Lean Burn Bullet500

amitoj · 5th January 2005, 16:05

Hey fellas

Any idea when RE will be launching the Lean Burn Bullet 500cc in India???
I checked the RE website but that doesnt mention anything about its launch in india. So if anyone out there knows anyone at Royal Enfield, could u please find out and lemme know??

Cheers
Amitoj

Technocrat · 5th January 2005, 16:24

Donno abt the lean burn but they do have launched a new 500 with electric starter, gas filled shocks & the works

amitoj · 5th January 2005, 16:32

All those "improvements" are ok, but if one were planning to buy a new 500cc Enfield, do u think it would be worthwhile to wait for the launch of lean burn model?

shravan316 · 5th January 2005, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

All those "improvements" are ok, but if one were planning to buy a new 500cc Enfield, do u think it would be worthwhile to wait for the launch of lean burn model?

well amitoj,
IMO, that depends on whether if "one" is a die hard Bullet fan or an average bullet fan........ If he/she is a die hard bullet fan, then he/she would obviously go in for the cast-iron engined 500.... i.e. the old Bullet. The thump on the old bullet is to die for!! amazing thump....... raw basic engine design, but, troublesome and needs a lot of attention.
On the otherhand, an average Bullet fan, would prefer the new AVI engined Bullet, coz it is relatively maintainence free and more fuel efficient, but, the charm of the old bullet is lost....... the thump is no where close to the old Bullets which is what bullet is all about!

P.S: If you ask me to choose, i would pick the classic Bullet 500(cast iron engined) without even thinking twice!!

amitoj · 5th January 2005, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by shravan316

On the otherhand, an average Bullet fan, would prefer the new AVI engined Bullet, coz it is relatively maintainence free and more fuel efficient, but, the charm of the old bullet is lost....... the thump is no where close to the old Bullets which is what bullet is all about!

hmmm... rumour has it that the lean burn engine is also more compliant with the emission norms

But i see ur point about being a die hard fan of a bullet. I guess if i were a die hard fan, then i would have been in posession of one already.

Psycho · 5th January 2005, 18:36

Hi,

The old 500 is definitely a great buy... many of my friends who have the newer bullets always end up complaining of stuff more often than not but the old 500 was a definite exception to this case... The bike rocks.

I too have been a bullet fan for over 10 yrs now and own a 1970 model bullet and swear by it... As they say as far as bullet is concerned OLD is GOLD.

Go for the Iron anyday...

PS: Amitoj my bike has always sailed through the emmision checks beautifully.

amitoj · 5th January 2005, 18:43

Hey psycho

Wow... a 1970 model! That bike is way older than me!!!

So wot would u recommend for a wannabe bullet owner like me?

Amitoj

Psycho · 5th January 2005, 20:32

Hi Amitoj,

Here is a set of questions that could lead you to the right choice:

1) Have you ridden a bullet before? (if yes try answering the questions below)
a)Are you comfortable with the gears being on the right side? if yes you are eligible for a old bullet (including the 500)
If No : Please buy a new bullet with the left side gearshift.

2) Are you looking for speed? (500)

3) Are you going to cruise? (350)

4) Milage is an issue? (go for the new bullet : AVl)

5) Like the chopper style (lightning or thunderbird)

6) Classic Looks (all the other bikes)

7) Dont mind the RTO hassels (Go for a really old bullet preferably single owner and well maintained)

8) Modded looks: look for the Iranians

But the golden rule the perfect bullet is one that idles with no vibrations, exhaust note and engine sound and it should rev to give you a slight whine on the engine and a good load of thumps behind you.

shravan316 · 5th January 2005, 20:36

psycho.... is the 500 good for cruising or is 350 better??

Psycho · 5th January 2005, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by shravan316

psycho.... is the 500 good for cruising or is 350 better??

