Hitchcocks Forum

Hi to all. I have a 1955 Bullet and a lovely 535cc engine which I'm desperate to bolt together and start riding. However there is one part I'm struggling to get hold of. The frame had been totally butchered at some time to accommodate a honda engine! Having painstakingly restored it to original condition I just need a tapered front down tube and then it can be painted. I obviously wouldn't want to pay out for and then destroy a full frame just for this part so I was wondering if anyone happened to have an old damaged (at the rear) or rotten frame with this tube still intact. furthermore would they be willing to hack it off as close to the casting as possible and send it - or allow me to collect if close enough. If anyone can help I'd be happy to compensate them generously for their trouble. A long shot perhaps, but it's been two years now and I'm getting fed up. Spech

Spech, just spotted this. This auction ended with no bidders, if you contact the seller perhaps you could do a deal? Ebay item number 281143019552. I know the seller is a well known Enfield Bullet rider!
REgards, Mark

Hi Mark. Thanks for your reply. I put a sizable bid in on this item and was very upset when the seller withrdew it. I've already contacted him with an offer but it turns out he sold it. It's a shame as this was exactly what I've been waiting for. I've never liked the idea of asking somebody to end an auction early but I've learnt the lesson now and won't hesitate the next time. Thanks again.

Hi Mark, the frames gone to someone who wants to bring it back to life as a JS Bullet. Spech I' know you don't want to but I'd be tempted to get a complete doner frame as you could be waiting forever.

Well, good news that the frame is going to be a complete bike again but a sad disappointment for Spech so sorry about that! I think if you've looked for 2 years and had no luck I'd try an alternative. There's plenty of frame tube out there of standard diameter so I'd use that instead? I've lost count of the number of times I've pointed out to bystanders that these early frames have a tapered tube (I have a 1953 500 and assisted in building a 1955 500 and am currently building a 1955 350) and literally no-one has noticed off their own bat so I reckon you'll get away with it!
REgards, Mark

Mark an interesting observation about that particular 500 compared to my 350 was the fact that the down tube was very robust and not tapered at the bottom.

Thanks for your comments chaps. I may have given the impression that I'm off the road until this bike is built. I do have a regular "hack" so I can afford to wait. The taper, I grant you, is subtle but it's there (or rather it should be) and I'm one of those people who ....

Spech, I understand what you want to do, when I acquired my 1953 500 Bullet the engine had been fitted into a later frame and although I got the original frame too it had been badly damaged when it broke next to the swinging arm pivots (the cast type,) during the Previous Owner's trip to India on it. He had to get it welded up by a blacksmith in Greece and the proper repair took a long time to achieve, eventually done by the experts at Percival Brothers and Webb. You could try them but be aware it will take a long time! In the meantime I'll keep an eye out!
REgards, Mark (1953 500 and 1955 350)