Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: jjoe256 on January 26, 2011, 04:18:58 pm

Title: What I Had In Mind
Post by: jjoe256 on January 26, 2011, 04:18:58 pm
   Don't get me wrong, but when I first started looking for a classic bike years ago, visually, this is what I had in mind:

http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/ariel_military.jpg

I love, love, love my Military G-5, but this Ariel (with a G-5 tank), number plates like the Enfield, that rugged luggage rack,  the centerstand that folds from the rear fender, the external rods and oil lines, the girder forks and clean,  isolated headlight , the oh so British "where are we going to put the horn? lets just tack  it here" ,that totally assembled in pieces look. Just sayin'. :'(

Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: bob bezin on January 26, 2011, 04:27:02 pm
nice ariel but not a daily ride. but a great second bike to take to  rallys and shows. another part of motorcycle fun.(besides riding)
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: Ice on January 26, 2011, 06:25:24 pm
   Don't get me wrong, but when I first started looking for a classic bike years ago, visually, this is what I had in mind:

http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/ariel_military.jpg

I love, love, love my Military G-5, but this Ariel (with a G-5 tank), number plates like the Enfield, that rugged luggage rack,  the centerstand that folds from the rear fender, the external rods and oil lines, the girder forks and clean,  isolated headlight , the oh so British "where are we going to put the horn? lets just tack  it here" ,that totally assembled in pieces look. Just sayin'. :'(



You planning on doing some mods to your G-5 ?  ;) ;D 8)
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: Ducati Scotty on January 26, 2011, 07:28:08 pm
Hmmmm...

With a solo seat, luggage rack, and ditching the nacelle for a stand alone light you could get much closer to the look for not too much invested.  The swing stand and girder fork, you'd need to get those cutom made and the fork would be pricey for sure. 

It'd be super easy to add some lines to the outside of the engine for looks with some Copper tubing and JB weld ;)  I'd say that's the one major drawback of the UCE engine looks, the loss of those external lines.  They were cool.

Scott
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: ScooterBob on January 27, 2011, 01:10:18 am
nice ariel but not a daily ride. but a great second bike to take to  rallys and shows. another part of motorcycle fun.(besides riding)

Beg to differ - I rode a WM20 nearly every day when I was a wee little children. I put about 40K miles on the little heep in about three years. The Ariel has those new, modern over your head valve thingies, too ..... it MUST be better .......  ;)
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: Andy on January 27, 2011, 04:05:00 am
Hmmmm...
... the fork would be pricey for sure. 


Maybe not so much.  There's a Dutch or Belgian company that makes retro parts for SR500 singles - including a beautiful girder fork set.  It would probably bolt right on with little or no modification.  I can't find the link, but it's out there....

(They have some pretty sweet cafe racer bits, too.)
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: bob bezin on January 27, 2011, 10:35:52 pm
bob, when you were a wee child that thing was a lot newer. and as these things get older they get more valuable and parts get expensive . best ride a new  enfield.
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: Ducati Scotty on January 27, 2011, 11:29:39 pm
Maybe not so much.  There's a Dutch or Belgian company that makes retro parts for SR500 singles - including a beautiful girder fork set.  It would probably bolt right on with little or no modification.  I can't find the link, but it's out there....

(They have some pretty sweet cafe racer bits, too.)

Bob, know anything about this girder fork company?   I know the Indian one was dodgy.

Scott
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: Andy on February 01, 2011, 04:30:12 am
I gave it a good two-hour search, but I can't find it.  It may be defunct.  On the other hand, googling "SR500" is like googling "Bob Smith".  If anyone knows the company, they were low-countries based and specialized in cafe racer and retro bits for Yamaha singles.  I think they were the first ones to turn out an SR-engined BSA Goldstar replica.  I had an SR 250 at the time, hence my interest.   

During my searches today, however, I note that quite a few people have retrofitted Harley springer and Brit girders to their Yamahas with apparently little effort.  Don't see why it can't be done with the RE, too.
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: ScooterBob on February 01, 2011, 04:38:22 pm
Bob, know anything about this girder fork company?   I know the Indian one was dodgy.

Scott

I don't really know squat about a girder fork fitment for the SR500 .... BUT ..... I do know that a WM20 and the TRW Triumph girder fork will practically bolt right onto the RE ... and there are some out there to be had .....
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: ScooterBob on February 01, 2011, 04:41:20 pm
bob, when you were a wee child that thing was a lot newer. and as these things get older they get more valuable and parts get expensive . best ride a new  enfield.

Are you sayin' I'm OLD?? Hahaha! I'm hoping to get my "new" one done by late spring or so .... we'll see if the glasses were rose coloured or not. I honestly don't remember having to do TOO much to the original WM20 that I had ..... so it couldn't have been THAT bad to run around on. I do like the philosophy of the new Enfield, though .... That's why I have three of the darn things - I just can't make up my mind!! Hahahaha!
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: r80rt on February 01, 2011, 06:08:25 pm
I loved the girder on my M20, a girder and sprung seat will look after you pretty good.
Title: Re: What I Had In Mind
Post by: ScooterBob on February 01, 2011, 09:30:27 pm
I loved the girder on my M20, a girder and sprung seat will look after you pretty good.

Funny - I've recently read a whole bunch about how the girder rides on the front of the WM20 ..... but I swear I don't remember anything outstanding one way or t'other on it .... I must have been young and dumb and didn't KNOW any better. It'll be interesting to get back in the saddle of one and see what it's like 30-some years later .....  ::)