A Royal Enfield Model G WD. Ex Royal Navy and delivered to Chatham Docks in February 1941.
Can anyone spot the deliberate mistake?
This competition is not open to Jan Vandevelde or his family and friends
.
Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Hello Sailor !
We're all Jan's friends....we all need parts making from time to time !
What does it ride like then Ron ? Is it much sportier than a CO ?
Is it the shiny bit on the headlight?
email (option): ljvbekkum@hotmail.com
Ron, it's difficult to know which of the differences are deliberate. I assume that the front brake isn't original, meaning that the forks aren't either... the air box is missing and it has folding panniers instead of the rather nice rear mounted tool boxes....and it might be olive drab...but it's nice...
Rik, granted the panniers are not original equipment, but are retro fitted due to their usefulness. Since you mentioned the front brake, I'll explain:-
The front brake and forks are correct and original. But because of the strange Royal Enfield idea of having a reverse action speedo head, a previous owner has put the front wheel in with the brake drum on the left instead of the right so as to drive the speedo. It's the second WD/G I've seen like this. The brake adjuster lug and brake anchor have been Re-applied to the near side. David Woods was able to reverse the action of a standard speedo for my WD/L and hopefully he can do this one also. In which case I'll be putting the wheel in the correct way round.
It's possibly true that the RN painted such vehicles Blue or Grey, But they would have left the factory in the standard Army scheme of the time, which is probably how I will re-paint this one.......Unless anyone has evidence of the blue or grey.
I am also in possession of the correct air box. Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Can anyone spot the deliberate mistake?
This competition is not open to Jan Vandevelde or his family and friends
.Ron
Hello,
My name is John Fields. Is this competition still open? What is the price for the winner?
Kind regards,
John
email (option): wd.register@gmail.com
Sorry John. Rik the rivet counter has won a night out with Waterside Nell. You will get second price!..... Two nights out with Waterside Nell.
Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
The tank transfers are too small..........or am I too late.
Rob
email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk
Paul, don't compare this to a CO. They are different bikes. The G is effectively a Model C frame with an OHV engine and heavier model L forks (designed for side car use).
Rik yes the brake adjuster and anchor lugs look very well done and you might be right that someone had a program to convert them.
I can't find a picture of the other one, but I remember that it's in the Netherlands and no doubt Jan has it on his register.
Rob the transfers in the factory photo's with the sailor seem to be a civvy type transfer. But actual pictures of bikes in use show the small WD tank transfers
Out of interest, here is the offending part which has been cleverly fabricated and utilising the sawn off brake cable lug from the other side.
Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Hi Ron, is it the back racks on the bike.
With the original one you can't mount the ones with the pannier bags.
Looks like selfmade BSA carrier rack.
Guess I am way too late!!!!
Regards,
ramon 
email (option): noahlevi6@hotmail.com
Oh no Ron, what are you going to do..? Cut it off and get it back to factory spec or leave it modified if it was a service mod..? I Can see sleepless nights coming on
Well done on findings a bike you haven't got, I'm guessing it's a rare model? That's a few rare Enfields you've got and I think you've got more Enfields than any other make..?
email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk
Ron, pictorial sources for RN machines are a little thin on the ground, but I can't find any evidence of canvas pannier sets on RN motorcycles, let alone on their special Enfields...it would look a lot more sporty without them.
Me Tim and Tony had a fabulous run over the Purbecks and into Swanage for brekkie. Back via the Studland chain ferry. The bike rides great feels sturdier and definitely pulls better than my CO........But!! I think the mag is weak as I can't start the sodding thing if I stop it. So the mag is already off and I'm taking it to my guy in the New Forest on Wednesday.
Rik I agree the bike would be more sportier without the bags. But I think I've heard you say "avoid the flashy use of the throttle"
Good job I had my tool kit with me in the panniers! The only way I could re-start the bike in Swanage, was with a brand new plug fitted.
D'you know, some people with sporty bikes have to try and strap stuff to the carrier and risk losing it along the country lanes at Etreham
Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Ron, that was below the belt. I couldn't say anything at the time as it was all hush-hush ministry stuff and might have jeopardised operations in Normandy. I was engaged in balistic and impact tests on the Mk1* helmet.
The test that you witnessed involved acceleration, deceleration and finally dropping the blasted thing onto the gravel !
Rik. I do love the banter. Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Nice addition Ron!!
