

Work-in-Progress


Parts swap culminates


I handed over the motorcycle that very evening. The new owner was unable to come and sent 2 constables to collect the Bullet. I briefed them thoroughly about the starting procedure and the shifting pattern and told them to wait while I got the papers and the box of spares that I had accumulated over the span of ownership. I returned to find them hopelessly kicking away in vain and proceeded to take the reins and started it effortlessly to which one of the constables confessed that he had ridden around nothing but a R15 till now. I smiled and proceeded to re-explain the starting ritual to them. I wondered how the Police department had evolved where a decade back, all the cops we knew either had Enfields or rode one as a part of the job. My musings were interrupted by a loud roar of the engine as the constable had finally managed to start the Bullet albeit with too much throttle input. My heart ached as I heard the poor engine scream at an RPM that its British designers had never intended it to run at-- especially after 28 years of its life. I immediately told him to let go of the throttle and briefed him about the perils of too much throttle at startup (broken ankles). I advised him to take a spin around the block before embarking on the ride back home with his pillion and he obliged. He returned grinning ear to ear and I wished them luck (they needed it badly) as they thumped out of sight.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

It has been 2 months since I parted with my Bullet. I have slowly and tastefully added to the Classic, partly to suit my tastes and habits but mostly due to the wrenching addiction that my Bullet developed. The initial few days were okay when there was some work to be done on the machine but soon enough, I found myself venturing into the garage to tinker with it needlessly (and messing things up on occasions ). I mention this because I feel that there is a void in my garage and I have even resorted to riding around aimlessly just to hit the 500kms mark to lube the chain. All cables have been lubed thrice at least and the rear wheel balanced twice and the exhaust has been removed innumerable times to experiment with various combinations and permutations of filters and steel wool to extract the same note as the mighty CI engine. I have purchased all the possible tools I could in order to work better on my motorcycle but alas, there exists nothing to be done. I most definitely don't miss my Bullet but I do miss the experience I had with it where there was something to be wrenched on before every ride and something to be fixed after. Commuting and overall reliability have really improved with the Classic however I tend to feel less involved with the machine at times just due to the fact that I haven't extensively wrenched upon it. In no way is this the machine's fault- it is a beautiful machine and I am more than happy with it and plan to retain it for a long time (although I have been secretly lusting after the Triumph Speed 400 for the past few weeks).


Present avatar

I have been ardently reading RE threads religiously on TBHP for the last 5 years (even before I was accepted into the hallowed community or was old enough to ride-- even before I knew how to ride). Everyone has their own beautiful story of owning a CI Bullet and even though not as passionate and emotional as the vastly better stories out there, this was mine- this was my journey of transforming an ignored vintage to a daily driver (almost ) and everything in between. The Bullet may be gone but I am still happy to be a part of the larger RE community (once they accept me after the sacrilege of selling a CI )

Cheers

[Vaastav]

I loved reading the thread from start to finish, especially the parts about the restoration.
As for selling the bike, I am sure it wasn't an easy decision for you, but nonetheless, I wish you many happy miles on you Classic. About the sound though, the UCE engine is a different beast, and trying to replicate the thump of a CI is an endeavour in itself and will take a lot of trial and error and patience.
Happy riding and best of luck