A challenge accepted

by Adrian & Cherry Saunders

What a challenge … to ride a 1927 Model 7 500cc side-valve New Imperial, not only to ride it, but to ride it around the Mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland with my wife Cherry riding pillion.

NIOA member David Erskine set us the challenge early in 2005 whilst we were out with the local section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. David is a great fan of flat-tankers, owning both a New Imperial and a Royal Enfield.

Cherry and I have 3 Royal Enfields between us. I have a 1955 350cc Redditch built Bullet and a 1995 Indian built 500cc Bullet. Cherry passed her motorcycle test in June this year and is now the proud owner of the latest Royal Enfield – a 2005 500cc Bullet Electra-X. Believe it or not, bits off the 1955 still fit the 2005 model !

The event in question was the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Mountains of Mourne weekend for pre-1931 machines. No scope for our Enfields here, so the challenge was accepted, and one Friday evening in July we set off to David’s house to try out our trusty steed for the event.

David carefully explained the starting procedure and after a few abortive attempts I finally managed to kick it into life. I was then instructed in how to carry out a rolling start using the decompressor, a technique David recommended whilst out on the road.

I wobbled off down the driveway and emerged onto a country road. After about a mile I turned round, without stalling, and rode back to David’s house with a grin on my face.

Cherry then jumped on the back and, holding on to my ‘love handles’ off we went on the same route I had followed a few minutes earlier. Stalling as I turned around, the rolling start was put to good use and we then rode back, me with a grin, Cherry with a look of apprehension on her face. I think she thought we were mad. A total of 4 miles before our challenge.

The VMCC ‘Mournes weekend’ duly arrived and we arrived at the hotel late on Friday afternoon. David arrived a short while later and we unloaded the New Imperial and Royal Enfield. The plan was an 80 mile run on Saturday with a 45 mile one on Sunday morning.

Next morning oiled, fuelled and kitted up we set off, equipped with a route sheet and a vague idea of where we were going.

Adrian’s account, edited by Cherry

Right from the start I, as rider, have to say that I did enjoy the challenge, particularly since we completed it without serious incident. My initial concern was coping with hand gear change and lever throttle, plus brakes of considerably less power than I am used to, even remembering that 1990’s Enfield brakes are often not that good. The man who invented the twist grip and foot gear change deserves a medal in my opinion.

My saddle was comfortable and I merrily bounced my way along, even though the ancient Girder forks and solid rear end provided little comfort. Unknown to me until later, Cherry was having problems staying on the pillion and at one point she nearly flew off sideways. It turned out that this was due to trying to follow the route sheet, bark navigation instructions and try to hold on all at the same time. I don’t suppose the lack of rear suspension helped either. She also suffered a sore instep when her foot came down hard on the footrest.

David’s Saturday route went in all 3 directions and dimensions - straight on, left, right, up and down, even backwards at very steep junctions. Mostly using little used country ‘C’ roads, it had hairpin bends, sheep, gravel, hump back bridges, and steep hills, but occasionally a welcome bit of respite with the odd bit of smooth new road. After 50 miles we were tired and glad of a lunch break. Strangely, most people seemed to have beaten us to the restaurant, even though we were unaware of anyone passing us, and we never saw the rear gunner in the shape of the breakdown van. On the shorter run back to the hotel we encountered strong headwinds up a long 3-mile hill, but the Imperial just chugged away without faltering.

We had to carry out several rolling starts when I got the throttle wrong at junctions. It didn’t tick over very reliably, probably due to a worn carburettor after 78 years, but I have to ask what I will be like when I am 78 years old. Cherry’s view of the experience at this point was that she could have been on the moon, as she had to concentrate 100% on the combination of interpreting the route sheet, watching out for potholes and personal safety. The scenery was not to be enjoyed.

On the Sunday morning I awoke with a stiff muscle from neck to shoulder blade. Getting back on the Imperial for the morning run I discovered this was due to reaching for the gear lever. Thankfully, another 45 miles being gently bounced around seemed to cure it.

I also navigated after fitting my route sheet holder, which allowed Cherry to just hold on and watch the scenery. This was much more successful, and I learned later on that Cherry nearly chickened out of the Sunday run. I also listened a bit harder to David’s warning that, "it is not your Enfield … if you are averaging more than 15mph you are going too fast". I did find that navigating myself slowed us down acceptably.