RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership

bradhey · 22nd March 2011, 10:55

Adrian: Beam height cannot be adjusted on these models, is true.
Tappets adjust themselves, is also true cause these are hydraulic as on Harley Davidsons

adrian · 22nd March 2011, 11:07

@bradhey : Thanks for clarifying friend, I remember the guy refering to hydraulics when stating about the tappets. Just thought that the mechanic was pulling my leg

It is a pity that the beams cannot be adjusted. I have to work something out to bring the beams to the correct height as I dont want my vehicle to be a nuisance to oncoming traffic. Any ideas anyone ?
Regards Adrian

stnair · 22nd March 2011, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian

@ San : Thanks friend. Are you doing the service on completion of tenure or KM ?. I think I am not going to do 6000 in the said period.
...
Now during the service, when I talked to the mechanic he said two things
1. The head light cannot be adjusted (beam height)

Only 4300km run so far, so I booked for 3rd service since 6 months completed as per user manual.

Last time I fell from bullu, the headlight cap got damaged and had to be removed. To my surprise, without that cap, the beam height was exactly what i needed.

- pointing to ground instead of at some fellow's face. The service station manager - a veteran bull runner told me its like that only - the company keeps that cap for fashion and its bull**** in real sense.

Since then I have refitted that cap, but kept a small piece of thick wire on the lower side between headlight glass and steel rim to keep the alignment pointed to ground.

regards
san

adrian · 23rd March 2011, 10:32

@San : Thank you Friend, So now I get the impression that 5 out of 10 bikes rolled out by RE has this problem. Now why are they not bothered with an important defect like this which could cause serious accidents during night rides ? 50 years in India and still no respect for traffic rules.

Regards Adrian

stnair · 23rd March 2011, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian

@San : Thank you Friend, So now I get the impression that 5 out of 10 bikes rolled out by RE has this problem. Now why are they not bothered with an important defect like this which could cause serious accidents during night rides ? 50 years in India and still no respect for traffic rules.

Regards Adrian

50 years in India... and thats the problem with headlight - It was designed 50 years back when headlights had the power of mere candle lights. No need of beam adjustments then since no one will get hurt with such low power bulbs. But times have changed and now more powerful halogen...xenon...HID etc etc and RE needs to upgrade.

regards
San

hollywoodhogan · 24th March 2011, 07:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian

@bradhey : Thanks for clarifying friend, I remember the guy refering to hydraulics when stating about the tappets. Just thought that the mechanic was pulling my leg

It is a pity that the beams cannot be adjusted. I have to work something out to bring the beams to the correct height as I dont want my vehicle to be a nuisance to oncoming traffic. Any ideas anyone ?
Regards Adrian

the beam can be adjusted downwards but an ugly gap will show up on the top between the h/l rim and casing. loosen the top screw, gently pull out the h/l assembly by about say 3-4 mm gap and then re-tighten. this will lower the beam for sure.

adrian · 24th March 2011, 11:32

@San : You are quite right. RE had installed beam adjustment options in models exported to Canada because they are mandatory in vehicles as per their local rules. They have taken the Indian customers for granted.
@Hollywoodhogan : Thank you friend, Would this adjustment cause water to seep into the headlight assembly ? If not, I am going for it.
Regards Adrian

hollywoodhogan · 25th March 2011, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian

@San : You are quite right. RE had installed beam adjustment options in models exported to Canada because they are mandatory in vehicles as per their local rules. They have taken the Indian customers for granted.
@Hollywoodhogan : Thank you friend, Would this adjustment cause water to seep into the headlight assembly ? If not, I am going for it.
Regards Adrian

no water problem since the gap has an overlap.

adrian · 26th March 2011, 10:23

Hi Friends, My bike had the problem of diving to the right when both hands were taken off the handle bar. (Don't think I ride handsoff, but yes I do that for checking the alignment on bikes and that too on empty roads

) During service, I complained it to the team and they checked the wheel alignment and adjusted the cams. Did it resolve the problem ? No. The bike still dives to the right when hands off. Other wise it is damn straight (no strain on the arms and no pulling to the sides). Do REBs have an equilibrium problem ? (More heavy to the right side)

@Hollywoodhogan : Thanks again friend.

EssYouWe · 26th March 2011, 10:29

Oh yes. But don't take it for granted, get them to fix it.

Thankfully, my Classic doesn't. But I know of loads of people who complain about this.

I am taking my Bull for a service. Will get the minor niggles resolved as well.
Made a 50 km drive home from a T-BHP meat last night. It was sheer awesomeness!

adrian · 26th March 2011, 10:47

@ Essyouwe : What I meant was an uncorrectable balance problem (The wheel alignment in my bike is perfect now). My doubt is that it is due to the enormous size of the stock silencer. I think your bike is steady because you have changed to the short bottle. Am I right? (God knows

)
Regards Adrian

EssYouWe · 26th March 2011, 11:06

Mine did not dive even with the stock silencer/upswept. So, I don't really know if that is the reason.

