The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story

tharian · 7th June 2021, 19:03

Nice write up and good to see it is been well looked after.

Curious to know how long you have been using the Amaron battery. When I used it on my 96' 500, it stopped charging or rather didn't charge enough while the bike was running and the battery shop guy told me that this type of battery is not suitable for these old bikes running on points ignition. Whereas on my Electra CDI, it works fine. I changed to an Exide on my 500 and it worked just fine till I sold it off.

ThePatientMan · 7th June 2021, 20:20

@theqca - Remarkable write-up. Light-hearted, witty and so entertaining. Lighted up my gloomy Sunday (such posts keep me sane on working Sundays - Team-bhp.com is permanently kept open alongside my work emails). Does this style of writing (methodical, yet simple terms, the Kick and pray is hilarious) come from being a serving officer in the Armed Forces (hope i am right in assuming it)?

I learned the ropes of riding with a 1993 model RE 350 (red colour) and your story brought back all the old memories. The thought of buying a RE was always there but somehow it took a backseat amongst the usual complexities of job, family etc.

Bought a RE Classic in 2012 but realized that it was just a pale version of the original. Never got to terms with it and sold it off in 2019.

Looking forward to buying an "Original" Bullet and re-living the "Old Days".

Would love to have a look at your G2 someday.

funkykar · 7th June 2021, 20:57

What a lovely read! I have had a similar background of using a lot of quick off-the-block 2-strokers like RX135, 100, and few Bajaj Scooters. For such a person, a Bullet is supposedly a boring bike. I honestly felt so for a couple of decades atleast. Why will anyone want to ride a heavy and relatively slow bike? I never knew I will figure out the answer. This happened with Arun1100's bike. I happened to be with Arun1100 when he purchased his dad's bike back. I accompanied him for the love of automobiles and for that mini-adventure of
riding the bike back to Bangalore.

This was the first time I was exposed to the heavy crank. For the first time in my lifetime, I loved to ride slowly and in higher gear. The ride quality, the thump, and beats, words cant express it. I fell in love with it and bought one for myself. I got a 67 not so original G2. I will look to restore it sometime in the coming years to originality. It runs well and able to enjoy it to the core.

ashwinprakas · 7th June 2021, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by theqca

@ashwinprakas- I wasn't aware of these technical diagrams. Are they from a workshop manual?

Yes they are. Attaching the same.

navin_v8 · 8th June 2021, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharian

Curious to know how long you have been using the Amaron battery. When I used it on my 96' 500, it stopped charging or rather didn't charge enough while the bike was running and the battery shop guy told me that this type of battery is not suitable for these old bikes running on points ignition. Whereas on my Electra CDI, it works fine. I changed to an Exide on my 500 and it worked just fine till I sold it off.

tharian mate in my experience and usage pattern the MF Sealed Amaron AGM battery just works fine. I recently replaced a MF Sealed Amaron AGM battery with the same one (12V 5Ah) in my CI 350 (1996 model) which served me well for 4 years. The same type of Amaron battery is installed in my B1 (1969 model) since 2018 and that one too has been serving me well. The advantage of using an AGM battery is that the discharge rate is very slow. For someone like me having multiple motorcycles this is a good option as I don't get to ride my steeds on a daily basis.

theqca · 9th June 2021, 12:24

@gsferrari - if you need any help please feel free to give me a shout.

@cool_dube - Thanks. Its a pleasure to view your motorcycle. Perhaps someday you'll get your hands on one again.

@Kalash_6324 - Thank you. Glad I could bring back some happy memories.

@tharian - Its been a month since the amron battery went in. I took it because I thought it would be a good idea to not bother about topping up the water. Its been working fine so far. Lets see how it goes.
On your bike where it gave a problem - check the rectifier and other parts. My understanding of basic electronics is that as long as the output from the battery is the same it wouldn't really matter which brand you use.

