Hi mate, Well I just love my Classic 500. I'm 65 and have a lifetime of building high end performance motors here in Australia. I bought a 2009 Classic Bullet 500. My wife and I rode it for about 3 months and I felt that the engine had massive potential to go a lot "harder". We live in the Northern Territory where the speed limit is 130kmh and we have triple trailer road trains that beg to suck you in under the rig. We needed much better performance. I did a lot of research including buying another UCE motor which I tore down and examined and measured to the "nth" degree. I have a nice little workshop with a small lathe and a mill and we made our Bullet a Harley hunter. I know most blokes don't have a workshop, but this is a a bit of a run down on what we have done. These mods will probably be out of the reach of most RE owners BUT someone had to do it. The very first mod we made was to throw the engine pipe to the dump. We replaced it with an 1 3/4" pipe and a Mostyn straight through Megaphone. This increased power incredibly as in extremely noticeable and fuel consumption was way better.. The I went crazy in an engineering way and modified the cylinder head. A serious port and polish job, swirl polished inlet valve and ditch cut exhaust valve. We replaced the throttle body with a 40mm unit and a surprisingly cheap EFI system. Totally tunable too. We installed a crankcase evacuation system which was only $35. No more oil in the air filter box when we caned it a bit hard. We managed to find an individual who ground up some serious cam profiles for us. The performance of the Enfield is not something akin to a very fruity Yammy XY500. If anyone is interested in more information email me at crawforgj@hotmail.com

Filter and plug mods, something that’s been forgotten over the years for performance gains, thanks for reminding me 👍👍👍

I'm a yank who spent many years in the motorcycle industry. I'm 71yo and my 600 lb. H-D, I'm sorry to say , is seeming heavier than it's predecessors of old, did. I've been obsessed w/ Royal Enfeild since childhood. Now I'm getting a black 500 bullet (06') in a few weeks..it has a Brit exhaust. THUS I've become a Fillingham subscriber. 😆 ✌

As a teenager am yet to buy a bike,but ur channel gives me the taste of various bikes even without owning them.....truly awesome!!

All mods big or small makes the bike more yours. That's my personal feeling Sir.

Just looking at the scenery with your continuous dialogue is meditative :)

After a more than 20 year hiatus from motorcycles, thanks to your videos and my interest in the Royal Enfield, I have just taken delivery of a 2021 gun metal grey Classic 500. Spark plug, Air filter and full synthetic oil are on the list. Thank You Stuart.

had bikes and scooters all my life. 72 years old next week. i love your videos,like listening to an old friend,or in your case a younger friend. best wishes.

What I like most about these images right now, are the blue skies, dry roads, rich green grass, and leafy green trees. Still winter here, with ice, snow, dirty, wet, slippery roads, nothing green to be seen, and not one leaf on any tree. So it’s very pleasant to see Mr. Fillingham out there motoring along , in summer, of course. Well, summer will happen here soon enough, but there’s encouragement here and a lot of good chat as well. Thanks for all that. Ride on!

I really like your no nonsense, matter-of-fact reviews. Video and sound quality are spot-on too.

With a blend of excellent info and representation, soothing country sites, altogether it's therapeutic. As always, lots of respect and love to you. I wish, I had an uncle like you, I could ride alongside or just hop on. 😀😎 Thank you!!!

Bart has highly recommended your channel a few times.

Thanks Stu! I fitted a highflow airfilter and an Iridium sparkplug... it really makes a difference performancewise. It starts way better than before and it feels like it has more oomph at higher revs. Greetings from Hamburg, Germany! Keep up your inspiring videos!

I fitted the stage 2 kit from DNA on my Conti. The bike makes a lovely sound now. Saw the same horror stories about oem plugs and switched to Iridium they do make a difference.

Improvement mods I call these , little things that just make the bike better I can understand , I often overhear conversations at bike meets about performance mods people have done to an already 120 hp bike .....these I don't understand ! Especially when you can tell the bike was already too powerful for 99% of most riders skillset ! I've done the filter on my Interceptor but didn't give plugs a thought so thanks for nudge, I'll get some ordered today ! Great video ! 👍

Edited to add: I installed the filter and what a huge difference it made. I bought the Iridium plug, but failed to order a new cap. Carefully ground down the large (soft iron) electrode on the plug and now it fits my existing cap. Easy job and much quicker than sending away for a new cap or even changing caps. My bullet drives like a different bike now with more and smoother torque at low engine speeds. Anything below 2500 RPM was pretty rough before, but now I can (carefully) lug the engine starting at 1800 and it feels smooth. Really helps in the corners when it is inconvenient to downshift. The hesitation, to the point the engine would die or (more commonly) almost die when rapidly coming off idle is now completely gone. I'm a bit mad at myself for not doing these simple and obvious things a couple of years ago. You have made me a believer. My new DNA air filter and my NGK Iridium plug should be here in a couple of days. I hesitated getting a "performance" filter for a long time because I was afraid I might upset the EFI operation, but your engine didn't seem to have any problem. I'm hoping the new plug will help with the sputtering I sometimes get when I open the throttle from idle and perhaps a quicker start.

