Royal Enfield Superstar was top of the line model

It's a Royal Enfield Bullet. But look closer.

A CraigsList ad for an unusual looking Royal Enfield caught the eye of Brian, of Long Island. The ad didn't tell him very much about the motorcycle:

"Selling a 1989 Royal Enfield," the seller wrote. "Don't know much about it. In good shape. Run last summer. Sold with title but title has bike's year listed as 1959."

Gaiters, instrument pod, "Enfield" tank badge.

The pictures showed a Royal Enfield Bullet, but with unusual fork gaiters and separate instrument pods instead of the typical casquette. Brian emailed me to ask what I could tell him about this Royal Enfield.

I think the Royal Enfield in the ad is a Superstar, a 350cc model briefly produced for the Indian market and never officially exported to the United States.

Bullet Superstar brochure.

It was a motorcycle of the 1980s. One source lists the Superstar for 1988, '89 and '90. It was considered a top model, above the Deluxe.

Enfields were not officially imported into the U.S. in modern times until 1995. Thus this motorcycle has to be a private import. Its date of manufacture may have been given as 1959 to dodge import or registration regulations.

Instrument pod is attractive, has the light switch at center.

I don't know what it would be like to register it now, or how available parts might be. On the other hand, it's a pretty motorcycle and the buyer is guaranteed never to see another like it in town, even at a gathering of other Royal Enfields.

Ignition switch is in the right-hand toolbox.

Oddly, I may have written about this very motorcycle once before, when the would-be seller wrote to ask about it.

Unusual look for a Bullet; lots of chrome.

Any Superstar owners out there want to fill us in on details? Leave a comment below.