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Behind three letters and three numbers – HNP 331 – lies the story of one of the most important trials machines and important trials riders in motorcycle history.
HNP 331 – aka the famous works trials Royal Enfield 350cc Bullet – won more than 50 championship trials and was also a technologically pioneering machine. Some of the most ground-breaking mechanical advances were developed on HNP. In fact, the Bullet was so ahead of its era that it would take years for many of the other major manufacturers to cotton on. But more of that later…
The staggering successes of this machine were also owing to Royal Enfield’s star rider, Johnny Brittain. From 1949 to 1960 Brittain would ride a raft of Bullets, always retaining the HNP 331 registration.
Johnny Brittain, now 86, said: “That machine was like part of my body. I was on it so much over a 12-year period. I knew it so well.”
Brittain joined Royal Enfield in 1949 though it wasn’t until 1950 when his contract started. “I was still with James at that point. I won the 125cc Victory Trials for James in March 1950 and then started riding for Royal Enfield not long after.”
Johnny’s father, Vic Brittain was among the nation’s top trials riders for Sunbeam and Royal Enfield.
