[anand_lukose]

Nothing can beat the emotional attachment one has with an old bike/car. There are folks who had to sell just for the sheer inconvenience it can bring.

I agree with folks here. If you are not going to use it regularly then it is a brilliant idea to restore it to a classic. The extra shillings may hurt but it would be definitely worth the time and expense. You can probably have a new thread here as well.

In case you need to use one regularly, you should depend on a new ride. If you need to compromise, you can still get a pretty decent ride for 70-80k ( Almost Half !! ). But if you can, Go for a Thumper

[bradhey]

Restoration of the Old family machine is a fulfilling experience, but only if there is a high quality workshop, with a very sound mechanic, who understands the emotional attachment of the owner with his bike :-)

[TheSandman]

Originally Posted by sinhsha

Now considering atleast Rs40000(20000 optional for paint and nickeling) has to be spent on this one, I am getting bit confused.

IMO, your guestimated costs for the restoration is on the high side.

1. Paint and chrome shouldn't cost you 15-20k.
2. Strange that one mechanic says its on it's last leg and the other that its healthy. Use a compression meter to check compression and health of block&piston.
3. Don't see a problem here. Regular short bottle silencers (should you want to change to one) are inexpensive
4. Paperwork will be a little problematic, but easier than you think. Find a good RTO agent.You can change the insurance company and get away with having to pay the penalty for not having insurance for that long.
5. Again, prices quoted for these parts are extremely high.
6. You mean the timing? A timing set isn't expensive should you want to change it all together.
7. Could be the CB point, have it checked. A new unit costs a few hundred anyway.

Try checking with regular (non RE service center) mechanic and see what he quotes.
Visit an auto parts dealer yourself and get a quotation for the parts you need.

[sinhsha]

Originally Posted by bradhey

Restoration of the Old family machine is a fulfilling experience, but only if there is a high quality workshop, with a very sound mechanic, who understands the emotional attachment of the owner with his bike :-)

Exactly that is my point. And that understanding mechanic is not only needed for restoration but for upkeeping as well who should not consider my family pride as an old metal junk.
As I have decided that I am going to restore this, I want to have suggestions /advice from BHPians about to whom I should go in Kolkata for restoration and starting another innings with her afresh.
My experience in recent years (with a gang of new bullets plying and a new kindles enthusiasm about bullet) is that mechanics make me think that either I am too poor to buy a new one (but as if though I aspire a new one and that's why do khich khich all the time for some imaginary issues), or I am a rich emotional person attached illogically to this metal thing and thus a good candidate to be milked out.
The good old friendly, honest, self respecting mechanics of old time are a rare breed now a days.

[datvichrox2]

500 km trips can be done on a cast iron bullet, with no problems. We recently did a trip from Bangalore to Gokarna. I had my TBTS and my friend was on his 86 bullet.

Speeds of 80-90 was comfortable. The only issue was the spark plug on the 86 bullet went out (he already knew it was gonna go, so we just put in the spare and started off again)

On the way back we took a rather long break at one time (30 mins)because weather was too hot and the cast iron engine was getting hot too. After the break, it was good to go again.

So if you want to do long trips, be it on any machine, you should understand its limitations, watch out for signs and plan accordingly. After all, every bike would have its limitations.

His bike does not leak any oil, starts with one kick and rides fine in the rain. My TBTS leaked oil till the last service. So it all depends on your mechanic.

How come no pics of your bike!?

[Suresh Stephen]

If you understand and maintain your bike, Long distance is not a problem on a bullet. Couple of years back I did a complete Bhutan trip on my 1970 model bike. Since it is your dad's bike, Whatever it takes, do not loose it. Restore it to the original glory and keep it.

[desideep]

Hi Sinhsha i am replying to your Post without reading what others have posted you may have already go many suggestions. i have been there and done this multiple times now so i hope it will help you.

