Royal Enfield 1937 Model JF Bullet

Royal Enfield 1937 Model JF “Bullet” 499 cc four-valve OHV single frame # 21785 engine # JF 2514

The famous “Bullet” model name came into existence in the 1933 model range, presented in September 1932 and is still carried on nowadays by a 650 cc model built by Royal Enfield India at Chennai. The 1933 model year catalogue introduced the Bullet models in the 250, 350 and 500 cc class: “The vogue of the high-efficiency sports motor cycle has produced nothing finer than the Royal Enfield “Bullit” models. (…) These models incorporate the very latest ideas of the motor cycle world, have an extremely high standard of performance, handle perfectly, are handsomely finished and superbly equipped. The inclined two-port O.H.V engines have high compression pistons and are specially tuned. The valve springs are of Air Board Specification D.T.D. 5A spring steel. Four speed gear boxes with positive change foot control are fitted. The exhaust pipes and round silencers are attractively upswept and leg guards are provided on the pipes”.

The 1933 and 1934 Bullets had 488 cc sloping engines with bore x stroke dimensions of 85.5 x 88 mm. In the 1935 catalogue the Bullet appears to have been presented in a two valve version, in 1936 the engine is placed upright and is now of 499 capacity, with 84 x 90 bore x stroke. The are few differences for the 1937 model year, the tank panel is now red instead of the maroon colour of the 1936 model, and the crankcase is highly polished. From 1938 on all Bullets have two-valve engines; the four-valve machine have been catalogued for only four years.

The machine on offer has been restored meticulously in the 1980s and is an excellent runner. She was sparsely ridden till the mid-nineties, since when she’s been stored indoors on room temperature and has been regularly cared for. She comes with tank top instrument panel with lighting switch and amp gauge, Lucas electrics with Bosch horn, elaborately sprung passenger’s seat, handlebars with underslung levers for ignition advance and choke, highly polished crankcase and practical side stand.