@ThePatientMan - Thank you sir. Sure, it would be great to catch up with a fellow bullet enthusiast someday. All the best in your pursuit for a bullet. I see quite a few that come up for sale on Olx but one has to be very careful with scrutinizing the year and model type because as I mentioned a few posts above there is just too much misleading information about bullets and too many con artists playing the game.

@funkykar - Thank you. Its great to know that you have a 1967 G2. All the best with your restoration. If you need any help or inputs please feel free to ping me here.

@ashwinprakas - Thank you!

navin_v8 - Thanks for your inputs. I also felt that this particular type will not lose charge too fast. Happy to hear that its working well on your bikes.

cmani0000 · 29th June 2021, 10:04

Excellent write up - an organic owner's experience of the vintage marvel. Actually, read it twice!!

Original G2s are rare like spotting a black panther. I owned a 94 bullet, maintaned it's originality as much as I could, and I had to let it go a couple of years back while moving to another country. Still I remember how my wife (then girl friend) used to mock me for using a padlock to lock the bike while rest of our friends did quick head locks and moved.

Now, when I come back to India, I wonder if I will be able get it or something similar. Now a days, I feel authentic old bullets are hard to find as you said so many mixed up ones with modern features (" polluted retro-modern breed").

theqca · 2nd August 2021, 12:17

Update :

Someone's downloaded one of the photos from this post and has posted it as an advertisement for a G2 for sale. (Screenshot attached)

Just clarifying - my bike is not for sale. That's most probably a con artist.

Would strongly advise you to exercise caution if any of you intend buying an old bullet motorcycle via OLX or any online portal - be very careful. Check all documents and verify all details including originality of the bike ( assuming it exists in real life ) before paying any amount.

IsaacParry · 4th August 2021, 10:22

Awesome post. As I was reading your post, I was able to re-live my own days of Escort Rajdoot, Bullets and Yezdi/Jawa. "Kick back marta hai."

Let me confess that after riding all this bikes I never felt like buying any other bike. I kind of gave up bikes. Decided to go for Kinetic like scooters so that wife and kids too can use it. But now my wife is after me to make sure I own a Bullet atleast. That's where I land up on your post. I would love to have one such old bike but now sure how loyal I can be to it after so- many years of giving up bikes.

7th June 2021, 19:03	#31
tharian Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SBC Posts: 4,145 Thanked: 8,580 Times View My Garage	Re: The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story Nice write up and good to see it is been well looked after. Curious to know how long you have been using the Amaron battery. When I used it on my 96' 500, it stopped charging or rather didn't charge enough while the bike was running and the battery shop guy told me that this type of battery is not suitable for these old bikes running on points ignition. Whereas on my Electra CDI, it works fine. I changed to an Exide on my 500 and it worked just fine till I sold it off.
	(2) Thanks

7th June 2021, 20:20	#32
ThePatientMan BHPian Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Thane Posts: 48 Thanked: 79 Times	Re: The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story @theqca - Remarkable write-up. Light-hearted, witty and so entertaining. Lighted up my gloomy Sunday (such posts keep me sane on working Sundays - Team-bhp.com is permanently kept open alongside my work emails). Does this style of writing (methodical, yet simple terms, the Kick and pray is hilarious) come from being a serving officer in the Armed Forces (hope i am right in assuming it)? I learned the ropes of riding with a 1993 model RE 350 (red colour) and your story brought back all the old memories. The thought of buying a RE was always there but somehow it took a backseat amongst the usual complexities of job, family etc. Bought a RE Classic in 2012 but realized that it was just a pale version of the original. Never got to terms with it and sold it off in 2019. Looking forward to buying an "Original" Bullet and re-living the "Old Days". Would love to have a look at your G2 someday.
	(2) Thanks