While cruising you tend to also think milage would be an added benefit but this varies from person to person.

amitoj · 5th January 2005, 20:57

Hey psycho.
Thanks for putting up the questionnaire. Well, firstly, i dont want any hassles with the RTO and i'd rather stick to the very original, so i guess the last two are not really my cup of tea.... or shot of whiskey... or pint of beer...
As for mileage, i am surprised u'd even ask!! Do bullet lovers really care about the mileage??
Between cruising and speeding, is there any way i can have both??
And i did ride a bullet once... found its gear on the right a bit awkward but thats not much of a problem... i can handle that. But if its on the left side, i'll gladly take it!
I more or less have my sights set on the 500cc one... but jus wanted to know if its worthwhile to wait for the lean burn one....

And if mileage is the only reason why a cruiser would take 350cc, then i'd rather stick to 500

shravan316 · 5th January 2005, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

I more or less have my sights set on the 500cc one... but jus wanted to know if its worthwhile to wait for the lean burn one....

If u r gonna wait, i suggest u wait for atleast a year......... get to know if any problems exist in the bike and then maybe go in for one. But, i can tell you one thing....... the old 500 is a tried and tested machine........... u may have a few niggles here and there........( thats what bullet owning experience is all about..........taking care of it) but, at the end of the day, most of the classic 500 owners swear by their machines.

amitoj · 5th January 2005, 23:05

yeah i have heard bullet owners talk about even the nagging problems with immense joy and pride

Someone even said somewhere that RE dont bother about 1 year or 2 year warranties... instead they guarantee a lifetime of oil leak!! He was so proud of it!
So if the beast (bike seems too puny a word for bullet, somehow) is gonna have teeny weeny probs anyways, then why wait a year? I think I'd like to be one of the first to get those probs!! the first to get to know the character of the new bullet first hand! Wot do u think?

aadix · 5th January 2005, 23:11

hey physco
u talking like me dad!!!!
was thinking for a sec wheter my dad joined the forum!

vinsanity · 6th January 2005, 09:08

Hey guys,
I too am a die hard bullet fan!!!!
I mailed to this guy in the UK Royal Enfield site asking him if the 500cc Lean Burn bullet would come to India.. This is wat he wrote..
***************************
DEAR SIR

AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THE 500 LEAN BURN WILL BE UNAVAILABLE IN INDIA,
THERE IS NO MARKET FOR 500CC BIKES IN INDIA, AND EVEN THE CLASSIC 500CC
ENGINE IS HARD TO SOURCE

PRICE IN THE UK IS #3495 FOR THE ELECTRA X (500 LEAN BURN), DONT CONFUSE
THIS WITH THE INDIAN ELECTRA WHICH IS A 350 WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BIKE, PLEASE SEND YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS & WE WILL
SEND A BROCHURE & DEALER LIST. SOME HAVE ELECTRA'S AS DEMO BIKES

REGARDS

ALAN COLLINS
***********************************
So that means it is not going to come here.. Thats not fair....
_CHaO_

