Jun 11, 2003 12:11 PM
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(Updated Jun 11, 2003 12:11 PM)
The britishers might have ruled India for 200 years and we had to fight to get our freedom back but if you look at the positive side, that era got some great British bikes to our shores and the Enfield Bullet is on of them. Its a different that in the present era the same bike is proudly being created only in India and being exported to different countries and it appears that after about half a century this bike is still young and its fan club growing despite so many new sleek and advanced models being launched.
To keep up with the times, we see new versions of this model with more displacement and slightly different looks and new tones to satisfy the latest regulations.
No, I don't own a bullet. I am living away from my hometown with my KB100(my little darling). Last month I had to go to my hometown for a week and I just can't do without a bike and hence borrowed my cousins bike and that was a BULLET 350 1984 model. Though it hasn't been maintined as dearly as a bike should be, it was still an experience to ride it. My cousins bike had no modifications what so ever and is all stock. Best part was a new battery and that means no starting problems and excellent horn n lights.
The first time I had to ride it, I kept the bike on the stand and went around it trying to understand it and wondering how I am gonna handle this baby Rhino(I bet only a full grown Rhino can outweigh it in terms of weight, size and power). Yes, this bike seems to belong to the same prehistoric era from which the Rhinos have endured and it definetly speaks about this machines reliability.
The first few minutes I spent learning to get this bike off and on its stand and then was the toughest part. Kicking this bike to life is no mean task. A totally different world compared to the indo-jap bikes which never kick back but the Bullet does. Other bikes just need the brains to control them but this thing demands a lot of respect and all of your muscles to play with.
From no angle does the bike look anywhere as aerodynamic as the name suggest but it definetly shows its muscle and power.
Turn the ignition on and check the AMP meter. If not in center, pull the decompressor and a few kicks until it reads 0 and only then you can think of starting it. That is the amount of care and respect it requires. Kick it right and you get to hear some real Macho sound from that gorgeous shiny long exhaust. Leave it to idle, and its so silent. Turn that throttle and .... its only an experience that I cannot describe fully in words here...
Hey! Hey! don't try to play with that pedal on the left else you will never get this bike moving. Its reverse here(unlike the new versions). These models have the gears on the right and the brake pedal on the left and if you aren't used to it(which I definetly wasn't), it will take time before you reprogram your mind to send signals to the other leg be it for the brake or the gears and this really confuses in the begining of the relationship.
Two days and 150+kms in the city traffic I was beginging to understand this beast better and had successfully programmed the signals for the brakes and the gears. Hey! did I tell you about the small gear shift lever which can be used to get it to neutral or First directly? Great thinking by the designers else a sudden stop would have required a lot of footwork to get it moving again.
What I feel is this bikes isn't for the city as it enjoys crusing long distance more. At times you might find it tiring to go out with her in the heavy city traffic but wherever you go, its definetly a head turner and in case somebody dares not to - then just turn that throttle little over half its distance and release and you can find all the beings male/female, big/small, young/old staring at you - well not actually U but the bike LOL. The bike has an amazing road presence and ppl always seem to notice the king and dare not come in front/near it so that gives you clear paths almost always(or is it just the feeling it induces in you?). Whatever the case, you own the road when riding a Bullet.
I would like to save its performance details for some other day for I might not be able to describe it fully was I was with her for just 7 days, averaging about a 100kms everyday. But let me tell you, if you can get to terms with this machine and understand each other, you might end up addicted to it and feel that you should never ride any other bike. Probably a Yamaha V-Max might help change that idea :).
The Bullet is one REAL Macho machine and very stable at speeds and a pleasure to ride/cruise once the rider gets to understand and respect it fully.
The day I had to leave, I asked my cousin ''Any plans of selling this?''. He immediately snatched the keys from my hand and with a BIIIG smile said ''Sorry Bhaiya''. That brought me back to my senses and fully understood his feelings.
If you have the money, space, insect for classic bikes and did I say Muscle? then this is the bike U should try atleast once.
The day I got back and had to ride my bike, it again took me sometime before I was able to complete reprograming my legs again for the normal gear/brake positions.
Until I can get on of this for myself, I will try to ride this Macho machine whenever I can get to lay my hands on one.
I guess I will stop here :)
Take care and wish you all happy and safe riding/driving.
Regards.
