Here are photographs of the Royal Enfield that was a barn find.
Lots of anomalies that don't add up. It appears to be a small bike, but perhaps I am too used to seeing lots of plastic enclosures. The rear suspension looks very similar to a Vincent but it has a single damper as can be seen in some of the photos.
I don't think the frame is Vincent as there are too many bracing pillars at the rear and under the tank.
The front forks appear to be either Brampton or Webb. I believe Webb to be the most likely but they are similar to pre war Triumph and post war Velocette. Twin 7 or 8 inch front drum brakes with an equalizing beam behind the forks and the back wheel hub looks like standard Constellation.
The chain guard hinges to allow suspension movement and the rear mudguard is hinged to allow wheel removal.
The carburrettor looks to be an Amal 389 and the seat is fixed, as in a Series D Vincent.
The engine numbers are prefixed SM which may indicate Super Meteor but there appear to be the removable camshaft covers as on the Constellation.
My questions.
What is it?
What is it's provenance?
Is it a special?
In which case it must have been a labour of love making a frame with twin down tubes and all the supports that are on it.
It's year of manufacture, as per the V5, is 1959.
Were Royal Enfield experimenting with triangular rear suspension and cobbled together a frame with girder forks? They did use girder forks on a Super Meteor for ABS brake testing in the late 1950s and it is not this machine because I have a photograph of that particular one, and it is currently in the Science Museum Annexe and not on general public view.
So! Have I put a deposit on a Pig in a Poke? Or is it something that begs to be bought for??? Posterity, or because it is different or does anyone know?
The frame does carry a number and it is recorder on the V5.
Has anyone any experience of girder fork operation as opposed to telescopics and should I leave as is or upgrade?
Gentlemen. I await your comments.
Barnfind-Constellation