Snapping my Bullet 500's chain 1,000 miles from home!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Probably the worst thing that's happened to me on the motorbike! Which is something of a good thing, far worse things have happened I know, and it wasn't the end of the world. Was in dire straits for a few moments wondering if this would be goodbye to Daisy Bell 😳.
The main lesson would be, don't go off on a 3 week tour of France on a chain that needs changing, and especially don't, after having managed not to snap it then, continue on for another 3 weeks through Europe with same said chain!
Or maybe "pick a time to maintain your bike, or your bike will pick it for you."
Enquiries: brendanwalshtramore1994@gmail.com or
Instagram: / bullet_wanderer94
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Come along with me on a summer motorcycle tour across Europe, proving the humble Royal Enfield Bullet 500's capabilities on a 5000 mile journey! We'll see lots of beautiful cities, rich history, vintage motorcycles, cars, planes, trains, and much more! Expect two videos per week that are the right size to sit down and have a cup of tea on your Sunday to unwind to. If that takes your fancy, gwan, subscribe and join me, Brendan, and Daisy Bell, my faithful friend, the Bullet 500.
#royalenfield #breakdown #chain #france #travel #motorcycle #ireland #motovlog #royalenfieldbullet500 #classic500 #royalenfieldclassic500 #bullet500 #500cc #classic350 #classicmotorcycle
Oh no what a conundrum!
If only I had access to the WhatsApp Flora sticker here. you know the one
I am very sorry to hear there are Raptor drivers in Europe too.
Me too 😅
When I used to ride chain drive motorcycles I kept a master link on my keychain and a pair of pliers in my pocket. A guy with a Honda 750 push this bike into my station because his master Lincoln come off and lo and behold I had one right with me that's a spare part that you should always carry with you even if you're at home.
A good lesson for next time I think! I'd say that guy was feeling very lucky he met you!
@@BulletWanderer let me tell you a real story involving a master link. When I first got my little Honda in Florida I had a learner's permit and I was expected to the state of Florida. I was riding on the other coast and I caught up with a bunch of gold Wingers and we pulled into a stop and they broke out the hot dogs and the burgers and the sodas and the coolers and we're standing around having a hot dog and a soda and they said boy we're surprised that little bike to keep up with us. I said but you're only going 55 miles an hour. They said get out. After I left it was a girl with a pink letter pink helmet and a pink Harley dresser her master link broke on her chain. Now if I had a 428 master link for the TwinStar I also had a 5:30 for a real bike. So I go I can fix this. So I wiggled the chain over the sprocket and connected the master link and my pair of pliers and her two lieutenant wrote up on their bikes. The one girl said Point extra fixed my motorcycle. She said hey Poindexter you want to come party with us and I said sure so I went back to the hotel that they had hired and then I discovered they were all B girls. All Playboy gorgeous beautiful and you had to have a Benjamin if you want to party with them that's why they were called B girls. There were high class hookers that were following the convention. I got drunk got high screwed blued and damn near tattoos. I Sergeant at Arms after I passed out was tracing the outline of the Harley patch on my left butt cheek and depressed told her do you really want us to leave proof that we committed statutory rape on a 14 year old boy. The next morning I woke up my ass felt like it was on fire and the girl said well Frankie you got a hell of a spanking last night and I said really I don't remember that and the girl said Frankie the best party to go to was the ones you don't remember. Now being 14 I couldn't go in a bar so when we would stop I would stay with the motorcycles and the girls would bring me out a cooking a sandwich and the scumbags were looking around the bikes and touching them and sitting on them and I told him you better not sit on Melanie's bike that's not a good idea they told me to fuck off I repeated it and the guy Cole cocked me and I landed flat on my back. The girls are in the bar keeping an eye on their scooters and they saw him deck me and they poured out of the bar one girl on each arm another one holding their mouth and the girls took turns kicking them in the balls. When they all took a turn the girls just left the guys collapse on the ground. So we beat feet out of there. The girls wanted me to go with them to New Orleans and I said I couldn't because I have a learner's permit and I have to stay in Florida so when we got to the Welcome Center all the girls hugged and kissed me goodbye and they took a photo of me with all the girls and with half the girls flashing the camera they took a Polaroid of us. When we had to write a composition in school of what we had to do on our summer vacation I wrote what I did and the teacher said I have a good talent for writing fiction but she wanted to know what happened on my summer vacation so she gave me an F on my essay. I went home got the Polaroid went back to school and I showed her the Polaroid of me and all the girls. She changed my grade to an A+ Plus. For years I had that picture don't know where it is now it's probably all faded out. But that was my first Adventure on two wheels. I saw that little bike when I wore it out and the Honda shop rebuilt it I saw it in a Kmart parking lot some woman was loading her groceries in the trunk I told her that was my old bike and she said she bought it she learned how to ride on it and she was going to teach her daughter how to ride on it. They used to laugh at the Quasi copper styling of the TwinStar but it became the 250 Rebel and those bikes thousands of people had to ride a motorcycle. I always have a soft spot in my heart for my first little bike.