5th January 2005, 16:05	#1
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,105 Times View My Garage	Lean Burn Bullet500 Hey fellas Any idea when RE will be launching the Lean Burn Bullet 500cc in India??? I checked the RE website but that doesnt mention anything about its launch in india. So if anyone out there knows anyone at Royal Enfield, could u please find out and lemme know?? Cheers Amitoj
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 16:24	#2
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Donno abt the lean burn but they do have launched a new 500 with electric starter, gas filled shocks & the works
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 18:36	#6
Psycho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,043 Thanked: 110 Times View My Garage	Old is Gold Hi, The old 500 is definitely a great buy... many of my friends who have the newer bullets always end up complaining of stuff more often than not but the old 500 was a definite exception to this case... The bike rocks. I too have been a bullet fan for over 10 yrs now and own a 1970 model bullet and swear by it... As they say as far as bullet is concerned OLD is GOLD. Go for the Iron anyday... PS: Amitoj my bike has always sailed through the emmision checks beautifully.
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 18:43	#7
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,105 Times View My Garage	Hey psycho Wow... a 1970 model! That bike is way older than me!!! So wot would u recommend for a wannabe bullet owner like me? Amitoj
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 20:32	#8
Psycho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,043 Thanked: 110 Times View My Garage	Depends Hi Amitoj, Here is a set of questions that could lead you to the right choice: 1) Have you ridden a bullet before? (if yes try answering the questions below) a)Are you comfortable with the gears being on the right side? if yes you are eligible for a old bullet (including the 500) If No : Please buy a new bullet with the left side gearshift. 2) Are you looking for speed? (500) 3) Are you going to cruise? (350) 4) Milage is an issue? (go for the new bullet : AVl) 5) Like the chopper style (lightning or thunderbird) 6) Classic Looks (all the other bikes) 7) Dont mind the RTO hassels (Go for a really old bullet preferably single owner and well maintained) 8) Modded looks: look for the Iranians But the golden rule the perfect bullet is one that idles with no vibrations, exhaust note and engine sound and it should rev to give you a slight whine on the engine and a good load of thumps behind you.
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 16:32	#3
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,105 Times View My Garage	All those "improvements" are ok, but if one were planning to buy a new 500cc Enfield, do u think it would be worthwhile to wait for the launch of lean burn model?
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 20:36	#9
shravan316 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,029 Thanked: 9 Times	psycho.... is the 500 good for cruising or is 350 better??
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 20:57	#11
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,105 Times View My Garage	Hey psycho. Thanks for putting up the questionnaire. Well, firstly, i dont want any hassles with the RTO and i'd rather stick to the very original, so i guess the last two are not really my cup of tea.... or shot of whiskey... or pint of beer... As for mileage, i am surprised u'd even ask!! Do bullet lovers really care about the mileage?? Between cruising and speeding, is there any way i can have both?? And i did ride a bullet once... found its gear on the right a bit awkward but thats not much of a problem... i can handle that. But if its on the left side, i'll gladly take it! I more or less have my sights set on the 500cc one... but jus wanted to know if its worthwhile to wait for the lean burn one.... And if mileage is the only reason why a cruiser would take 350cc, then i'd rather stick to 500 Last edited by amitoj : 5th January 2005 at 21:00.
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 23:05	#13
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,105 Times View My Garage	yeah i have heard bullet owners talk about even the nagging problems with immense joy and pride Someone even said somewhere that RE dont bother about 1 year or 2 year warranties... instead they guarantee a lifetime of oil leak!! He was so proud of it! So if the beast (bike seems too puny a word for bullet, somehow) is gonna have teeny weeny probs anyways, then why wait a year? I think I'd like to be one of the first to get those probs!! the first to get to know the character of the new bullet first hand! Wot do u think?
	() Thanks

5th January 2005, 23:11	#14
aadix Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: hyderabad Posts: 1,597 Thanked: 14 Times	hey physco u talking like me dad!!!! was thinking for a sec wheter my dad joined the forum!
	() Thanks

6th January 2005, 09:08	#15
vinsanity BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Patna Posts: 609 Thanked: 2 Times	Hey guys, I too am a die hard bullet fan!!!! I mailed to this guy in the UK Royal Enfield site asking him if the 500cc Lean Burn bullet would come to India.. This is wat he wrote.. ************************* DEAR SIR AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THE 500 LEAN BURN WILL BE UNAVAILABLE IN INDIA, THERE IS NO MARKET FOR 500CC BIKES IN INDIA, AND EVEN THE CLASSIC 500CC ENGINE IS HARD TO SOURCE PRICE IN THE UK IS #3495 FOR THE ELECTRA X (500 LEAN BURN), DONT CONFUSE THIS WITH THE INDIAN ELECTRA WHICH IS A 350 WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BIKE, PLEASE SEND YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS & WE WILL SEND A BROCHURE & DEALER LIST. SOME HAVE ELECTRA'S AS DEMO BIKES REGARDS ALAN COLLINS ********************************* So that means it is not going to come here.. Thats not fair.... _CHaO_
	() Thanks