Royal Enfield 535 GT Asbo 44 previously tuned engine Black Mountain road test with Hitchcocks cams.

This machine can be seen in a couple of my other videos, before and after tuning, where we ended up with a carburettor conversion, performance exhaust system, performance valves and my own cylinder head work and slightly shortened cylinder barrel. Back then, there were no performance camshafts available, but I retarded the inlet cam timing to help a little.
Here, at last, we see Asbo 44 after fitting a set of performance cams - and with the performance inlet cam retarded for even more get up and go. It would appear that the engine is still pulling strongly at 7,000 RPM and power really starts coming in around 4,000 RPM - not far off where a standard engine begins to run out of puff. I was more than happy with how this one turned out!

[@BilgemasterBill]

What a keen and gorgeous Conti! I know the new twins have sort of cast these old singles into the shadows of "yore", but a big old 535 single with an honest carb is just a wonderful "elemental" thing, isn't it? While one can understand how the marketing might not add up, one can only wonder if Royal Enfield might ever bore out those new J-engined 350s just a bit and come out with some breed of "Continental Single Tribute Model". Probably not, since it might be seen in Chennai as merely stealing the thunder from their successful twins, but one can still hope. In the meantime though, those old Continental singles are still a bargain out there...

[@GrampsD63]

A J-Series 500 would be awesome in the Classic. I've heard tell of a 650 Meteor in the works.

[@nickmarshall9192]

Come on Paul admit it you've been sneeking diesel into a customers bike just so you can "repair it" just so you can take it for a "test ride" up the black mountains!!! That old chestnut!! 🤣😂🤣 What a brilliant bike your customer has👍👍👍👍

[@alexmutimer3691]

Crikey, hooligan! Goes well for a diesel, ha ha. I once filled up a super dream with derv, didn't get far.

[@CharlesStettler-kp4ot]

pour le pot de la 535, j'ai commandé un pot "racing only for race" de chez Royal Enfield, trés joli forme, un peux plus court, i l faut aller tirer les tours vers la zone rouge pour sentir une toute petite différence de rendement...le bruit est en plus " fatigant" cela n'apporte rien, un mono n'est pas " agréable" dans les hauts tours...le pot d'origine est le meilleur...avec les normes 5, les bureaux d'ingénieurs sont les meilleurs spécialistes pour faire marcher au mieux leur moteurs...bonne route àtous, merci de m'avoir lu, et donner moi svp, votre avis👌🤪🥰

[@greentrumpet]

Wow, that looked great. Many years ago a dear pal owned a Ducati 250 desmo and kindly let me ride it a fair bit, it was a fantastic bike for a fit and flexible 18yo. The yellow 535s always put me in mind of that bike, seems you can make it go as fast as and probably accelerate better than the little desmo as I'm sure that 535's got more low/mid grunt. Great job and a terrific video.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you! Funnily enough, this machine put me in mind of those Ducati singles, too.

[@Beanerds]

One word ,, ' Beautiful ' Thanks Paul .

[@niallsommerville9941]

Well it doesn't seem to have suffered any from the encounter with the dark matter. Sounds like it's breathing really well at the top end and if there's been any sacrifice lower down, I'd be hard pressed to notice or complain about it. Keep your silver balloons, I'd rather have sensible fun like that any day. I'm always wary of passing vehicles driven like that New Defender, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was fitted with a Series II steering box! Really good spicy result, well done.

[@danielmcneil3004]

Paul that was indeed a fun ride through the twistys. And a very nice sound as pulled up to hiway speeds. I guess it can be worth doing some performance tuning on the Cont.535. Good job. Cheers, Dan 👍🏍🇨🇦

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Why is it all the places with beautiful scenery to ride your bike and have snow half the year. And all those stinking cars ruining the scenery. England was just not built for cars.

[@CharlesStettler-kp4ot]

Paul...ici, en ❤Suisse❤, tout les trois ans ont doit passer une visite technique obligatoire....si la machine n'a pas tout les caractéristiques comme à son homologation d'origine ( échappement, injection, freins etc...) =pas d'autorisation de rouler ! j'ai une 535 totale originale ( elchappement et inje ction origine) elle prend 130 kmh facile...si je veux rouler plus viril, je prend alors EV1442...c'est le nr. de mon Egli Vincent Godet 1330 cc. là, pas besoin de modifs...🤪👌😂..aller, bonne route Paul...😊

[@joelmclamore1898]

I had a 500 bullet.That farting exhaust sound really excited the local dog population.😅

[@daveharriman2756]

Wow, she goes well!

[@billwhite8479]

I like the handlebar conversion..

[@beefystig2009]

This is the one. I think this spec is the pinnacle of what can be got out of these and I would love to own one one day.

[@excequer]

What do you prefer clip ons, or bars?

[@getheroutofthetruck]

What does converting to a carb do for the bike?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

It overcomes the difficulties and expense, when tuning to suit any changes made to, for instance, the exhaust system, air filtration, compression ratios, cams, etc.

[@getheroutofthetruck]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Great, thanks for taking the tie to answer, Paul.

[@bazxl57]

Cracking ride, & camera angle

[@geraldfitzgibbon7428]

Its nice sporty lookin bike just standin still

[@hermangibbs8163]

Thank you for putting up with the cold so that all of us could enjoy this fine machine.

[@iivaridark6850]

That was very exciting and fun! Thanks!

[@timquick8948]

Amazing job, sounds incredible mate 😍

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you!

[@mikepopelka2349]

Wonderful bike, wonderful video!!

[@geoffgreenhalgh3553]

Tear arse. Ha Ha

[@Nope16206]

i like that handle bar set did u make that.....neeed that one

[@paulhenshaw4514]

It was on the bike when it arrived to be tuned, I don't own the bike, but suspect the modification came from Hitchcocks.

[@shug831]

Love the popping on the over run, sounds great.

[@noble_wolf]

I thought the clutch had slipped at first - that 535 goes like wossname off a shovel !

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@gazbopilot1]

Haha -well done that man ! Mine is a wheezing standard bike(except with lambda eliminator, motad exhaust, and side stand disconnected.) I think if ever I have any spare cash, I'd go this route. I do love my conti, just wish it would go A to B, without cutting out occasionally.( weirdly, usually just as she gets on temp.) Thanks for sharing. Love all your videos. All the best from west yorks. Gazbo

[@markhancock7527]

sounds brilliant.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@LauraLasan69]

Coolest mortorcycle frm RE

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I would have to give that to the 750 Series 2 Interceptor!

[@aumkar2]

The 535 is a brilliant bike with a future classic potential. I am fixing the small niggles on mine and intend to buy the full fairing from Hitchcocks soon.

[@sukhamsingh4548]

At Hitchcocks they have manufactured 4 valves engine head for this 535 and they claim to produce 40 or above HP. My question is have you enquired about that one?

[@piearm1271]

Very well ridden, cracking bike with all the work you’ve done.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you kindly!

[@kartik4669]

What rear suspension are you using?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

No idea sorry, it wasn't my bike, I just tuned it.

[@rog5150]

I put diesel in my bike at a Shell garage. The damn pumps for petrol and diesel were both red! Diesel pumps are typically black ....

[@billysolhurok5542]

I love your videos. Particularly the RE stuff. I never imagined one could get 7,000rpm out of that beautiful old lump. I realize that there are many numbers thrown about,but if you were pressed for an answer,what might you estimate the bhp/lb-ft increase over stock? On this one,a little better than average... Yes,they are all unique... The engine never sounded/felt overtaxed. Never ran a single,only twins. Triumph,BSA,and RE

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Billy, I don't know what sort of power it might record, but I am pretty certain this machine could break into three figures for its top speed in MPH.

[@pintsizedbiker]

Great video!

[@junglie]

That sounds really fit & makes my mates 500 i rode in india sound like a bag of hammers in comparison.

[@vincejones3872]

Love the vidios. Diesel!! Some pumps have green pipes and its easy to get it wrong.

[@philmuskett265]

Top job, mate. That's really putting the royal in Enfield.

[@sukhamsingh4548]

Hey Paul do you think this bike could be a good scrambler? Mostly would be running on tarmac..may be slightly trail riding once in a month.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I don't see why not, with some suitable alterations.

[@sukhamsingh4548]

@@paulhenshaw4514 it would be great if you share some of your ideas on it I'm planning on buying a used one and converting it into a scrambler. You know I'm worried about the rider's foot peg position. Do you think it can be repositioned?

[@sukhamsingh4548]

Paul do you still have this bike? If you have hows the brake doing you should install the abs model.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Not my bike, I just tuned it. I don't want ABS, fuel injection or electronic ignition on my machines, i like them as simple as possible.

[@sukhamsingh4548]

@@paulhenshaw4514 ok it's good for riders to stay away from too many electronics but abs is good man

[@thefastelephant94]

Hi Paul, Was the cylinder skimmed on a lathe? If yes, did you do that with the piston inside or you just left the piston with the engine and took the barrel apart for squish?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi, just the cylinder barrel was put in the lathe, after taking measurements to determine how much to shorten it by, which is usually anywhere between 0.5 - 1.2 mm for any individual machine, I have found.

[@paullacey2999]

Lovely.I do like these Royal Enfields.....I do keep looking at their new 350Meteor,it seems a lot of bike for the money...Have you tried?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Paul, no I haven't tried one of those.

