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JETS Bikes builds a Tremendous Meteor avenue tracker…
On the time of its introduction in 1952, the Royal Enfield Meteor 700 was the most important British twin available on the market. It was constructed particularly for the US market, the place parallel-twin Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs, and Enfields had been in scorching competitors on the road, strip, and desert sand.
Whereas most of their rivals had developed 650 twins from scratch, Royal Enfield based mostly their new twin on two 350 Bullet singles, which assured that future enhancements to the Bullet’s piston and combustion chamber could possibly be handed on to the brand new 36-bhp 700cc twin:
“Enfield didn’t merely take two 350 cylinders from the Bullet single and connect them to the five hundred twin backside finish — however that’s a neat abstract of the method…” –Traditional Bike Hub
In 1956, the 40-bhp Tremendous Meteor arrived, turning into the primary manufacturing Enfield able to triple-digit speeds straight off the showroom flooring:
“Over time, many Royal Enfields had been tuned to race at 100mph and past however the Tremendous Meteor was the primary Royal Enfield able to hitting the ton straight off the manufacturing line.” –Royal Enfield
Not too long ago, we heard from bike designer Jeff Duval, the godfather of JETS Bike — a consortium of best-in-class craftsmen who come collectively to supply bike specials:
“These days, JETS try to rebuild bikes of all ages and of all origins — US, Europe, Japan et al. We attempt to by no means denature the DNA of any iconic mannequin however modernise and optimise its efficiency as if the factories had needed to do that themselves, as Carol Shelby did with the previous AC Bristol and Fiat with their Fiat Abarth 595…”
Jeff himself has fairly the life historical past, having loved stints as a lead singer in a Nineteen Sixties rock ‘n’ roll band, a trooper within the elite SAS, and the European distributor for Efficiency Machine and Arlen Ness — based mostly on a 1992 journey to California.
For this construct, Jeff needed to hark again to the golden days of California motorcycling tradition, when British huge twins reigned supreme from the desert to the drive-in:
“Within the halcyon days when British Twins had been nonetheless ruling the SoCal sands, the Enfield 700 and 750cc twins had been typically considered probably the most business-looking motors of that era. While they won’t have possessed the gunpowder blast provided by BSA, Norton, and Triumph US specials, that they had larger reliability while displaying comparable 50 BHP.”
He bought a Tremendous Meteor 700 imported from Canada through Hitchcocks Bikes, entrusting the engine rebuild and improve to a different Enfield guru, Andy Berry of Preston, NW England. For the body, he went to England’s legendary Wasp Bikes, who agreed to adapt considered one of their BSA A10 frames to suit the Enfield motor, constructing the chassis out of nickel-plated 7/8″ chromoly.
The bike then went to the workshop of Tony Taysom (Lamb Engineering) for an entire construct and bodywork. The famed Glenn Moger dealt with the saddle, whereas the high quality people at Picture Design Customized laid down the paint.
Really, the names who’ve had a hand within the creation of this ‘sled are like a “Who’s Who” of the UK’s prime two-wheeled maestros, which is simply how Jeff and JETS intend it — in reality, it’s an underlying principal of the JETS ethic:
“The avowed coverage to solely ever use the most effective craftsmen within the business…”
Beneath, we get the complete particulars on this California-inspired Tremendous Meteor sled, nicknamed the Enfield 700 GTC2 Mistral or “Mistral” for brief.
Tremendous Meteor Desert Sled / Road Tracker: Designer Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
My ardour for bikes began after I first visited England within the sixties, discovering myself outdoors a pub with, parked outdoors, a BSA Spitfire MkII and a Royal Enfield Constellation; each purple, chrome, and black. Contained in the pub, 4 lads, three guitars and a drum set, whose sound and vitality already would preview a revolution not like any seen earlier than.
This screaming double discovery of deep feelings would change my life eternally. After I obtained again, I began importing English second-hand bikes and different Marshall, Vox, Sound Metropolis, and so forth. amps to Europe with some success. On the identical time, I used to be “headhunted” to develop into the lead singer in a rock ‘n’ roll band, which, within the late Sixties was usually booked as first act to A Record artists that had been world famend.
A number of years later, like tens of millions of “haired” individuals all over the world, the discharge of Straightforward Rider accomplished my conversion to the US Huge Twins, however not on the expense of Remainder of the World’s iconic machines. This corruption was to be whole and last!
