Royal Enfield motorcycles are core of amazing collection

John Ruff of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada has managed to gather 28 Royal Enfields plus parts of another 20 or so motors. It's not just a collection — he works on them. Join him as he walks us through more of his amazing menagerie in his own words. (Note: the pictures are somewhat out of date and most of these projects have moved beyond what you see here).

BEFORE: 1935 Royal Enfield Model LO motor.

"Found this very rare 1935 Royal Enfield Model LO three-valve at an automotive swap meet. Did not know what it was other than being a Royal Enfield. Turned out (Royal Enfield expert) Roy MacMillan wanted it real bad, so I traded it to him for the GP carb, a bottom end rebuild on a '54 700 Meteor motor, couple wheels for a Norman and a promise to build the Super Five motor when I find tranny parts. When I dropped off the motor I picked up a unit 250 Works Trials Replica near completion from him.

AFTER: Royal Enfield Model LO sloper.

"Here's the LO after I cleaned it up. What a beauty, eh? One year only. Quite a find. Roy has been working on building a bike around this unit. He will do it, whereas I do not have the contacts, mechanical experience or the qualifications to do it myself. Only reason I let him have it was so it could be a motorcycle again.

Royal Enfield 250 Clipper with DKW front end.

"Here's what I call the World's Second Slowest Indian. A 250 Clipper or, in the States an Indian Hounds Arrow I believe. Found a bunch of real Indian and Harley parts at a farm (another story altogether) and built a 1940 and most of a '46 Chief. Did some trading and got a 250 Indian frame with the motor and tranny bolted up together. That was all, nothing else.

"Frame ended up being bent badly. Found a frame at the same automotive swap meet that the LO came from. Saw a DKW at another meet in the Fall. It was just a frame, with the front end on it and a gas tank. Bought it for $50. Modified the front end to suit the Clipper and proceeded to make up the rest of the bracketry to mount some parts that were kicking about. Keeps me busy during our long winters. Have not run it yet

Royal Enfield Super 5 awaits attention.

"The Super Five as it was purchased and still is. Waiting for a redo. Missing the five-speed tranny, the covers for the bottom links of the forks and a couple other minor pieces. Another pretty rare Enfield. At least in this country.

Just one wall of John's shop.

"One wall of the shop at the cottage. Has been changed a bit since the picture. Fuller. Motors are all empty, parts are all cleaned up. Hobby way out of hand, as they say.

John's Royal Enfield Interceptor.

"My ride for the last four years, a 1A TT Interceptor 1967-'68, last year before the Series II. Original, unrestored. Another story again altogether.

1950 Royal Enfield Model RE.

"The Model RE after a major parts search and redo. 1950 model, 125cc. Picture is upstairs at the shop.

"Have I worn you out yet?

1952 Model RE is a project.

"Here is yet another picture of a project that I have not started as yet. Still missing a few bits, but pretty complete just the same. 1952 (I believe) RE2 125cc two stroke.

Works trials replica; a pretty little thing.

"Here is a shot of a Works Trials Replica that I made a deal with Roy on. He phoned one day and told me he was going to build one of these models. Continued to say that he had parts to build up most of another one. Only four had come into Canada. Was I interested in the parts one? I said OK, but while you are doing yours, do mine too. Waiting now for dimensions for a skid plate, so one can be fabbed up. Also need the quick disconnect plug in for headlight and full trials type exhaust. Couple other minor things. Pretty little thing though.

Royal Enfield Model G or J.

"A project, rigid late '30s Model G or J, need lots for this one.

1927 AJS as found.

"Found this '20s AJS. Had a motor for 17 years. Finally found a frame for it.

Ariel Square Four.

"An Ariel Square Four that I have been gathering parts for now at least the last 20 years. Built it like this but need to redo, as the motor is a 1950 and frame is a 1953. Now have a '50 frame, front fender and gas tank, so want to build it as a 1950. Will sell off the other parts to help finance this project. My daughter's name is Ariel.

American Moto-Scoot.

"Ever see one of these? Bought barn fresh out of bargain paper. Late '30s early '40s American Moto-Scoot. Got it running. Going to sell one day, once a buyer is found.

Indian Woodsman 500cc.

"Indian Woodsman 500cc project. All the body parts are the Royal Enfield India take off stuff. Just made up different brackets to suit, so I did not have to modify original parts. Something I usually do so if the original stuff is found at a later date, then the parts can go on another project without any trouble.

Royal Enfield Constellation.

"Constellation project. It is a little better since these pictures were taken.

1950 Royal Enfield Model G.

"1950 Model G project. Not much further on this one than what the picture shows.

1950 Royal Enfield 500 twin.

"1950 500 Twin project. Managed to do a bit more to it since the picture was taken.

Strange but oddly appealing snow-goer.

"Oddball snowmachine I picked up. Alsport Tracker. Very little info out there on these that I can find. Going to have to sell it. Takes up too much room. Made in Ohio. Skis in winter, wheels in summer, double track, two seater with reverse. Cool; rare, I think.

