Mystery Flat Tank Motorcycle

[kev b]

A member of another forum has asked for help in identifying this bike, it doesn't help that the image is reversed but unless anyone can flip it that cant be helped.

[AceOfHearts]

Can't help on the bike though sorry

[Brads67]

Suspect Royal Enfield but am a bit confused by that box section doodah up the side of the bike.

[archie456]

Brads67 said:

Suspect Royal Enfield but am a bit confused by that box section doodah up the side of the bike.

It's two separate chain guards, the angle makes it look like one piece.

[Brads67]

Gotcha.

Still think RE

[kev b]

Thanks for the flip!

Registered in London late 1924 early1925.

I have looked for the diamond shaped logo but cant find a match, I was sure for a while it was a Cotton with the Blackburne engine but the Cotton logo is triangular

[wildone63]

Classic Bike magazine's Rick Parkington should be able to identify it if you send the photo in for their 'the way we were' pages.

[Mr. Jimmy]

Is it a Panther 95?.

Edit: No it isnt.

Edited by Mr. Jimmy on Friday 10th April 20:58

[kev b]

I am quite surprised nobody has named the bike so far!

Somebody recently posted a picture of a cube of rust from the bottom of a lake and it was not long before it was identified as a Vauxhall engine.

Where are all the forum vintage specialists?

[wildone63]

kev b said:

I am quite surprised nobody has named the bike so far!

Somebody recently posted a picture of a cube of rust from the bottom of a lake and it was not long before it was identified as a Vauxhall engine.

Where are all the forum vintage specialists?

Iam not at all surprised no one has identified it yet,theres probably very few on this forum if any that will have an encyclopaedic knowledge of 1920's bikes.It may even be a rare or obscure model for its time.
There were scores of british bike manufacturers back then,(iam assuming its british) some only in business for a short time,with a small or even single model range so there may not be any photos in existence to compare yours to.
Now if it was a 60's/70's bike or later you would have probably got a quick answer

[stu67]

There is a Facebook group called motorcycles 1867-1930, post it on that, there are some very knowledgable gents on there from around the world.

[iansp]

I was in the same position last year trying to identify an old motorcycle from the 1930s and I emailed the National Motorcycle Museum ([e-mail]) with a picture of the bike and they responded the next day with the make, model and year of the bike. Whilst they are closed for visits they are still operational with some WFH so they may be able to help.

[kev b]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, hopefully there will be a solution before long.

[wildone63]

Did you have any luck in identifying it yet?

[kev b]

Not yet as I have been dragging my feet!

Will get to work tomorrow.

[alvington89]

XW Denotes London area
No record on DVLA site (not surprising)

[Pothole]

Does srob not frequent these parts anymore?

[srob]

I don't recognise it, to be honest. Engine looks like a JAP OHV unit. Forks look like Bramptons. Chain cases look like New Hudson but the badge looks like nothing I've seen.

There was a bike called a Diamond (the badge looks diamond shaped) but they were very different looking.

Bike looks mid 1920s, could be a home made job or one from a very small manufacturer.

OP if you're happy for me to share I can ask around for you? I've asked my most knowledgeable source and that's drawn a blank too!

[kev b]

Thanks srob, please share around, it’s the tank emblem that’s the puzzler.

[Pothole]

NMM has this one:



and this:



Final diamond badge, but letters outside...