North Wisconsin Royal E Interceptor

Sub 13 second 105 MPH 1/4 mile for the Interceptor? Sounds a trifle optimistic.
I had a once upon a time Interceptor owner in my shop recently. He told me how his Interceptor was soooo much faster than any Commando. In reality, by the time an Interceptor reaches 100 MPH, a good Commando can go zero to 100 to zero and have the kickstand down. No comparo.
According to this test, my 650ss would kick an Interceptors butt for acceleration. A Commando would eat it alive.
The pertinent numbers are snipped, so here they are:
1/4 mile in 14.82 seconds and 87 MPH. Zero to 100 in 23 seconds.

Glen

If you look , youll see that's into a headwind . That must be what cost him the two seconds . :wink:

Must have been a force 5 hurricane!

jimbo said:

Anyone know this story behind this bike? :?

Funny locked up motor that just happened with no warning. :cry:

I'd rather have a newer version with the Roadholders but it seems like it could made into something pretty nice

http://sheboygan.craigslist.org/mcy/4505919883.html

Click to expand...

Wisc RE is gone :?

Few points of clarification:

Four models of interceptor exist, VAX, Mk1, Mk1a and Mk2, along with some scraps of other ones. You're looking at ~6k-10k for one in good running shape depending on the state of restoration. You could be looking at more for a mk2. Easier to find Mk1's than 1a or 2's. You can also find a WHOLE bunch of Indian (the american company) bikes that use the interceptor engine and are essentially re-branded RE twins.

Mk1's were magneto powered and had a pair of monoblocs. They had factory hot cam options and featured a pretty quick steering geometry and front end typical of Enfield's. Brakes were...not that great up front, and pretty good out back. 1A's had a points setup and twin concentrics (open velocity stacks from factory) and came with either upswept pipes or straight pipes with pretty much no baffling. Mk2's had a different bottom end with a wet sump, better clutch, and different cams.

The problem with interceptors is the parts prices when things go. For example, the clutch. If the clutch pops, the original clutches are so hard to come by that you won't be able to find a spare easily (they also have weak clutch centers, so that's a problem). This is doubly awful with the Mk2, where even clutch plates are hard to come by (the steels are near impossible, and the fibers are produced but very expensive). When engine bits wear out (which they do from the higher level of power and the open carbs) you're looking at big money for all the bits and pieces, down to the bearings and rods. They're great bikes to ride and run, but they have one of the quickest 0-$6000 times of any bike I've seen from that era. The other aspect of this problem is that the value does not correspond to this as they're pretty rare and not that well known. When you get one they're more difficult to move and don't seem to hold the same value as a comparable bike from a different make.

Having owned a 1a, I'll say flat out that they're nicer bikes than the mk2 to own. A stock 1a can look really really nice without the over the top chrome tank and upswept pipes on the mk2. The fact that you can share parts (mainly) between mk1's and mk1a's is also a really nice feature. The brakes and forks are nicer on the mk2, but those are easily addressed upgrades on the older ones for not a lot of money. Dollars to donuts I'd take a 1 or 1a anyday over a mk2. They may not be amazing bikes performance wise or serviceability wise, but they sure are pretty.

Mk1a for reference: http://imgur.com/hBTy5QP

Mk2 for reference: http://imgur.com/WRL70EZ

Enfield's are rare, the parts aren't that hard to find, Burton's and Hitchcock's have plenty, someone is casting new barrels, heads are scarce but are 100% rebuildable (Memphis Motor Werks--Leo Goff-- replaced my valve seats).

I found this one in the basement of a Funeral Home in bits, but after two trips back to the seller I had 95% of what was needed to put the motorcycle back together and get it running:



This is not for sale, but I'd bet that I could get more for it than a Norton of equivalent physical stature, but I don't know and don't plan to test the waters. This is a very nice running S1, a 1967 Mk1a, it had an S2 clutch hub and basket when I bought it, it came with a new wiring harness and charging system that work quite well, I put a TriSpark in it so I wouldn't have to go crazy trying to get my arthritic fingers at the points under the carbs.

