21 replies to this topic

[Quixotic]

Hmmmm a gent I know is possibly even more Quixotic than me. He has started building a 350cc pre 62 Historic Race bike to run on methanol, based on the very pedestrian 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet.

His reasoning is that there are thousands of spares cheaply available in India and he can, as a result, afford to develop a couple of engines.

My questions on the topic are as follows:

Could anyone get reliable competitive horsepower out of a Royal Enfield Bullet engine?, and

Would the standard frame be up to being used in a race bike? Personally I doubt it.

I sugessted a featherbed frame at least, but I think $$$ are his major consideration.

Your thoughts please.

[Paul Collins]

Steve Linsdell is the guy to talk to about Enfield's he currently has a 500cc Bullet which is very quick indeed and I think he has done some stuff with the 350's too.

 

Do a google search on Steve and his son Olie and you will find many bits and pieces about their Enfield exploits, Steve runs a bike shop called Flitwick motorcycles.

[knickerbrook]

Hi Quixotic

 

Broadly speaking, the answers to both questions are yes. 

 

I know of people (other than Lindsell) who have had some very good results on them in classic events (surprisingly, some might say!).

I have sent you a PM with further info. I ride a Bullet on the road myself (612cc and tweaked) - its great fun !   

[picblanc]

Are they made in India Barry?

[Quixotic]

Hmmm, it seems that there are a few Indian based bullets being raced in historic racing. From what I have seen so far, most need much in the way of modification to make them competitive. Having said that, most road bikes that are built to take on the Manxes, the g50s and the A7Rs are highly modified.

I will watch my friends project develop with interest. While I think it unlikely that he will build a world beater, he may well build a bike that he will not be embarrassed on. He was a good racer back in his day, so if he can build a reasonable Bullet, he should be about mid pack.

His entire budget is only around $10k AUD. Still, I think it could be done

[Levin68]

There seem to be a lot of club racers around with old pushrod BSA B31s, 32s, 33s etc that hot them up as far as the budget and bottom end can stand, and just go racing. They know they're never going to win but they're out there, and historic racing is richer for their presence. I've read of some crankshaft conversions that improve both reliability and allow top end mods and more exotic fuels (this was one source: http://www.hitchcock...cycles.com/test) so the RE world can provide a lot of answers, but not much expectation of running at the front!

[Paul Collins]

Not sure how much can be teased out of the 350 but certainly Linsdell's 500 is a front runner in classic events, his son has lapped the TT course at something like 106.5mph in the Manx Grand Prix, and I think I'm right in saying that bike holds the record as the fastest ever push rod single around the TT course.

 

From memory its in a Seeley frame.

 

Edited by Paul Collins, 10 January 2014 - 13:51.

[knickerbrook]

Hi Paul

 

From Steve Lindsell's own post on an Enfield forum, Ian Lougher took the Enfield around at 107.55mph in the Classic TT on his way to fourth place and was clocked at 133mph on the Sulby straight! Fantastic as it is, that bike took something like 30 years to develop and is incomparable to any other Enfield on the planet! (The cylinder head and crankcases are apparently 53 years old - and probably the only "Royal Enfield" thing about it . Yep, it's a Mk3 Seeley frame.

 

These YouTube clips from down under - very "Burt Munro" - pretty much sum up the fun to be had racing an Enfield!

http://youtu.be/Grzx-_syZhE

http://youtu.be/ARP_1aRR10w

http://youtu.be/BRb0kAkh7co   

 

Barry.

 

 

   

[Paul Collins]

Hi Barry  I've never seen the bike close up although he actually garages it right opposite my house during the MGP, but I'd guessed it must be more than a little bit special to be doing those sorts of speeds.

[Mick Robinson]

There are some images of the Linsdell Enfield on my site guys

 

http://www.msrphotog...o_page_542.html

Edited by Mick Robinson, 11 January 2014 - 09:12.

[Mick Robinson]

And these:

 

http://www.msrphotog...o_page_543.html

http://www.msrphotog...o_page_544.html

 

These were shot outside Steves garage presumably opposite your house Paul.

[picblanc]

Excellent as usual Mick!

[knickerbrook]

Are they made in India Barry?

 

Yes Graham - they were made in India because in the fifties, the Indian army ordered about 250,000 of them, so Enfield set up a plant over there to satisfy the demand. Then after production of UK Bullets (at Redditch) ceased in the early sixties, India kept knocking them out and they were still available to buy new until about 2006. They are basically a 1955-spec frame with a 1959-spec engine, in both 350 and 500cc. They are popular with born again bikers (old codgers like myself) who don't want a japanese "crotch rocket", but fancy a british classic experience with the benefit of recent manufacture and an abundance of spares and accessories (including many performance parts). Their simplicity is a joy also!

 

Incidentally, the "environmently friendly" modern Enfield you see in the dealers today are a different design altogether and lack the "old-school" charm of the classic Bullet IMHO.

Naturally, I have all the "go-slightly-faster" bits in mine  !

 

Barry the Bulleteer!

[knickerbrook]

I'm still having trouble with Image Shack on my PC, so this is my first try with Photobucket!

(Well Photobucket seems to have worked - I'm impressed   !).

 

These are examples of Bullet racers that use the standard frame (that I tried to post yesterday!).

 

 

[picblanc]

Use photo bucket all the time Barry, been good only thing due to the amount of photos posted on here and else where I have to pay for it!!

Edited by picblanc, 11 January 2014 - 18:59.

[picblanc]

Where's yours? come on lets be seeing it!

[knickerbrook]

Ok - you did ask!

Although not very racey on the outside, it has some tasty bits inside! I sold all my camera gear to pay for the Hitchcocks 612cc performance kit (pictured below) - and now it goes like hell!

(OK, it's not a G50, but it sounds like one - and I there's a big grin on my chops whenever I'm out on it )     

 

 

[fil2.8]

shame it has so many unnecessary moving parts .............................  

[Quixotic]

I'm surprised at the dedicated following I am finding for these bikes...... In Aussie, because they come fromIndia they are viewed with suspicion.

I reckon I need to get one of my own and do a Cafe Racer conversion on it.....

[knickerbrook]

Racing Bullet in the USA -   

 

http://www.enfieldmo...3171.0/all.html

[jimbocan]

ITS BEEN DONE BEFORE. MY EXPERIENCE. A BRIEF ACCOUNT The Fury 1963-1972. Engine 500 cc (Big Head Bullet) 45 BHP. Sprinted and Road Raced. Parts supplied by RE of Redditch. Balanced Crankshaft, Alfa Bigend or White Metal (Sprints) Pistons 9:1 standard 10:1-11:1 Nitro/Methanol (sprints). 1.5 inch Amal GP Carb (100 Octane) or SU Carb Nitro/Methanol plus Shorrock Supercharger (sprints). Non standard Cams. Lightened Rocker Arms. Selected Oil Pump parts. Lucas Racing Magneto with Revcounter Drive. Cylinder Head (gas flowed) Large Valves (modified) racing Valve Springs. Barrel (Alfin alloy). All engine internals polished and lightened where necessary. Albion Close Ratio Gearbox (adjustable for Primary Drive). Dry Clutch(Modified). Duplex Primary Chain. This engine was fitted in a 1959 Clipper Frame plus RE Frame Stiffener. Continental Fuel Tank, racing Seat. Alloy Rims using Grimeca/Enfield brakes, Enfield Forks with Alloy Yoke. Standard Exhaust Pipe with 4 inch Mega.
ANY COMMENTS WELCOME

[Quixotic]

Wow.... And did it stay together?