[Foggy_Auggie]

The last time I got gas, a guy jumped out of a van and came quickly over to look at my Bullet.  He said "Ah, it's an Indian", and then took off into the mart.  I didn't have time to reply and he ignored the Royal Enfield lettering.

He was as old as me so I figured he didn't mean made in India.

[baird4444]

Donk,  NICE BIKE!
     Mine sufers from those slight rust stain on the barrel as well. Wanna know what caused it??  Washing it b4 you put it to bed. I used to give mine a rinse every day b4 I put it to bed....      after I saw that rust, I decided I was wasting time washing when I could have been RIDING!!
                - Mike

[Bath Bullet]

I'm glad I started this thread, there has been some really interesting things come from it.
I look forward to getting my bike tomorrow, and I will update this thread with comments made to me.

[chris-bartlett]

My buddy (has a newer Triumph) and I rode into downtown Raleigh last Saturday and stopped at a Krispy Kreme. This guy came running out and asked if he could take photos of my bike, "This is soo cool" he said. Then a guy walked up and said, "Wow, nice bike! I used to have a '39 Indian, wish I'd never gotten rid of it. What year's this?"

I took a chance.... "It's a '55."
The woman that was with him asked if I'd restored it. I said "No, it's a '55 that was built in 2003."

I'll probably stick with that response for now.

[LJRead]

There is a newish Kawasaki 800 cc. Vulcan in town now, and my bike was parted next to it as we owners compared notes, then a tourist was out taking a photo of his and not mine - I guess that means mine has been superseded!

Oh well.

As far as rust on the cylinder goes, iron can look rusty for many years and the rust has no effect on it like it would steel.  But easy enough to wire brush, maybe treat it with ospho, and touch up with high temp paint.

I've been using paint from POR 15 <http://www.por15.com> which is extremely good paint (many types) for things like frame touchup, engines, etc.  I'm thinking of painting my aluminum AVL cyclinder with their Black Satin high temp. paint. just in keeping with the Classic look.