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14 Nov 2010
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Join Date: Feb 2006
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Last September I did a trip through eastern Europe on my Enfield.
I had two problems, neither of which was I equipped to fix.
The first was the front brake (disk) would lock on when I used it. would ease off after couple hundred metres of riding. was ok cold, but when hot would lock on.
The second was that by the time I got to Poland my big end had started to rattle. It got me back across Germany , Holland and as far as Antwerp in Belgium where I left the bike with a friend. It might have got me home, it might not. But it was safe in my friends garage and trains from Antwerp to home are easy. I went back two weeks later and picked it up with my car and trailer.
It has been my experience that tubeless tyres run on aluminium rims are less reliable than tubed on spoked wheels.
disk brakes do seize from time to time. Often they can be fixed with a repair kit and a bleed, but drums are easier to fix.
I have learn the hard way, always replace a tube when you replace a worn tyre, Modern rubber does not seem to last very long before degrading.
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16 Nov 2010
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Join Date: Apr 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw
Last September I did a trip through eastern Europe on my Enfield.
I had two problems, neither of which was I equipped to fix.
The first was the front brake (disk) would lock on when I used it. would ease off after couple hundred metres of riding. was ok cold, but when hot would lock on.
The second was that by the time I got to Poland my big end had started to rattle. It got me back across Germany , Holland and as far as Antwerp in Belgium where I left the bike with a friend. It might have got me home, it might not. But it was safe in my friends garage and trains from Antwerp to home are easy. I went back two weeks later and picked it up with my car and trailer.
It has been my experience that tubeless tyres run on aluminium rims are less reliable than tubed on spoked wheels.
disk brakes do seize from time to time. Often they can be fixed with a repair kit and a bleed, but drums are easier to fix.
I have learn the hard way, always replace a tube when you replace a worn tyre, Modern rubber does not seem to last very long before degrading.
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Thanks for sharing the experience on brake. i was thinking for a while whether to go for disk brake or stick to good old drum brakes. Since i am planning on buying an old bike, it will be having a drum brake.
braking and antifad properties of disk are supposed to be better than drum brake. But i think, drum brakes will suffice. let me know your thoughts.
Pare.
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16 Nov 2010
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Join Date: Feb 2006
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In North Italy at traffic lights the car in front of me pulled away and stopped suddenly.
I actually locked the front wheel and even loaded with gear the back end lifted a bit. The sudden stopping was such a shock it made me think I had hit the car but my front wheel was six inches ( 150mm in new money) away from the car. the forks literally bent back and sprung back out. The Enfield front brake is the best I have ever experienced on a bike. The sticking will be due to corrosion of either the piston or case. Repairable, but not on the road for me.
So Yes "modern" disk brakes are better than 50 year old drum brakes.
However due to there being much less grip with rear brake, a drum there will provide all the braking your tyre can cope with. A definite plus on the front though. If you upgrade an old bullet to the newer disk front brake, be sure also to use the newer Electra front fork tubes and stanchions. Th eold forks are not strong enough. That should tell you something.
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20 Dec 2010
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I've found a Royal Enfield Bullet 500cc - its a 1998 model from India - Going cheap(ish) and I'm rather tempted to get it although been hearing that the Indian made bikes can be a bit iffy ..... but still very tempted - it'd be my first bike though and a little worried that it could be a complete ball ache, but looking at getting a bike maintenance course through the ILA so at least I know what I'm doing
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20 Dec 2010
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Where is Dave Ede when ya need him?
He owns a couple of Enfields, albeit Diesel ones....you could probably run faster but he seems to like em! 
He will be along in a minute or two.... much like his 0-60 time on an Enfield Diesel...... 
Hi Dave! 
M
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20 Dec 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Officialslacker
I've found a Royal Enfield Bullet 500cc - its a 1998 model from India - Going cheap(ish) and I'm rather tempted to get it although been hearing that the Indian made bikes can be a bit iffy ..... but still very tempted - it'd be my first bike though and a little worried that it could be a complete ball ache, but looking at getting a bike maintenance course through the ILA so at least I know what I'm doing
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in edinburgh it would probably be a ball ache for the first little while, but you'd learn lots and make it reliable. Hitchcock's would be on speed dial for you. to be honest, get the manual (it's way better than any modern bikes manual, it has humour!) and ask. a bike maintenance course would probably not cover Enfield's faults (mainly wiring/earthing), though would be generally useful. especially if they cover electrics. did I mention electrics ?
if you need a hand just ask. my enfield was mechanically reliable for 16,000 km over west africa. it only needed a new clutch cable, chain and sprockets.
(sorry to hijack-ish the thread: we're doing an Ausin Vince night in Edinburgh on 24th Feb. Matt's coming, and he's an Edinburgh Enfield Expert, I'm sure he'd pass on his knowledge)
Last edited by DougieB; 20 Dec 2010 at 21:53.
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20 Dec 2010
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Apart from Hitchcocks becoming your 2nd best friend I also found this manual and parts list extremely useful.
THE PETE SNIDAL ENFIELD BULLET MANUAL
2007 UK DELUXE EDITION
I can't remember where it came from. I think it was recommended on one of the Enfield forums. It may have been a download or it may have been a CD in the post. There are plenty of references to it on Google.
It covers the UK models as well as the Indian ones.
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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.
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20 Dec 2010
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DougieB
in edinburgh it would probably be a ball ache for the first little while, but you'd learn lots and make it reliable. Hitchcock's would be on speed dial for you. to be honest, get the manual (it's way better than any modern bikes manual, it has humour!) and ask. a bike maintenance course would probably not cover Enfield's faults (mainly wiring/earthing), though would be generally useful. especially if they cover electrics. did I mention electrics ?
if you need a hand just ask. my enfield was mechanically reliable for 16,000 km over west africa. it only needed a new clutch cable, chain and sprockets.
(sorry to hijack-ish the thread: we're doing an Ausin Vince night in Edinburgh on 24th Feb. Matt's coming, and he's an Edinburgh Enfield Expert, I'm sure he'd pass on his knowledge)
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Ausin Vince night? If yours could get round Africa, I'm sure one could manage me around Europe
Quote:
Originally Posted by harleyrider
Apart from Hitchcocks becoming your 2nd best friend I also found this manual and parts list extremely useful.
THE PETE SNIDAL ENFIELD BULLET MANUAL
2007 UK DELUXE EDITION
I can't remember where it came from. I think it was recommended on one of the Enfield forums. It may have been a download or it may have been a CD in the post. There are plenty of references to it on Google.
It covers the UK models as well as the Indian ones.
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Yeah, I heard that Hitchcocks would be where all my pennies would be getting spent - Been having a look and rather fancy the army panniers they have - heard about a manual too, will have to try and find that
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25 Jan 2011
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: india
Posts: 46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mustaphapint
Apart from Hitchcocks becoming your 2nd best friend I also found this manual and parts list extremely useful.
THE PETE SNIDAL ENFIELD BULLET MANUAL
2007 UK DELUXE EDITION
I can't remember where it came from. I think it was recommended on one of the Enfield forums. It may have been a download or it may have been a CD in the post. There are plenty of references to it on Google.
It covers the UK models as well as the Indian ones.
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Hello All,
I have seen the pete snidal manual. Its good and covers most of what one may need in usual bike maintenance.
I have finally found a bike of 1972 make. Documents seems to be in place. The bike will need an overhaul. and my time is running out!
Happy new year to all... 
Pare.
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
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