Royal Enfield Bullet twin tube bicycle

 

Another bicycle project done and dusted... Really must work on those motorised contraptions too but there was good reason to prioritise this one, it's a nice small frame and will be my daughter's ride in the Benson Veteran Cycle Rally this July. She tagged along last year on her modern bike, enjoyed it and stated a desire to take part on an appropriate cycle the next year, so what's a father to do...?

The cycle is a circa 1935 Royal Enfield Bullet which is notable for the twin top tube design and the fact that the tubes are 'up-sloping'. Really it's a style of frame that was most seen in the 1890s. However in the thirties there was a vogue for quirky frame designs and innovation. The Moorson twin tube had come out in 1926 and was well thought of so perhaps Royal Enfield looked at that for inspiration and designed the Bullet frame to be unusual and instantly recognisable.

Royal Enfield bicycles for many years used the
cannon 'Made Like a Gun' logo on their chainwheels.

The twin tube Bullet is a rare beast and though marketed as a top of the range sportster with fixed gearing it is actually not much of a lightweight and the frame angles are quite relaxed. Royal Enfield offered numerous options across their range and the couple of other twin tube Bullets I have seen have both been fitted with Sturmey Archer gearing.

The cycle has been built up from a bare frame that I've had kicking around for a few years. There were clips on the frame for a Sturmey hub so that is what I've fitted with the bonus that they are very nice in use too. Though the frame is very shabby there are the remnants of the original Bullet transfers on the down tube so I've elected to leave it as it is warts and all. At the risk of sounding pretensious I've gone with the Japanese ethos of 'wabi-sabi' - essentially the philosophy of embracing imperfection. There is a rather horrible repair on the rear lower mudguard bridge that is however structurally sound so I've left it completely as it was as part of the cycle's history.

In keeping with the quirky nature of the frame I've tried to put as many period correct oddball parts on the bike as possible and the end result I believe is quite aesthetically pleasing. Aforementioned daughter has taken it for a test ride and reported back that though slightly challenging compared to her 21 speed modern cycle the ride is good and reasonably lively. So now, just need to fill in and send off that form for the Benson Rally...

  

Here's the Bullet from the 1935 catalogue. The twin
tube Bullet was catalogued from just 1934 to 1936.
The same twin tube design frame was used on the 'Club
Lightweight Model 77' which had a very similar spec
but cost £3 less and was built with cheaper tubing.

I was particularly pleased with this eBay
find: the front wheel wingnuts. The wing
shape is really lovely. I have no idea who
made them.

Devil is in the detail. Period correct metal valve cap.

The front hub is a 'Constrictor' item, probably just
post-war and slightly too late for the Bullet but I
always make an effort to use parts I have on the shelf
instead of buying new. The rims used are Dunlop
LA (Light Alloy) and laced up by my local cycle shop.

The Burlite brake is also just post-war
but does really look the part and fits the
bill of being quirky.

Brake levers are Resilion alloy ones and the front
has a security lock (pull it on and turn the key and
the brake locks on).

I hung this little medallion on the handlebars. It is
an advertising giveaway from Royal Enfield and
John Bull tyres commemorating a ride from England
to Lapland and back in 1951.

The flip side of the medallion is the patron saint of
travellers, St Christopher.

This magnificent light is the cherry on top of the
bicycle quirk fest! It is an Ennwell light which I
believe was German made.

The offside rear quarter.

Harmo 'Fearnaught' push button bell. As well as
being slightly odd these Harmo bells work
extraordinarily well. The handlebars are Reynolds,
I'm not 100% sure of the model name but I would
describe them as 'flat lauterwassers'.

Brittanialloy pump.

Though it looks like the twin tubes are in one piece
I believe that the top tubes and seat stays are separate.
They appear to be straight tubes and the bend join is
cast in with the seatpost lug.