Royal Enfield Revelation, Before and after
02-01-12 | 12:18 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 329
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From: Bristol, UK
Bikes: Royal Enfield Revelation, Dawes Kingpin
Royal Enfield Revelation, Before and after
Before:
After:
This is a nice little bike and rather rare and unusual. My aim was to give it back some of its original charm whilst making it a usable bike. The frame was powdercoated to get rid of the lime green rattlecan paintjob. I had intended to reuse the original cranks and BB but couldn't source the correct cotter pins (I think they must have been 9mm). Decals are from ebay for motorcycle fans. Mudguards are Balsa and walnut veneer. The rear one was especially hard to fix without a brake bridge to bolt it to. This was solved with some inner tube to hold it between the seat stays. New wheels using an Elite VT front drum brake hub, XRD-5(W) rear 5 speed and drum brake allow the use of Schwalbe duranos rather than cheap raleigh record copies.
I intend to put better cranks on and have ordered a set of sturmey archer cranks and I also intend to get replica racks made.
I am impressed by how light this bike is and the ride quality is amazing for a small wheeled bike.
After:
This is a nice little bike and rather rare and unusual. My aim was to give it back some of its original charm whilst making it a usable bike. The frame was powdercoated to get rid of the lime green rattlecan paintjob. I had intended to reuse the original cranks and BB but couldn't source the correct cotter pins (I think they must have been 9mm). Decals are from ebay for motorcycle fans. Mudguards are Balsa and walnut veneer. The rear one was especially hard to fix without a brake bridge to bolt it to. This was solved with some inner tube to hold it between the seat stays. New wheels using an Elite VT front drum brake hub, XRD-5(W) rear 5 speed and drum brake allow the use of Schwalbe duranos rather than cheap raleigh record copies.
I intend to put better cranks on and have ordered a set of sturmey archer cranks and I also intend to get replica racks made.
I am impressed by how light this bike is and the ride quality is amazing for a small wheeled bike.
02-01-12 | 10:34 AM
#4
Hopelessly addicted...
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,955
Likes: 13
From: Central Maryland
Bikes: 1949 Hercules Kestrel, 1950 Norman Rapide, 1970 Schwinn Collegiate, 1972 Peugeot UE-8, 1976 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Jack Taylor Tandem, 1984 Davidson Tandem, 2010 Bilenky "BQ" 650B Constructeur Tandem, 2011 Linus Mixte
02-01-12 | 01:15 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 598
From: Baltimore MD
Bikes: '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '72 Gitane tandem, '72 Raleigh Super Course, '73 Raleigh Gran Sport, '73 Colnago Super, '76 Fiorelli Coppi, '78 Raleigh SBDU Team Pro, '78 Trek 930, '81 Holdsworth Special 650B, '86 Masi GC, ’94 Bridgestone RB-T
Must be a bike for wheelies. I volunteer at the local co-op here in Baltimore, and there is a gang of "wheelie kids" who ride all over the city on their rear wheels only. Their saddles are all set like that - an extreme down angle. Nice kids, and they know quite a bit about wrenching too.
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The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
02-02-12 | 05:49 AM
#6
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 329
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From: Bristol, UK
Bikes: Royal Enfield Revelation, Dawes Kingpin
I knew I should have sorted the saddle out before taking a photo 
I had just taken a ride and decided the saddle needed tilting forward a bit. I over adjusted it but it looked fine until you see the photos.
I had just taken a ride and decided the saddle needed tilting forward a bit. I over adjusted it but it looked fine until you see the photos.
02-02-12 | 06:59 AM
#7
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,301
Likes: 6,557
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I love it. How far have you ridden it?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
02-02-12 | 07:16 AM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 142
From: South Jersey
Bikes: Too many Bicycles to list
I liked the green paint color when I first saw your pics, but the bike looks really nice in the colors you have chosen. I remember reading about the Revelation when trying to find some info on my 1981 Royal Enfield Grand Prix Aero. When I first looked I couldn't figure out how your front wheel was holding up missing half the spokes 
02-03-12 | 06:36 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Bristol, UK
Bikes: Royal Enfield Revelation, Dawes Kingpin
So far not done more than 20 miles on it. Just got a pair of sturmey archer cranks for it to match the hubs and brake levers. Guess I could call that a Sturmey Archer group set now 