Originally Posted by sinhsha

1. Comfortable cruise at 80-90 KMPH

This is good

2. Mileage of 32 to 35 with as per wish riding. And I don't remember it ave anything different than this from the time when it was new.
This is good
3. Never overheats

This is good

4. Nice effort less slow ride of 30 at top gear when mood for joy ride.

Does not matter

5. According to Javed bhai(a trusted mechanic in RE service station) engine is in good shape.

Good

6. No much oil leak. I mean little oil stains on certain part but never really drips or stains the parking spot.

My bike is a 81 and it does not leak oil at all. after 3-4 months one can see some dust near the parts that may ooze oil

7. Never stranded on the road.

Ride it and get to know it

But the bike has following issues also
1. Rust all over the places (might cost 15 to 20000 to re-chrome and pain everything and one month of dismantling, painting etc and one more month may be to fix all post refitting issues

It takes no more than a Week to redo a Bullet that is completely rusted and a Junk Bucket, if your Mechanic is slow then two weeks at the max. if he dosent like to work then what ever time he likes to take.

Costs for repaint including the denting and painting 5500 including all the parts, Croming depends on place but the best in delhi cost 300/ KG i have seen people in Patiala getting done the crome job for 4000 so you can expect a max of 10K for the paint job
Simple procedure is.

Dismanttle the bike (Time taken by me and mechanics helper was around 3 hours)
Get the cycle parts ready so that the engine can be remounted and then the body parts will come along

2. According to one mechanic (I am not sure about his trustworthiness) the cylinder and piston is at last stage.

Get a new bore and piston see if you can get the one with extra helper rings they were used in the Electra, works well with the Standard.

3. My brother changed the silencer to machismo one (long) 10 years back. Silencer is not rusted a bit but doesn't sound good like original short bottle atleast to rider. From pillion seat thump is awesome.

Get rid of the Machismo Exaust they look good but stress out the engine, the short botle ones cost around 500 max the Ludhiana stuff and same for INDORE and MADRAS.

4. All paper works are outdated by 10 years. Redoing all paperwork through agent considering fines would be expensive.

I have just reregistered the bike it too me 2000 RS that includes 1200RS for the five year tax and rest the guys fees to get it done and it took around 3 weeks there are no as such taxes and all.

5. Chain , sproket, rear tyre, clutch cable etc etc are still to be changed. Thus may need 10000 more.

Chain and sprokets are included in a set costs 1200 RS from ROLON
Rear MRF Tyre 2500 with tube.
Clutch Cable 60-80 RS for Friction Free cable.
Labour to get it done no more than 300 RS.


6. Cam penion set giving some clatter noise. Javed bhai opened the set and confirmed no need to change for atleast 10000KM.

Get the shims changed so that the clatter would go, but if you are going to get the whole bike redone if it was me i would get them replaced. costs of parts around 1200.

7. Sometime starting problem. At those times I have to give it 10 minutes and then kick and it starts. Donno why.

Get the ingnition checked the POINTS may not be in the best of its condition. of i would suggest you to get the POINTS replace ment kit that would cost you around 1500 RS, and believe me you would be a happy man and never face starting problems.

Now recently I have bitten very hard by bullet bug. And thinking of giving my dzire to wife for her personal use and keep riding for some years while I still can. Now considering atleast Rs40000(20000 optional for paint and nickeling) has to be spent on this one, I am getting bit confused. Should I go ahead or keep this as it is for memory and wait and buy new thunderbird 500 when the same is launched in June.

If you are going to keep this for memory please keep it well why do you want to keep it as a JUNK.

Hmm this was a long one to reply to, if you need any help my friend let me know, But i would suggest you to respect it and get it restored and get it running and beleive me a Welmaintained Bullet is very adictive, they may not run fast they may not be the best of the motorcycles but they give you storries and you will love them.

