Royal Enfield Model S/F

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Royal Enfield of Redditch, Worcestershire, was one of the oldest manufacturers of motorcycles, beginning production in 1898.

Originally a branch of the Eadie concern, they started to produce three-wheelers with De Dion engines and two-wheelers with Minerva engines, not producing their own engines until after WW1 when production had been given over to rifles and war equipment – hence the slogan ‘Built like a gun’ for their motorcycle range.

Continued success throughout the 1920s/30s produced more sporting motorcycles including this rare 1939 Model S/F (the S for Sports and the F for Four-speed foot change). A sporty lightweight motorcycle, it broke from usual Enfield practice in that it carried its oil in a separate oil tank, mounted low in the frame between the engine and the gearbox.

Unfortunately war played another part in the Enfield saga: having just launched this model for the 1939 season, production had to be turned to the war effort yet again and although Enfield did make some bikes for the military, this sporty 250cc OHV had no place on the front line and was dropped from the range, making this a rare 'one year only' machine.

This bike was subject to a highly detailed restoration during the early 90s and comes with a huge file containing invoices, handbooks, notebooks, photographs, receipts, correspondence and drawings, V5C and current tax.

A pleasant, easy-to-ride lightweight, made when a 250cc bike was still a sporting machine, it is reported to be easy to start and capable of keeping up with modern traffic.