Should I buy this Royal Enfield?

A.Lee wrote:
> wrote:
>
>> On 14 Aug, 15:47, "platypus" wrote:
>>> TOG@Toil wrote:
>>>> www.chateau.murray.dsl.pipex.com/RoyalEnfield.jpg
>>>
>>> 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.
>
> You'll hate it.
> It'll be sold within 3 months, just like the Morini.

Heh. I'd better start saving.

> They are slow, vibrate like mad above 50mph,with scary brakes.

Your point is...?

--
platypus

somewhere to go for the night
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

; ;
wrote in message

> On 14 Aug, 15:01, "the_longhaired_boxhead via MotorcycleKB.com"
> wrote:
> > TOG@Toil,chateau.mur...@btinternet.com, wrote:
>
> >
> > Well, if I were you I'd ride it and see if you like it. If not, don't
buy it..
>
> OK, it's a Super Meteor, good runner, smokes 'a bit' on the over-run,
> MoT'd until the end of the year....
>

Super Meteor or Constellation? There was some issue with breaking the
gearbox mainshaft which was hollow IIRC but I don't know if it was early
models and fixed later, can't remember when or what.

Oily
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

; ;
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


-
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

Mark wrote:

> That's probably the least valuable and reliable of all the Brit vertical
> twins.

Awesome concept.

Thanks for that.


--
BMW K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

The Older Gentleman wrote in
message

> Mark wrote:
>
> > That's probably the least valuable and reliable of all the Brit vertical
> > twins.
>
> Awesome concept.
>
> Thanks for that.
>
>

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.



-
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

Mark wrote:
> The Older Gentleman wrote
> in message
>
>> Mark wrote:
>>
>>> That's probably the least valuable and reliable of all the Brit
>>> vertical twins.
>>
>> Awesome concept.
>>
>> Thanks for that.
>>
>>
>
> 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?

--
platypus

somewhere to go for the night
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

platypus wrote:

> Mark wrote:
> > The Older Gentleman wrote
> > in message
> >
> >> Mark wrote:
> >>
> >>> That's probably the least valuable and reliable of all the Brit
> >>> vertical twins.
> >>
> >> Awesome concept.
> >>
> >> Thanks for that.
> >>
> >>
> >
> > 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.


--
BMW K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

wrote
>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.
>
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.
--
Roger Hunt
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

Roger Hunt wrote:

> I've given mine a proper engine breather and it pisses oil considerably
> less. And a Norton Commando oil filter plumbed in with a bit of washing
> machine hose because it was the closest thing to hand ...
> http://i14.tinypic.com/4kkp81u.jpg
> http://i13.tinypic.com/4p0l5so.jpg
> http://i12.tinypic.com/623hwco.jpg

The hot pipe would have matched better.

--
Simon
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

sweller wrote
>Roger Hunt wrote:
>
>> I've given mine a proper engine breather and it pisses oil considerably
>> less. And a Norton Commando oil filter plumbed in with a bit of washing
>> machine hose because it was the closest thing to hand ...
>> http://i14.tinypic.com/4kkp81u.jpg
>> http://i13.tinypic.com/4p0l5so.jpg
>> http://i12.tinypic.com/623hwco.jpg
>
>The hot pipe would have matched better.
>
Oh I'll get around to it one day, and anyway, I use low temperature
Persil as an oil additive ...
--
Roger Hunt
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

In article , Roger Hunt
writes:

> The same old shite problem is the valve gear which just isn't up to it.
> I'm sure something about the geometry is wrong (as well as the piss-poor
> lubrication).

Does Norman Hyde do mushroom-head tappets for the 350/500s? IIRC, he
did them for the T150s and T160s which have some odd angle wear
problems. My 5TA didn't quite last long enough for me to encounter
problems like that...

--
Mike Fleming
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield? 

Mike Fleming wrote
>In article , Roger Hunt
> writes:
>
>> The same old shite problem is the valve gear which just isn't up to it.
>> I'm sure something about the geometry is wrong (as well as the piss-poor
>> lubrication).
>
>Does Norman Hyde do mushroom-head tappets for the 350/500s? IIRC, he
>did them for the T150s and T160s which have some odd angle wear
>problems.

I know of these and I fear not. He does them for the T120s as well IIRC.
But there are machine shops around here I could consult about this, who
would know where I'm coming from, for the 350/500 size of widgetry
needed, and I'm pretty sure it's been done.

There's also a place down the road from Merthyr who I should consult,
and of course I can't recall their name. In Abercynon they are.
>My 5TA didn't quite last long enough for me to encounter
>problems like that...
>
Mine has blown up or melted or fallen to bits quite a few times and each
rebuild gives slightly better results in specific areas, so next time
will be the Valve Gear Rebuild/Redesign and Fettling.
(The thing is that it revs like absolute buggery, and really goes very
well, but it needs detail work on the engine still.)
--
Roger Hunt
 >> Stay informed about: Should I buy this Royal Enfield?