Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet Iron Barrel => Topic started by: Juggernaut on February 05, 2008, 04:58:28 pm

Title: Chrome on the Military
Post by: Juggernaut on February 05, 2008, 04:58:28 pm
Kind of a weird query but, has\does anyone put any chrome pieces or accents on their military? Would it look strange or unique? The bike looks slammin the way it is, but who doesn't like chrome anything? I guess i could put some olive drab on my toaster to get an idea...

 and on that note:
Hey Kevin, any plans for a flash accessory chooser for preview on the bikes in the future? One where we can "build" a bike on line and see our fiendish creations from your wonderful plethora of parts. :D
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LotusSevenMan on February 05, 2008, 08:25:04 pm
There are two different styles of these Militaries that I have seen to date.
The 'American' version is I believe all olive drab inc wheel rims, speedo bezel, brake drums etc.


(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2177/2244313993_0912b98e4d.jpg)

Then there are the UK ones as Watsonian (the importers) seemed to bring in.
These are more chrome showing as in rims, bezels, aluminium drums etc
See my 2003 500ES as an example


(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2209/2078606298_2e883cd5b5.jpg)
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: DireWolf on February 05, 2008, 08:49:27 pm
Chrome?!!

  I've been pondering blackening my exhaust.....
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: fredgold52 on February 05, 2008, 09:06:03 pm
Something about chrome on a Military just feels very wrong.

 :o
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LotusSevenMan on February 05, 2008, 09:25:13 pm
Fredgold.
Well I thought that the all green ones looked strange because I was only used to the UK version.
I was told by my dealer that Watsonian had these as that is the way they 'thought' that the Indian army had their bikes. It was only later did they see that the rest of the world got the 'all olive green' style. I think that when the inevitable rust gets too bad on the thin Indian chrome rims then at least I can paint them green without losing the 'utilitarian' effect I like.
There is an 'all greenie' in the dealers place at the moment. It has been there some time too. The speedo bezel just has green paint over the chrome and it looks hand painted rather than a spray finish. A slight touch of thumb nail had it scratching off. I stopped quickly; honest!

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2244417569_f0b8d6ece2.jpg)


It also had different tyres; more like semi off road ones. They looked good IMHO

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2244417573_ffeab1d202.jpg)


Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: fredgold52 on February 05, 2008, 09:31:37 pm
Those are pretty aggressive looking tires - especially compared to what was probably on there as stock.  But it does seem a bike like that should have that sort of "go-anywhere" tire. 
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: DireWolf on February 05, 2008, 09:45:17 pm
I keep suspisciously eyeing those gold "Royal Enfield" on my big green tank.

Would that just peel off?  Doesn't look like there's a clear-coat over it.  Black would look better, to me


My Dad & Father-in-Law are both 'Harley" guys.   I'm the anti-chrome & anti-flash guy..... 
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: fredgold52 on February 05, 2008, 09:52:12 pm
I dunno but, if they do peel off then you.ve gotten rid of some color that doesn't suit you.  If they don't peel off, you will probably wind up with a good reason to do the whole bike in flat black like you may want to anyway.  Looks like a win-win to me!
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: Monty on February 06, 2008, 01:43:55 am
As of right now I don't own a Military RE but I have been looking at them real hard, and the One big factor that has drawn me to them is the military look of the bike.  You will not find chrome on a true military bike. 
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LotusSevenMan on February 06, 2008, 07:34:08 am
Monty.
Well what you need then is a UK imported bike and leave it oncovered outside for a few months. With the quality of the Indian chrome plate plate being what it is you'll soon find you have a bike wiith no chrome on it then!!!!!!  ;D
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: DireWolf on February 06, 2008, 02:21:32 pm
  You will not find chrome on a true military bike. 

That's sort of why I'd like to blacken my pipe.  But I don't want to do it so it turns out looking like a rat-bike.

Then I want to remove the gold lettering on the tank.  Doesn't look right.  Went and stared at it for awhile last night (@#$% winter).  Black would be better.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: cyrusb on February 06, 2008, 03:28:32 pm
It makes me wonder what the actual Indian Army uses. Can it be these chromed piped, plastic non sealed points covered type? I hope not. Has anyone ever seen a true Indian Army ( as in riding to combat) Enfield?
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LotusSevenMan on February 06, 2008, 10:23:37 pm
Cyrusb
I thought this sort of Army bike was used for general dispatch work and border patrols etc.

DireWolf
I reckon that black 'chrome' would look good on the exhaust system as it has a dark lustre that should be hard wearing and not look like a RatBike at all!!!
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: cyrusb on February 07, 2008, 12:28:32 am
Also "Gunkote" if they still make it ,has the AR15 color that your looking for. Sprays on from a can and then you bake it for a spell. It really sticks to aluminum, but man does it stink when your baking it.This just in....   Actually they do still make it, Brownells sells it, plus everybody else I'm sure.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: BanditRE on February 07, 2008, 12:38:55 pm
It makes me wonder what the actual Indian Army uses. Can it be these chromed piped, plastic non sealed points covered type? I hope not. Has anyone ever seen a true Indian Army ( as in riding to combat) Enfield?

I have a picture of one in a book at home. Not quite the same as seeing one up close and personal. It is GREEN. I mean GREEN. It looked like they assembled the bike and dipped it in Olive paint. It definately looks military. It has a black exhaust, not black chrome, just black heat paint I think. No lettering on the tank. I've seen people here remove the lettering on the tank and spray on a white star like the WWII US war bikes had on them. Looks pretty good but it always seemed a bit daft to me as its an Indian bike. To each his own.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: Pythas on February 07, 2008, 03:17:47 pm
I got myself a 2002 Army Bullet a couple years ago (didn't end well). Mine had plenty of chrome - which it seems was rare for the US market. The gold Royal Enfield on the tank doesn't come off easily I am afraid. The exuast looks good in flat black tho.

