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| Here's how to find out how old your Royal Enfield is. |
If you would like to know how old your Royal Enfield is, or just wish to have its age confirmed, email your frame and engine numbers to Graham.Scarth01@gmail.com
Graham is happy to be of assistance in this matter to all RE owners wherever they reside. Note that you may be asked to provide photos of the number stampings, along with one of the complete machine.
Graham Scarth has offered to help Royal Enfield owners the world over "date" their Royal Enfield motorcycles.
The task is far more difficult than it sounds and, what's more, Graham has offered to do it for free.
Graham will try to help date your Royal Enfield whether it's a British made Interceptor, an Indian Tomahawk built by Royal Enfield for sale in the United States, or an early Royal Enfield Bullet made in India. He will try to date any Royal Enfield motorcycle for you.
The important numbers, letter prefixes and suffixes (send them all) will be on the left side (facing forward) of the motor, and on the left side (facing forward) of the headstock.
The task is far more difficult than it sounds and, what's more, Graham has offered to do it for free.
Graham will try to help date your Royal Enfield whether it's a British made Interceptor, an Indian Tomahawk built by Royal Enfield for sale in the United States, or an early Royal Enfield Bullet made in India. He will try to date any Royal Enfield motorcycle for you.
The important numbers, letter prefixes and suffixes (send them all) will be on the left side (facing forward) of the motor, and on the left side (facing forward) of the headstock.
Some Royal Enfields will have numbers on the front of the crankcase — send them along, they can be helpful.
Numbers on the gearbox don't determine dating, but Graham finds them informative. Please include them.
Numbers on the gearbox don't determine dating, but Graham finds them informative. Please include them.
The numbers on the right side of the headstock are casting numbers (they stick out) and are not useful.
This is a hugely unselfish offer Graham has made. I hope that Royal Enfield owners who contact him for help do so with the appropriate gratitude.
They should also realize that they must provide accurate information, and that, even then, accurate dating may not be possible in all cases.
Please don't bother Graham if your Royal Enfield was officially imported into the United States from 1995, and has a VIN number. You can easily decode the VIN number yourself.
But it can be a lot more difficult if you own a vintage Royal Enfield motorcycle made in Britain or one of the early Royal Enfield Bullets from India.
The Royal Enfield Owners Club UK has original records from the factory in Britain. But these are incomplete. Factory workers sometimes made errors in the records, just as they sometimes made errors when they stamped the numbers in the metal.
This is why Graham appreciates clear digital photos of the numbers and the motorcycle itself. Sometimes the very layout of the number and suffixes is significant. Sometimes he can detect a typographical error.
And sometimes the only way to effectively date the motorcycle will be by looking at it. (But, of course, maintenance and restoration may have altered a motorcycle's features and appearance.)
A further unfortunate problem is that counterfeiters exist. Numbers are altered in an attempt to increase a motorcycle's value by making the "numbers match," or making the bike seem more historic than it is. They try to fool government agents into allowing exceptions for vintage motorcycles or to make the motorcycle match existing paperwork.
It all makes dating a Royal Enfield a challenge. The hobby is lucky to have someone who is willing to attempt such an important task.
This is a hugely unselfish offer Graham has made. I hope that Royal Enfield owners who contact him for help do so with the appropriate gratitude.
They should also realize that they must provide accurate information, and that, even then, accurate dating may not be possible in all cases.
Please don't bother Graham if your Royal Enfield was officially imported into the United States from 1995, and has a VIN number. You can easily decode the VIN number yourself.
But it can be a lot more difficult if you own a vintage Royal Enfield motorcycle made in Britain or one of the early Royal Enfield Bullets from India.
The Royal Enfield Owners Club UK has original records from the factory in Britain. But these are incomplete. Factory workers sometimes made errors in the records, just as they sometimes made errors when they stamped the numbers in the metal.
This is why Graham appreciates clear digital photos of the numbers and the motorcycle itself. Sometimes the very layout of the number and suffixes is significant. Sometimes he can detect a typographical error.
And sometimes the only way to effectively date the motorcycle will be by looking at it. (But, of course, maintenance and restoration may have altered a motorcycle's features and appearance.)
A further unfortunate problem is that counterfeiters exist. Numbers are altered in an attempt to increase a motorcycle's value by making the "numbers match," or making the bike seem more historic than it is. They try to fool government agents into allowing exceptions for vintage motorcycles or to make the motorcycle match existing paperwork.
It all makes dating a Royal Enfield a challenge. The hobby is lucky to have someone who is willing to attempt such an important task.
Hi David, I posted a picture in your Twitter timeline (as @enfielder) since I couldn't figure out how the do that here. Basically I wanted to show you that I have what appears to be a date stamped in the engine block, right under the tappet cover. It says 17 09 99. My RE Bullet 500 (exact same colouring as yours on your 2001 picture) has an X in position 10 of the VIN, and a 4-wire alternator, positioning it in the second half of 1999.
ReplyDeleteI bought the bike in 2010 while living in Greece. The seller told me he ordered it new from the dealer/importer in Athens in 2000. I have no idea where the importer sourced them, I went there but the business has been taking over by other people, they couldn't (be bothered to) tell me anything.
I've never heard about such precise date being stamped in the engine block, so I'd like to have your opinion on that.
I just checked and my 1999 Bullet has no such marking under the tappet cover. I'm stumped.
DeleteMy number o n front egine ARE. P7A6FAL10333841vvthere are no numbers o right side want to k own size¹what year a d
DeleteI have an old RE with no motor. I think its from the 40's but not sure where to look for the numbers. It has a plate on the rear fender but hard to make out the writing. I'm not sure how to send photos here. I tried the e-mail link on this page but it won't work. Any help
ReplyDeletefrom someone will be appreciated. Thank you
Anthony
Anthony, email links are troublesome. TYPE the email address graham.scarth01@gmail.com into your email yourself and attach your photos and I suspect that will work. The frame number should be on the left side (facing forward) of the headstock. If you have the gearbox that may have relevant numbers as well. Good photos of what you have will help Graham date the bike. Good luck.
Deleteg22601 is frame and engine number can you tell me the year please
ReplyDeleteHi David, Good morning. You have mentioned the email address graham.scarth01@gmail.com for getting the enfield bullet manufacture details on 2017. Still the address is valid? If the address is changed can you please share the new email address for getting the details please? I have bought a 1971 model Royal Enfield and i am very excited to know whether this bike is made in England. My bike engine number is B104914-1K EI66914. Both engine and frame have same number. If you know any details about this series please share with me and i am very much excited to know whether it is made in England Reddich factory. Thanks much in Advance
ReplyDeleteS.Sivababu
The email address graham.scarth01@gmail.com is correct. Note that it ends in zero-one, not oh-one. I hope he can help you. All best.
DeleteSir I just bought a royal enfield in Rc it says its 1973 but some of my friends saying that its not 1973 model
ReplyDeleteCan u help me regarding this
And how can I send my bike pics to u
The blog item on which you've commented explains how you might be able to get answers to your questions. Email your photos and information you do have about the bike to graham.scarth01@gmail.com and be sure to thank him for his advice.
DeleteSir kindly say me.i plan to bought a 1964 model RE.engine no,G2-59707/E1-21707, chassis no.G2-59707/E1-21707
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to buy a RE trails bike from a recently deceased classic trials member in the sought east. I will pop an email over to the above mentioned address with engine and frame numbers and pictures. Your help would be HUGELY appreciated, especially as the funds for the bike will go to his nominated charity.
ReplyDeleteJust found a bike complete been in a garage for over 50 year frame and engine number 8329
ReplyDelete