Rare Royal Enfield Fury still sought after

Imagine a Royal Enfield Bullet that could keep up with the fastest bikes then available? Such a machine existed in the 1960s and, in America, you could buy it from the factory. It was the Royal Enfield Fury and it remains a kind of Holy Grail even today for those who would make their Bullets go faster.

Ian Chadwick's authoritative history of Royal Enfield describes the Fury this way:

"The Royal Enfield Fury, produced (between 1959 and 1963) for the U.S. market, is essentially the same bike as the Bullet (both 350 and 500cc models), capable of reaching the 100 mph mark (a 350cc Enfield tuned by Steve Lindsell in the late 1970s reached 95.64 mph).

"It differed from the Bullet by having a larger inlet port, an Alfin aluminum alloy barrel with cast liner (instead of the Bullet's iron) and a higher compression piston (8.9:1 instead of 7.3:1). It also had a flange for mounting an optional rev counter, an 18-inch rear and 19-inch front wheel. Between 1959 and 1963, only 191 machines were made. The 500cc boasted a 40 bhp output, up from the UK models' production of 27 bhp. A 600cc model was also made for a short period."

Furys were real, but they're hard to find. The picture above is of one that was re-imported into the UK and came up for sale there in April.

People won't stop looking, though. The following ad appeared recently on CraigsList in Denver:

"Does anybody have a Royal Enfield Fury they may be willing to part with. Fury motor? Fury cylinder head? Any Royal Enfield flat track items? Thanks."

The would-be buyer is under no illusions that he will get instant results. He is Kenneth Hargens, and he told me:

"I always admired those folks who raced the Royal Enfield brand. I realize that the fastest Royal Enfield singles were those that had the 'doghouse' or Fury head. I have a well-beaten vintage Royal Enfield and I would like to increase its performance with the Fury cylinder head. It is rare to see one advertised for sale."

Hargens says he has 62 vintage and classic motorcycles in his collection and "I'll just have to be content with blasting around the hills to the music of the shorty megaphone on my Goldstar!!"

If anyone has Fury items for sale, please contact Hargens through his CraigsList ad.