I've only watched yourreviews on royal enfields and i do find your interpretation of these motorcycles the most informative due i believe toyour appreciation of "things good "

These are simple yet nicely effective mods - I've done them on my Classic 500, too. I used a K&N filter, though, since it was a gift and, you know about gifted horses. That's good quality, too - after installing it the Classic goes almost 40km/litre which is fine (before it went 35-36, but I have to say now I am also using 100 octane fuel which reduces consumption, too, and keeps the engine cleaner). The Bullet/Classic is not a thirsty bike per se, bless her, but you're right, tinkering is so good. Anyway. Before installing the Iridium plug I swapped a couple of emails with NGK technical support (very helpful people, I've to say) to double-check something I'd read on the Internet, and yes, they too recommended using a non-resistor cap with the Iridium plug (that, I understand, has a built-in resistor). That was a good chance to install a longer HT lead, too - the original RE lead is, to be honest, on the too short side. Regards and ride safe!

Great video, as ever, Stuart. Plenty of information, clear images and a helpful discussion around the "Myths & Legends" on fitting higher quality items. I ordered an air filter, having followed the link and fitted it last week. I am already running the NGK plug, of course. We can't really ride at the moment because of restrictions but today I had a legitimate errand to run (Pharmacy). The air filter makes an instant difference. As I left home the acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear up to 30 mph was very much better and the throttle required was noticeably less than usual. The bike just breathes so much more easily and on my 4 mile journey it was noticeable throughout the trip. It makes more of a difference , in my view, than exhaust modifications. I had fitted a lighter and less restrictive down pipe and silencer but the noise just got me down. This significant improvement from the air cleaner is important to me because I now no longer believe in louder exhaust pipes: they just seem to annoy non-riders and that does none of us riders any favours. I don't know about the fuel consumption yet of course: I have no doubt from the significant improvement in throttle response that my 90 mpg will improve and just 10% will put me into the three-figure mpg range. Thanks, again.

This , I think is one of your best ones yet , though you have had some great ones , this one stands out . I live in the states , and we don't see many Enfield machines , but the same principles apply to my beloved H-D motorcycle's , and many others . Thank you my friend, I appreciate your videos , a valuable tool in real world . Thank you mate , cheers .

I agree with you on the air filter elements and iridium spark plugs. I use the same type of both in my cars, trucks and motorcycles. Just out of curiosity, I switched my air-cooled Sportster's spark plugs back to standard and then back again to the iridium plugs on the same day, at the same air temperature for a quick comparison. From a cold start to complete warm-up, the iridium plugs performed better in every way: quicker warm-up and quicker response. This is IN ADDITION TO longer plug life. Another thing I do on my motorcycles is to re-route the crankcase ventilation from going back into the air intake, to going directly out into the atmosphere. Cool and dry air is much better for the engine's health and the motorcycle's performance. In most cases, this is a cheap and easy modification.

Hi Stu, thanks for sharing, ive made the same upgrades you have, plus an external temp sensor for the air intake , the sensor now sits underneath the seat, also two stainless anchor rods/bolts (Hitchcocks) that anchors the engine to the frame the the result for my Classic 500 is altogether a more responsive smoother more enjoyable ride, and it will cruise now at 65 to 70mph more comfortably , it does remind me of my early days of riding when i passed my test in 1975 as a despatch rider on an army BSA M20.

It’s a great channel and a must watch for me! I ride a bullet and I like the fact that you say it as it is so keep going Stuart 👍

Great air filter and plug upgrade for the bullet! Thanks Stu!

I never felt like doing any modifications on my RE Classic 500 - but this video seems to give two realistic hints.... THANK YOU! (And it‘s great that you don‘t push the sales-button as hard as most other chanels - it’s just more serious 👍)

On the strength of this video I ordered a DNA air filter for my Bullet C5 EFI. The difference was immediately apparent. The bike feels smoother and seems to have more torque. Nothing more at the top end, although mine does have to lug a chair! It just seemed to be a better ride. Plus the engine sounds even better! Well worth it. (April 2021). Thanks Stuart.

