Overview:
Though the Bullet is well known for its thudding sound it attracts more customers silently. While Pulsar 220cc and Karizma FI are in the limelight of auto magazines and TV channels, the true big machine maker Royal Enfield watching these silently, as Indians moving up the value chain Royal Enfield plans to expand its reach. Whatever you are either an IT professional or a college student, wherever you are either in a metro or in a rural, I’m sure that Bullet occupies the top slot in your list of dream machines. Not only Indians are passionate about it, Royal Enfield sells its motorcycles in over twenty countries. In UK the cult bike manufacturer Royal Enfield sells 499cc Bullet Sixty-5, Bullet Electra and Euro Classic. The 499cc Bullet sold in similar numbers to Britain’s largest manufacturer Triumph’s 2300cc Rocket III. In USA Royal Enfield has able to penetrate Harley Davidson’s market with offerings like Bullet Sixty-5, Bullet Deluxe, Bullet Classic, Bullet Electra and Bullet Military. Royal Enfield’s annual sale is anywhere between 30000-50000 units including a decent number in exports.
What’s special with Bullet?
The grandiose and solid look, the thudding sound (In US Harley Davidson has the patent for its specific sound), unmatched driving position also its impeccable ride and handling and last but not the least Bullet’s rich heritage. It has the capability to catch a car and it can intimidate even much hyped sport bikes like Suzuki Hayabusa. Enfield famous tag for its solid machines “Built like a gun, goes like a bullet” this is not a fancy phrase you can feel it when you ride it. But note! Next time when you ride a bullet please don’t frighten a TVS apache, Bajaj Pulsar and Hero Honda Karizma they have to come a long way to match this machine.
What’s new in modern Bullet?
It is the only bike which can lure customers through its 1970 styling, its customer demands old styling with modern technology. Although the bikes have remained virtually unchanged since the 1950’s, the Bullet benefited from the introduction of the new all-aluminium lean burn engine in 2005. Not only does this modern unit offer increased power and improved reliability, against the original 1955 model engine, it also delivers incredible fuel economy, in the range of 30-35kpl. Royal Enfield made telescopic hydraulic damping at the front; Gas filled shock absorbers at the rear, twin lead drum brake at the front, single lead drum brake at the rear, 12V headlamp, 19” tyres at the front and rear and dimensions a universal standard in all machines. Royal Enfield offers 346cc bikes Bullet 350, Bullet Electra, Bullet Electra 5S, Bullet Machismo and Thunderbird in India.
Of these offerings, Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 5S, Bullet Machismo, Thunderbird share the same engine and mechanicals. All three features the same 346cc four-stroke engine and five-speed gearbox. The bikes all share the same chassis and dimensions too, so they will behave almost similarly on the road. Though they are similar there are some fine differences when comes to performance and design. Machismo and Thunderbird only features all aluminium engine.
Thunderbird:
Thunderbird is the advanced and the best looking amongst the existing set of bikes from Royal Enfield. Thunderbird is aimed at urban youth who wants to enjoy the Bullet, It features 5 speed gear box with left gear foot shift, optional disc brake at the front and electric start, dual tone finish and multi focal headlamp. The only CV carbureted, all aluminium engine makes Thunderbird to achieve a maximum speed of 120km/hr. The Thunderbird features a relaxed, cruiser-style design with curved, raised bars and a deeply stepped seat for an easier ride. If you are not used to big bikes and if you are a beginner, you can choose the Thunderbird. With a lower seat height, handling the bike will be easier and manoeuvring through city traffic will be relatively easy. Riding comfort is also marginally better. Since it does score fewer points as compared to the Bullet in terms of silencer sound long term Bullet enthusiast won’t accept Thunderbird as a true Bullet. Thunderbird is priced between Rs 79,630 – Rs 90,100.
Bullet Electra & Bullet Electra – 5S:
Electra features a traditional 4 speed gearbox with right foot gear shift similar to its mighty sibling Bullet 350 and Electra embraced the modern technology through transistor coil ignition (TCI). Bullet Electra-5S features much advanced digital TCI and 5 speed gear box with right foot gear shift, but Electra- 5S retains the same cast cylinder engine. Electra 5S is more upright, and feature simple handlebars, a teardrop fuel tank and a raised-saddle seating position. Electra 5S tail-lamp unit is broader and more perceptible than Electra. It is the cheapest modern bullet available in the price range of Rs73,000 – Rs82,000.
Bullet Machismo:
The Machismo is a few sporty and feature big bike add-ons such as glass visor and stitched side storage bag. It is the only one to feature a spring coiled twin seat and looks good with lot of chrome. Optional leather saddle bag and polycarbonate windshield makes Machismo a perfect mate for your touring.
