THE LEARNING CURVE
The restoration of my 1961 Crusader Sports has been a knuckle-bashing, head-scratching experience. It’s involved a lot of setting-up, a veritable test of wills. Initially the Enfield was an inert collection of oily, rusty bits and pieces which needed my constant attention. I had a purpose. It got me out of the house with all the little problems to solve, reasons to visit people bearing 58 year-old obscure bits of engineering, looking for help, advice or a strangely-threaded screw.
Right now I can stand back and ogle with pride. I give the Enfield a wipe with soft cloth or kickstart it into buzzing life. It is the first complete motorcycle restoration I have done, and I am exceedingly proud of the journey and result. Another old bike saved from the grave.
My ‘shed’ is my workshop where I professionally restored, upholstered and French-polished antique furniture. Hence the word ‘restoration’ haunts me. A year into welcome retirement, a bike project seemed obvious. My 1991 Enfield 350 Bullet was going to have a little sister. Having done nearly everything possible (and some things
