[adityaj]

Hi Randhawa

I am very new to this forum. Have bee following it diligently as a reader. You are simply amazing. Please keep up the great work that you do in educating lesser mortals like me about our loved possession.

I own a C500 Burgundy. Done 1300 on the ODO.
I noticed a problem in the performance. Recently I did a long ride. (with a total of around 400 kms)
Followed all the running-in rules all along the ride. (Less than 80 kmph, regular stops to let the engine cool down, no sudden throttle etc)

What I see now after the ride is that, the initial pick-up of the machine is lost. It behaves just like any other RE 350 cc vehicle. The pull it had initially seems to have gone.
Also quite a few times it feels as if the engine is gasping for fuel (or is it air?)
I am currently running with more than half tank full. Right now suspecting the spark plug/air-filter. Can you please throw some light on this so that I get some expert advice before getting my hands dirty.

[KA18]

Originally Posted by girishab

What is the mechanism to alter the head light beam focus on C5 as mine points a bit upwards?

I have the same problem on my Electra after the Visor like thing on the headlamp was fitted. The Service engineer says there is no option to adjust the beam.

Better try Randhawa's suggestion.

Can the Visor/shade be removed from the C5?

Originally Posted by adityaj

I am very new to this forum.
I own a C500 Burgundy. Done 1300 on the ODO.
I noticed a problem in the performance. Recently I did a long ride. (with a total of around 400 kms)
Followed all the running-in rules all along the ride. (Less than 80 kmph, regular stops to let the engine cool down, no sudden throttle etc)

What I see now after the ride is that, the initial pick-up of the machine is lost. It behaves just like any other RE 350 cc vehicle. The pull it had initially seems to have gone.
Also quite a few times it feels as if the engine is gasping for fuel (or is it air?)
I am currently running with more than half tank full. Right now suspecting the spark plug/air-filter. Can you please throw some light on this so that I get some expert advice before getting my hands dirty.

@ ADITYARAJ, welcome to the forum!

I am no Randhawa when it comes to REs, but I suspect the spark plug fouling is causing the low pickup.
Also get the air-filter cleaned and adjust the chain for slack.

@ Randhawa, sorry for stealing your thunder!

[adityaj]

Originally Posted by KA18

@ ADITYARAJ, welcome to the forum!

I am no Randhawa when it comes to REs, but I suspect the spark plug fouling is causing the low pickup.
Also get the air-filter cleaned and adjust the chain for slack.

@KA18

Thanks for the suggestions. Will try those today and check out the performance.
BTW on a side note: How good/bad is the road from Hassan to KA18 now in the rainy season?

[KA18]

@Adityaj, the road to KA18 from Hassan is good. The first 50 kms from Hassan is excellent and the last 15 Kms are ok. Expect pot holes here and there. Just near Hiremagalur, before entering Chikmagalur, there's a rough patch for around 250mts. That's it!

So, welcome to KA18!

[Randhawa]

@Adityaj-Please check the spark plugs and get your clutch adjusted. Do check your fuel pipe from the fuel pump. IN the morning turn the ignition switch to on but dont start the engine. Check for any leaks at the joint where the fuel pipe is attached under the fuel pump. As KA18 said, do check your chain as well. There should be not too much slack and the chain should be well lubricated.

Use your spare key to open the fuel lid and drive your bike around and see if it makes any difference. Do this when you have done and checked as above.

Then let us know

@Ka18- Hey come on, you are most welcome to give your input and share with us all.
Yes the visor can be removed. You have to take the dome out then remove the reflector by undoing the clips and take the visor off.

[nasirkaka]

Does Bent pipe of the upswept exhaust has a cat con? Id yes, what would be the pros and cons?

[Randhawa]

Only our bazooka comes with the cat in the bend but with the upswept its all free flow with just a baffle in the upswept.

