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.