Being a lifelong Tech 50 years in the M/C and Aviation industry the air filter I'm pretty sure your correct on and the plug I'm 100 % sure your incorrect on I am a user of NGK but the fancy plated plugs or multi electrodes are a waste of time and funds , just like oil you should change them when dirty , Thank you very much for the informative videos , I have already picked up the NGK and now on your advice will get a DNA filter for my 09 Classic EFI

Air and sparks! Good to see classic old school lore seeing the light of day again. Knowledge that was in danger of becoming forgotten as modern bikes have such a huge power reserve over what you actually need for real world riding that there is no need even to consider efficiency gains from such things as air and sparks - unless of course you are going racing. My old Norton Commando benefitted from a K&N filter, and Japanese coils, leads and plugs to replace the Lucas & Champion horrors it came with - not in tangible performance terms but just in terms of confidence it would always get you work in the morning. My Classic 500 hasn't been out of the garage since it was delivered at end of Jan, so I am looking forward to playing when weather and end of lockdown allows. I would be interested to see what you make of Hitchcock's booster plug kit (92120/1) and their Vibration Reduction Plate (92498A) in future videos.

Super! Very important information you just provide👍🏻I was looking for a filter replacement and I thought that I have only one logical choice, which is K&N. Thanks to your wisdom, just order new filter for my Speedy from DNA. Very grateful for that🤝

Well, I fitted the iridium plug to my Classic 500 'Tribute' and that was an improvement, then I fitted the DNA air filter - too soon yet to tell if that is an improvement. Then I fitted the booster plug, to fool the ECU into detecting a lower temperature than actual, and that was a definite improvement. In that process I realised the stock air temperature plug sits across the air intake so maybe that needs moving. Thanks for the tips!

Thank you again. Very helpful and informative. Pick up my new Classic 500 next week, so lots to process and absorb from all your videos.

I put a K&N in mine last week and noticed one more significant improvement - a much more throaty and deep engine note. It sounded free!

Usually I outright ignore subscription requests but just could not turn down this nice granpa

Me Stuart , I like the way bikes are kept clean and tidy . Maintaining a bullet , one need to be disciplined very much . The English country side and the description about RE was enthralling . I was totally mesmerised. Keep the good job going ………👌👍

Cracking Video Most people wouldn’t talk about this objectively but be blinkered. Thanks for sharing ✊🏻

I have had very good luck with Czech made Brisk spark plugs. It is of the multi prong design type--so NEVER A NEED TO GAP IT. I put a pair in my Ural side car rig and it made it go from a no kick start to a one kick start. And as you noticed the cold idle was much improved. I like them so much that I have them for my RE 650 and Himalayan. I have seen tests where several different types of plugs were used in see thru glass head lawn mower engines, and then they ran them with and without load on a generator. There were length of run differences. So measurable results.

Wonderful video as usual. Hope the frequency of you posting such videos increases.

Brilliant video as always Stuart and the only performance mod my Himalayan needs is for me to lose weight 🤣👍🏻

Stuart, I like your tell tale narration with impeccable English pronunciation!

Stuart, I own another mild mannered machine here in the United States. It is a 2003 Harley 883 Sportster. I found magazine dyno tests of before and after installation of Screamin' Eagle air filter kit. Stock the 883 made 44 rear wheel HP. With the kit installed it made 50 HP. I found that completely stunning so that is the first mod I made to the bike. It was a higher hp increase than exhaust for less money, so basically a no brainer. Beside the air filter the kit also includes a new backing plate for the air cleaner assembly. This allows much more air to get to the carb. I bought my kit for $55 from a private owner who had never used it. Then I rejetted the carb with 2 sizes larger main and one size larger low speed jet. I also uncapped the mixture screw and opened it from its original 1/2 turn to 3 full turns. WOW. What a wonderful difference in power that can really be felt, and for so little money.

Great video and no-nonsense suggestions. I have to wonder how many of these improvements are from time running in, and how many are down to the plug & filter. That said, they're relatively cheap mods, and the service life improvement alone has to be worth the cost. They're also a great way for a newbie bike mechanic to tackle something simple and get to know their bike better.

Looks like I missed a trick with my 500 when I had it. Fitted filter and whole exhaust system but never thought about the plug.

