Royal Enfield Bullet twin tube bicycle

Here's a rarity bicycle-wise. I've only ever heard of one other of these surviving though there are probably a few more hiding about here and there... It's mid thirties Royal Enfield Bullet model cycle. Enfield used the Bullet model name pre-war for their top of the range sports models both for motor and pedal cycles. The Bullet cycle, though not as long lived as its motorcycle brother, continued in production right through from the thirties to the sixties. The twin top tube frame however only featured between 1934 and 1937.

Various bicycle frame builders experimented with small diameter twin tube designs through the thirties and forties, the Enfield frame bears more than a passing resemblance to the Moorson which appeared first in 1926.

Interestingly (or perhaps not depending on your point of view!) the Bullet's top tubes do not appear to be one length of tube going from headstock to rear drop outs. If you look carefully the top tubes appear to be separate from the rear triangle uprights and both are straight lengths butted on to a lug which incorporates the apparent bend on the tubes.

Side view on and the Bullet is nothing particularly special.

The Enfield Bullet came my way quite recently as a rather sad bare frame. I've got to confess to having taken a perfectly good and original ladies cycle from the thirties to break down and donate parts to building up the Bullet. I felt a bit bad about sacrificing it but in the end I think it went to a good cause....

The current spec is a bit more touring utility than the super sports machine it originally left the factory as. The plan is to slowly accumulate parts to put it back to close to original spec.

This is where you can see that the Bullet is slightly special!

And here it is as per catalogue. The
catalogue grab is taken from the very
excellent Veteran Cycle Club online library.
The library is open to all but I strongly
recommend joining.

A different angle. The special twin top tube cable clip makes
me suspect that the Bullet was originally supplied with a
Sturmey three speed hub as now fitted.

And another view. The frame has had a lot of touching up
here and there but some parts of the original transfers are
clinging on to the down tube.

Sturmey three speed hub with drum brake.

Near side view of the Bullet.

Here you can just about make out where the straight tubes
are butted on to the lug. I guess it was easier to make this way
than bending up a pair of tubes and brazing them on. It would
have cost slightly more in materials like this but would be lot quicker to
build up and certainly a lot easier to make sure the frame is straight
and true as well.

Cable clip for Sturmey hub shaped to the twin tubes.

And a Sturmey front drum to match the rear.

Middle Eastern Beesa

From the Arabic numerals on the number plate and the palm trees in the background this snap was certainly taken somewhere in the Middle East. The bike is a mid thirties BSA, possibly a Blue Star and given that these were the days of Empire the most likely location is Egypt or Palestine.

Sunbeam S8

Our chap looks very happy with his Sunbeam S8. An occasionally maligned bike due to early teething troubles but a radical and exciting design for the post war brave new world. The Poppe designed Sunbeams went through a long period of disinterest from the wider classic motorcycling community but have enjoyed a surge in popularity of late. Trying one at some point is certainly on my motorcycling 'bucket list'... 

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Zenith Gradua

Yes, the picture is in rather terrible condition but it is of a Zenith Gradua so can be excused...

Vintage Revival Montlhéry 2019

Announced, the dates for one of the very best vintage vehicle events going. Do yourself a favour and go along. Really hoping that my work schedule lets me attend. I love the ride down to Montlhéry but perhaps this time I shall seek an entry and get involved.

A vintage vintage meet

A couple of pictures from the early days of the vintage movement. Taken at least fifty years ago: the 'modern' vehicles in the background are collectors items in their own right today...

I don't know the location but it could just be an early Banbury Run?

Happy news is that both of these machines still exist and happier still is that the Sunbeam is still out and about being used.

I know this a 1925 Sunbeam 599cc because it is written on
the reverse of the photo and because I checked and it is
still in existence and even better taxed and on the road until
May 1919!

1924 New Imperial. Happily still registered and around
somewhere, less happily it has not been taxed since 1980...

Sunbeam S8 combo

Here's a combo for Zach who recently mailed on the subject of Cleveland motorcycles and said by the by that more sidecar content would be nice. This is the best I can do for now chap but more sidecar stuff will come soon for sure. 

The bike is a Sunbeam S8, not easy to identify (at first I thought it was a BSA) but I often run a quick check on the registration number to see if the bike in the picture featured is still around. In this case the answer is yes it is and it dates from 1951 It was re-registered in 2000 and is not currently taxed for the road... Period legshields and voluminous screen to be noted and the chap is well protected in his riding mac. Any vintage lorry nerds out there who can identify the hgv in the background?

1951 Sunbeam S8 with sidecar.