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Bullet Trials 500?

Eatmore Mudd

Moderator
Staff member
Yes and no.
Yes they're a good solid design with gobs of torque and millions sold since 2009. Delhi hydraulic lifters, forged steel roller bearing crank and rod. The same EFI as Himalayan and back up kick starter are cherries on top. The no part is because it's not counter balanced so they're kind of vibey and they start getting uncomfortable much over 60 mph. A Carberry plate helps that and there are other things you can do too. The mount points clips and brackets have evolved since 1947 but the basic frame architecture that made the bullet Johny Brittains weapon of choice for the ISDT have not. The Bullet is a blank slate you can make into an old school tight woods trail bike, an isle of man road racer or anything in between.
 

Roy Gavin

Well travelled
I actually had a English Bullet Trials bike , but it was almost sixty years ago and I can't remember to much about the bike!
But if it had been bad I probably would have !
I recall riding it for a week or two without a clutch cable so the neutral finder was real handy.
Had it downtown when the Aston Martin from one of the Bond Movies was in town for the Edinburgh Tattoo, Managed to out drag it away from traffic lights , it just flew when you slipped it into gear without a clutch, and I knew the light sequence to the second so I had a flying start!

Most roller bearing cranks are pressed up , as it is a bit tricky getting a one piece rod over the flywheels. The old floating bush was never a weak point anyway unless you were planning on trying to get another2000 revs / 15 HP out of it.
Most recently Nicole has had a Bullet ELectra for six years/ 55000 km , it has been almost trouble free and it is a really nice bike to ride.
Feels lighter than the Hima, nice turn in and , like the Hima, well dialed in suspension, much better than you would expect from basic components.
They are a thumper, so yes, they do thump , but I found it a pleasant feeling, not a unpleasant vibration.
The Electra feels fine thumping along at the State limit of 110 km/hr , the BT might have lower gearing, but if you are going to fit Trials tires you wouldn't want to run them much more than 100 km/hr anyway.
 

darmahman

Getting there...
Location
Colorado
I have one and absolutely love it. It is my putter around town and in the country. My Himalayan is a different bike altogether. I also have a new Interceptor 650. I think the Trials 500 is by far the best built of the 3.
 

TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
I have one and absolutely love it. It is my putter around town and in the country. My Himalayan is a different bike altogether. I also have a new Interceptor 650. I think the Trials 500 is by far the best built of the 3.
Please post some photos of the bike in its element and a review if you can. Comparing the ride and suspension to the Himalayan would be interesting.
 

darmahman

Getting there...
Location
Colorado
The bikes are totally different. The 500 trials is really not a serious bike for off-road. Top speed b/4 vibs set in is 50. But it is a charming motorcycle. Reminds me of a 500 Velocett with electric start, disc brakes and fuel injection... and reliable, dead reliable. Very well made.
The Himmy is smooth as butter. Can do 70 all day long and does fine on or off road. Definitely the more serious bike tho compared to a new BMW or KTM still has a ways to go. I love it for its smoothness, relaxed simple character. I detest the new bikes with the tv screens. I’m a throwback to “better times” :) One more thing, the Himmy is and feels much heavier.
1394
 
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TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
Thanks. My local dealer said they will not get one in unless I order it. I will have to go to Nashville to see one in person, but not going to cities until this pandemic is over.
 

Eatmore Mudd

Moderator
Staff member
The bikes are totally different. The 500 trials is really not a serious bike for off-road. ~


I honestly think that depends on how a person defines serious off road. Please let me give you another perspective to consider.

Graham Jarvis stuff ? Nope. Danny Hamel ? aint gonna happen. My old woods bullets ? they were torque monsters that could drag the entire camp site up a ridge
side. Nimble trail tractor, woods beast. Think TW200 on steroids, lots of steroids. And charming.Try riding one like today's machines at a today's machine speeds, yah that aint gonna end well. Ride it like they did back and the day and now were talking. In that fashion they are as capable as they ever were. Somewhere I have a picture I took of a dude on Bullet more than holding his own in Moab.[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]
 
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TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
Your end quote is broken so your post got embedded in the one you quoted.

