The front tyre looks to be a larger profile than the std 325 x 19 usually fitted
Also the bike appears to be a K series - no speedo in near side & the “cut” forks seen on many early model bikes - used with a distance piece to space the front guard
Looking again - it’s a great photo - the electric horn is in place in the correct position for an early bike - under the saddle spring, it has tank top instruments & the front frame protector guard is missing
The lifting handle - early short type has no fixing for a field stand - this would probably been before even the short stand was implemented by the military
It looks like it has the spacer between the front mudguard and centre fork bracket which may indicate longer forks, perhaps its needed a replacements set?
That’s correct ron
This cut trumpet was common in 1940 & we established the full trumpet was replaced in mid 41 - later the distance piece was reintroduced
I had thought the distance piece was a later war addition - but it’s in the 1940 military supplementary parts list - to match these blades - so it’s an early part & perhaps earlier than we thought as this is a k model
I have 2 x 1940 bikes here with cut trumpets
Job
It looks as if the officer has pulled rank to sit on the bike for the photo opportunity. The chap standing behind him looks to have anti-gas eyeshields up on his fez ! The first time that I've ever seen that...:laughing: