$1,950
Essex Junction, Vermont
Category
-
Engine
500
Posted Over 1 Month
You are looking at a genuine 1966/7 Royal Enfield originally from India, but built in the UK. I have the following info from the RE Owner's Chairman, to whom I am very grateful for his insight. Royal Enfield Owners Club (UK) chairman here. These bikes were first assembled in India from a kit of parts (CKD) supplied from the UK. The Madras factory gradually took over production of components until they were self sufficient, and I believe the frame was the first item produced "in house". G2 was the UK factory code for the 350 Bullet. Although dropped from the VIN of UK built machines, the kits sent to India continued to have the G2 prefix. The EI number is Enfield India's own, added alongside the G2 number when they built the machine. The number just below the fins is what we call a "true" engine number. It was stamped in the motor shop when they built up the engine. There is no correlation between the "true" number and the G2/EI ones. It makes a nice change to see a set of engine numbers not tampered with by restorers in India. Based on my ever growing collection of numbers for these machines, I would estimate this Bullet was built in late 1966 or early 1967. This is bit of a unique RE and has an interesting story. For many years I did a lot of professional business in India and found a fellow in Delhi who restored old British bikes and sold them, including to international customers. Arun Madaan also did RE tours in Himalayas and elsewhere. Figured he knew his stuff and it sounded like a neat idea. So I contracted for a build and had it shipped to Boston, where I picked it up and brought it back home to Vermont. Per the above, it is a 1966 era Bullet that would have been UK pedigree and ridden in India. Like most REs at the time, it would have been used for transportation (probably 4 or 5 passengers at a time, plus cargo if you have ever been to India), a tractor and anything else that could be done with two wheels and a torquey thumper. I spec'd out what I wanted for the rebuild and Madaan did so and shipped it to the US. What is original are the engine cases, frame and various other bits. A lot of new Madras parts (from new RE production) were also used; hence the "modern" electrics and so on. While I got the bike in 2007 or thereabouts, we opened The Classic Bike Experience in 2008 and the RE kind of sat sulking in the corner. The overall build quality needed attention, and so never rode it much thinking "I'll get to it". I've pecked away at it over the years to get it sorted and now that it is, I find I own more bikes than I need or have room for, so time to let a few go. Here's what I know and have done: • Mileage is 324 KM, all here in the States. • The motor is supposedly bored out to a 535cc displacement with a "hi output" oil pump. Seems to run OK and has a compression release to aid in starting. Four speed gearbox with neutral finder. • Pushes some oil out the breather until it scavenges, so I set up a baby bottle to collect the spooge which is nicely hidden in one of the keyed tool boxes. The breather is suppose to lubricate the chain, but mostly makes a big mess. Hence the bottle. • Primary, clutch, gearbox, etc all work fine. • I put an Amal on it since the knock off Mikuni was kind of junky. It starts on the first or second kick. Like all big singles, there is a bit of a trick to it, but once you know how to do it, quite easy to tame the beast and bring it to life. • Ignition is points and mechanical bob weight advance. It comes with an electronic ignition I never installed, and is included. • All electrics work with the exception of the headlight. 12VDC negative ground system. The machine is wired so the headlight runs off the alternator, so you'll blow standard bulbs. Pretty sure it was set up that way for dead battery running at night in case you are stuck in the boonies. I've been meaning to rewire to it runs off of 12vDc. Left that for you. • Speedo is metric as noted. • Front forks need some work to be oil tight. No oil in them at present and that should be tended to if you want a regular rider. • It comes with a pretty good manual. Parts are available at Hitchcock out of UK. Haven't needed much, but they know their stuff. The modern Madras parts can be sourced domestically. For fun, you can also look up YouTube videos, most from India, and watch roadside mechanics field strip these bikes with about three tools. When asked what it needs, our classic response is always "An owner". But, it really needs an owner that will be happy fettling a neat bike that deserves to be on the road and bombing around. There is a reason most Asian bike tours are on REs. Easy to work on and pretty bullet proof (if you'll pardon the pun) once they are sorted out. Our shop is set up as an enthusiasts guild and you can rent space economically to maintain the machine if you'd like to take advantage of that. Plenty of help and encouragement. The bike was registered and insured in Vermont for a number of years, but no title available given the age of the machine (Vermont does not offer titles for bikes over 15 years). Kind of a reluctant sale for me, so don't bother with low ball offers please. Any questions, give us a call at the shop. Thanks for looking. Jack
