BRITISH BIKE GUIDE PART FOUR
ROYAL ENFIELD
From its Redditch works, RE built a remarkably wide and always respectable range of sensible staid singles and twins, which were at one time mostly famous for their inability to retain oil.
The company listed two ranges of singles, one based on the Bullet and the other on the unit-construction Crusader. There was also a rather nice Villiers-powered 250, the Turbo Twin, which is very rare.
The twins came in 500, 700 and 750 capacities, arguably the best of which were the late Interceptors, which have Norton forks and front wheel, and go as well as they look.
All heavy models used the Albion gearbox, which was outdated by 1956 and can be slow through the gears with an odd neutral-finder lever to play with. Spares for most models are very good, with much interchange between Brit-built Bullets and their Indian descendants.
Bullet
346cc ohv single II 365Ib II 70mpg 1170mph II 1949-63
Enfield's rather underrated version of the trad Brit single, distinguished by intriguing detail design. Less common 500 version with more torque is perhaps a better machine, but both steer extremely well. British-built Bullets much more valued than Indian ones, but can benefit from upgrades using later components from Indian machines, notably brakes. Tremendously practical machines for the classic rider and a perfect first old bike experience.
Prices: low £2500 II high £5500
Bullet/Electra/Continental
346cc/499cc ohv single II 390lb 1 B0mpg II B0mph II 1955-present
Production of Bullets continued in Chennai, India, long after it ended in Blighty. Quality is dubious until mid-1990s, with incremental improvements since then. Official UK bikes always built to a better standard than grey imports.
Electra-X came with lean-burn engine and five-speed gearbox. Fuel-injection and unit construction from 2007. Latest version boosted to 535cc for cafe racer Continental GT model. Heaps of choice, great value, excellent spares supply and enthusiast suppliers.