The test that you witnessed involved acceleration, deceleration and finally dropping the blasted thing onto the gravel !
Rik, have been doing some balistic tests on a US WW2 helmet with my Enfield too, but in a slightly different way!!
So not off topic???
Enfield is almost a hundred years old.....
Cheers,
Lex
email (option): welbike43@gmaXX.com
I've got a nice WB30 engine that would fit in that...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Yes Ian. this bike is from that same contract. Only two bikes shown in O&M. But an additional 52 bikes in that contract were supplied to the admiralty.....Just post that engine to me anyway Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
The bike is going back together with corrected front wheel and it's original (repaired) front guard. Rebuilt mag, rebore, dome top piston. New shoes, tyre, cush rubbers on the rear wheel, adapted field stand, correct horn and air filter box, new cables......KG3 paint. Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
I don't know how you do these bikes so quickly Ron, but then your days are twice as long as mine
A fantastic looking bike as always
email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk
Yes, Ron does like to get down to the workshop before the moon starts to set... ....
It's not natural getting up when it's still dark...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Rik I was thinking of looking for a sailors hat to go with the bike, but that's probably as far as I'd go. I know what you mean about the panniers, but I intend to use this bike and the panniers are a necessity for me to carry my tools, wet weather gear, baguette, beer and tarte aux fraises.
Rather than strap a suitcase to the carrier. Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
A sailor's cap would go rather nicely with BD Ron, but be prepared for the banter !
I'm in a similar position to you......can play with bikes all day long if I want to.......
Can I just compliment you on a cracking restoration of a fairly rare machine.......it looks bloody good.........
You got a spare WB30 engine then Ian.......?
A Duffle coat and a mug of Cocoa would seem to be essentials...and you'll need a battleship to move the bike around...
Yes Steve, I have enough parts to build another B30 engine...I sold my spare gearbox though...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I may be interested Ian old chap......... (IF up for sale at some stage !)
A cracking restoration Ron....am I right in thinking that you now only need either a Bullet or a J2(0) to complete your wartime Enfield collective.........?
Best wishes for the season my old friend.......love from Vee !
Never heard of a WD Bullet Steve
But yes a J2 and one of those V twin KX models ... Fat chance aye! Was it just 6 J2's and 4 KX's supplied to the services?
Believe it or not, I have one of the Experimental 350 (DC) engines coming from Australia. Just need to find enough bits to build a replica of one of these
Ron
Merry Christmas.....Did you buy Vee a Tilly?
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Nice one Ron ! I'd be keen to see details of that engine when it arrives.........
No Tilly yet, as Vee's holding out on you turning one up for her ! You've still got a few hours !!!!!
An interesting machine...and another one of the 'lightweights' that doesn't look like it would be up to service use...
It does seem to have the mag/alternator as fitted to pre production WB30s...Do you know how many of these were built?....Just the one?
I'd love to do the 'lightweight' M20 which I suspect was an M20 engine in a WB30 chassis....or the SWD M21.. probably built along the lines to the Big 4...
Unfortunately no photos exist of either machine...I've even looked in the patent records for details of the SWD M21...
With no photos at all it wouldn't be a 'replica', only a guess, so neither project is really viable I don't think.. ....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Ian. Four of these are recorded in the ledgers. Two with their engine numbers that were sent for assessment by M.E.E. And two more with no recorded engine numbers but issued with census numbers, which were sent to France for testing with the BEF, which were of course lost. How on Earth this engine arrived in Tasmania to act as a pump for an air compressor we'll never know Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Captured after Dunkirk..taken to North Africa by the Germans..'liberated' by an Ozzie and shipped home....
Garys field kitchen was bought by the Austrians (from the Swiss) at the start of the WW1...
Was captured by the Italians...
Taken by them to North Africa in WW2...
Captured by the Brits, converted from Horse drawn to vehicle towed and then shipped back to the UK before finally being sold off at auction...
So it can happen!... ....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Knowing Royal Enfield, it was abandoned by the BEF, impressed by Vichy France,taken over by the Wehrmacht, picked up by a 21st Army Group battlefield Salvage unit, sent back to Britain as scrap metal, demanded by Enfield as war compensation and then re-sold to a far-flung post of Empire as 'brand new' during the 'Export or Die' period....Thank goodness for gullible colonials, or much of this history would be lost to us !