2005 Royal Enfield Bullet Deluxe review from Australia

500cc 5 Speed Electric Start model.

The tail light fell off, it is only held on by one bolt. I loctited it on and it never worked loose again.

The headlight fell out (see above).

The throttle cable broke twice (fixed by distributor as a recall).

The crankcase breather blocked up and pumped out all the oil. Very common problem on models 2005 onwards. Fixed by fitting a different type of breather.

The (aftermarket) Amal carby seized the slide in the bore. Had it resleeved in stainless, works very well now.

Battery died. Replaced with sealed unit.

These bikes are a living classic. They are still virtually the same as 1955!

I modified my example with performance cams, cylinder head mods, exhaust and ignition.

Bike was 22hp, now is 40hp. Gets up to 100mph on the freeway, however, it is not the most comfortable at that speed.

The bike handles quite well, given the age of the design. Time spent on tyre pressures is well rewarded.

Parts are ridiculously cheap, and maintenance is simple.

These bikes are a true riders machine. They do require regular attention to tappet settings and frequent oil level checks. A competent home mechanic will be able to perform all of the tasks.

People love to look at the bike and comment on the style.