Royal Enfield built three-wheeler.

"A three-wheeled Royal Enfield. Actually it is a Pashley. In the States it was called an Indian Patrol Car. Usually red or black. Fifty of these came over to Toronto, Hamiliton area to be used by the Police. Usually for the meter maids to mark tires to see how long a vehicle was parked in the same place and to collect money from the meters. The operators wore a green outfit and rode these yellow machines. They were nicknamed the Green Hornets.

"This one was originally used by the Toronto Police, then went to the Barrie Police. Auctioned off there and used at a campground. Bought from there and taken apart for resto. Nothing was done and it was exchanged a couple more times and I finally ended up with it and just put it all back together. Tank is off another parts one that I had already. The other parts one, the motor had been sent to Trans Anglo Iran in 1960.  Wonder how it got here?"

Royal Enfield and "chick" ride the Tail of the Dragon

Leigh Murphy was a Highlights photo on Killboy.com

"Chick on a Royal Enfield!" is the title of a highlight photo posted on the Killboy website.

Killboy photographers capture pictures of riders on the legendary  Tail of the Dragon, U.S. 129 between Deals Gap, N.C. and Tennessee.

The road offers 318 curves in only 11 mountainous miles. Riders naturally want a picture of themselves leaning into a curve, and Killboy obliges. The best shots go into the "Highlights" section.

This "chick" is Leigh Murphy, and the Royal Enfield is her 2005 Royal Enfield Bullet, "Absinthe."

"I was at Deals Gap on Oct. 27 and happily survived a rainy, cold, leaf covered trip through the Dragon on Absinthe!" she writes.

"I even encountered two big rigs on the run, too." That's significant and scary. Big trucks are a serious problem on the narrow mountain road, and motorcyclists have created an online petition to ban them.

Otherwise, Leigh had no complaints.

"The drum brakes and old school tires did just fine. In fact I had a better time with that than the brakes on my Toyota on the way up there with the trailer. Those were smoking by the time I arrived at the south end of the Gap!"

Leigh Murphy and Absinthe take on The Dragon.

"This is me after going up and back in the persistent light rain. The run had a lot of new fallen leaves, which at least kept all the rocket heads off it. I was wet, cold, and shivering but happy. I didn't realize the official sign was behind me."

The Tail of the Dragon is a terrific accomplishment on any motorcycle. Leigh told me in 2010 that "I've never owned a bike before and when I bought this, I'd never even ridden one. I still have a steep learning curve to climb."

She climbed it on her Royal Enfield.

I'd like to try it sometime, but Fort Lauderdale is a long way from Deals Gap.

"Those mountains will be there when you get around to going," Leigh assured me. "I just made myself do it when I happened to have the time (no job) and a little extra cash. I cold camped in my car in the parking area of a sapphire mine in Franklin for $15 a night. The last day I woke up it was 38 degrees in my car.  My biggest expense was gas for car and bike."

Check out the Tail of the Dragon brochure, here.

There are many videos of riders zooming through the 318 curves, but my favorite is this funny, short feature made by the rider of a sport bike caught behind an incredibly slow couple on a cruiser. It gives you a feel for the road and its frustrations.

Would you trade your Royal Enfield for a snowplow?

Snowplow photo from www.Hiniker.com

The long winter "up north" (as those of us in Florida call the rest of the United States) has taken its toll on a particular snowplow driver.

He wants a Royal Enfield Bullet, 2007 or newer, must be the five speed Classic, with the AVL motor, not the new fuel injection.

In trade, he's offering his 2001 snowplow truck, a black Dodge 2500 with four-wheel drive, new tires and brakes and a Hiniker plow.

The snowplow is in Tivoli, N.Y., in the Hudson Valley near the Catskill Mountains. But its driver isn't sticking around any longer than he has to:

"I'm going south!" he writes, in his ad on CraigsList.

Royal Enfield captures concours award

Artist and Florida resident Leigh Murphy owns a pretty Royal Enfield motorcycle and now she owns a very pretty trophy to go with it. Here is the surprising story she told me:

"I just ran across your blog while trying to find a new clutch cable for my 2005 Bullet 500. It seems I get two or three rides out of it before something else breaks.

"When I do ride it, I sure get plenty of attention. The distinctive thumper sound was enough to disturb a movie shoot in downtown Jacksonville awhile back.

"I decided to drop you a line to say that I entered it on a whim in the Riding Into History classic motorcycle concours just outside of St. Augustine. The show's theme was Great Bikes of Great Britain and featured the finest old Broughs, Vincents, and huge numbers of Triumphs.

"I've never owned a bike before and when I bought this, I'd never even ridden one. I still have a steep learning curve to climb.

"Surprisingly, the show admitted my bike and even more surprisingly, it won the Best Modern British(?) bike category against assorted Triumphs, Nortons, and another Enfield. That was so unexpected that I didn't even attend the awards ceremony!

