Duelling Singles

Indian-built Bullets offer owners an exceptional opportunity to convert and customise without wrecking an iconic classic. Ian and Stuart, Bullet owners both, have adopted very different styles for each of their big singles. In a fair fight, which onewould win?

Attempting to turn an unremarkable Enfield Electra into a ‘poor man’s Gold Star’ is an ambitious project by anyone’s standards. The chrome-tanked machine we see before us represents one man’s ambition to achieve exactly that. Far be it from me to criticise anyone’s desire to build a PMGS, but when my friend Ian announced his intentions I was a bit sceptical.

In retrospect, I had difficulty grappling with the fact that his donor bike is no classic by any stretch of one’s imagination. Unlike a proper Goldie, the humble Electra did not evolve in the competitive arena of clubman’s racing. But perhaps I was taking his idea too literally. Much like Enfield India’s carefree use of the ‘classic’ genus, Ian was free to label his personal project in any way he chose. So who was I to pour cold water on another man’s dreams?

Fortunately, Ian oozes good taste from every pore and he’s above reproach when airing his personal views of what a great motorcycle should or shouldn’t be. His determination to improve and sensationalise the riding experience (at any cost) will make sense to many. Ian also rides a classic MSS Velocette and only recently did his long term Velo Clubman change hands – so it is safe to assume that singles of repute are his passion. Over just one short winter Ian’s Electra sow’s ear was tastefully morphed into a PMGS, the results of which are plastered across these pages.