7th June 2021, 20:57	#33
funkykar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,665 Thanked: 6,832 Times View My Garage	Re: The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story What a lovely read! I have had a similar background of using a lot of quick off-the-block 2-strokers like RX135, 100, and few Bajaj Scooters. For such a person, a Bullet is supposedly a boring bike. I honestly felt so for a couple of decades atleast. Why will anyone want to ride a heavy and relatively slow bike? I never knew I will figure out the answer. This happened with Arun1100's bike. I happened to be with Arun1100 when he purchased his dad's bike back. I accompanied him for the love of automobiles and for that mini-adventure of riding the bike back to Bangalore. This was the first time I was exposed to the heavy crank. For the first time in my lifetime, I loved to ride slowly and in higher gear. The ride quality, the thump, and beats, words cant express it. I fell in love with it and bought one for myself. I got a 67 not so original G2. I will look to restore it sometime in the coming years to originality. It runs well and able to enjoy it to the core. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by funkykar : 7th June 2021 at 21:03.
	(4) Thanks

9th June 2021, 12:24	#36
theqca BHPian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Bombay Posts: 130 Thanked: 393 Times	Re: The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story @gsferrari - if you need any help please feel free to give me a shout. @cool_dube - Thanks. Its a pleasure to view your motorcycle. Perhaps someday you'll get your hands on one again. @Kalash_6324 - Thank you. Glad I could bring back some happy memories. @tharian - Its been a month since the amron battery went in. I took it because I thought it would be a good idea to not bother about topping up the water. Its been working fine so far. Lets see how it goes. On your bike where it gave a problem - check the rectifier and other parts. My understanding of basic electronics is that as long as the output from the battery is the same it wouldn't really matter which brand you use. @ThePatientMan - Thank you sir. Sure, it would be great to catch up with a fellow bullet enthusiast someday. All the best in your pursuit for a bullet. I see quite a few that come up for sale on Olx but one has to be very careful with scrutinizing the year and model type because as I mentioned a few posts above there is just too much misleading information about bullets and too many con artists playing the game. @funkykar - Thank you. Its great to know that you have a 1967 G2. All the best with your restoration. If you need any help or inputs please feel free to ping me here. @ashwinprakas - Thank you! navin_v8 - Thanks for your inputs. I also felt that this particular type will not lose charge too fast. Happy to hear that its working well on your bikes.
	(1) Thanks

29th June 2021, 10:04	#37
cmani0000 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Madras Posts: 51 Thanked: 152 Times	Re: The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story Excellent write up - an organic owner's experience of the vintage marvel. Actually, read it twice!! Original G2s are rare like spotting a black panther. I owned a 94 bullet, maintaned it's originality as much as I could, and I had to let it go a couple of years back while moving to another country. Still I remember how my wife (then girl friend) used to mock me for using a padlock to lock the bike while rest of our friends did quick head locks and moved. Now, when I come back to India, I wonder if I will be able get it or something similar. Now a days, I feel authentic old bullets are hard to find as you said so many mixed up ones with modern features (" polluted retro-modern breed"). Last edited by cmani0000 : 29th June 2021 at 10:15.
	(1) Thanks

2nd August 2021, 12:17	#38
theqca BHPian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Bombay Posts: 130 Thanked: 393 Times	Re: The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story Update : Someone's downloaded one of the photos from this post and has posted it as an advertisement for a G2 for sale. (Screenshot attached) Just clarifying - my bike is not for sale. That's most probably a con artist. Would strongly advise you to exercise caution if any of you intend buying an old bullet motorcycle via OLX or any online portal - be very careful. Check all documents and verify all details including originality of the bike ( assuming it exists in real life ) before paying any amount. Attached Thumbnails
	(2) Thanks

4th August 2021, 10:22	#39
IsaacParry Newbie Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Vadodara Posts: 2 Thanked: 3 Times	Re: The Royal Enfield G2 Bullet Story Awesome post. As I was reading your post, I was able to re-live my own days of Escort Rajdoot, Bullets and Yezdi/Jawa. "Kick back marta hai." Let me confess that after riding all this bikes I never felt like buying any other bike. I kind of gave up bikes. Decided to go for Kinetic like scooters so that wife and kids too can use it. But now my wife is after me to make sure I own a Bullet atleast. That's where I land up on your post. I would love to have one such old bike but now sure how loyal I can be to it after so- many years of giving up bikes.
	(1) Thanks