Should I buy this Royal Enfield?

www.chateau.murray.dsl.pipex.com/RoyalEnfield.jpg

700cc 1957 model, no idea what, being sold by a mate who's been posted
to Lagos. Re-imported from the US, where it was originally in
scrambles trim (wish it still was!). Age related plate. Home-made
toolbox, tank off some RE single or other, two-into-one pipe,
fundamentally a working bike. £1500. I've always fancied a
ShiteOldBritBike and this is a way in....

All comments gratefully fielded.

 

It failed to make £1700 reserve on Fleabay recently, apparently, but
he had two people waving £1550 at him after the auction closed.

No idea. I assume so.

Nah, this is a mate. And see above.

 

Three things spring to mind.

Obviously it's a bitsa, but it's unlikely you'd lose money on it, I'd guess,
'specially if there's paperwork or provenance with it.. And you can keep it
running.

If you've the money to spare for it, It looks like it'd make a reasonable
project, maybe research how it _should_ look and try to restore it more to
what it was.

It could be a real hoot to ride around on, and still not lose you any money,
though I dunno if it'd ever be investment material.

 

OK, it's a Super Meteor, good runner, smokes 'a bit' on the over-run,
MoT'd until the end of the year....

 

Looks fine, except for the bodgery around the air/battery box, which
shouldn't be too difficult to sort out. I think these are good for about
85mph, real-world. If you find it pleasant to ride, it would be a lovely
old thing for blatting around on the Continent. I'd go for it.

 

That was Classic Bike's reaction. Don't try and restore it, don't
spend money on it, just ride it and fix it as and when (and when, and
when, and when). I'll blag a go on it this weekend and see if I like
it.

 

I was offered a 700 Enfield twin basket case by a dealer for £1200
last year so I reckon £1500 is a steal, even with the non-standard
bits and they won't stop you using it. There don't seem to be many, if
any, brit twins offered for anything under about two grand these days.
Royal Enfields aren't as popular as BSAs, Triumphs or Nortons but I
think they're at least as good (or bad?) and they're also a bit
different.

If you can afford it, I think you should buy it and we'll all enjoy
reading about it! Hitchcocks sell everything Enfield and have quite a
few 'projects' they've imported from the states. Compared to those,
'yours' does look a real bargain.

Hope you enjoy it.

Mark

 

Nuffink rong wiv that guv.
If you are in love, buy it. Not a bad SOB, rather unusual eyecatcher etc.
You could be the custodian of this piece of obscure heritage, but please
look after it .

 

Blimey, what's that creature reflected on the tank?

 

Some bastard's nicked half the engine.

 

Hm. Well, let's ride it first and then decide....

 

Heh. I'd better start saving.

Your point is...?

 

<TOG@Toil>; <>; <>
wrote in message
www.chateau.murray.dsl.pipex.com/RoyalEnfield.jpg

700cc 1957 model, no idea what, being sold by a mate who's been posted
to Lagos. Re-imported from the US, where it was originally in
scrambles trim (wish it still was!). Age related plate. Home-made
toolbox, tank off some RE single or other, two-into-one pipe,
fundamentally a working bike. £1500. I've always fancied a
ShiteOldBritBike and this is a way in....

All comments gratefully fielded.

That's probably the least valuable and reliable of all the Brit vertical
twins.
A restored mint one was in OBM a few months ago for £1950
With a wrong but right 1 up 3 down gearchange it will give you lots to write
about if it doesn't kill you first.
You _will_ be needing this..
http://www.pearsy.co.uk/BerkEngineEnfield.htm


-

 

Awesome concept.

Thanks for that.

 

message

Well look on the bright side
If that doesn't put you off ever owning another SOBB nothing will, so there
could be hope for your transition to the other side yet.



-

 

So, worse than a CB500T?

 

<Examines mind>

<Note Boggle Overdose>

AAAARRRGGGHHHH

*Nothing* could be worse than a CB500T.

 

Much much worse
Fact is that for less then the price of that RE you can still just about
build a decent looking 500 Triumph twin with used parts, here's mine
http://i13.tinypic.com/504sw28.jpg
it's a bitsa without the matching number crap, but it's a very nice SOBB to
ride.
Its light with lots of torque, oil tight, and sounds wonderful.
And I will always get much more for it then it cost to build.




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Mark wrote

Very pretty, and my Tiger90 is not dissimilar in appearance.

 

wrote

Buy.

I owned a Constellation myself in the late 70's and actually had it
running oil-tight for a couple of thousand miles before it self-
destructed (with my help).
The problem was the 9:1 C/R on that model which was too much for the
weedy head studs, but with the lower C/R (7.5:1?) of the Super Meteor
life will be easier. There is very little spare meat in the cases if a
Helicoiled head stud is screwed up.
The lubrication system is way ahead of its time, with pressure feed to
the valve stuff and real filter.

As for spares ... they are out there somewhere, I'm sure.