1956 Indian Tomahawk updated to 1960s' taste

A Tomahawk owner might have dreamed this up in the 1960s.

Steve Bruce provided more details about the 1956 Indian Tomahawk he restored to look the way an owner might have customized it in the 1960s.

"I live in Southern Nevada near Las Vegas in a small town called Pahrump. I have been motorcycling since 1969 and have always been a Brit bike enthusiast. I was an active member of the Southern California BSA owners club in the late 1970s and was also a member of the BSAOC club in England where I lived from 1981 to 1995.  I got into Royal Enfields during the 1970s, when associated with another Southern Cal club member who had a collection of several 1960s Interceptors, as well as BSA's.

"About 1977 I saw a restored Indian Enfield twin in a dealer showroom and always wanted to have one — but it took more than 30 years for me to finally get 'round to doing the restoration on this Tomahawk.

"It is a model year 1956 Tomahawk 500cc engine in a '58 Trailblazer frame. It has new set of 8.1:1 high compression pistons from FW Thornton and had some porting work done by a local speed shop, along with new valves /guides etc. I used stainless cylinder studs from Motalia which are essential when 5/16" studs are used. It has a new Amal 376/1716 carb, which is a huge improvement over the old 376/40.

"The mudguards are from the Classic Bike Shop in the UK and closely match the original type, as does the pattern tail lamp bracket with Miller lamp. The Lucas battery is just a shell (obtained from Carrot Cycles) and houses a modern 12V battery that is charged by a current production alternator mounted on a Hitchcock's 12V alternator adapter (to convert from 6V). The original tool box is missing.

"I had to rebuild the rear wheel and install new drive rubbers, but the sprocket and rear brake were in like-new condition. The exhaust is from Feked.com but I believe made by Armours in the UK.  The velocity stack (pictured here) is just for show, I put an air cleaner on (as shown below) to ride the bike because this is a very dusty environment. The SR2 magneto works well but I am experimenting with electronic ignition using the India-made distributor and a Wassel EI module.

Lucas battery shell hides the real battery.

"My next project is to fit a siamese two-into-one exhaust and see how that affects performance.

"I wish to thank local enthusiast David Parapilly for his assistance, and Mike of Tom Oil who provided me with a lot of help.

"Overall it has been a very enjoyable project, thanks to the help and interest received from fellow enthusiasts!"

Royal Enfield Indian Tomahawk, 1960s style

1956 Indian Tomahawk, the way an owner of the 1960s might have wanted it.

Steve Bruce, of Southern Nevada, restored his 1956 Indian Tomahawk just the way an owner might have modified it in the 1960s.

In the 1950s the Indian Tomahawk was sold by Brockhouse in the United States. The Tomahawk was made in England by Royal Enfield and was the equivalent of the Royal Enfield 500cc twin, Steve explains.

"The project concept was to take a 1950s Indian Enfield twin and set it up mostly stock, yet like a 'street scrambler,' the same way an owner might have modified an original bike, way back in the 1960s. In those days I understand Interceptor after market parts were used to replace the stock seat and tank.

"Tank: The '60s chrome Interceptor 'scrambles' tank is from Hitchcocks; however I believe they are sourced from India. The original 'scrambles' tank was slightly smaller and had only one petcock, not two like this current production tank. I believe it is nickel-plated only, which is better looking in my opinion than chrome.

"Seat: The seat base is '60s Interceptor, with padding and cover handmade to low profile 'sports version' spec to go with the scrambler tank.

"Wheels: The front is an India-made 19-inch WM2 and the rear is a WM3 18-inch (not standard for the Tomahawk) genuine period Dunlop rim in pretty good shape, to mount the 4-inch K70, which is a close fit! I know purists will balk at this but going to the WM3 was a common mod back then. On the front I really wanted to use the 7-inch twin leading shoe front brake, because the original was junk. So I had to go with the India-made front end as well.

Steve is working on bringing upswept pipes to his Tomahawk.

"Most everything else is stock except the exhaust. The low pipes were optional but I understand most 1956-1957 model year Tomahawks had the upswept (raked) pipes, which required special parts for the rear brake rod and lever. Alternatively, I am still working on a set of high profile side pipes to complete the 'street scrambler' concept.

"Here is a video of the bike running, it has a great sound; too bad our PC's are not Hi Fi!"



Steve thinks his motorcycle is a close relative of another Indian made by Royal Enfield and featured on the this blog. That is the "Woodshawk" custom —  I originally thought it was some sort of Bullet but in fact it is a combination of two Indian motorcycles made by Royal Enfield in the 1950s. It is a 500cc Woodsman single-cylinder motor in a Tomahawk twin frame.

According to  the Royal Enfield Owners Club, the frame number of the so-called Woodshawk makes it a frame for a December, 1955 Brockhouse Indian Tomahawk 500cc twin. (It is just new enough to be the new frame design introduced that year.) Steve's 500cc Tomahawk twin engine also dates from December, 1955.

"That is probably the frame for my engine, or very close, as the dates match," Steve wrote. "But I don't know if the numbers precisely match."

"I wish I had the frame. I used a '58 Trailblazer (Super Meteor) frame for my Tomahawk twin project, which is substantially the same except for the missing seat bracket."

Royal Enfield unearths outlaw past

Andy Amescua's Royal Enfield-made Indian Tomahawk motorcycle spent 40 years in a barn. Now he's asking for help identifying it and finding part sources.

But what about that other Royal Enfield Indian, the one found half-buried on a property in Arkansas? You remember the story. In July Jeff wrote: "I was about to scrap out a group of old Japanese bikes that had been bulldozed over at the back of my property and I happened upon this dinosaur."

That "dinosaur" was quickly identified as a Royal Enfield 500 twin sold in the U.S. as an Indian Tomahawk. The identification came from a member of the Royal Enfield Yahoo message board named Richard, who ought to know because he owns a Tomahawk himself.

So did Jeff save the old Tomahawk from the scrap yard? Yes, he did.

"I sold it for $150," he writes. "I was told through the grapevine that all those old motorcycles I got rid of on my property were stolen! Apparently the bulldozer buried a few cars down there, too, after pushing the bikes to the back. It turned out to be a chop-shop operation and I guess one or two folks (back in the '80's) were arrested for it. Wild stuff."

Wild indeed. Wouldn't it be great if that old Tomahawk wreck was resurrected as an outlaw style chopper?

Royal Enfield Indian after 40 years in barn

Starting in 1955, Tomahawk motorcycles sold in the United States by the Indian motorcycle company were 500cc twins made by Royal Enfield in Britain. U.S. owners of these now rare motorcycles naturally pay attention to Royal Enfields as a source of parts and information. Here's an email from one owner:

"My name is Andy Amescua and live in central Texas. I was trying to find info on the 1955 Tomahawk on the Internet when I saw the picture of the one buried in the dirt. I have owned one for over 40 years and just last month pulled it out of the barn and am trying to to do something with it.

"When I bought it it was in boxes, but almost all the parts are here. I think it is a '55 because it has the turned up exhaust pipes, no badge on the case, and the upside plate holder and tail light. The frame number is 4378, motor number is W5 4256.

"I wonder how many of the bikes are still around. Do you know where I can get manuals or parts books? Thank you for help."

Anyone out there have advice or information for Andy? Leave a comment here.