[@korymills1590]

Hey Paul, what does ASBO mean mate?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Kory, all is explained here, from about 10 minutes in ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWTNqmN7gNxsmLc

[@korymills1590]

@@paulhenshaw4514 thank you mate

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I have to say it that bike sounds really good.

[@jeremyatkinson4976]

I thought I had a bit of piston slap at low revs but this sounds just the same. Just doesn't get as hot as India in Wales....

[@jeremyatkinson4976]

Not so sure it isn't cam gear chatter, as after three months of storage the noise has gone, at least whilst the engine was stone cold. It'll get checked this winter. The engines seem prone to this, so much so that they have eccentric adjustable spindles, perhaps due to the small number of teeth on the crankshaft pinion.

[@mohammednizam9970]

Great work sir, love from India, And I am a big fan of this motorcycle, I thought of buying this motorcycle second hand, what do you think, how's it performing out over years of riding, if possible could you a make a video about it...❤

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks and sorry, but I don't know - I tuned it for the owner who was very happy with it, but I haven't heard much since.

[@mohammednizam9970]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Thank for your reply sir and It's okay 👍.

[@Lindyhop1958]

What an excellent piece of road.

[@richardandrews6754]

Hi Paul, I really enjoyed that ride, cracking bike well ridden too, fantastic

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you!

[@noeldoran8884]

How do you think this compares to a Goldie really its useable and easy to start and quick what a bike...

[@paulhenshaw4514]

This turned out to be much more rapid than I expected and I reckon a Goldie would have its work cut out to do better.

[@JIMWSMITH]

Whats the whine sound , its different to the other 535 you have cast your magic on , is it the uprated cam chain ?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

That noise was from the camshaft gears.

[@TheColin59]

I wish I had roads like that near me to enjoy my 535 Paul, Beautiful Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@imochasingh6875]

May I know how much you have invested on this one? By the way it's a beautiful place.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, this is not my machine, but the owner probably spent in the region of £1500 roughly.

[@MSR_Robi_Garage]

Cool bike indeed ❤

[@Jean-de-lune]

A fine tune-up and great ride, Paul.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

20 something years ago Royal Enfield back when it was still just Indian Enfield had a diesel-powered version of the old bullet. I thought that was so cool. I would have bought one of those if they were imported into the United States. The other guy probably grabbed the wrong nozzle and put in diesel by mistake without knowing it.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Diesel Bullet? Perhaps you might like to see this video I made a few years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gombp4aCdpmKpsU

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

@@paulhenshaw4514 my government-supplied Lifeline cell phone is very out-of-date and not capable of doing all the things that new phones can do. I wish I could have bought one because I love weird motorcycles and imagine the looks I would get with that motorcycle filling up with diesel next to the semi trucks. I just love weird motorcycles. I heard that the diesel Royal Enfield was slow but got 200 miles to the gallon. I like the old copy of the Royal Enfield Bullet with the separate transmission and everything the same as the old British motorcycle and I was so disappointed when they came out with the Interceptor because I thought they were going to come out with a doubled bullet like the original company made. Now if they had come out with a motorcycle like that that would have been something I would have bought. I wish I had a Harley swap meets and a guy heard me talkin about my BSA collection and then when I saw him at another swap meet he said you're the Beazer guy he showed me this picture on his phone of this beautiful BSA single and he wanted $500 for it and I told him you have to bring it to my house cuz I don't drive and when I told him how to get to my house you said oh I know where you live everybody knows me riding the Ural all over everywhere. After he delivered the motorcycle to my house I called my writing buddy and the guy who helped me out with motorcycles that people will touch, that showed them my latest acquisition and they could not believe I got that for $500. The BSA single large or small were excellent Motors. All of the old British motorcycles were made 2B rebuildable forever. Everything ran in proper bushings or bearings as needed. When I buy a bike and I ride it for 20 plus years you know I have a relationship with that motorcycle simply because of all the years that I have had it. I wish my dogs could live as long as my motorcycles. And my cats as well. I rode a 1954 Royal Enfield 350g all over England and then all over Europe and then went over the Mediterranean Road all through the Middle East and then rode all through sub-Saharan Africa. Bike never broke down never disappointed me in any way. I wish I could have brought it home but the paperwork to do so was outrageous as well as ridiculously expensive. Yeah and Enfield diesel bullet would have been cool to own. I have so much weird stuff people keep telling me to open up and Museum to display all of them in and have a mechanic to put them in running order. And let's not forget Royal Enfield in England when they made the 500 bullet that was a hot bike the equivalent of a gold star or an aerial. Maybe not as fast as a Norton manx. People love to badmouth the old British singles but you look at the road you have in England and every one of them have slow written on them. A 500 single or a 650 twin is perfectly adequate for the roads in England. I love the fact that your bike has a Kickstarter. Kick-starting is an art as something that used to have to be learned before you could ride your motorcycle. It was a special art that car driving people did not have. I like the fact that you did the carburetor conversion because fuel injection is only there to satisfy the pollution requirements and motorcycles should be exempt.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks Frank, I agree with every point you made.

