Bicyclz

Here's one of my Royal Enfield Superlights.
From circa 1960 with 531 mainframe (IE. Not forks or rear stays) which has original paint.
Quite a nice period machine in my opinion.



Brakes, stem, bars not original, but I have them in reserve: )

Bicyclz

No reason it should not go to 50k with all the cool 3 speeds made.
I got a few to add myself yet: )

3speedslow

Interesting Royal Enfield, yes. Is the hub an SA ?

Had the chance to pick up a RE but small frame and most of the parts missing caused me to back off.

Any thoughts on bringing it back to original ?

Bicyclz

I can't see any real problems resuscitating a Royal Enfield.
Much the same as a Raleigh, apart from the particular Raleigh threading. Non Raleighs are simpler because of that, though.

If you tell me what your proposed RE is, I might be able to help more.
I've had many post 1945 Royal Enfields & they are just that little bit different from the norm. (But not enough to put you off trying a rebuild with one: )

The hub on mine is a Sturmey Archer 3 speed. Most REs of the era would have these, if not a single speed.

Sixty Fiver

I am always impressed at this... and just when you think there is nothing new you get to see a Royal Enfield Super Light.

Sixty Fiver

The offerings at this time would have been a singlespeed / fixed gear, or the optional 3 / 4 speed hubs.

My 1955 Lenton came with a fixed wheel that was double stepped... I run it with a fixed / fixed combo but a singlespeed would have been common as well.

Bicyclz

You right Sixty Fiver. Lots of options when you bought a mid 50s Lenton, Clipper, Pathfinder, RE Superlight etc.
Most were S/S or 3/4 speed though. And they could be upgraded later when funds allowed.
So we deal with with what we find, don't we?

Anyway here's a couple, or three, more period 3 speeds. These being Raleigh RSWs:


On top of the Worcestershire Beacon here. (Highest point in the County) We never saw a 'Mountain Bike' on the trip; )
Hard work going up, but hairy coming down....

Another Royal Enfield 3 speed here from 1951:


Last one here, before I overdo it: )
1961 Raleigh Police bike, 3 speed, slightly updated. With heavy duty 3/16" chain, chain-wheel, etc.

BigChief

I know! I love this thread. I learn so much here and get to see all these great bikes. This has been my coffee break hang out. Thanks to all that have taken the time to post here.

curbtender

1950s Raleigh Gent's Standard Bicycle - barn find in Bay Area

BigChief

I've been scanning ebay for some Sturmey Archer parts I need when I came across an auction for a close ratio 4 speed hub. NOS even.
Wish I had a bike that needed it. I thought I'd mention it here just in case. There's also a wide 4 speed...zzz. but a FC4, Holy cow!
Sturmey Archer FC 4 speed Close Ratio 40 hole-6/1951 NOS- Original box

clubman 

Wow. I'll wager it gets $400 minimum. ( what do you need?)

nlerner

That's very cool. Speaking of which, this item arrived today along with a K-series hub:



I could tell it was a lamp bracket, but unlike any I had seen before, whether mounted to a fork boss or to the steerer. Then, I tried fitting it to an old stem made for a head clip:

3speedslow

Nice detective work. I'm still in love with the bracket that mounts to the fork.

Just looks neat.

Got a bike this is going on ?

nlerner

Yeah, an oddball 1930s Raleigh that was made for rod brakes but has been fitted with clamp on rear Phillips brake and a Raleigh front brake. It has a head clip for that stem, but current bars are Torrington with a no-name American-made (I assume) stem. Some pics:

BigChief

I'm rebuilding a Brampton AW hub with an old style threaded driver. Altering it with a modern driver so I can change cogs. SA parts fit. I found a good one. And as always, on the hunt for S5 hubs

Bicyclz

It constantly amazes me how much Sturmey Archer kit is available your side of the pond.
And, the general knowledge there too: )

FC hubs for example! NOS even....
I only see them here (in UK) on Hilary Stones site occasionally, & always at max/atmospheric prices....

Maybe this site could accommodate a dedicated thread for wants/sales of SA gears & parts?
Shipping is not an issue with small parts, but might be with complete hubs.

Just a thought: )

PatrickZ

That's an interesting bike! Are you going to leave it as is? The clamp-on Phillips brake may be my favorite feature.

Bicyclz

Torrington was a model name of Triumph, from the Raleigh Lenton Sports derivatives.
The Rudge Pathfinder, Humber Clipper, were followed by a Triumph Torrington version after they took over Triumph in mid 50s.
Came as a fixed wheel version in that mode, with Triumph lettered chain-wheel.

But all were essentially Lenton Sports, with their own forks, decals & colour schemes.

nlerner

My plan is to put that headclip stem and some kind of drop bars on it, using the existing brake levers.

I believe Torrington was also a US manufacturer of bicycle parts. Here's a pic of the logo on the bar end:

michaelz28

many , many US bike manufacturers used them . schwinn alone has to be responsible for millions .. my schwinn stingray has one .

dweenk

There were a ton of Raleighs sold in the US, as well as the brands that they acquired over the years. In addition, Raleigh built many other bikes as store brands. Then you need to count the 3 speeds built by other countries (Austria in particular) that licensed S/A hub design, and sent bikes here also.

I have 7 Raleighs in my garage at this moment, and at Christmas will have 8 (God willing). I have another Sears with an S/A licensed Steyr hub.

So yes we have a lot of stuff, and I wish we had more.

MeatloafOvadose

Has anyone found any clay/terracotta or brown colored tires in 650A? Id love to find something new for my 650a wheelset.

BigChief

For some reason brown Kendra tires are available in Europe, but not the US.https://www.ridewill.it/p/en/kenda-98...8-brown/31231/

adventurepdx

Yep. Even lowly Huffys and Columbias used Sturmey Archer AW hubs!
That is of course until Shimano introduced the 333 hub. Then all the cheap (and not so cheap) bikes started to use that instead.

adventurepdx

Yeah, if only Schwalbe would do their brown terra cotta they do in other tires on the 650A Delta Cruisers. They offer it in 700C for the Delta Cruisers, but not 650A?