Tony Raynor
Need for steeds
Just finished restoring this little gem. All original apart from the new brake cables, inner tubes and tyres. Only bad point was the broken end on the rear mudguard.
1958 Royal Enfield Zephyr
- Thread starter Tony Raynor
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raleighnut
Legendary Member
Really nice job Tony, whats the saddle? a severely chopped B17n with a cross rivet? It has the look of a Swallow but I don't think they ever came with saddlebag mounts and they didn't have a central rivet they had a plate holding the sides together ( If all the blurb surrounding the limited edition re-issue Swallow I paid for is to be believed, but then they went and made another 999 black ones 2yrs later and now they are back in the line-up. Still, I have one of the first numbered/certificated ones and it gets ridden) BTW, the Swallow was based on the B17 and its closest relative is the narrow version in terms of feel/width .
OP
OP
Tony Raynor
Need for steeds
I think it is a lycette swallow, but I'd need to check and the bike.
Checking the 1958 catalogue then yes it's a L15 swallow
http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Royal Enfield catalogue 1958 (V-CC Library).pdf
Oh and it is extremely comfortable. Still need to do a little work on the saddle buts it's come up nice compared to what it was.
Checking the 1958 catalogue then yes it's a L15 swallow
http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Royal Enfield catalogue 1958 (V-CC Library).pdf
Oh and it is extremely comfortable. Still need to do a little work on the saddle buts it's come up nice compared to what it was.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
Different to my 2005 Limited Edition one which has a plate underneath that joins the sides together and is skived away then stitched along the bottom edge.
This was allegedly (according to Brooks) a "faithful reproduction" of the original Swallow from the 30s so it seems that they changed the construction quite a bit as John the Canuck also has a vintage B15 from the 50s that is totally different in construction to either of ours.
Mind you they now make standard/stock versions of the Swallow with either Steel or Titanium rails but still have a few of the 2007 black LE versions listed at FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY Euros
on their own website. (you do get a certificate of authenticity that links via a serial No with them though)
BTW I took a very deep breath and paid just over £200 for mine thinking it would be the Swallows last incarnation.
This was allegedly (according to Brooks) a "faithful reproduction" of the original Swallow from the 30s so it seems that they changed the construction quite a bit as John the Canuck also has a vintage B15 from the 50s that is totally different in construction to either of ours.
Mind you they now make standard/stock versions of the Swallow with either Steel or Titanium rails but still have a few of the 2007 black LE versions listed at FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY Euros
on their own website. (you do get a certificate of authenticity that links via a serial No with them though)BTW I took a very deep breath and paid just over £200 for mine thinking it would be the Swallows last incarnation.
Keith Oates
Janner
That is a restoration to be proud of, one of the best ones I,'ve seen.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
Lovely bike. Well done.
OP
OP
Tony Raynor
Need for steeds
I'm not a great cyclist so I'll wait to report when my son has given it a ride around (I'm just the grease monkey).
John the Canuck
..a long way from somewhere called Home..
very nice indeed
is that saddle comfortable ..?
here's my B15 that Ian refers to.............currently undergoing reproofing
off a 1950s Carlton i'm told
is that saddle comfortable ..?
here's my B15 that Ian refers to.............currently undergoing reproofing
off a 1950s Carlton i'm told