Wow. Those Italian artists can paint amazing backdrops. Amazing journey for you and Daisy. Don't know if I would have your courage to do that. Nice 1👍
Beautiful country isn’t it ? 😄 I wasn’t sure I had the courage to this summer, my plan was to test the waters with my French trip, and possibly go further next summer, glad I made the decision to stay on and go the whole nine yards this summer instead, even in spite of the problems I had. 😄
The worst is when you are doing 98% of the speed limit and they try to overtake across a double white line, on a corner, and then slow down in front of you.
I can't even count the amount of times that happened haha
A brilliant account of what must have been a horrifying experience. I dread anything like that happening in a country that I don’t speak the lingo. Thank goodness Julian was on hand 👍🏼
I see I have missed a few 😮 Sorry Bullet, I’ll catch up 👍🏼
Yeah I'm very glad to have met him, he certainly saved the day for me! 😁 And no worries at all about missing a few, it's busy times we live in 😆
@@BulletWanderer All up to date now, and enjoyed every minute. Thanks Bullet 👍🏼
Great story / Great adventure / Great scenery!! Loved it!! 😁
Another great video from the Bullet Wanderer. I'd like to make one request... Please please include video from some of the amazing places you visit! I've ridden to Sirmione and was looking forward to you sharing this magical town with TH-cam. I'm loving your road trip videos so keep up the great work. :)
Cheers! Unfortunately as we took the ferry over to Sirmione I didn't properly film the visit there 😭 But I've learned a lot of lessons on this trip about filming all the moments like that, so next year's videos will be much better. Hope you'll stick around 😄
I guess it doesn't matter the nation but seems anybody at the wheel of a pickup truck simply can't STAND being stuck behind anything smaller than them. I have the same problem anywhere I go here in the states on my classic 500. Very cool that you lucked out with that person helping you out. 👍
I don't know how I'd manage everyday with pickup trucks on my tail, must be a nightmare for you! 😅
I don't ride my classic much, but when I do I keep it to small rides on back roads with little traffic. I definitely can't ride it on the interstate! I call my classic 500 Ghoda by the way. Hindi for horse I guess.
@@johnlacaze4811 I can't imagine the stress of keeping up with traffic on the interstate highways on one! 😳 Really like Ghoda as a name for the Classic 500, nice one! 😃
Seeing the chain tensioner snail near max is an indicator of excessive chain stretch. Thou shalt carry a spare chain AND extra master links with ye, young lad! Become as able as possible to service your machine. Chain, spare spark plug, tube(s) or tube patch kit, tire spoons, voltmeter, fuses/relays, oil, etc. Yeah, where to put it all on a RE? I'm putting 20mm ammo cans on as paniers and will devote as much space as needed for emergency repair parts. At least you had great help in Italy to keep moving forward and yes, you owe that man some pints...or several! Carry on. REALLY enjoying your travels.
Great video, Brendan! glad to see daisy bell back on the road again! I've started riding my Bullet 500 a lot more now and missed the freedom I've had on it. I've spent a HUGE amount of money on services because I neglected the bike for the past 7 years, but the bike is finally back to touring condition. Can't wait to get back on the road for some longer rides! It's still a pain taking the 500 through the Indian traffic though! Another tip I've learned being around Bullets is to always use the kickstart when the bike is cold, apparently, the electric start starts the engine too quickly and it stresses out the engine.
Thanks Anant! Always good to hear another Enfield back on the road, there’s nothing quite like the sense of freedom and adventure it brings! 😄 a shame you had to spend a huge amount of money getting it on the road, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it ! I can’t imagine hauling Daisy through India’s traffic, you have my respect 😆 and thanks for the tip! I’m gonna be getting her going tomorrow morning in 0c degree weather so kick starting it is ! 🦵 🏍️ 💨
Wow what a few couple days of worry 😮 At least it makes for a cracking story and video. Happy holidays to you and Daisy 🎄
Thanks very much 😁 and happy holidays to you too!
Good video Brendan, I remember Daisy getting a new chain when Al had her a few years back.
Cheers Janner! We replaced the chain summer 2021, so at that point, probably still was running on the one Alistair had put on. The one that snapped in Como had done about 13,000 miles I'd say, so a bit beyond its life expectancy 😅
"You never forget your first".. chain snap. I am lucky that mine was a few kilometers of my home and push the bike back.. Many mistakes were made but this is the path to learning.