Following a promising navy journey within the particular forces (6 Marine Para (SAS)) reduce brief by the ardent want for different adventures, I returned to my first loves and settled in England definitively, the place I meet the Battistini brothers, Rikki and Dean, with whom I share all that’s humorous, forbidden, immoral…
At Christmas 1992, we travelled collectively to San Leandro, CA, and we succeeded, by no means understanding how, in convincing Arlen Ness and Efficiency Machine to entrust us with the distribution of their merchandise all through Europe.
Twenty years on, JETS Bike was based with the identical thought: bringing collectively nice abilities round a sure thought of the bike. At its core at the moment: Rikki Battistini of Battistinis Customized Cycles USA and Colin Moore of Moore Pace Racing within the South of England, immensely aided by a string of Greatest in Class craftsmen whom we’re proud to salute on this event (in alphabetical order): Dan Collins, Ian Borrowman, Jean-Francois Vicente, John Parry, Sean Reynolds, Tony Taysom and, after all, the Crew at Picture Customized Design, Tom, Steve, Mandy and Sammy, who’ve now reached the very best portray expertise developed by PaintMeister Jeff McCann (RIP) a number of many years in the past…
• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor?
Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor 700 engine. Wasp Bikes 7/8″ chromoly BSA A10 body modified for the Enfield motor.
• Why was this bike constructed?
These days, JETS try to rebuild bikes of all ages and of all origins — US, Europe, Japan et al. We attempt to by no means denature the DNA of any iconic mannequin however modernise and optimise its efficiency as if the factories had needed to do that themselves, as Carol Shelby did with the previous AC Bristol and Fiat with their Fiat Abarth 595 to say however two.
We don’t tackle particular person briefs because it takes years to design and construct such machines, however we do promote them when accomplished and have examined the validity of our travails on the highway.
We do not need the souls of “collectors”, however a inventive bulimia; a accomplished venture requires a brand new venture!
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
Within the halcyon days when British Twins had been nonetheless ruling the SoCal sands, the Enfield 700 and 750cc twins had been typically considered probably the most business-looking motors of that era. While they won’t have possessed the gunpowder blast provided by BSA, Norton, and Triumph US specials, that they had larger reliability while displaying comparable 50 BHP.
To have fun such completely satisfied days, JETS are constructing what such a SoCal sled would possibly (or ought to) have seemed like!
• What customized work was accomplished to the bike?
Design & Construct
- Design: JETS’ Jeff Duval
- Construct: Legendary Tony Taysom of Salisbury
Engine
- Unique Enfield 700cc Tremendous Meteor rebuilt from scratch by guru Andy Berry with many mods for efficiency and reliability.
- Re-carbureted with twin Amal MkII Concentrics mated to a efficiency cylinder head. ALL elements equipped by the legendary Allan Hitchcocks.
Transmission
- Commonplace however rebuilt Enfield 4 velocity gearbox.
Chassis
- For that SoCal Desert Sled attract a dramatic 7/8” chromoly nickel plated BSA motocross body was hand crafted by Mark and his small group @ Wasp Frames.
Suspension & Steering
- Ceriani 38mm Competitors forks and rear shocks equipped by Csaba Kalderal of CR Suspension, Budapest, Hungary.
Wheels & Brakes
- Three Beringer 2AP11 racing calipers mated to three Mick’s 11.5” mirror polished stainless discs.
- Ally polished rims and hubs by Central Wheels shod with Rear 4.00-18 64V / Entrance 90/90-21 54V Roadrider MKII Avon TL.
Instrumentation
- 4” GPS speedo and rev counter by Speedhut USA.
- Digital indicators by Motogadget.
Bodywork & Seating
- Once more, closely customised / modified by Tony Taysome for that SoCal desert attract.
- SoCal fashion leather-based saddle by Glenn Moger of Eastleigh.
Ergonomics
- Good for rides across the bars and cafes of the San Diego Bay…earlier than pretending to race at their well-known Del Mar park!
End
- Critically killer paint was once more entrusted to Camberley’s Picture Customized Design emporium (Tom, Steve, Mandy, and Sammy)
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Enfield 700 GTC2 Mistral or “Mistral” briefly…
• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to journey this bike?
It’s that San Diego Seaside to da bar feeling with a pleasing pillion companion…
• Was there something accomplished throughout this construct that you’re significantly happy with?
Properly all of it; an actual Labour of Love…
Observe the Builder
Net: www.jetsforever.com
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