India’s 1st Bullet with Reverse Gear: As heavy motorcycles are not that easy to pull backwards, many reputed brands offer a reverse gear in their top spec cruiser motorcycles. They weigh almost four times as a regular commuter motorcycle and reverse helps in easy maneuvering in every situation.
As everyone cannot afford a Honda Goldwing, Jagdish Rawal has inducted the feature in an everyday Royal Enfield Bullet. The video seen here shows how pushing the gear lever in the opposite direction can help rider get the wheel spinning in opposite direction. It seems that the Bullet with reverse gear has no speed limiter used for safer backward movement.
Video: Royal Enfield Bullet with Reverse Gear
A slightly harder twist of the throttle can result in uncontrolled reverse acceleration. However, proper training could help rider understand the intensity and make the feature useful in all sort of tough conditions like reversing on a slope or rough stone filled surface.
The change was made by replacing the original gearbox with sidecar company sourced gearbox. Royal Enfield is India’s most loved bike when it comes to modification and Jagdish Rawal took this tag to a whole new level with Bullet with reverse gear. The cost of replacing the original gearbox with this one was not mentioned by the owner.
The modification was made on a motorcycle that had gearbox lever at the right side. Royal Enfield has discontinued the production of this engine and gearbox combination in 2010. It is unknown whether the same technique can be used on the presently available engine.
The most popular Royal Enfield model is Classic 350. It offers electric starter, disc brake, better tyres and loads of color options for its fans. The 346cc, single cylinder engine on the motorcycle is good for 19.8 BHP and 28 Nm of torque. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox as standard.