I would like to know if the pre marking of R E M in front of a frame no on royal enfields, fleas and perhaps other makes, indicates the bike has been RE-MANUFACTURED post war,I thought I read this somewhere, but cant find that source's now ,andrew.h.
I don't think so Andrew....I've had a fair few post-war Flea frames through my hands over the years and they are all prefixed "REM"....(RE = Royal Enfield rather than remanufactured).....
Thanks steve I was beginning to guess that was the case, I only have one thus marked, the other three are numbered in line with the published info, IE, British forces motorcycles, this post war frame seems to be same dia tubing as war time fleas , haven't measured with a gauge yet, but are these post war ones lighter when hefted, as read that the tubing is heavier but cant see a difference andrew h,
The WD and post-war frames are identical except that the front saddle mounting bracket is different....and also the rear saddle spring mounts that are at a slightly different angle.....
Not certain why the WD specified these mods, though it may have been for one of two reasons (or both)...
1 - To raise the saddle height for military purposes (eg: the result of field testing or perhaps to fit the thing in the drop cradle ????)
or
2 - The WD engine was fitted with the Villiers carb assembly complete with air-cleaner...and when in place this would have contacted the toolbox as fitted to civvy versions.....so the toolbox was re-positioned above the top frame tube to make space for the carb assembly but then they had to raise the saddle to accommodate the toolbox...!!???
Cameron sent me the start of a rough draft of a book he's trying to do, there was a lot of useful information in it, I don't want to put it on here as he owns the copyright on it, but maybe he has finished the book! Cameron- where are you???