Ever just randomly buy things off ebay?

mudcow007
mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
edited July 2011 in Commuting chat
Just bought a 1960's Royal Enfield off Ebay, its got a sterny archer dyno hub on the front an 5 speed svelto gears?!

i think i will leave it retro cool, i was looking for a bike to go on my trainer....i think i need to buy another one now

anyone know anythign about "Enfield's"?
Keeping it classy since '83
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Comments

  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    .303 calibre aren't they?
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
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  • essex-commuter
    essex-commuter Posts: 2,188
    When I talk to my Dad (now 82) about cycling he always refers to his Royal Enfield bike he had in his late teens with Sturmey Archer gears and an oil bath for the chain. Best bike he ever owned, got him from London to Southend and back many a time, and apparently he cycled down there once with my Mum (his girlfriend then) who was too tired to cycle back so he towed her back with a bungy cord!

    Doesn't help you at all, but it made me think about my Mum (who passed away 14 years ago), so thank you!
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    I thought a Royal Enfield was where the Queen kept her chickens?
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
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    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    My father in law, who coincidently lives in Enfield but doesn't keep chickens for the Queen*, used to have a Royal Enfield too. I believe they were decent bikes back in the day, although more famous for motor bikes though weren't they?

    *Just for clarity, he doesn't keep any chickens at all, the Queens or otherwise.
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  • I thought Royal Enfield made motorbikes. Then again, I think BSA and Triumph also made bikes, so perhaps there was that crossover. Anyway, the motorbikes were really very cool back in the day.

    Weirdest random thing I've bought off eBay is a French-speaking Magic-8-ball. It's here on my desk if anyone wants a prediction.
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Non merci.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • essex-commuter
    essex-commuter Posts: 2,188
    3144057263_76eb99908e.jpg

    3039000883_b6c1d8721d.jpg
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    To the lithe open air girl of today fitness is everything, and rightly so.

    I love it! Plus ca change!
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • MonkeyMonster
    MonkeyMonster Posts: 4,628
    Dammit, lugless...


    :D
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  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    Manufacturers of Cycles, Motor Cycles and Motor Lawn Mowers

    Now a vintage motor lawn mower - that would be a good random buy.
    Then again, I think BSA and Triumph also made bikes, so perhaps there was that crossover
    see also Puch, although more moped than the proper beasts that BSA and Triumph produced.

    BSA also did guns didn't they as did Royal Enfield?
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  • Wheelspinner
    Wheelspinner Posts: 6,551
    t4tomo wrote:
    Manufacturers of Cycles, Motor Cycles and Motor Lawn Mowers

    Now a vintage motor lawn mower - that would be a good random buy.
    Then again, I think BSA and Triumph also made bikes, so perhaps there was that crossover
    see also Puch, although more moped than the proper beasts that BSA and Triumph produced.

    BSA also did guns didn't they as did Royal Enfield?

    BSA = Birmingham Small Arms Company... so yeah, they made a gun or two... :)
    Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Then again, I think BSA and Triumph also made bikes, so perhaps there was that crossover.
    Don't Triumph also make ladies' underwear?
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • essex-commuter
    essex-commuter Posts: 2,188
    TGOTB wrote:
    Don't Triumph also make ladies' underwear?

    I think you're right. I seem to remember doing some research on them in my Mums Kays catalogue when I was 13!
  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    well hopefully pickign the wee beasty up on wednesday night so i will take pics an upload them

    now, leave it standard or fixie time?
    Keeping it classy since '83
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    3144057263_76eb99908e.jpg

    3039000883_b6c1d8721d.jpg

    Their showroom was on Holborn Viaduct, that's just down the road fro9m where I'm sitting now...
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    Leave it standard. Does it have rod brakes?
    I want to get a Triumph bicycle. I have owned several of their motorbikes, still got 2, and had a few of their cars in the past.
    Not had one of the brassieres either come to think of it.
  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    i don't think its early enough to have "rods"

    from the tiny picture on Ebay it looks like its a bit rough, i might leave it with the "rat look"
    Keeping it classy since '83
  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    Royal Enfield made rifles. As KB said, the .303 bolt action (think Micheal Caine not shooting "until you can see the whites of their eyes") and they also jointly designed and manufactured the Bren and Sten guns with the Czechs in WWII.
    The 'en' in Bren and Sten stands for Enfield (The 'br' stand for Brno.

    The former factories are now largley social housing (with a really bad reputation, the buses don't go into the estate) and what was the local nightclub (called Rifles) is now closed and derelict.
    http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll= ... 8,,0,-6.49
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  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    mudcow007 wrote:
    now, leave it standard or fixie time?

    Bleagh! Why not fit a front suspension fork as well!

    Now no messing it up!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    Rolf F wrote:
    mudcow007 wrote:
    now, leave it standard or fixie time?

    Bleagh! Why not fit a front suspension fork as well!

    Now no messing it up!

    I'm with Rolf. I vote 'no' to a fixie conversion.
    FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
    FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
    FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees

    I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    You make something fixed to simplify the drive train maintenance and increease robustness over a deraileur. To convert a hub gear to fixed doesn't give you that advantage as it pretty much maintenance free already, it just gives you less gears.

    leave the poor thing alone.

    Hopefully my sturmey archer gear cable will have arrivd in the post tonight and I can get Mrs Tomo's new / old Puch back up to 3 gears.
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  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    t4tomo wrote:
    You make something fixed to simplify the drive train maintenance and increease robustness over a deraileur.
    leave the poor thing alone.

    its got a derailleur, a svelto i think!

    the description says the paint is rough in places do you all think i should get it resprayed similar colours or should i bask in its vintage goodness?
    Keeping it classy since '83
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    mudcow007

    How much did you pay for it?
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    mudcow007 wrote:
    t4tomo wrote:
    You make something fixed to simplify the drive train maintenance and increease robustness over a deraileur.
    leave the poor thing alone.

    its got a derailleur, a svelto i think!

    the description says the paint is rough in places do you all think i should get it resprayed similar colours or should i bask in its vintage goodness?

    I think you need to wait and see. Duff advert pictures plus 'rough in places' - it probably looks like a Grimsby trawler :lol:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    mudcow007 wrote:
    t4tomo wrote:
    You make something fixed to simplify the drive train maintenance and increease robustness over a deraileur.
    leave the poor thing alone.

    its got a derailleur, a svelto i think!

    the description says the paint is rough in places do you all think i should get it resprayed similar colours or should i bask in its vintage goodness?

    Ok was assuming it was Sturmey archer 3 speed. wait and see if deraileur works first then, as that could force a change of plan if you can't get hold of a replacement
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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I have an old wheel with a period (1967) 3 speed sturmey hub...

    As for being 2 new for rod brakes - you can still buy brand new bikes with rods so not sure how that works!

    My first bike was a Puch, green it was and I remember it had a funny twin top tube arrangement - got it new in about 1973-74.

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • Blue Meanie
    Blue Meanie Posts: 495
    Hmm...nice 8)

    26x13/4 wheels?
    I'm lucky, company I work for still stocks 'old' tyres, also some Sturmey spares (planet pinions and clutches) PM me if you need some...
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  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    fantastico!

    cheers guys i feel like a big kid, im all excited

    it was only £25 i couldn't refuse it for that

    if the paintwork is shocking with rust etc we have a shot blaster in my work an i could get it sprayed too...people will do anything for chocolate digestives in my work

    its 27 x 1 3/4s
    Keeping it classy since '83
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    mudcow007 wrote:
    if the paintwork is shocking with rust etc we have a shot blaster in my work an i could get it sprayed too...people will do anything for chocolate digestives in my work

    Quote "People will do anything for chocolate digestives in my work" - and you are using that kind of an opportunity to get a frame shot blasted? :lol:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    Rolf F wrote:
    mudcow007 wrote:
    if the paintwork is shocking with rust etc we have a shot blaster in my work an i could get it sprayed too...people will do anything for chocolate digestives in my work

    Quote "People will do anything for chocolate digestives in my work" - and you are using that kind of an opportunity to get a frame shot blasted? :lol:

    good god yeah, it would be rude not too, i reckon it will cost me 2 packs

    its like a prison in here except instead of cigarettes its chocolate biscuits
    Keeping it classy since '83