Great video! Beautifully done. You have some nice roads there.

Oops, two years ago! Missed it! You can't go wrong with a Booster Plug! All my motorcycles benefit from one including my Kawasaki Vulcan and 2021 RE Classic 500.

Very insightful! Great video. Simple and effective improvements. Thanks for sharing.

Great channel- innovative and useful info presented with humor and imagination. Thanks.

Wife: you've been out there for hours. Have you fixed it yet? Me: I'll tell you when I get back.

My mum told me to leave my pride and joy alone or I'd go blind?? Sorry had to tell that joke. Another great production Stuart. An honest review on " performance" parts and how they actually benefit, rather than whats promised. I ran an iridium plug on my old bullet, it was much easier to start after, more KV doing the business. Thank you Stuart.

Thanks Uncle Stu . . . I hope to try these improvements on my 2017 B5 . . . Cheers!

Another great video The Bullet is easy to improve Mostly for better fuel economy and smoother running. Love watching all your videos

Great vid. Liked 👍 I wasn't able to find one for the 350 reborn in that website you linked.

Thank you Stuart, I have owned some old Bullets, you have changed my mind about the new ones, RegardsMichael

Knowledge i gained is tremendous ❤️

Thank you for your videos Uncle Stu.

I was advised to check the filter on the fuel pump when I got my Classic 500. It had done 5000 odd miles. The fuel pump is in the tank and shrouded by a very fine mesh filter. The inside of the tank is coated with a red lead coloured paint, I’m not sure what type of paint it is. This breaks down over time and clogs the filter. I removed mine to find the filter was badly blocked with a sludge the same colour as the paint lining the inside of the tank. Removing it and cleaning it gave a noticeable improvement. The engine was crisper and more responsive.

Subscribed. enjoying the virtual rides on the Pommie roads that i miss.

Hi have found with the DNA filter am getting a lot better Seal between the back casing and the circular lockdown cap don’t think the stock filter was ceiling well enough and I was getting unfiltered air past the filter but! Now the plastic internal airbox casing is not making a good Seal I know the DNA filter is slightly deeper and if I clamp it down too hard it will start to crinkle . Please can help.great video Stuart keep them coming I have a c5 2018 classic

Just seen this video, and it is the most informative one I have seen to date. Will consider making the changes, Do you replace the dna filter at all or is it a one fit hit and clean it every so often.

Dear Stuart, Thank you for all the content throughout the years. This is the first time Im reaching out. I have a RE 350 Classic Reborn for 1.5 years now. I recently fitted it with DNA 2 filter (approximately 500 km ago). The bike does preform better at mid range and sounds way better but it seams to me that the level of vibration on the bike is higher especially felt on longer rides (1+ h). Did you or anybody else experience the same?

I always enjoy the music that you pick.

Very informative Stuart unlike you I always change the air filter to any bike I own but never replaced the plugs so now I will so thanks for the insight. Spot on as always Stuart👏👏

love the vlogs please keep them coming

As per the norm Stuart informative and to the point. Can you supply info on the compound you used for the sealing/lubrication on the air filter/housing please.

When all said and done, I just like your style.

Next time my 500 (2011) is due for basic service I'll toss these on. I've never ridden a solo Bullet. Mine has a Cozy sidecar attached, having done long solo trips (Sturgis) with all my camping gear. The wife has 100's of miles sitting in the sidecar. The bike chugs along at 55 MPH with a little steam left in the kettle. Prefect for back roads and state highways. I did the big interstate once.. a steady 65 MPH ... to avoid a approaching storm.. for 90 miles. My Royal Enfield dealer doesn't have any machines on the floor for sale. He takes orders (with deposits) and has them all on order. My Interceptor (2011) is sitting on the show room floor (winter storage) with 4 other " sold " bikes. (Himmy's, Connie's) He has 10 of the new 350's on order. He commended he has " much interest " from the public. In two months another R/Enfield dealer is opening up in the south metro.

i have royal Enfield 500cc February 2018 its clour is stranth black and your paraformens is very nice 👍

Yes another very interesting little video one I will bare in mind when my meteor finally arrives 👍

Simply crushing thru stunning views ..loved it subbed it straightaway..carry on mate.

damn, I just realized I have been watching your channel for a year now but till now I just subed.

Wonderful videos and so good describing.

Love from India and hello ! from another RE Interceptor 650 rider.

I love my 1997 500 Bullet, great bike, also own a 1937 250 model S, plus a gaggle of BSA's, M20's M21's, Bantams etc... The Bullet is the all weather bike and for longer trips.