Pros of Cat is only for pollution regulations

Cons- restricts free flow. It needs certain temperature to become functional until then it is a bit useless. Makes bend pipe a bit hotter and cause of discoloration of the bend at the exit on C5's

[nasirkaka]

Only our bazooka comes with the cat in the bend but with the upswept its all free flow with just a baffle in the upswept.

Pros of Cat is only for pollution regulations

Cons- restricts free flow. It needs certain temperature to become functional until then it is a bit useless. Makes bend pipe a bit hotter and cause of discoloration of the bend at the exit on C5's

Opps!
i was under the impression that OEM bent pipe has 2 catcons and upswept bent pipe has one. Thanks for the clarification.

Anyways, the latest buzz is some manufacturer is come up with a goldie for the classics. Its available in Bangalore for 1200 rs.(chor) (currently out of stock, as the first stock got sold like hot cake)

I called up the service center guys at HSR services, and got to know that this new goldie replica for classics is a single piece goldie without any baffle or glass wool. This would fit the bent pipe of the OEM exhaust. On asking whether it would fit the bent pipe of the upswept, he said get both, we will try and see.

This single piece goldie use to make loud noise (read NOISE), rather than soothing thump, at-least on the AVLs. not sure how it will sound on the C5. Some one from another forum heard the sound and is all praises. I am not too sure whether i would for this. as i am more inclined to wards modifying my existing goldie from machismo to fit the bent pipe of the upswept.

[Randhawa]

You are better off with your goldie. New goldie is not for the likes of you and me. So try to fit your old goldie.

[nasirkaka]

tried fitting the old goldie.

1st hurdle: the diameter of the goldie is slightly bigger than the dia of the bent pipe end. (there is a play when the goldie is interted over the bent pipe)

Any idea on how and what to use as a packing to reduce the diameter of the goldie?

:(

[Randhawa]

Hey thats an easy fix and now worries we will get your old goldie up and running soon.

How much is the gap between the goldie muffler tip and the down pipe ? If its less then 2mm then what you can do is take a old kaput short bottle exhaust(RE workshop might have one lying around). Use the metal pipe from the front part of the exhaust and cut about an inch in length. Then slide it inside the goldie and see if it fits inside the opening of the exhaust if it fits then take the piece out and slide it on the down pipe. IF it fits then you have a spacer cum adaptor for your goldie.

Its better if you can post a picture of the downpipe and goldie together. I could give you a better option.

[nasirkaka]

Hey Randhawa,

Managed to fit the goldie with mounting point modifications ( some cutting and welding)

The difference between the pipe dia was about 1.5 mm. Adding another pipe would have made the mating difficult. There is an adjustment screw for tightening the silencer around the bent pipe. Used that to close the gap. So far i dont think there is any leakage.

The feel:

the C5 with goldie sounds very different compared to either stock or up-swept. Its much loud. The beats are clear, loud and bassy at low revs, and the bike sounds very good at speed of 50kmph in 4th gear / 60 kmph in 5th gear.
BUT, as soon as the engine is revved, the thump changes in to a loud snarl/roar. (the typical character of the goldie replicas).

The engine feels like its breathing easily, the back-pressure seems to have reduced. Also, i think, there is slight reduction in initial pickup. (i may also feel so, as i was a little reluctant to rev hard, cos of the sound and scared of heating the exhaust valves.

@Nasir- If you dont ride it hard then its fine but I don't recommend it unless you complement the exhaust with a K & N filter. There are two cone filter available for C5 which can be fitted. But not directly behind the throttle body, it can be fitted onto the air tube which goes into the filter box. That way it wont effect the smooth airflow or create turbulence which will have a -ve impact on the air flow sensor readings.

Fitting k&N filter on C5 is not a straight forward job but with some tweaking it can be done. It can be fitted inside as well as outside but I would prefer to fit it outside as you will need to do less work if you fit it outside. Just seal off the hole where the intake hose fits in the air box and twist the intake hose to 90 angle and attach the cone filter there. If you have the old design mud flap on the rear mudguard(towards the pivot point of the swing arm) then you just have the right place to fit it. On newer mudflap there isn't much space to fit the cone filter there.

