As a CBR1000RR owner I have been hesitant to get one of these as of course they are almost polar opposite machines but hearing the take of a GSXR owner as opposed to an SV650 owner (the last video I watched) I value your opinion a lot more. Riding in Southern California I definately need a bike to get up to freeway speeds and this sounds like a much better choice than either the Classic 500 or 350. Owning a race-prepped Ascot 500 and tuning a SRX 600 I fell in love with the thumpers and this sounds like the perfect bike to add to my stable. Thanks for taking the time to put up this video 👍
Thanks, I must confess though stole the crap quote from a friend who I think stole it from a magazine review of a Bullet. It's so true though I like it, by any normal metric these singles should be crap but they manage that elusive goal of being far greater than the sum of their parts.
@@chriswright159 I’m tempted to see if there’s a winter bargain one to be had later in the year and add it to my little collection. I fancy something that isn’t constantly screaming at me ‘go faster go faster’ as all my other bikes do, I’m too old and cautious and frankly not up to that anymore and neither are the roads.
@@markl5681 Pricing on these UCE engined RE's is a bit inflated. They stopped making the 500 Bullet (same engine just the GT is bored to 535) but demand still exists so prices have climbed in the past 18 months. I can't imagine them getting higher but I doubt seasonal bargains will be much of a thing (to be honest they never really were with RE). Best way and how I found all my RE's is to keep scanning eBay, Facebook marketplace and Hitchcocks forum, you get old boys that are giving up riding who just want rid ASAP and sell at pretty low prices, they shift fast though (and often reappear at a much higher price from a dealer), so you need to be ready to pounce when you do spot one. +1 on the state of the roads, it often feels like riding my GSXR is now an exercise in avoiding pothole induced tank slappers or trying not wash out the front on fresh surface dressed roads.
I like your laconic style mate. Personally I've done more than enough miles on an old AJS 350 to ever want to repeat the single cylinder experience, I'll stick with my 650cc RE GT twin for now.
Amazing - I am looking to get one of these and also have a GSXR. Apparently they vibrate like hell a high rpm ... idk if the performance upgrades you see on TH-cam are even worth it : even 50 bhp will still be slow given the other bike we have. But maybe a lighter piston might help with the vibration on faster roads?
I wouldn't say they vibe like hell, it'sa single so there is some vibration but not alot (much less than the bullets where the motor is a stressed member). It can vary bike to bike though but often one that vibes can be sorted fairly easily as it's often just the enigne wasn't bolted up well in the frame. When you ride them hard they feel faster than they are, suprisingly fun but £££ wise tuning can get costly. Valves, pipe, airbox mods and a Power commander will add up to about £700-ish and should give low to mid 30's while also waking the bike up, that's next on my list (already done the power commander and it really sorts the fueling). To hit mid 40's you need either the 612cc kit from Hitchcocks or the Billet head from Ace Motors, you won't see change from 3k for either which I think is a bit extreme. Great fun hope you find one.
I recently inherited a 2014 GT that hasn’t been turned on for 5 years as well. I’ve put in a new battery, spark plug, flushed the fuel and did an oil change but no luck getting her to turn on. Any other things I should check in your opinion?
Does she prime (whirring noise from fuel pump) with the ignition on and sidestand up? If she doesn't but the rest of the electrics work then try disconnecting the sidestand switch.
@@chriswright159 she does not prime. Only sound I get when turning on the ignition, kick the side stand up and flipping off the kill switch is a tick from one of the relay switches hung besides the battery. I will find & disconnect the sidestand switch though
@@marrkmoo1 Could be a few things ranging from pump too relays themselves. Can I point you towards forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php . Amazing forum with some very knowledgable people.
Very iconic machine & modern retro too. I've also this beautiful cafe racer bike. Love you from India.
Excellent review - thanks.