If it doesn't hamper the riding experience, or cause pain in the shoulders, you can just let it be. Sometimes, you have to give one to the Bull. It just isn't possible to solve every problem.

adrian · 26th March 2011, 11:30

@Essyouwe: Hey friend, My machine is super comfy except for this hands off thing. May be my Bull likes to have both my hands on the handle all the time !(P.S :Security feature incorporated by RE to promote safe riding

) Then again, could you indicate the areas I should look into for trouble shooting? I am learning one thing and thankfully not in the hard way and that is : Never be a perfectionist as far as your Bullet is concerned !!

How did the TBHP meet go ?
Regards Adrian

EssYouWe · 26th March 2011, 13:59

Frankly, I have no idea. If the handle isn't tugging, it is probably an effect of the engine placement offset. Even a few mm can cause such swerving.

The meat was great! Check out the Gurgaon meet thread for more details. Nice discussions about Bulls and CI v/s UCE!

Rennjit · 26th March 2011, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by EssYouWe

... The meat was great! ... . Nice discussions about Bulls and CI v/s UCE!

Yeah, we know it'll be great when its of Bulls. CI or UCE!

22nd March 2011, 10:55	#736
bradhey BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Agra Posts: 288 Thanked: 34 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership Adrian: Beam height cannot be adjusted on these models, is true. Tappets adjust themselves, is also true cause these are hydraulic as on Harley Davidsons
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 11:07	#737
adrian BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 932 Thanked: 1,217 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership @bradhey : Thanks for clarifying friend, I remember the guy refering to hydraulics when stating about the tappets. Just thought that the mechanic was pulling my leg It is a pity that the beams cannot be adjusted. I have to work something out to bring the beams to the correct height as I dont want my vehicle to be a nuisance to oncoming traffic. Any ideas anyone ? Regards Adrian
	() Thanks

23rd March 2011, 10:32	#739
adrian BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 932 Thanked: 1,217 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership @San : Thank you Friend, So now I get the impression that 5 out of 10 bikes rolled out by RE has this problem. Now why are they not bothered with an important defect like this which could cause serious accidents during night rides ? 50 years in India and still no respect for traffic rules. Regards Adrian
	() Thanks

24th March 2011, 11:32	#742
adrian BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 932 Thanked: 1,217 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership @San : You are quite right. RE had installed beam adjustment options in models exported to Canada because they are mandatory in vehicles as per their local rules. They have taken the Indian customers for granted. @Hollywoodhogan : Thank you friend, Would this adjustment cause water to seep into the headlight assembly ? If not, I am going for it. Regards Adrian
	() Thanks

26th March 2011, 10:23	#744
adrian BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 932 Thanked: 1,217 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership Hi Friends, My bike had the problem of diving to the right when both hands were taken off the handle bar. (Don't think I ride handsoff, but yes I do that for checking the alignment on bikes and that too on empty roads ) During service, I complained it to the team and they checked the wheel alignment and adjusted the cams. Did it resolve the problem ? No. The bike still dives to the right when hands off. Other wise it is damn straight (no strain on the arms and no pulling to the sides). Do REBs have an equilibrium problem ? (More heavy to the right side) @Hollywoodhogan : Thanks again friend.
	() Thanks

26th March 2011, 10:29	#745
EssYouWe Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 1,391 Thanked: 18 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership Oh yes. But don't take it for granted, get them to fix it. Thankfully, my Classic doesn't. But I know of loads of people who complain about this. I am taking my Bull for a service. Will get the minor niggles resolved as well. Made a 50 km drive home from a T-BHP meat last night. It was sheer awesomeness!
	() Thanks

26th March 2011, 10:47	#746
adrian BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 932 Thanked: 1,217 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership @ Essyouwe : What I meant was an uncorrectable balance problem (The wheel alignment in my bike is perfect now). My doubt is that it is due to the enormous size of the stock silencer. I think your bike is steady because you have changed to the short bottle. Am I right? (God knows) Regards Adrian
	() Thanks

26th March 2011, 11:06	#747
EssYouWe Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 1,391 Thanked: 18 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership Mine did not dive even with the stock silencer/upswept. So, I don't really know if that is the reason. If it doesn't hamper the riding experience, or cause pain in the shoulders, you can just let it be. Sometimes, you have to give one to the Bull. It just isn't possible to solve every problem.
	() Thanks

26th March 2011, 11:30	#748
adrian BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 932 Thanked: 1,217 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership @Essyouwe: Hey friend, My machine is super comfy except for this hands off thing. May be my Bull likes to have both my hands on the handle all the time !(P.S :Security feature incorporated by RE to promote safe riding) Then again, could you indicate the areas I should look into for trouble shooting? I am learning one thing and thankfully not in the hard way and that is : Never be a perfectionist as far as your Bullet is concerned !! How did the TBHP meet go ? Regards Adrian
	() Thanks

26th March 2011, 13:59	#749
EssYouWe Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 1,391 Thanked: 18 Times	Re: RE Classic 350 - Initial ownership Frankly, I have no idea. If the handle isn't tugging, it is probably an effect of the engine placement offset. Even a few mm can cause such swerving. The meat was great! Check out the Gurgaon meet thread for more details. Nice discussions about Bulls and CI v/s UCE!
	() Thanks