Be aware in the future for unevenly worn chains.. That is the worst.. /it is snot a lecture, just a friendly advice/
I'd say that was a tiring walk home! Didn't cross my mind that unevenly worn chains could be a thing 😳! I got rid of this chain once I got back to Ireland and she's running with the proper one now. Don't worry, your advice is always welcome 😄
@@BulletWanderer It is bad for few reasons. When you are trying to tension to specs, there is parts of the chain that are more short and more tight and places that are worn and loose and if you not catch it may lead to incorrect tension depending on the random place you are measuring. And riding with chain like this is horror.. It leads to resonances, premature wear of bearing, even can damage sprocket or splines due to the constant uneven bashing.. It is like hitting the chain sprockets with hammer few times per chain revolution... Sorry for the long post.
Lucky lad and good job 👍
I've been tossing a leg over the saddle over 50 years,,,, and have 2 RE's in the stable, a 500 with a Cozy sidecar... and have never seen a chain link plate break... fail in that manner. You are one lucky fellow to have discovered it before it caused serious engine damages or.... accident. 😎
I do love those Cozy Sidecar outfits, think they look fantastic, nice one 😁 I suspect when the chain came off, the sprocket tore the hole in the side of the chain possibly? I'm hoping it was that, and that I wasn't riding around for hundreds of miles with that waiting to go at any minute 😳 Just glad it didn't happen when I was up on the Brenner Pass!
was a regular accordance on my pre unit 350 and the knock from time to time from a chain guard (Bent it out a bit and all was well)
In the U.S. you could be in some trouble if you are riding a RE Bullet, at least the 500, if you had a broken chain. If it happened while riding and didn't get caught in the rear wheel and lock it up, causing a serious crash, consider yourself lucky. The other problem seems to be specific to Royal Enfields, and vintage British bikes. They use an odd number of links, and you cannot buy those in the U.S. You can get 100 links and 102 links, but not 101 links. All other bikes use chains with an even number of links. I've replaced the chain on my 2013 B5 Bullet 500 three times, and I had to order them from Hitchcocks. Not a good thing if it happens out on the road. About all you can do, assuming it's not the half link that broke, is to replace the broken links. I carry some extra links and master links, along with a chain tool. So far I have not had a chain fail.
Good to know 🤔 I'd imagine shipping time from Hitchcocks to the US takes quite some time too! I believe if you change the front sprocket from a 17 to a 19 tooth you could use an even number like 102 or 100 links, but i'm not too sure. Could be worth looking into, at least you'd be able to use more conventional chains in between sprocket changes 😅
The reason People are trying to pass you where they can't is because you give them to much room. The right side in your lane is for bycicles and mopeds. Your place is left of the centre.
To be honest when I started in Italy I was driving centre of the road as normal, but even then people were still overtaking me 😅 perhaps I should’ve maintained that position nevertheless
@@BulletWanderer yes, italians are a special breed. In the rest of Europe it works. People will creep up on you but they can't push you off the road. I drove trough Italy once but those tin cans where no match for my Nissan Patrol, a different experience LOL.
That was a long road trip, just curious, were you lubing the chain at all during the journey? Do you think you might be considering swapping out the stock 18 tooth front sprocket for a 19 tooth sprocket?
I was... but probably not as much as I ought to have been 😅 Generally I'd lube it whenever I thought to after arriving somewhere for the evening, so maybe every 2 or 3 days. Though if I was to do this trip again, I'd probably make a checklist of what to do after every x amount of miles and stick to it! Nowadays she gets cleaned and waxed more often, and I'd throw in cleaning and lubing the chain into that maintenance. As for the front sprocket, I gave it some thought when I got home and was ordering new sprockets, and decided to just go for the same/stock one I had. For the type of longer distance riding I like to do (and the average speed limit of 80km/hr on Irish roads), she sits at the right speed now in top gear, and the amount of distance I can get in one tank on that is unparralleled (about 400km?). I'd consider it next time for a change of pace, but that'll probably be another 25,000km down the road 😂 Have you a Bullet/Classic yourself? What sprockets do you run on it?
Was the chain the wrong size Brendan or did you find other issues with daisy when ye got home?
I'm still not 100% certain, the chain was about half a centimeter wider than a standard chain, but didn't cause any other issues other than the sound on the way home, but that sound has been gone since I put on a new, correct chain and sprockets from Hitchcocks 🤷♂ I wouldn't want to keep going with that wider chain as i'm sure eventually it would've caused something else 😅
I had a very similar noise when a shop tightened my chain on the Bullet too much. Once loosened it was fine. Bullets like a slightly looser chain than most bike I find.