[ashphil]

Restore! Pretty please restore! And when doing it up fit in the CDi ignition unit and a disk brake. Your bike will take you to anywhere and back! I have a 1996 500cc which is the pride of my Life!
regards,
Ashok

[zulfi hansi]

There is no question, old is really gold when it comes to the 'original' bullet. Please do not even think of selling it it and end up buying frustration for your self. Believe me when I was hunting for a Bullet for me 15 years back I wanted one to match my year of birth, not just nostalgia but anything that came from 80s onward was compromised. I have seen it with my own eyes. When I did get a 1973 model was getting it overhauled and the same garage also had a year old 500cc (first attempt of RE at 500cc) and the crank size was the same for my bike and the 500cc one, proof enough, then the mechanic showed me the crank of a 1990 model which was half the size of my bike crank. Ask anyone who knows RE and he will say you are on lucky fella to have the 'original'.

That said the new ones what you get now are more traffic friendly and lightweight. But this is not a bike for convenience, for that you can have a splendor or activa, convenience bikes come and go, Bullet stays on. Period.

[shiju.dba]

I suggest you to keep the old bullet as a collectors item (use only for weekend rides) and for regular riding you can go for a RE Classic 500 or TBird 500. I regret to sold my RE Standard 350 1997 model for throw away money :( , now the same bullet will cost me at least 80-90 k .

[The Great]

Originally Posted by TheSandman

IMO, your guestimated costs for the restoration is on the high side.

1. Paint and chrome shouldn't cost you 15-20k.
2. Strange that one mechanic says its on it's last leg and the other that its healthy. Use a compression meter to check compression and health of block&piston.
3. Don't see a problem here. Regular short bottle silencers (should you want to change to one) are inexpensive
4. Paperwork will be a little problematic, but easier than you think. Find a good RTO agent.You can change the insurance company and get away with having to pay the penalty for not having insurance for that long.
5. Again, prices quoted for these parts are extremely high.
6. You mean the timing? A timing set isn't expensive should you want to change it all together.
7. Could be the CB point, have it checked. A new unit costs a few hundred anyway.

Try checking with regular (non RE service center) mechanic and see what he quotes.
Visit an auto parts dealer yourself and get a quotation for the parts you need.

This is actually the best answer, I was about to quote the same as your expectations of restoring bike with 40k is way too high.... (for the restoration and cosmetic updates that is.... on the other hand there is no actual budget on how much you would love to spend on one)

This is the beauty of a bullet, the restoration or rebuilds don't cost heavy. I changed my bikes look every 3 years and the modifications and paint jobs never cost me more than 15k.... with the pleasure of giving the bike a new look everytime as brand new or retro.

As for the engine it is a Cast Iron, literally built to work for a lifetime. As far as I remember I never used to check the ammeter before starting, it was just decomp and a light push to the kick and viola. The bike really communicated with me somehow and I used to understand it. No jokes I believe every bulletier knows this unknown magical language.

It can be directly compared with the Horses in the movie Avataar, remember how the horses used to connect to the rider, the souls of the bike and biker do get attached to each other exactly like that.

It will surely need pampering and care like a baby though.

[yvasprasad]

Just keep the '79 Bullet, restoring might cost you nothing if you do it in a planned and phased manner, Ride it on weekends and you will love it.
For daily commuting you may still want to buy a 500 classic / honda activa but trust me you will start wishing that everyday is a weekend so that you may ride the '79 Bullet!

[devarshi84]

A new bike would cost you around 1.3

A 20 year used bike goes for .8-1.0 in good condition. so after spending 30-40K you will be able to make a downpayment of 50-60K for your new bike.

The new bikes are more about ease of ownership and reliability. Old bikes are about the thump charm and the old world experience. decide what you need.

My two cents: Why not customize the bike than restore it? Bullet is a ready to customize bike. and your 30-40G's can be spent to make the bike more fun to drive. Or you can go for part per part to restore your old bullet than go all in at once.

A good friend of mine drives an old restored bullet. I decided to buy new coz my father rides it on the weekends too.

Decide your priorities.

[sinhsha]

let's see how see is. as of now

[desideep]

This model was called the STD 350 Delux.