I love the look of the bike and I have hours of roads and wildlife management areas where this type of bike would be fun. Fast off-road is not in my repertoire anymore. I am missing my vintage trials bike and think this might scratch that itch. Except of course that the vintage trails bike only weighed a couple hundred lbs.

I need to see if I can find a test ride on one, or at least test ride a used Bullet to make sure it doesn't end up a trophy bike sitting on a workbench like the old Moto Guzzi Cafe I once owned.
 

TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
FWIW- I have decided to sell my RE Trials 500 with 450 miles on it. If interested it is for sale for $5500. 20 months left on factory warranty.
mike 970-481-6355
Thanks, but it is $5799 new. My dealer doesn't charge anything over that.

I saw a youtube video that stated the Bullet 500s are being discontinued. The 650s are taking that market since they are about the same price.
 

Eatmore Mudd

Moderator
Staff member
Your end quote is broken so your post got embedded in the one you quoted.
Thanks man. I went and fixed it.


I love the look of the bike and I have hours of roads and wildlife management areas where this type of bike would be fun. Fast off-road is not in my repertoire anymore. I am missing my vintage trials bike and think this might scratch that itch. Except of course that the vintage trails bike only weighed a couple hundred lbs.

I need to see if I can find a test ride on one, or at least test ride a used Bullet to make sure it doesn't end up a trophy bike sitting on a workbench like the old Moto Guzzi Cafe I once owned.
A 21" front, 18" rear, up-swept exhaust, inch- inch and half longer rear shocks, braced handlebars make a nicer woods Bullet.
 

sam2019

Well travelled
This is just a standard bullet with a fancy exhaust and no rear seat nor footpeg. We have one here, red frame too, as 350 because in India the 350 is the bestseller.
But there really is no difference to a standard bullet other than optics. it looks smart, I like it, what I do not like is driving it LOL. Not nearly as comfy as the Himma.

yes, the 500 bullets are discontinued and the new 350s are EFI now. The last of those fancy 350 "off road" bullets where given to the dealerships at a 50% discount, probably to get rid of them before the BS6 hit, which the carbed version could not satisfy.

this one bike my dealer has sits in his shop like lead, in india people seem to like 2,3,4,5 and more people on one bike, not one only.
 

TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
This is just a standard bullet with a fancy exhaust and no rear seat nor footpeg. We have one here, red frame too, as 350 because in India the 350 is the bestseller.
But there really is no difference to a standard bullet other than optics. it looks smart, I like it, what I do not like is driving it LOL. Not nearly as comfy as the Himma.

yes, the 500 bullets are discontinued and the new 350s are EFI now. The last of those fancy 350 "off road" bullets where given to the dealerships at a 50% discount, probably to get rid of them before the BS6 hit, which the carbed version could not satisfy.

this one bike my dealer has sits in his shop like lead, in india people seem to like 2,3,4,5 and more people on one bike, not one only.
The look appeals to me, but it is priced right there with the 650 twins in the states. For that price it should have actual off-road suspension and true Trials capbability. I am hoping to see one in person later this month when I have to go into Nashville to drop my wife off at the airport. I will bring gear in case they allow a test ride. I would like to own one, but will probably have to wait until a used one shows up, like I did for the Van Van 200.
 

TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
So, I stopped by the the dealer on my way to the airport and checked the bike in person .I definitely like the look and sound. I need to go back and take a test ride. It felt good in fit and ergonomics . smIMG_1269.JPG
 

TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
So, rode my Road Glide 250 miles round trip today to test ride the Trials 500. If I lived in a city I would own it today. It was so easy to ride around Nashville . The only negative for me is the peg placement. Too far forward to standing while riding. Comfortable while sitting .

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smIMG_1283.JPGsmIMG_1285.JPGsmIMG_1286.JPGsmIMG_1287.JPG
 

Breaker Express

Getting there...
Location
Florida, USA
I have to say that when I saw that bike I almost didn't get the Int 650.
If I could afford two bikes that would be the 2nd one in the garage. Will have to wait and see if I can find one used and I like the red one.
At 62 I don't give a crap about speed. I am about riding what I like and looking at what is around me.
 
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