She's a beauty, amazing job on the resto! The one I linked above WAS mine (just sold), so you can telI have a thing for mk1a interceptors (also a '67). Do you find it a bear to get on the center stand too? You're also half right about the value. The $$ for it can be found, but finding a buyer who wants one is actually surprisingly difficult. It seems especially difficult to sell a Mk1a or Mk1 as people are (for some reason) terrified of the dry sump. You're lucky to have the SII clutch hub, ask me how I know :roll:

Anyone know of a MKII for sale?

One just sold. Last winter, if memory serves, a fully restoed one sold in the upper midwest. Stateside, those are the only two I knew about
since then. Not saying an entire fleet went under the hammer, I just didnt hear. Oh, a fellow locally was flogging his Mk1 chopper but got no takers as far
as I know. Did consider it but older and wiser.
My S2 obtained for the steep sum of 800 USD complete in early 80s had all the problems mentioned. This was long before the internet and
long after the factory closed so knowledge and parts were equally scarce. Sam "The Pirate" Avelino was still in business so he was the source
of parts. Bigger problem was knowledge and simply following the shop manual was a road to failure. Clutch wasnt tough enough, gearbox was
pathetic, two problems never really solved.
Today S2 is a much better prospect. Hitchcock's offers newly UK manufactured 5 speed boxes of modern design obviating the gearbox pitfall.
Clutch too can be replaced in its entirety with a BNR unit either the chain or belt drive. These two items will cost about half of what you pay
for a decent S2 but allows you to concentrate on the many minor problems which will occur. Nothing that a good man with a machine shop cannot
handle.
Cycle parts will cost you if you can find them. Having recently finished a full Commando resto and nearly finished a full Trident project Ive learned
that the supply of NOS stuf is dwindling and it is a lot better to restore an original piece off your bike than try to fit a pattern piece. With a Enfield
it is worse and most of the cycle parts out there are Indian. If you go for a S1 , a, or S2 try to find a complete and running bike. Go high end
in the long run it will be easier and probably the same money.

I think the thread was started because of the one in Wisc, not finished ,kind of messed up.



Anyone know this story behind this bike? :?

Funny locked up motor that just happened with no warning. :cry:

I'd rather have a newer version with the Roadholders but it seems like it could made into something pretty nice

http://sheboygan.craigslist.org/mcy/4505919883.html

Onder said:

One just sold. Last winter, if memory serves, a fully restoed one sold in the upper midwest. Stateside, those are the only two I knew about
since then. Not saying an entire fleet went under the hammer, I just didnt hear. Oh, a fellow locally was flogging his Mk1 chopper but got no takers as far
as I know. Did consider it but older and wiser.
My S2 obtained for the steep sum of 800 USD complete in early 80s had all the problems mentioned. This was long before the internet and
long after the factory closed so knowledge and parts were equally scarce. Sam "The Pirate" Avelino was still in business so he was the source
of parts. Bigger problem was knowledge and simply following the shop manual was a road to failure. Clutch wasnt tough enough, gearbox was
pathetic, two problems never really solved.
Today S2 is a much better prospect. Hitchcock's offers newly UK manufactured 5 speed boxes of modern design obviating the gearbox pitfall.
Clutch too can be replaced in its entirety with a BNR unit either the chain or belt drive. These two items will cost about half of what you pay
for a decent S2 but allows you to concentrate on the many minor problems which will occur. Nothing that a good man with a machine shop cannot
handle.
Cycle parts will cost you if you can find them. Having recently finished a full Commando resto and nearly finished a full Trident project Ive learned
that the supply of NOS stuf is dwindling and it is a lot better to restore an original piece off your bike than try to fit a pattern piece. With a Enfield
it is worse and most of the cycle parts out there are Indian. If you go for a S1 , a, or S2 try to find a complete and running bike. Go high end
in the long run it will be easier and probably the same money.

Click to expand...

Found a ratty MKII seems to be all there, restoration candidate, wonder what a good price would be?

It depends on how ratty it is, how complete and what your goal is. Easy to do the numbers on a mechanical overhaul. Pretty easy to figure the chrome bill and there is a LOT of plating on those barges. A nice one done can bring almost as much as it costs to renew one.
My experience is that you are better off replating, repainting, re-whatever than using new made parts. There are not a lot of genuine cycle parts in new
condition left and repro stuff isnt always up to snuff.
When you are done your bike will not be as serviceable as a Commando sadly. By S2 time, they were outclassed by just about all the other brit bikes. Not
saying they arent a nice bike just that others are faster, more reliable, handle better and vibrate less. Oh, wait, they have more chrome~!

