Hitchcocks Forum

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Free dating for your Royal Enfield.



It seems that the chairman of the REOC is offering to date your British or early Indian enfield for free, see below.







Read more about this REOC offer a David Blasco's blog, Royal Enfield Motorcycles







Your out of date, possibly Microsoft browser does not support the audio element.











Tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium

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forgot the email link...


[url=mailto:[email protected]?subject=RE motorcycle dating t=_self][email protected][/url]

I hope he will do it 3 times before taking her for a ride. The gentleman way, yes?

Oh Dating! I see what you mean.



I think I am committed to both of mine!

Whilst I am sure that Graham is offering the service, I am afraid that the REOC is not very helpful when it comes to early Indian bikes, as the records are incomplete. I had 2 conversations with Graham and sent him the photographs of the whole bike and the Engine/Frame numbers quite clearly displayed, Sadly, it seems that the first email and photo batch were lost, and so I repeated the exercise around 3 weeks later when I asked for an update.
The file was eventually passed to Tom Bray (Dating Officer). Although not confirmed by an expert visual inspection, my frame number was deemed to be re-stamped. Also, the actual number was deemed to be not of the same era either, but no indication of what year it might be. The engine number was not deemed to be a restamp.I was not asked for any clarification on these points before a refusal to date the machine letter was sent to me formally. The whole process took 2 months before the disappointing end.
I applied to DVLA with the same paperwork supplied to REOC and got a 1977 registration number issued within 10 days.
I think you need to remember that Indian bikes and their in factory numbering is admitted to be inconsistent in that era. Then add the fact that ytou are buying a 40 year old bike (in my case restored) froma used bike dealer/restorer in India, you may get some issues.
In my view, I would not bother with Indian made identification on early bikes, as the paper trail could ultimately prevent you getting a registration at all. I freely admit to not submitting my refusal to the DVLA. If the REOC cannot be more helpful before formally committing to a written signed declaration before discussing with the applicant, then I cannot recommend their service.
Hurrah for Bhaji, TNT153R.

@ Essexlad, you need to choose the HTML code to embed pictures here.








There you go...

Clever Essex Lad (No stereotyping here please...) has knocked the nail on the head!



By offering free dating, and hoping that as many as possible will send details, the REOC can correct errors in records, and have many more entries for all bikes, especially early Indian, thus making dating or approximate dating much more accurate!



That's the way I see it!

I think Scaly is right, I happen to know that Graham is also trying to find new information about some other areas where information is missing or incomplete in order to fill in gaps or confirm suspicions about some apparently mis-placed records. As to Indian bikes of this era, Essex Lad was warned right at the outset that there might well be a problem, this was based partly on that particular Dealer's track record so it was no surprise. And once a number is re-stamped, that's it, no way back, a bit like virginity! And given that fact I don't think it's up to the Dating Officer to try and suggest a way forward. Essex Lad did the sensible thing and ducked the issue, if the bike had been "genuine" he'd have been happy and used the Certificate. So the system worked, albeit a bit slowly. I spoke to Tom a while back and he is snowed under with stuff, he said it is becoming a full time job!

REgards, Mark

Essex Lad, from the pictures you have attached to your earlier post I doubt if any of your bike is 40 years old! The bike lacks the features associated with a 1977 machine, for example half width front and rear hubs. I do however disagree with the Royal Enfield Owners Club, as both the engine and frame numbers appear to have been re-stamped. You have to ask yourself why the engine numbers are so sharp and crisp, particularly when the area surrounding it is so heavily polished. Why would the REOC want to risk losing their DVLA accreditation by endorsing such a machine?