As a CBR1000RR owner I have been hesitant to get one of these as of course they are almost polar opposite machines but hearing the take of a GSXR owner as opposed to an SV650 owner (the last video I watched) I value your opinion a lot more. Riding in Southern California I definately need a bike to get up to freeway speeds and this sounds like a much better choice than either the Classic 500 or 350. Owning a race-prepped Ascot 500 and tuning a SRX 600 I fell in love with the thumpers and this sounds like the perfect bike to add to my stable. Thanks for taking the time to put up this video 👍
Great review thanks! Picking one of these this week for almost nothing, really excited after watching your review
I hope you get on well with it, they really are a joy to ride.
What’s almost nothing £500?
$2900 US, worth every penny. And it is definitely a joy to ride, my other bike is currently up for sale
Great review, sums it up nicely...!
Really informative review mate thanks. Laughed out loud at the drum brakes reference and the sign off, best crap bike you’d ever ridden...
Thanks, I must confess though stole the crap quote from a friend who I think stole it from a magazine review of a Bullet. It's so true though I like it, by any normal metric these singles should be crap but they manage that elusive goal of being far greater than the sum of their parts.
@@chriswright159 I’m tempted to see if there’s a winter bargain one to be had later in the year and add it to my little collection. I fancy something that isn’t constantly screaming at me ‘go faster go faster’ as all my other bikes do, I’m too old and cautious and frankly not up to that anymore and neither are the roads.
@@markl5681 Pricing on these UCE engined RE's is a bit inflated. They stopped making the 500 Bullet (same engine just the GT is bored to 535) but demand still exists so prices have climbed in the past 18 months. I can't imagine them getting higher but I doubt seasonal bargains will be much of a thing (to be honest they never really were with RE). Best way and how I found all my RE's is to keep scanning eBay, Facebook marketplace and Hitchcocks forum, you get old boys that are giving up riding who just want rid ASAP and sell at pretty low prices, they shift fast though (and often reappear at a much higher price from a dealer), so you need to be ready to pounce when you do spot one.
+1 on the state of the roads, it often feels like riding my GSXR is now an exercise in avoiding pothole induced tank slappers or trying not wash out the front on fresh surface dressed roads.
@@chriswright159 absolutely couldn’t agree more on your last point Chris.
Thanks for the info too.
I like your laconic style mate. Personally I've done more than enough miles on an old AJS 350 to ever want to repeat the single cylinder experience, I'll stick with my 650cc RE GT twin for now.
I have a 500 Classic, and I agree, definitely the best crap bike I’ve ever owned.
Amazing - I am looking to get one of these and also have a GSXR. Apparently they vibrate like hell a high rpm ... idk if the performance upgrades you see on TH-cam are even worth it : even 50 bhp will still be slow given the other bike we have. But maybe a lighter piston might help with the vibration on faster roads?
I wouldn't say they vibe like hell, it'sa single so there is some vibration but not alot (much less than the bullets where the motor is a stressed member). It can vary bike to bike though but often one that vibes can be sorted fairly easily as it's often just the enigne wasn't bolted up well in the frame. When you ride them hard they feel faster than they are, suprisingly fun but £££ wise tuning can get costly. Valves, pipe, airbox mods and a Power commander will add up to about £700-ish and should give low to mid 30's while also waking the bike up, that's next on my list (already done the power commander and it really sorts the fueling). To hit mid 40's you need either the 612cc kit from Hitchcocks or the Billet head from Ace Motors, you won't see change from 3k for either which I think is a bit extreme. Great fun hope you find one.
Fun machine ❤
Where can i get thos seats? Is it stock or aftermarket?
I recently inherited a 2014 GT that hasn’t been turned on for 5 years as well. I’ve put in a new battery, spark plug, flushed the fuel and did an oil change but no luck getting her to turn on. Any other things I should check in your opinion?
Does she prime (whirring noise from fuel pump) with the ignition on and sidestand up? If she doesn't but the rest of the electrics work then try disconnecting the sidestand switch.
@@chriswright159 she does not prime. Only sound I get when turning on the ignition, kick the side stand up and flipping off the kill switch is a tick from one of the relay switches hung besides the battery. I will find & disconnect the sidestand switch though
@@marrkmoo1 Could be a few things ranging from pump too relays themselves. Can I point you towards forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php . Amazing forum with some very knowledgable people.