MAKE. Royal Enfield
MODEL. Bullet 500 Sixty-5 (Quite Rare, Performance Parts)
YEAR. 2003
REGISTRATION. 03
MILEAGE. 13000 miles
- Just had fresh Silkolene oil service with new spark plug
- Recent clutch and gearbox oil service
- Excellent matching Dunlop K70s
- Fair amount of paperwork, bills, old MOTs
- Workshop/Maintenance manual
- MOTd June 2022
- Clear HPI report
- All documents/keys present
COLOUR. Enfield Bright Blue Metallic
ENGINE SIZE. 499cc Air cooled OHV Single Cylinder – Pre unit construction with separate gearbox
FUELLING. Single Amal 32mm carburettor with cone filter (see text)
TRANSMISSION. 5 speed manual – Left foot gearchange
CLUTCH. 7-plate wet clutch
SUSPENSION. Telescopic front forks with external rubber gaiters – Twin coilover rear dampers with variable rate chrome springs
BRAKING. Front – 7 inch diameter twin leading shoe drum Rear – 6 inch diameter drum
WHEELS. Spoked with Chrome Rims 19″ diameter
TYRES. Front 3.25 x 19 Rear 3.50 x 19
WEIGHT. 160 kg (dry)
MODEL SUMMARY.
Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Sixty-5 in Enfield Bright Blue Metallic. Registered 2003 on an ’03’ prefix
13000 miles. Just had fresh oil service with new spark plug. Recent clutch and gearbox oil service. Excellent matching Dunlop K70s are fitted and it has a fair amount of paperwork, bills and old MOTs. Workshop/Maintenance manual. MOTd June 2022. Clear HPI report. All /documents keys present
These Bullet 500 Sixty-5s are now genuinely becoming quite scarce, and ever harder to come by. They were a significant model in that they utilised a 5 speed gearbox, with left foot gearchange, and electric start (courtesy of a Denso starter motor) for the first time, replacing the temperamental 4 speed ‘box (which had the gearchange pedal on the ‘wrong’ side) These two key factors alone ensured the model was a great success from the off, with high demand from buyers worldwide
Why ‘Sixty-5’ Well, very simply, the bike had a slightly more modernistic look than it’s forebears, more like a ‘Sixties’ bike than a ‘Fifties’ one, and so given it had a 5 speed gearbox, the name Sixty-5 was arrived at
Contemporary marketing literature by RE stated features as having a ‘reliable Denso electric starter’ – ‘5 speed gearbox with gearshift on the left’ – ‘new flatline dualseat’ – ‘reliable four stroke single cylinder engine’ – ‘modern Japanese switchgear’ -‘rubber fork gaiters’ – ‘new petrol tank shape’ – ‘Goldstar like exhaust pipe’ – ‘variable rate chrome rear springs’ – ‘chrome points cover’ and ‘excellent gas mileage’
They were available in special metallic colours, and these included Bright Blue, Red, Silver and colour changing Black/Dark Green. Colour coded front and rear mudguards were standard, but chrome items could be specified as an extra cost option
This particular bike is in Bright Blue Metallic with factory fitted colour matched mudguards. It’s a deep purplish/blue colour and looks quite lovely. It has a few upgraded performance parts fitted and these include a 32mm Amal carb with cone filter, a Hitchcocks reverse cone free flow ‘pipe, Boyer electronic ignition and charging units, uprated crankcase breather and a Hi-Tec alloy/steel rocker set. It all adds up to a little bike that sounds suitably fruity, with a deeper exhaust note, and is a little livelier and more willing than a standard machine
Highly original and essentially true to it’s original form it also has a neat rear light and indicator conversion which utilises a complete unit from a Triumph Bonneville. It looks superb, and only serves to enhance
The 499cc air cooled OHV single cylinder motor offers ample performance for what this bike needs to offer, and has the distinctive ‘thump’ that only a big single delivers. As mentioned, the gearbox on these Sixty-5 models is a 5 speed manual with left foot gearchange, accompanied by a 7-plate wet clutch. Telescopic front forks and twin coilover rear dampers with variable rate chrome springs, mated with sizeable drum brakes, ensure that these little bikes handle and stop more than adequately, and 19″ diameter spoked chrome rims look nothing less than ace. Combined with it’s pre unit engine and gearbox, full length mudguards, a traditional speedometer and ammeter, chrome headlamp cowl, amongst many other period styling details, it is a most charismatic machine, which achieves in every way exactly what it sets out to do
In terms of overall condition, this bike is commendably clean and very smart. A lovely little bike of much character, that will of course appeal to a certain type of motorcyclist and their needs. One thing is for sure, it will always turn heads, and smiles and waves are assured from onlookers. Great fun
P/EX AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE – PLEASE ENQUIRE
PRICE. £SOLD
