Royal Enfield 1921 Model 180 965cc 2 cyl sv

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Description

Royal Enfield  1921  “ Model 180”    8HP  965 cc  V –twin  frame #  15108  engine #  1994/ 2675W

The Redditch  based Royal Enfield firm entered the motorcycle business as early as 1898:  
In the early days engines from De Dion powered their tricycles and quadricycles; Minerva supplied the power for the first motorized cycles. 
In the years before WW I  the company was very successful with light  Motosacoche-engined V twins. 
These machines were equipped with the famous Enfield two-speed gear, involving twin primary chains. 
In the rear wheel  hub a rubber cush drive was fitted, to take the punch out of the chaindrive. 
This feature was to be incorporated into all Royal Enfields until the very end.  In the 1914 Junior TT eight out of nine Royal Enfield twins finished, with a very creditable five in the first twenty places.
Directly after the Great War Enfield marketed two successful models: the  light 2 ¼ HP two stroke and the V-twin sidecar machine.  
The V-twins were powered by  6 HP or  8HP JAP  engines, for some years  Vickers  engines were used for the 8 HP models. 
Later on in the twenties Enfield’s own  V– twin engines were employed.  
This  Vickers-powered  “180” is a well-designed and well-restored machine.