[@Bangaliyana2024]

BTW, it is still just Indian Enfield and India have started making decent quality products in all sphere nowadays, be it as varied as military to vehicles

[@ruahinesrider]

Wonderful!👍Enjoy.

[@ruahinesrider]

Great triple tree & handle bars.She zips along all right.What a great job you've done.

[@giakii]

Hello, but do you have to lengthen wires and sheaths to put that handlebar?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I don't know, as I didn't fit them.

[@davidwilliamson9162]

That looks and sounds like like she’s fair flying Paul,what power would you guess she’s doing on the ass dyno?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi David and thanks. Not sure, but it goes very similar to our RE 350 racer, which has 35 bhp @ rear wheel.

[@davidwilliamson9162]

@@paulhenshaw4514 back to back Is the 535 noticeably more power than the 500cc

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@davidwilliamson9162 I wouldn't think so, although the uce 500 and 535 engines have different fuel injectors and mapping, as far as I know.

[@lorenzo7105]

Which parts are required in order to change the handlebar like you did brother?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I don't know, sorry, the bike was like that when it came in but there is a good chance they were sourced from Hitchcocks.

[@lorenzo7105]

@@paulhenshaw4514 No worries mate, i have a gt 535 myself and wanted to change the handlebar, yours is exactly what i had in mind, looks great!

[@MS-ro5sk]

Double travers?

[@imochasingh6875]

Is it loud? Because here in India loud exhaust are banned. And this one too doesn't have a shaky speedo.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

From what I remember it was fairly loud when opened up, but not overly so.

[@imochasingh6875]

@@paulhenshaw4514 that's good to hear Sir. Have you thought of the new twin port engine head made by Hitchcock's? They are claiming that after the installation the motor gets upto 41 bhp. It would be great if you share your insights on this new production. This is the product code 90371 if you are aware of it then that's fine.

[@imochasingh6875]

@@paulhenshaw4514 new twin port engine head from Hitchcock's for RE UCE 500 and 535, product code 90371. If you are aware of it then that's fine. They are claiming around 41bhp with this new engine head. What's your say on this?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

That is the 4 valve head, which perhaps could be very useful, but my whole ethos is to try to avoid great expense and my tuned machines, using some tuning parts from Hitchcocks, plus my own modifications can give these machines 100 mph potential.

[@imochasingh6875]

@@paulhenshaw4514 that is great. Cost cutting is essential. However we would still love if a thorough testing video comes from someone like yourself because we can't find any road testing video from Hitchcock's.

[@keithmoore5224]

a mates suzuki gs 750 can you fix it runs funny ok i will it would run but not idle so checking the cards funny smell penny dropped my friend had filled up with diesel but it still ran but no idle just saying

[@G58]

4:22 Thought so. Best way to shut down a petrol engine. Plus, this new Petrol has everyone worried. But I’m guessing the owner is not a lifelong biker.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I have no idea what the owner's history with bikes might be and I have made no assumptions.

[@G58]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Most bikers share that information readily. I’m yet to meet any biker who’s accidentally put diesel in their tank. The smell alone would be the biggest clue! I’m not a gambler, but I bet he drives a diesel vehicle. There are valuable life lessons here. I once put diesel from a tank contaminated with water into my Citroen BX estate. It took hours to pump it out. I’m now driving a petrol car again after driving diesels for over 20 years. I have to double check I’m using the correct pump every time. Nice bike. Reminds me of the 250, 350 and 450 Ducati Desmo sports models of the late ‘70s. Always wanted one of those, but they were far more expensive than Hondas.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

The owner is going to go back to the filling station, as he felt certain he was using an E5 nozzle, I may be updated in the near future. I have learned today that he has been involved with bikes for some considerable time, and, funnily enough, he owned Ducati singles back 'in the day'.

[@G58]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Thank you. I love to be proven wrong. It’s the best way to genuinely learn.

[@noyalshense3844]

why is the engine whining thats not how its sounds normally? New camshafts?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

New cams, which quietened down after some miles were put on them.

[@G58]

2:44 Diesel. That’s my bet.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Correct.

[@batwayne2355]

How can i get one of those handle bar riser? Like the ones you're using

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Try Hitchcocks, they might have some.

[@batwayne2355]

@@paulhenshaw4514 thank you🙏