Forum

[Daiwiskers]

Thankyou, that was before lock down and I have rubbed my fingerprints off with Solvol since, very shiny now!!! A 2005 with 5500 pampered miles, think about the last of the old cast iron engines?

You mean that it's shinier now than in the photo! wow

I don't suppose you want a challenge?
I have a Matt black Harley that could do with a decoke on the outside not to mention asbo 30

[Allanfox]

Haha, my bikes are usually oily rags, just this was nice when I got it and deserves to be kept so! Despite mine and previous owners the chrome on the rims is not great , shame to have stainless spokes but poor chrome!

Agree with Wheaters about the look of the engines, these cast iron engines do (well did) give us a link with RE heritage and the 1950s Redditch bikes, very nice to look at! I do like the look of my AVL engined Electra X engine, looks purposeful and maybe one day get all that horrible grey paint off it and polish it up a bit!

[stinkwheel]

I have to say, I find the UCE engined replacements not quite so attractive and strangely somehow rather "emasculated" by their relative modernity.

I always think of the pre-unit ones as an "old" bike which I'm prepared to forgive a lot because it was designed 70 years ago. Whereas the UCE ones are effectively a new 500cc bike with the performance of a modern 125.

[Allanfox]

True!

[Paul007]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your replies.
Basically I'm still confused to whether I have a export or Indian Home Market.
What's know as an Export and what's known as a Indian Home Market?

I shall attempt to reply to each reply you have sent to me to see if we can establish what I have......

Stinkwheel:
I have Stainless Steel Spokes in a Steel Rim.
You say UK model...so is that Export model or Indian home market ? LOL ? I'm still confused!

John-M.....
My petrol cap is a slightly raised shape oblong and locking flip-up. Probably classed as flush fit.
Mines looks to be like the one in Allanfox's photo.
Will need to check for "E" marks on lights when it stops raining!
My gearbox is a 4 speed and again as shown in Allanfox's photo.

The Chrome is still all there and glued on tight it seems LOL
I'm not sure when it came into the country if it was delivery to Watsonian and converted or was done later.
I've recently purchased.

Adrian....
ISTRC ? means noting to me to be honest, sorry.


Wheaters.....
I'm assuming an Export Model was dispatched to the UK direct to a Dealer and a Indian Home Market is a used bike in India and then sold and sent over to the UK ?

Allanfox.....
Beautiful looking bike Allan, I have the Silver Tank model.
Mine looks almost identical to yours.
Sadly mine has no rear Rack but I'm in the process of making one from Stainless Steel tube.
Mine too is stainless spokes and keyed filler cap.


So........ I'm still mind boggled!

Does the Frame number verify anything on this subject.

I thank you all again for your kind input to my question and I'm finding it very interesting to hear what you all have.
I've just put back on the Continental Tyres that came with it but sadly now cracked my speedo grey plastic hub drive but it still seems to rotate and work. another part to order if it gives me any grief!

Thank you all and regards,
Paul

[stinkwheel]

I don't think they used stainless spokes on the Inidan Home market models so it is likely an official UK import (Export model, as-in they built them for export from India).

[Adrian]

ISTRC = I Seem To Recall, forum shorthand. Paul.

Not sure what you mean by concave or convex gearbox casing?.

No need for confusion though, if they were sold through the importer/dealer network in the UK they were export bikes as far as the Chennai factory was concerned. India exports, we import.

Home market bikes were the ones sold for use by customers in India and not intended to be exported. The fact that quite a few have been is another matter. Often a western traveler would visit India, buy a new or restored old Bullet to chug around on and bring it home, only to find it would need to have a few changes made before it would comply with UK standards. I think this was for stuff like tyres, exhaust, replacing Indian lights with "E" marked items, that sort of thing.

So if yours has the stainless steel spokes and the oblong fuel filler cap as well as half decent chrome, I very much suspect that it was one that was meant for the UK all along and therefore an official import.

Although Watsonian-Squire stopped being the UK importer in 2013, they are still a RE Dealer AFAIK (as far as I know!), and they should still have records of their imports somewhere (they took over from Bavnar products in 1999), might be worth contacting them with the frame and engine numbers. Have you any paperwork belonging to the bike?

A.

Watsonian Squire Ltd,
Unit 72, Northwick Business Centre,
Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh,
Glos
GL56 9RF, UK
Tel: 01386 700907

[Spudgun]

Here's another good indication: If you've got a plate riveted to the front frame down tube. It's an export machine. If you haven't got that plate (Like my Lightning). It's a home market bike.

[Wheaters]

Spudgun, thanks...I had noticed that my bike doesn't have a frame I.D plate fitted and wondered why most others do... so it’s definitely an Indian home market model, then.

When I bought it, with 3,000 miles on the clock, it still had ( rock hard) Indian tyres and what were undoubtedly the standard exhaust system and lights. The rear light lens was cracked and I couldn’t find one in UK; I eventually got one from India....very cheap and nasty it is, too!

[Allanfox]

Well that has cleared that up, thankyou!

Paul picture of mine if any use?