I really wanted the military model, but upon having one discovered the desire to strip it down to a more or less regular bike. When I get another Bullet in the next month or so, it'll be a Deluxe or Classic.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: DireWolf on February 07, 2008, 03:48:36 pm
The gold Royal Enfield on the tank doesn't come off easily I am afraid. The exuast looks good in flat black tho.


OK - an experienced tinkerer.  What, specifically, did you do to attempt to remove it? Do you remember? Scrape?  Solvent?  Or just have at it with your fingernails?
I'm pretty serious about getting it off there.

I've seen the white star vinyl decals.....
I have some other Ideas I'm knocking around. 

I'm thinking WWII era noseart, though.  ;)

Something tasteless and politically incorrect, most likely.

But also vinyl, so it could be removed, if I were so inclined.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: Juggernaut on February 07, 2008, 04:04:30 pm
EXACTLY the route i was thinking as well Direwolf! ;D
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: Pythas on February 07, 2008, 09:12:49 pm
The gold Royal Enfield on the tank doesn't come off easily I am afraid. The exuast looks good in flat black tho.


OK - an experienced tinkerer.  What, specifically, did you do to attempt to remove it? Do you remember? Scrape?  Solvent?  Or just have at it with your fingernails?
I'm pretty serious about getting it off there.

I've seen the white star vinyl decals.....
I have some other Ideas I'm knocking around. 

I'm thinking WWII era noseart, though.  ;)

Something tasteless and politically incorrect, most likely.

But also vinyl, so it could be removed, if I were so inclined.

I went after it with solvent gel, scraped it and the paint off that portion, then did a cheep respray. I was going for the Military Surplus turned to Civilian look as opposed to the strait military look.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: geoffbaker on February 08, 2008, 07:12:14 pm
I guess mine is the military that comes with chrome, as the wheels and drums are chromed. I like it just the way it is. I think I'll add a couple of accents - a clock on the handlbar maybe... but that's more for use than for looks. Kind of like the chrome tappet and chrome distributor covers tyou can get, though.

As someone already said in this thread - to each their own.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LotusSevenMan on February 09, 2008, 08:04:34 am
Geoff B

It is really all about what 'takes YOU' isn't it? Some like the black and gold with polished casing. Lovely and smart. I liked the utilitarian look hence my UK Army/Military. I'm just glad as h*ll that I discovered the 'modern old bike' when I did last year and have a lot more time for older bikes now than when I was a young whippersnapper who only appreciated the latest techno wizardry of the Japanese mighty bike industry.

Good too that we are all a bit individualistic and make our bikes the same.  ;D
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LJRead on February 09, 2008, 06:38:51 pm
Well for you military aficionados, here are two photos of a Military at auction on Ebay a few months back.  According to the description, the owner had taken real pains to get it right, even down to various bolt heads etc.  Note the black pipe.  I saved the photos because I am always impressed by people who care about things.  My poor eyesight wouldn't allow me near anything military when younger (4F).

[old attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LotusSevenMan on February 09, 2008, 07:14:40 pm
Thanks for posting those!  ;D
 Wonder how he did the header/exhaust pipe in that black?

LSM
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LJRead on February 09, 2008, 07:49:56 pm

Asked a guy selling a Moto Guzzi with black pipes a while back about how he painted them - he said that they had gotten pitted from the bike's staying out in the weather, so he sanded them and used flat-back high heat barbecue spray paint, as sold in the hardware stores.  He even offered to throw in the rest of the can if I needed to touch up.

The gold emblems would bother me if I wanted to be strictly military.  I think I would peel them off, if possible, but if the tank had been clear coated, maybe I would sand well and just spray it with the flat military color out of a spray can.  Even the shiny tank and side covers seem an affectation to me.  Notice on the photos above that the fenders seem to have been repainted, they are flat and of a slightly different color.   I would look for a color with some gray in it to give a duller effect.   How about camouflage?
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: eae0164 on February 09, 2008, 10:10:51 pm
 I've been slowly but surely trying to get my 2000 military a little less shiny. My next step will be to black out the exhaust with hi-heat flat black paint. As for putting stars on the bikes, even the British used stars on some of their vehicles during WW2. The white star in the circle, or in the segmented circle, was used by us and our allies. I found a dealer on e-bay that makes both types, in any color, in 5" vinyl. I just don't know if I'm going to put them on the tank, the toolboxes, or on the back boxes. Maybe a combo . Either way, mine will eventually, be all matte green and black, as to me, it just looks more military. I saw a picture of an old Harley military bike from WW2, that was all desert tan, so I might go that way, too. Decisions, decisions, decisions... ;D
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: LotusSevenMan on February 10, 2008, 09:10:43 am
White star in the circle? 'D' Day invasion detail as were the stripes on underside of aircraft wings.
Title: Re: Chrome on the Military
Post by: SRL790 on February 10, 2008, 01:03:00 pm
"I went after it with solvent gel, scraped it and the paint off that portion, then did a cheep respray. I was going for the Military Surplus turned to Civilian look as opposed to the strait military look. "

I have had some, limited, success in the past using a heat gun to remove vinyl decals.  Just don't get it too hot and burn the paint.  The paint may also get soft along with the decal so be careful not to dig into it with whatever you are scraping with.