I absolutely agree with you. More performance would be gained by attending the toilet before you ride or reducing one's weight in a more permanent way. Some people polish and shine, others put stickers on and some buy skip loads of Chinese add-ons but, as you say, it's all part of customisation.

Brilliant video thank you. I own a Classic 500 2013. I have just changed spark plug and air filter to your recommendations. I have noticed smoother acceleration and tickover. Hitchcocks are now selling both items. I wanted to ask what you were using to seal air filter in. It looks like my red bike grease?

I fitted DNA on my new guzzi! Love it

Great info, Stuart. Thanks, sir!

Great analogy of the air filter and face diaper.. nailed it

Another awesome video! Thanks!

This is the best RE channel

Hi Stewart Great video by the way after watching bought dna filter plus plug For my bullit 500efi What can I say just brilliant. Jim Stephen

Loce your videos, love that RE-500. It's a classic, regardless of its year.

Another very worthy video, very sensible, very basic and just the kind of advice the public will benefit from. By the way, being in the USA, trying to do my best Professor Higgins, I must ask you what part of the UK are you from, the North of England, like, Yorkshire ?

Nice video, I've done similar mods on my 350 Classic,along with a free flow exhaust. Hey KZfaq, should I be looking at the carb tuning now, worried after these mods I might running a bit lean.

Got a feeling in me water the T120 going to go and a Norton replacement in the future uncle Stu.

Hi Stu, excellent video as usual. I have my little classic 500 since last summer and did a few mods on her. One being the iridium plug but now I need a proper air filter. I think I will go down the dna route rather than the k&n. Just a quick question. Have you any knowledge of the RE Taurus diesel versions of the bullet ? I ask, because I recently came across one for sale. I've heard of them before and I like them because they're a bit of an old oddity like myself. 40mph pootling about suits me . Any thoughts ?

Just subscribed! Sophisticated videos

Another informative video Stuart. Apologies if this has already been asked but do you recommend any need to change the spark plug cap as well with the new iridium plug? Thank you

P.S. Thank you for your videos. I enjoy them a lot. Project Farm also has tested plugs, fuels, oils, etc.

Loving the vids even though I can neither afford a Royal Enfield, or have the space for one, now I am no expert at all, but apart from the filter and plugs, if you wanted a bit more go would a chain and sprocket swap be useful?

yet again great value add👍

Hi Stuart - About to embark on following yet more of your excellent advice and change the spark plug on my 2020 C5 efi for the iridium plug from the stock plug. I'm guessing that the stock Bosch plug was non resister type and as the iridium one is - did you need to change the plug cap as well and or do you know how to tell if the cap is a resistor type or not? Kind regards Mel

cheers Stuart good video

Looking forward to doing a steel rod n bearing change plus hi lift cam n high comp 535 big valve potted head big bore exhaust n bigger carb & electronic ignition 👍

Very helpful and enjoyable video. Thank you Sir..........Sal : )

Completely according to your propositions. There are still the suppressive cables that conduct the energy to the plugs. They are of the resistive type so as not to radiate interference to television sets and currently even for transmission with modern helmets. However, over the years, their resistivity greatly increases, stealing all the energy produced by the ignition system. Another piece that can easily deceive us, if we do not continuously measure its resistivity according to the table in the motorcycle workshop manual, is the pipe which is attached to the plug with rubber insulation on the outside. Many of them have a pre-resistor that sometimes breaks down with little time, producing a thin spark to the plugs. Grateful for the advice. Until!

I think a new seat should be the first upgrade, that is if your air filter does not need it . It is something that will keep you in the seat a bit longer with a better ride without hurting your backside to much. A new seat is a bit expensive, but I believe it will make any motorcycle ride better in the end.

Hi Stuart, Can you share the story about your fab clock on your console and where you sourced it? Cheers and thanks, Jon.

Hi Stu,My new Bullet Chrome has been running very badly (still only 60 miles on the clock) OK for a few miles then lots of backfiring to the point that the bike cuts out,when restarted it clears after a while. I then fitted the Hitchcock booster plug and the problem (I think) has gone away,but still need to do more test runs.Thank you for the fantastic videos,really useful and very enjoyable.I have one question,where do you stand on flyscreens,and have you considered fitting one?

Thanks for this. If I get the nod for that stealth black I'll check what's on it & probably swap out for that filter. Have you used any specific technic for running your Bullet in?

Nice one Stuart...