Royal Enfield 500 Asbo 41 - the tuning story in full.

This is a collection of all the previous clips featuring this machine [apart from after the baffle was removed from the exhaust] and some of the tuning work done on it at Performance Classics.

[@allanmacdonald5580]

Thankyou Paul piston profile now understood!

[@bigred8438]

I love the way the push rod tubes are cast into the right side barrels, head and rocker covers on these. After the test ride, I was thinking you were going to ring up the owner and say come get your bike, its fine. Although at times it sounded as though it had two third gears.

[@glaicogobbo4046]

The machine was very well tuned. Elastic, withstands long gears at low revs without changing or lowering the rotation. Go up ramps at the right rotation with the greatest of ease. It goes very well for the sigle that it is. It will do, if properly taken care of, high mileage due to the whim and techniques used since the beginning of its recovery.

[@brockett]

So heartening to see you keep these bikes running so well and even improve their performance. Just the thing for a moderate bimble around the lanes. I must say that watching you ride your regular test route I always get anxious as you approach that downhill "T" junction. Maybe the camera makes it look steeper and the bike faster than it is but knowing does not reduce the tension. Silly old me.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Dave, it is pretty steep - some buses and lower cars have been known to scrape their undersides there!

[@nightster6378]

Picture this, Feb 1976 after my last ride on my SS50 having just turned 17 my choices were a 100 quid Honda 250 or a 100 quid Ariel 650 Huntsmaster with a Busmar Double Adult sidecar fitted, a 650 on an 'L' plate, happy days until seeing it my heart sank, THEN I saw the Goldie silencer, OK it had a bit (lots) of patina but the silencer sold it to me, the thing nearly got me killed on our 1st outing on a left hand corner between my incompetance and a DD bus cutting the corner, it took me a whole two weeks to realise the brakes etc were designed for 2 wheels not 3, £150 quid and 3 weeks later my mate still has it. It is still in exactly the same condition as the day I sold him it with an 27 extra miles on it accumulated when he used it to move house, a 3 piece suit tied to it was a picture to behold. (did I rip him off or did he wipe my eye?) I still love the Gold Star Silencer, 'not fitted to siamese exhausts or outfits'. You're making RE's grow on me.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks for sharing that story here!

[@glaicogobbo4046]

Service standard "Doctor of Engines" Paul. Walking more than bad news for a single cylindrical of this nature and a little heavy. Rises from rotation very effectively. As you noticed, only in the last gear did it get a little elongated. So it seems. I don't know about the wind speed in contrast to the gait during the test with a lot of movement limiting it. In addition to a higher cruise, she breathes freely, being able to maintain a high and effective cruise for a long time. The models the factory would not be able to withstand this rhythm without overheating and damage to the valves. Congratulations!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you, Glaico!

[@bigred8438]

If I am not mistaken you had it up to between 70 and 80 mph along the straight stretch of road.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I hope you are not from the police ...

[@stanzgarage]

Hey Paul! I serviced the front forks of my AVL 350 and changed the fork seals, replaced internal wear items and changed the fluid. The generic Royal Enfield branded fork oil is super thin that it has made my bike all wollowy and ever-ready to dive severely on front braking. My question is.. would you recommend 10w oil or 15w oil as a replacement? The bike is generally ridden single by me, pillion rarely, and I weigh 65kgs Thanks!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi, I just put 20 / 50 engine oil in my RE forks and they seem ok with it.

[@stanzgarage]

I was concerned that it might make the front end too harsh putting 20/50. @@paulhenshaw4514

[@bigred8438]

by 31:00 we start experiencing a few problems with the video feed or recording of it. A pity, although I did get the jist of what you were saying.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I see what you mean. All the clips worked fine on their own, but something went wrong when they were joined up. I can always rely on my computer to try and screw things up for me.

[@sandhusbythesea1122]

Nice info Does a ny one know how can install rear mudguard on this bike

[@amelierenoncule]

Cela continue d'être un plaisir...ah, that is to say, it continues to be a pleasure, my riding with you on these wee shake-down runs. But I can't help noticing that we, seemingly, never come across any other motorcyclists. Are we then the only ones in your immediate region ? But, that is not the reason I called. As I see it, your explanation of the top-end work you accomplished, what with increasing the CR, while reseating the valves & retarding the Intake valve cam timing, was not only well given, but entertaining (and dramatic) as well. But tell me, in retarding the VT, are you not then giving up some of the power you gained by the increased CR ? Overall, what do you reckon the increased # of 'ponies' are ? Lastly, "BEFORE" you worked your magic, the machine sported a type of sparking plug shield...or wind baffle. But in its' final trim, "AFTER", it is gone. I assume purposely so, what ? : i.imgur.com/JJGKBle.png

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Amelie - other motorbikes are often around, but we are usually traveling fast enough over relatively short distances, so we don't, for instance, often get overtaken by modern 'Rocketships'. That said, someone on a modern 600 ish looking machine once overcooked it trying to get away from me on a Royal Enfield Fury 500 and ended up stopped in the verge! Retarding the inlet cam timing was a lucky chance discovery for me and actually boosts power when combined with a decent CR on Bullet engines at least, as discussed here ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/apK0lGWZq5qeo7s The machine featured here probably has about 5 bhp more than standard and should be capable of around 30 BHP @ rear wheel, I should think. That thing by the spark plug was removed as requested by the owner - it is a steel duct, presumably to feed cooling air around the plug, but many of these machines seem fine without them.

[@amelierenoncule]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Roger that, and...Splice the mainbrace !

[@bazxl57]

That exhaust valve seat looks like it was not machined properly after been fitted at the factory, did the bike suffer pre ignition prior to you machining it properly.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

For whatever reason, that is how the factory fitted their valve seats in these engines - far from ideal! I think I heard some pinking on my 'before' ride, as it happens.

[@imochasingh6875]

What's the HP on this one?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I dyno tested a very similar one I tuned and that recorded over 33 bhp @ rear wheel.

[@imochasingh6875]

@@paulhenshaw4514 that means around 35hp in the engine.

[@CBRroyal382]

Them handlebars made me giggle lol. How did the owner get it to you with them like that? :D

[@paulhenshaw4514]

It arrived in a van, but presumably it must have been ridden like that, as the handlebars were not mentioned at all!

[@CBRroyal382]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Well, the owner gotta be glad they brought it to you. It will leave in the best shape possible now.

[@Jaysqualityparts]

Breather doesn’t look half bad.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

It reminds me of the rocket in Wallace and Gromit!

[@iandawson7723]

Interesting video, but sort the camera out.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

No can do, sorry.

[@aircooled2068]

Expect the unexpected with an Electra x 😂