1950 Royal Enfield Flea

[thebaron]

Hi All,

This is my first post. I have always been a big classic bike fan and am looking for a first time restoration project but not looking to spend alot (Who is!!) I am looking to start off with an easy enough project (No Engine work)

I have found a 1950 Royal Enfield Flea, It is running well and not in too bad condition. It is on for £1000, Is this bike worth it? See attached photo. Also is it normal for that bike to have a battery? see image

I am looking to swap 2 nice Mercedes cars for a restoration bike but no bites.

Thanks in advance!!

[Rex]

Thousand quid is on the limit, I'd say. Amateur resto too; mudguards aren't right, seats are poorly covered and the battery is for a Honda 50.
Trouble with tiddlers is that you soon get fed up with the lack of performance, though if I wanted a small stroker I think I'd chose the good old Bantam.
Loads of new and used parts available, the range is big enough to encompass a lot of personal choices, and you could find one for less than £1000.
Your choice though.

[yebbut]

Strictly speaking its not a Flying Flea either; that was the wartime WD bike.

Rex is right its a bit of an amateur resto.

Other than that who would want two gas guzzling expensive to run  old Mercs?

[rogerwilko]

If you want to look like Sideshow Bob, go for it!

[R]

Neat little RE125. It would be interesting to know why these mudguards "aren't right", look exactly like the factory pics.  That muffler looks decidedly plump and oversize though. And the battery a bit of a lash-up. Why isn't the coil under the tank ?

Its not going to be able to cruise with the big bangers though, rather limited on what runs it can tackle ?  Hope this helps.

[Don Vosper]

I would have thought that this type of bike would have a flywheel magneto and would have direct lighting.
It would therefore not need a battery or a coil. In that case it coul;d mean that the original electrics are dead.
Might be worth doing a bit of research in that area.
Although you won't be joining the ton-up brigade these bikes can be good fun to ride. I would say £500 to £600 is a fairer value but, my kids call me Scrooge about this time of year.
I had a look in Old bike Mart recently after a long break and was amazed at the prices some sellers were asking for some pretty mundane machines.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Don, Bristol,
98cc Excelsior Consort (amongst other things)

[Rex]

author=R link=topic=3993.msg14151#msg14151 date=1320710417]
Neat little RE125. It would be interesting to know why these mudguards "aren't right",

Pattern parts and/or poorly fitted and don't follow the lines of the tyres properly, rear number plate sits up at a jaunty angle more suited to a trials bike, and the rear carrier's missing.
As said, the silencer is also wrong, and looks more like a Bantam item modifed.
Used the wrong year paint colour code too.

[Don Vosper]

It looks from the photo that the carrier is still there under the pillion seat.
Have a look at some other images of this model.
With any machine of this age some replacement parts are inevitable.
Can't say about the mudguards or exhaust myself but I see similar on other images.
Have you actually seen the bike yet?
Don

[yebbut]

Its not  a Flying Flea, those were earlier WD version.

This is a  later civilian model.

An amateur resto with pattern guards fitted.

Worth £1000? thats up to you, in my opinion a waste of money unless you want a bike to trailer to shows and ride round a field

slow gutless.  no brakes probably dangerous to ride on the road.


Check it out with the Royal Enfield owners club first

Or here
http://royalenfieldflyingflea.weebly.com/

Has this thing got a V5? this looks like a dealer photo to me

[R]

SilverGrey is the paint colour listed for 1950, and 1949 was Maroon, so its not far wrong - at all ?  Those guards look exactly like the factory brochure pics, although granted the fitting up of the front one leaves a little to be desired.

[Rex]

The rear end of the rear guard looks the worse one to me.
I was being ironic with the "colour code" comment, hence the 

Don't think the carrier would stay in that shape for long if someone was to use the pillion seat though; it looks like it's unsupported at the front though maybe he's bolted it through the guard using a nice gutter bolt.

[yebbut]

Yep gutter bolts, preferably with the wrong nut  mashed on.......

minnd you I once had a Rudge and was disgusted to see it was held toghetr with coach bolts, so I bought some new  original one which turned out to be............ coach bolts.
Put me right off Rudges.

This bike is never worth 0ne Thousand Pounds, I bet its had the reg no robbed.

20 years ago they went straight to the scrap yard. Couldnt give then away, for that money you can do better.

And really who on earth wants two presumably knackered rusty clapped out old Mercs? weigh them in and put the money towards a bike.

[thebaron]

Thanks All for you input,

I am definitely going to give this one a miss!!!