Looking forward to fitting a K&N, but i did not fully understand your explanation. i know .

Not too sure on where to mount the filter for securing it to the bike. How do i find out whats old mupflap on the rear and whats new? could u explain further, as i dont want to run the bike with just the goldie without a freeflow filter.

Talking more about the goldie, the beat its making it a little louder than what i would prefer. So i am planning to cut the goldie, remove the petal shaped perforated sheet, fit another perforated sheet tube, and fill the gap between the perforated sheet tube and the outer wall with glass wool. Have already spoken to a sheet metal tinkering and he would do it for me. I am hoping that would reduce the loudness, slightly and made the beat even more heavy on base. Got to chrome plate the goldie again so might aswell explore the glass wool as well before plating.

Lastly, as the classic is inspired from the bike of 50s, the goldstar replica sort of gels with the looks of the bike. It might not look as sweet as the upswept, but hey, it would sound much better.

(also, no burning of pillion footwear, and no issues with saddle bags.)

attached is a pic from my phone cam.

[Randhawa]

Oh sweet looking exhaust you got there. I am really liking it more then the upswept and bazooka. Good work Nasir. What plans you have in mind are quite methodical one and it will work like a charm. Just don't do it in a hurry or fill too much wool otherwise it will suffocate your engine and get really hot.

Give me a couple of days and I'll post the picture of booth the designs. But there is a small thing we have to take into consideration before putting the cone filter on. Breather pipe of crank has to be accommodated into the intake pipe. We can leave the breather pipe alone but I rather have it just the way RE has done it for the sole purpose of lubricating the piston rings by mixing the hot vapors of engine through the intake..

[nasirkaka]

Removed the goldie and went back to the upswept this morning. Did not want to run the bike without the free-flow airfilter, as i was bit skeptical of damaging the exhaust valves.

Another observation i made with the goldie ON was that the misfire/afterfire sound had reduced to almost 50%, compared to the upswept. (but when it did, it was REAL loud with the goldie)

Hoping that glass-wool addition would dampen the loudness a bit. I am getting it made in a way where one can adjust the amount of wool filled. (screw type cap on the rear of the silencer)

Looking forward to your designs of how to fix the K&N cone.

Did not understand the following. :(

But there is a small thing we have to take into consideration before putting the cone filter on. Breather pipe of crank has to be accommodated into the intake pipe. We can leave the breather pipe alone but I rather have it just the way RE has done it for the sole purpose of lubricating the piston rings by mixing the hot vapors of engine through the intake..

Also, with the freeflow goldie, i found a drop in initial pickup? did not understand the logic behind that. could a lack of back-pressure, reduce the low-end torque?

[Randhawa]

Hey don't worry too much about your precious you are not going to damage the valve with the upswept but only in long run and if you ride it too hard for long then there is chance.

The wool inside must be absorbing the unburnt fuel and when it did went kaboom then it was a loud one.

Yes it's possible to loose a bit on initial pickup with a better flowing exhaust in the absence of better intake flow.

Just for the explanation bit to make sense what I am talking about and tell me what bit you did not understand.









In first picture you can see the breather pipe hole(in the air box) and in second picture the part no 32 is the breather pipe which is fixed on to the air box from behind.

Now when the engine is running and engine oil gets hot, very tiny molecules of oil are formed inside the engine chamber which are pushed out by the blow-by effect and it gets into the air box where it gets mixed with fresh air and get fed into the combustion chamber and helps in lubrication.

So if we just put a K&N filter onto the intake hose then this simple design incorporated into the air box is rendered useless. I would prefer to fix the breather pipe onto the intake hose and use the K&N filter. Just to keep the functionality of it.

Still not clear?