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[arty70]

Just collected a new project, some may have seen it on e-bay its a 1960's Bullet,with sort of half converted to a trials bike high level exhaust, single seat and silly little tank,obviously a project as it does not run and most bits are just sort of hanging in place.The plan I have for it is to return it to standard and attach a lightweight sidecar to it ( dont laugh).I have started preping the sidecar fibreglass body and next will be painting and overhauling the frame.

The bike will has been messed about so not sure what is original, frame number matches V5, engine has been changed so advice on dating engine appreciated, also it has 18 inch wheel on front and 17 on back, could anyone advise what size was fitted originally.Rebuilding wheels in this area is expensive so Indian Wheels would be a cheaper alternative.Also what type of dual seat would look best as some of the more modern types seem to have a fairly large step up towards the pillion. I put rider and pillion seats on my last project which look great, but I find I am constantly shuffling back and forward to get comfortable so dual seat for comfort I think.
This is my third bike restoration since I retired 5 years ago and moved from classic cars to classic bikes,fortunately for me I am a member of the North East Restoration Club which has a workshop for the restoration of classic vehicles, so I have access to space , equipment, advice and that important second pair of hands, so I am fairly confident that the project will progress. Any advice or tips greatly appreciated.

[Gaz262]

Sounds like a plan Arty..... Where in the North-East, or thereabouts do you live mate?
I'm about halfway up & over to the right a bit on the 'England' map - A big Steelworks gives it away if one's really interested but the roads around here are great for riding!

The dual seat fitted to my Electra EFI is very comfy and is our hosts English made item #91436.
Have a look at this link: http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/ac ... rame-seats
It may not fit your bike but there are other options for that same saddle which might.

Good luck! - Gaz

[Mark M]

Sounds interesting. You can get a quick heads up on engine and frame numbers from the Chairman of the Royal Enfield Owners Club at [email protected] which will help identify what you have. Unfortunately you don't say what the numbers are, if the bike is Indian or Redditch, what size the engine is or where you are, all useful information for a reply! 19" wheels is most likely originally but some Redditch bikes came with 17" fitted. No Bullet used 18s as far as I know. If it's been imported from India it could have had anything fitted! If you can post a link to some pictures, that would really help. And the sidecar, sounds like fun!

REgards, Mark

[Adrian]

Ah, it's THIS one, it's a 1959-ish Redditch Bullet(ish) with the rear frame lugs cut off.



http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/y~EAAOSwc ... -l1600.jpg



The best seat for this would be a repro version of the correct period Redditch dual seat which sits on its own mounting rail (our hosts' part no. 42270) and brackets (the front brackets need extra 1" thick spacers between them and the seat) and the, all available from our hosts. Go to the on-line parts book and see what is still available to replace the missing parts, seat and associated parts HERE:



http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/pa ... _Dual_Seat



http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/pa ... d_Panniers



If you can't get the original tank, the small chrome panel tank is quite period and looks good.



http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/ht ... e92674.jpg



I have seen an Indian full-width hub rear wheel fitted to a Redditch swinging arm, but it's not a straightforward fit, also you will need to fit a smaller gearbox sprocket, check the relative sizes of the rear and gearbox sprockets for Indian and late 50's Redditch models, and using a sidecar (even a lightweight one, not sure how successful that will be!) will need a smaller one still. (15T with a 38T Indian rear sproket?). An Indian Bullet front hub should fit, but those forks might not accept the twin leading shoe front brake as the brake plate anchor lug is in a different position. A set of Indian Bullet forks will fit, though. Most Indian Bullet wheels are 19" diameter.



Have fun with it, you should be able to manage a worthwhile restoration with what's left of this bike!



A.

[Mark M]

Thanks Adrian, I think I did see that on Ebay, looked quite promising I thought. Those wheels could be off a Continental GT, they had 17" rear and 18" front rims. If they are the rear sprocket will be a different size to the correct Bullet ones. The front would have to be reversed to fit the Bullet type forks but it still works ok. It's over to Art now, he's been quiet so far!

REgards, Mark

[Mark M]

Looking at it some more I think the bike may have started life as a 350 Clipper. These were based on a Bullet with low compression engine, iron cylinder head, Crusader type forks and wheels and various other budget fittings to keep the price down. A good basis for a project though.

REgards, Mark

[papasmurf]

[Mark M]

Thanks for posting that picture PS, really helps!

REgards, Mark

[Mark M]

Here's a fairly authentically restored 350 Clipper on Ebay, item number 272478880676 There are a few departures from the Clipper specification though but I've never seen two quite the same, most seem to have been improved by their Owners over the years.

REgards, Mark

[Adrian]

Mark, good advice about checking with the club. My old un-restored '59 350 (since sold to our hosts, who now have it up for sale in the used bikes section!) was sold to me on ebay as a Bullet, but some people told me, no, it's a Clipper, but the club confirmed it's a Bullet. Later ones can be harder to tell apart once both models start using alloy heads and full width rear hubs with the 17" wheels, especially if a lot of the tinware is missing. The head on this bike might be cast iron or black-painted alloy, I suspect the latter unless there's been some mix and match going on over the years with this bike. The extra-chunky headlamp casquette looks to be a Bullet item for that year, though. The original sales brochure pictures elsewhere on this site can help.



http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/ph ... category=5



The front brake plate is on the left after the Redditch factory changed from double sided 6" front hubs to 7" full width, but the Indian Bullets also have their front brakes on the left-hand side, so no need to reverse the front wheel if the owner chooses to fit later Indian forks instead of restoring what's already on the bike.



A.