Three Royal Enfield Interceptors for sale as a package

Restored 1965 Royal Enfield Interceptor Mike Warde has owned since 1970.

UPDATE: The motorcycles have sold.

Wanted: a good home for three vintage Royal Enfield Interceptors, now located in South Florida. At 76, Mike Warde is parting with his collection, including a restored 1965 Interceptor he has owned since 1970. He's done with kick starting, is downsizing before a move, and would like his motorcycles to go together to a collector or enthusiast. His hoard of extra parts go with the package deal.

If you think you might be the one, email Mike at mikeawarde@gmail.com

Here is his description of what he has:

"All have been used very little. They all have the appropriate original frames and transmissions.

One 1965 Interceptor is together and running.

"1965 Interceptor YB16159 I bought in 1970 while based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. from another pilot. It is together and running great when parked (about seven years ago). There is an oil leak from a misaligned pushrod tunnel oil seal...

"1965 Interceptor YB16625 was bought not running in 1973 and taken apart for restoration, which was never accomplished. All the parts are there and some extras... The engine is complete and ready to be vapor blasted and reassembled. The frame is painted black with no blemishes... The wheel rims are quality rechromed. Cad plating on spokes and other bits. New boxes of wheel bearings with extras. Both tanks are Candy Apple Red. Chrome fenders not installed. There are too many buffed and polished side covers for engines and transmissions, wheel hubs, fork tubes and the other aluminum pieces. The buffing and polishing was done professionally at a cost of $700. They were then sealed up (that's why their communal pictures look hazy in clear plastic. But they look great.) New front end stanchions or whatever they are called. I have receipts for most. No title.

Polished parts wrapped for preservation.

Chromed fenders.

Candy Apple Red.

"1968 Mk 1A 526. It is desirable because of the Series one engine and, if accurately restored, the beautiful later lines of the tank, seat and fenders. (It is) an incomplete basket case... No attempt to restore or reassemble done by me. No instruments, seat and more. There is a big box of parts. The front end is different from the YB's. This will be a project for someone who knows the 526 era bikes. There is a rebuilt mag, new and old chain guard, side cases and a spare or two. Polished hubs and cad plated spokes, new wheel bearings. No title."

This Royal Enfield is a project.

There's always a story behind vintage motorcycles. I asked Mike how he came into such a wealth of Interceptors.

"My Interceptor experience was not colorful: no racing, cross country journeys etc. The first bike was a 1965 Honda S-90. I was working for the summer on Cape Cod and needed transportation. I used all my life savings, $300, to buy it.

"While back at C.W. Post College I rode the S-90 to a motorcycle shop at Huntington Station, Long Island, N.Y. (and) I saw this gorgeous Royal Enfield Interceptor: maybe someday I could afford one?

"By 1970 I was a Navy A-4 Pilot with a wife and baby. Between aircraft carrier (USS Hancock) cruises to South Easy Asia, I bought a 1965 R.E. Interceptor, YB16159.  Another attack pilot's wife was told to sell it while he was also flying combat missions in and around Viet Nam.

"By 1973, I had gotten out of the Navy after seven years. Found another non running 1965 Royal Enfield Interceptor, YB16625, that needed saving. The rationale was the spare parts were hard to come by and that in the long run maybe it would be restored because it was so complete.

"Part sources were difficult. U.S. sources were Sammy Pierce, Green Light, Dick's Royal Enfield West, Sam Avellino. My wife and I visited UK sources on all our trips: Alan Hitchcock, Burton Bike Bits-Mick Page, Keith Benton.

"I used only the first Interceptor around town, wherever we lived. I started flying for the airlines in 1980 and retired in 2003 at 60. I refrained from riding much to protect my flying (physicals) career during those years.

"I restored the first Interceptor and readied the second Interceptor for assembly. But: a 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub needed saving, as did a 1966 Ducati Sebring, a 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo, and then a gorgeous BSA Gold Star DBD, (impeccably restored and documented by Mike Loper).

"I also acquired a very nice 1958 Velocette Venom 1 1/2 years ago...

"The Cub and CX500 were sold; now the rest need good owners.

"But we still have the 1964 Austin Healey I bought in Pensacola in 1967."

Mike Warde's son Kevin, now 51, on 1965 Interceptor.
I love the fact that his feet are on the retracted passenger pegs.