Yea it always goes back to the Commando.

An S2 in visually excellent shape that runs well enough to ride can go for around 10k ball park. If you don't have the to touch the engine and no panels are missing it's probably worth it if cheap. The $$$ items for the S2 are actually not that bad nowadays, as there are plenty of sources for them.

Usual suspect for a resto bike:

> Seat: http://britishbikebits.com/dual-seat-wi ... BcHqfldVTI
> Tank: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ROYAL-ENFIE ... e5&vxp=mtr
> Mufflers/headers: http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/pa ... _Footrests
> Fork Tubes: http://britishbikebits.com/main-fork-tu ... BcJ4PldVTI
> Gaiters: http://britishbikebits.com/fork-gaiters ... BcKHfldVTI
> Fork Rebuild: http://britishbikebits.com/fork-bush-se ... BcKIPldVTI
> Harness: http://britishbikebits.com/cloth-wiring ... BcK3_ldVTI

All of that is ~$1800 shipped. Tack on ~100-150 for cables, $100 for a battery, $200 for tires, $80 for brake shoes. To get it running simply and not affect value, tack on $300 for a podtronix and electronic ignition with coils. That sits you somewhere in the ballpark of the $2500 range.

Missing items cost a lot, so a quick inventory of missing levers, mounts (check the battery and air filter area), etc... will get you a good estimate there. Fenders and stuff are available for ~$400 for a pair of something in that range, depending on shame, easier to replace than rechrome. If rims need to be replaced, they're pretty common, so it's not that bad.

Engine wise, if anything is up, be prepared to spend a lot of money very quick. When I put together pricing for a Mk1, a rebuild is upwards of $1500 depending on what needs to be replaced (cams, pistons, guides, etc...).

If you care about originality then all the reproduction stuff will disappoint you. It never looks exactly the same and Im not talking solely about Interceptors.
Rims are the usual WM3 and WM2 Dunlops and Jones but finding them in great shape isnt that easy or cheap. Devon rims in SS are nice but not
original.
If you just want a presentable decent running ride you can do it for a lot less. But at sale time you will be after different buyers.
Not saying one is better or more correct than the other just two kinds of fish.

Problem with a dead stock powerunit rebuild is you now have brand new flawed powerunit. Rectifying this is where the numbers start to spin
awful fast. But it is a case of do it now or do it later.

he wants $12k for the project! :roll: I wouldn't put too much repro stuff on it myself

Very true points onder. It's a tough market and a pricey bike to do that in. The real problem as well is that finding a buyer is tough. Those who don't know of enfield shy away. Those who know often know better. That leaves a few of us nuts left to actually buy the bikes!

@ Jimbo, this is what 12k apparently buys! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Royal-Enfield-1 ... otorcycles

A project interceptor should be in the 2-4kish range if it needs some parts but is salvagable and not stuck.

where was I with that one???? :shock: I think I'll stay with Nortons

midnightlamp said:

.......
@ Jimbo, this is what 12k apparently buys! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Royal-Enfield-1 ... otorcycles

A project interceptor should be in the 2-4kish range if it needs some parts but is salvagable and not stuck.

Click to expand...

I think it was Hitchcock who said he was a RE nut but not a fan. Says it all. If you dont know you will , if you do know then it is just a hobby like some fellows following a sports team that hasnt won a cup since their grandfather was a boy. It is just a game, a hobby. Logic need not apply.
However most of us are of a certain age. If you have had a look at Anikit's self built Musket then you know he rushed the first serial production unit to fruition
because the buyer is, sadly, facing advancing cancer. The guy can still ride but it has to be now. Take a clue my friends, we may not have cancer but we are
facing accelerating age and you arent going to be riding in more than 10 years or maybe 15 if you are astonishingly lucky. So the 12k Enfield becomes
not a case of how much but when. You want to wait another few years to find the "right" one? Wrong move.
Keep in mind: When you are young it is always about money, when you are old it always about time. You can always make more money but you can never make more time.
You cannot take the bike or the money with you.

Buy now fix now ride now worry later.

Onder said:

..... When you are young it is always about money, when you are old it always about time. You can always make more money but you can never make more time.......

Click to expand...

+1 ----truer words were never spoken, I'll just add my high school motto--Go For It !