Bullet Machismo, Bullet Electra 5S and Thunderbird are modern machines featuring advanced ignition systems like electronic CDI and digital TCI as opposed to much problem making contact breaker unit in Bullet 350, left foot gear shift as opposed to characteristic Bullet’s right foot gear shift, optional electric start and optional disc brake at the front. Machismo is priced between Rs75,000 – Rs 79,000
Bullet 350:
It is the old Bullet which retains the same old cast cylinder engine, traditional 4 speed gearbox with right foot gear shift and flat line seat. Full mug guard and traditional badge on the fuel tank makes the Bullet 350 unmatched for many years. I’m sure that it will lead in the coming years too. Bullet 350 is priced at Rs 66,000.
Trouble’s with the wonder machine:
Bullet is not a reliable machine it may not start at a cold morning; it may make you stranded when it dies without any warning thus spoils your happy outing. Sometime it frightens the owner too the gearshifts of Bullet usually lack a positive feel and are cumbersome. However, with practice and a careful, measured approach, the gears can be made to shift better. Clutch feel is always heavy and vague as most experienced Enfield riders have learnt to bear. Oil leak in crank case cover joints, broken cable, fused bulbs, withering of paint and plating and even sometimes silencer too. Don’t be panic these are the common phenomenon in Bullet. When you get sync with your machine and knowledge about the machine you can get rid of these problems. For owning a Bullet you must follow the regular maintenance schedule and service it often. Also it is must for Bullet owners that you must have intact relationship with the dealer and fellow Bullet owners. Some problems may puzzle you! Shortly this is adult machine which require infant’s care.
But don’t underestimate the Bullet; Royal Enfield has been rated as the best in Total Customer Satisfaction (TCS) in TNS auto survey for the last two consecutive years, in Cruiser segment. Thunderbird won the BBC wheels best cruiser award in 2002. Believe me! There are decent numbers of female Bullet riders.
Things you should look at before buying a second hand bullet:
Insurance, adherence of Emission and noise control norms and maintenance cost are the important three factors on which you should purchase a second hand Bullet. Maintenance cost varies from Rs5000 -15000per year for a Bullet
Important Bullet Clubs/Communities: Here are some useful links which enables you to meet fellow Bullet owners and you can discuss about buying/selling or maintenance tips for Bullet
Enfield Community links 1
Enfield Community links 2
Bullet’s Future:
Eicher Motors hived off the classic Bullet into a separate unit in 2005. Although Eicher presented it as an opportunity for the brand to get much-needed infusion of capital, observers see the move as Eicher abandoning its financial support for Royal Enfield.
Bullet’s competitors Yezdi (popular Yezdi phrase for its bikes “Forever bike forever value”) and Yamaha -Rajdoot (the makers of RD350 which is still loved by many hard core bike enthusiasts) had shut their shop due to labour problems and stringent emission norms also the low mileage and starting trouble leads to the low sales of the vehicle and eventually shut down of Yezdi and Rajdoot. Although the Enfield was the first one to comply when the stringent emission norms were introduced in India and in the past enfield had successfully knocked out the Global leader BMW. With more stringent 2008 auto policy on the line and world leader Harley Davidson reckoning to enter India, Enfield has to produce more efficient engines and vehicles too…..
Thunderbird is the advanced and the best looking amongst the existing set of bikes from Royal Enfield. Thunderbird is aimed at urban youth who wants to enjoy the Bullet, It features 5 speed gear box with left gear foot shift, optional disc brake at the front and electric start, dual tone finish and multi focal headlamp. The only CV carbureted, all aluminium engine makes Thunderbird to achieve a maximum speed of 120km/hr. The Thunderbird features a relaxed, cruiser-style design with curved, raised bars and a deeply stepped seat for an easier ride. If you are not used to big bikes and if you are a beginner, you can choose the Thunderbird. With a lower seat height, handling the bike will be easier and manoeuvring through city traffic will be relatively easy. Riding comfort is also marginally better. Since it does score fewer points as compared to the Bullet in terms of silencer sound long term Bullet enthusiast won’t accept Thunderbird as a true Bullet. Thunderbird is priced between Rs 79,630 – Rs 90,100.
Electra features a traditional 4 speed gearbox with right foot gear shift similar to its mighty sibling Bullet 350 and Electra embraced the modern technology through transistor coil ignition (TCI). Bullet Electra-5S features much advanced digital TCI and 5 speed gear box with right foot gear shift, but Electra- 5S retains the same cast cylinder engine. Electra 5S is more upright, and feature simple handlebars, a teardrop fuel tank and a raised-saddle seating position. Electra 5S tail-lamp unit is broader and more perceptible than Electra. It is the cheapest modern bullet available in the price range of Rs73,000 – Rs82,000.
The Machismo is a few sporty and feature big bike add-ons such as glass visor and stitched side storage bag. It is the only one to feature a spring coiled twin seat and looks good with lot of chrome. Optional leather saddle bag and polycarbonate windshield makes Machismo a perfect mate for your touring. 
It is the old Bullet which retains the same old cast cylinder engine, traditional 4 speed gearbox with right foot gear shift and flat line seat. Full mug guard and traditional badge on the fuel tank makes the Bullet 350 unmatched for many years. I’m sure that it will lead in the coming years too. Bullet 350 is priced at Rs 66,000.