"I must say that it made the many hours of detailing worthwhile (tap water has never touched it). My bike isn't a trailer queen although from its recent spate of breakdowns, it wants to be. I really need to read up on troubleshooting and repair basics before I set out to do what I first intended: pack up my plein-air painting kit and hit the road to paint the great outdoors.

"Here I am with 'Absinthe' and award. I think I was as happy with the bike's good behavior that day as with the show results. In the background is the grand prize winning '38 Brough Superior with sidecar."

Congratulations to Leigh and Abinthe, too. We're proud of you.

Blogger uncovers Royal Enfield's past and a 1959 Mercury Parklane as well

Royal Enfield blogger Jorge Pullin of My Royal Enfields produces on ongoing series of posts entitled "Where in..." He uses Google photos to show us what buildings related to Royal Enfield history look like today.

This has a tremendous appeal to me, for some reason. It comes down to a feeling that "if only these walls could speak" we would know more about our heritage.

Today's "Where in..." takes us to Long Beach, Calif., to a shop that was selling a Royal Enfield military motorcycle — in 1947!

Now it's a hole-in-the wall muffler shop. Parked in front is a rare old car that Jorge wonders about. Is that a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, he asks?

No, it isn't, not if we're talking about the same car. I'm old enough to remember riding in a '58 Impala, and it looked nothing like this.

In the Google Street View I found, the car had shifted to the other side of the street. It looks like it's a low rider, and has a "For Sale" sign in the window.

I'd say it's a 1959 Mercury Parklane, like the image below, from the Internet.

Yahoo group built Enfield community

It all began with Martin Walton's Model G Royal Enfield.

Royal Enfield motorcycles, so common in India, were so rare in the United States in 2002 that I had never seen another one on the road and now I had a problem with mine. To get advice I turned to the Internet and was delighted to find the Royal Enfield Yahoo message group swirling with news and gossip, photos, technical tips and, best of all, companionship.

In the years to come I would turn to the group again and again for answers to my questions and reassurance that whatever I broke, someone knew how to fix.

More often, I followed the group's messages simply for entertainment. Watching members from around the world spar with one another over carburetors and politics, oil pumps and wars, friendly chatter and racism, I came to feel I practically knew these people. Occasionally, characters like the (probably) fictional Maj. Bunty Golightly reminded me that the punches were just electrons and it was all really just for fun.

Jan. 27, longtime moderator Martin Walton announced that he had approved the 2,500th member since the group was created 10 years ago. His message pointed out that: "Soon after I started this group in 1998, I was told by some expert that the maximum number of members for a discussion group was around 100 -- any more than that would result in so many arguments and disagreements that the group would fall apart. Glad that it didn't work out like that -- although I never thought we'd grow to this size!"

Arguments and disagreements led to new Yahoo groups as some members broke away. At least two groups prospered and grew. The community fractured but in the end it seemed to be for the good. The conversation broadened and individuals found companions with whom they were comfortable. Walton's light touch on the controls tolerated some heated arguments, despite his fond hope, restated monthly in his "Guidelines for Use," that those who came to abuse would "Please find another list."

As he put it: "This list was created for the FUN, enjoyment and benefit of enthusiasts of Royal Enfield and Enfield India motorcycles. Anyone is welcome to join and participate, providing they don't interfere with others' enjoyment."

Mission accomplished. Here's how Walton describes the beginning:

"As I recall I was fed up of no one locally with Enfield (particularly Model G) expertise, so searched Internet and emailed everyone who might be interested in joining an Enfield discussion group. Initially created on 'egroups' which was taken over by Yahoo. Sweden provided a large proportion of early members, several from UK, with a smaller proportion from Canada, U.S. and India, so it wasn't a U.S. orientated group at all, in fact the number of correspondents writing in Swedish caused a few translation headaches initially. Bullets weren't such a big international seller 10 years ago, so there was probably a wider range of Enfields under discussion, but times have changed. I'm always on the lookout for members who can provide experience -- and photos -- of other Enfield models besides Bullets, to maintain the wide knowledge base and interests of the group.

"The group has always been open to all and is certainly not a preservation society -- more of a 'get out and ride it' ethic, if any predominates. In my opinion, the best bike is one that an owner has developed and modified to suit themselves, not a bog standard or pristine museum piece -- but everyone has a different view -- that's one beauty of motorcycling."

The Guidelines for Use always end with these words:

"In case you wondered, as moderator, I don't get anything out of this, except for a bit of aggravation and a lot of enjoyment... I own a 1952 Royal Enfield Model G which I ride at every opportunity (i.e. between breakdowns). I have been known to ride bikes of various other nationalities and marques. Born in Manchester, I now live in Southampton, England, with my Turkish wife and four kids. Regards, Martin."

When I asked for a picture of Martin and his Model G he was kind enough to wheel it out for a photo in winter weather (the explanation for the snow falling on him at top!).

The Model G in nicer weather.