Royal Enfield Recalls 2009 Bullet Motorcycles for Rear Wheel Lockup

Royal Enfield is recalling certain 2009 Bullet Electra E-5 EFI, Bullet G5 Classic EFI, G5 Deluxe EFI, and G5 Military EFI motorcycles.

These motorcycles can experience third gear galling on the clutch shaft due to lack of lubrication. This condition can allow the gear to seize to the shaft, causing rear wheel lock up.

196 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

1937 ROYAL ENFIELD 250 MODEL 'S' SAVED FROM SCRAP

Hi Paul,
I get quite a thrill when I review your articles, and the prices [at auction] just astounds me, and although I have nothing of value except nostalgia and a few very cheap bikes in comparison! I still feel it prudent to let you know some of us old fogies truly retired by now, have to some people an interesting story to tell and maybe the odd interesting picture! Especially for some of the much cheaper models which never managed to survive the scrap man.

I would like to start by explaining that the bike in question is not owned by me (wish it was) but by a gentleman in our section of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group (CVMG) Mr Jeff K---; it is a 1937 Royal Enfield 250 cc ohv Model S (which cost about 29 pounds new ), brought over to Canada In 1945 after the war. Dismantled to bits, it laid around in a storage area for many years before the owner eventually passed away, and the bike willed to his nephew Harvey H--- , who in turn thought he would try and restore the glorious old beast... but alas the cost became to overwhelming to a young couple with children and he had to part with it!!

A well known local restorer in turn sold it to Jeff, with very little being done to it; Jeff and his father set about the task of putting this bike back together but again time and patience became the winner - Jeff’s father died and the bike was put to rest as a rolling chassis in his father's old office, until I was privileged to review some of Jeff’s old antiques such as lawn mowers , tractors and stock cars. I was confronted with the old Enfield in a sorry state by now, and I asked Jeff 'why not let me have a go at putting it all back together?' To my surprise he was willing to do, and subsequently arrived at my house with a trailer carrying the old Enfield and all the bits he could find [Now that's a familiar story...].

I must admit I am not a restorer like the dedicated guys in the UK, but I can get most bikes running and looking somewhat like the original, at the minimal costs as I make most of the missing parts!! And of course search the internet hoping to find those hidden treasures... After 5 weeks of reasonably hard toil (and a little cheating) the bike is complete; here are couple of pictures that I hope you find satisfactory just to let you know how the progress turned out, by the way Jeff is elated with the results and hopefully we now have another antique that can be shown within the motorcycle world ,

Best regards Allan

And that's what it's all about - people like Allan make the Old Motorcycle world go 'round.

Royal Enfield is still exists, and like some other old British makes, there are multiple claimants to the name; Matt Holder, owner of Aerco Jig and Tool, purchased the name and rights for Royal Enfield in 1971, and the Velocette Motorcycle Company still manufactures spares for older REs, inside the old Triumph export warehouses in Coventry. Of course, the Enfield India company currently manufactures Bullets under license in India; David Holder recently lost a court case when Enfield India began using the name 'Royal Enfield' with their products... as the Holder family has used the 'Velocette' name as the umbrella for Vincent, RE, Scott, and Velocette spares production, the court in England granted Enfield India the rights to the name 'Royal Enfield Motorcycles'... and such is how the law works. No thanks for keeping the old machines alive.

PS, I spy in the second photo a couple of very interesting bikes... a Wideline Norton Domi and an Indian of 1920's vintage...

1921 Royal Enfield Sprinter

Finding a 'works' racer of any sort is rare, and usually they're in great demand (with a consequent high price)... unless you're speaking of a lightweight! Well, that was the case 8 years ago when I bought this works-prepared Royal Enfield sprinter. It had been advertised in the VMCC newsletter, for what seemed to me a very reasonable sum, considering it had a documented history, and was in beautiful condition. The seller is well known in motorcycle publishing and Scott circles, and must have had a case of too many two-strokes when he decided to sell. But then again, unlike a 500cc motorcycle from the 1920's, a 225cc two-speed two-stroke won't be viable on the public highways, and thus is best for the odd demonstration run, or display. Still, looking at this little machine, it has some compelling attributes. Long and low, very simple, stripped of all silly ancillaries, with a lovely long petrol tank; over time the bike has really grown on me.

The machine was developed in 1921 by the Royal Enfield factory as a sprinter, based on their 225cc 'Sports Model', introduced the following year (1922). It was made to the specification of Syd Wills, an R-E dealer in the south of England, who was a keen competition rider, apparently always flying the flag for R-E in his sprints and other events. The factory was grateful for his efforts, and built up at least two special machines for him.

The bike was state of the art for 1921, with a two-speed countershaft. This isn't a gearbox; there are two sets of PRIMARY chains going from the crankshaft to the clutch. A coffee-grinder handle on top of the tank was turned forward or back to engage one of the primary chains to the countershaft (and hence the drive chain), while the other primary chain spun free. A very simple system, probably copied from Scott, who had their own two-speed drive since the 'teens, using a foot pedal marked 'low' and 'high' instead of a handle on the tank.
Many motorcycles in '21 still used belt drive, so the use of chains and speeds was hot stuff.

There is only one brake, a dummy rim at the rear, and the to-the-public 'Sports Model' would have had a stirrup brake on the front wheel, as well as a steel case over the primary chains, rear chainguard, valanced mudguards, and a luggage rack. Surprisingly, this model was available with no silencer at all, which was rare for a road-going sports machine in the day. It used a Senspray carb (as Rudges used at that time) and a Lucas magneto. Other specs from the catalog include:
"- Petroil lubrication [ie, premix]
- 64mm x 70mm engine (225cc)
- Semi TT rubber grips [!]
- Sloping tank of pleasing design [well, yes]
- Low and comfortable riding position [we'll see about that...]"

I've let this bike languish for years in Scotland, thinking I would use it there, but I'm bringing it home to give it a ride. I'll post videos of the undoubtedly noisy and obnoxious little beastie when it arrives.

If you have a moment, click on the authentication letters from Ivor Mutton, the VMCC marque specialist for R-E at the time (1982)... I love his grouses at having to pay for postage and copying!