Forum

[sab]

Hope someone can confirm something for me - I've seen a 1965 Enfield Bullet 500 for sale that I'm interested in, but from what I've read it seems that the 500s were only made until 1962. I know there are a lot of bikes out there made of bits and pieces without being able to properly date them. But can someone confirm whether there is such a thing as a '65 Bullet 500 or not? Thanks.

[Chris Tindal]

Sab, there never was a 65 500 bullet. Yours has either a later engine fitted, has been modified with a 500 barrel and piston, or heaven forbid is a fairly recent bike with the frame re-stamped to match some old Indian documents. If its kosher it shouldn't be advertised as a 500 but as a modified 350.

[John L]

As Chris says, it can't genuinely be a '65 500.
You sure it's not a "Sixty-5" (Bullet 500 Classic, 5-speed g/box) ?
Now that's a different kettle of fish.........

[John L]

As Chris says, it can't genuinely be a '65 500.
You sure it's not a "Sixty-5" (Bullet 500 Classic, 5-speed g/box) ?
Now that's a different kettle of fish.........

[Dennis C]

Or there is always the possibility that it was made in 1962 and not registered until 1965.

[sab]

Thanks all. That gives me some helpful things to check out before buying!

[sab]

OK, here's another update. The seller is insisting it's a 500 Bullet, and it says it's a 499cc on the log book (V5). The date of registration is 01/01/65 and it has a 'C' registration plate, although I note that it says date of first registration in the UK is July 2006. The chassis number is G252273 and Engine number 3B513947G. Can anyone shed any more light on this for me? It's a 4 speed right hand shift so probably not a "sixty-5".

[Dennis C]

OK, as the bike was first registered 2006 and the date of registration is 01/01/1965, this indicates that the bike has been lost in a garage or similar for a long time, or the bike has been built from bits using a 1965 frame in 2006, either way a dating certificate of some sort must have been issued from the Vintage motorcycle club, the royal enfield owners club or some similar body, usually if the bike is complete as original the actual date of leaving the factory and often the first registration is stated and this date is used, as it states 01/01/65 it is more likely the bike is a "bitsa"..... In the second case the bike is considered to be of lower value by most people..... You really need to have the bike inspected by someone who knows the marque for an opinion on the value, a very nice rebuild using original British parts is worth more than one with a British frame and the rest Indian parts, or dare I say one that is all Indian with the numbers changed.

[Chris Tindal]

Sab, it looks like its a 1965 350 (G2) frame with a 2003 500 engine (3B5). If its got a V5c and the frame number matches the documents then fine, its just an older bullet with a later engine. I'm personally not hung up on matching frame and engine numbers and would consider an early indian bike with a later Indian 500 engine a bonus. The only issue is that the seller seems to be insisting its a genuine 500.

[simon]

I read somewhere a long message board posting about a particular India based RE supplier who puts bikes together out of various bits and then sells them as classics. There was a long list of people who had either been completely ripped off by him ie paid money but no bike or who had received a bike but it was a collection of bits from various machines. There are some bounders out there and this guy might have been pinged by one.