Royal Enfield Bullet 500: Top speed much lower than 200cc motorcycles? [Video]

Royal Enfield motorcycles are not always in news because of their speed records. Most Royal Enfield buyers are not thrill-seekers but people do expect a decent top-end speed from a 499cc-powered motorcycle. Here is a video that shows a Royal Enfield Bullet 500 owner trying to hit the top speed on a highway.

The video shows that the Royal Enfield motorcycle is using an aftermarket fully digital speedometer instead of the stock analogue one. The stock speedometers are known for having a huge error while the digital speedometer used here shows results closer to the accurate readings. The test has been done on a relatively empty highway and according to the rider in the video, he tried his best to reach the top speed. However, on the speedometer, the top-speed showed only 114 km/h and even after several tries, it did not go beyond that. Even if we add the speedometer error of 5%, the top speed comes out to be around 120 km/h, which is still quite low. TVS Apache RTR 200 has a VBOX indicated top-speed of 117 km/h while the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS has a true VBOX indicated top-speed of 125 km/h.

The Royal Enfield Bullet 500 is powered by a 499cc, single-cylinder, fuel injected engine that produces a maximum of 27.2 Bhp and 41.3 Nm. The air-cooled engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission that uses a final chain-drive to transfer the power to the rear wheel. The Royal Enfield Bullet has been around for a long while in the market now and is also one of the best-selling bikes in the segment. However, the bike’s selling points include its vintage looks and its image in the market. Speed has never been the talking point among the Royal Enfield owners.

The indicated top speed of 114 km/h on the speedometer is much lower than what most 200cc bikes can achieve in the market. There can be a few reasons behind the low speed of the bike.

• The condition of the Bullet 500. It is possible that the engine is not working at its peak or there can be something wrong with the transmission. Also, other factors like tyre pressure, the condition of the chain and clutch play an important role.
• Windblast can also be a reason behind the restricted speed as wind friction plays a major factor when attempting top-speed.
• The long-stroke engine used in the Royal Enfield bikes are quite laid-back and are not high-revving ones, which are meant for high-speed.
• Royal Enfield bikes are also quite heavy, which anchor them down from reaching a very high speed.
• There is a huge power loss from transmission to the rear wheel. Only 80-85% of the power is transferred from the crank to the rear wheel.

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