Mystery bike was Royal Enfield Hornet
The mystery is solved. The unusual looking Royal Enfield motorcycle that appeared for sale in Rocklin, Calif. in July is the very rare Royal Enfield Hornet model, sold in the United States for one year only, 1961. Its owner Jim Luzier knew it, and he had worked on restoring it for many years, but hadn't been able explain what it was to his daughter Aimee, who placed the ad.
I wrote about the motorcycle, noting that, while it resembled the 250cc Royal Enfield Crusader, it had a slim rear fender not seen on U.S. Crusaders. I guessed it might have been a transition model, intended to use up parts Royal Enfield made for the motorcycles they provided the Indian motorcycle company for sale in the U.S. as Indians. The deal with Indian ended in 1959 and Royal Enfields were sold under their own name after that.
With help from Aimee, U.S. Royal Enfield blogger Jorge Pullin and a Hornet owner named Nate, I guessed the pretty little motorcycle must be a Royal Enfield Hornet, although I'd never even seen a good picture of one. Jorge found the drawing shown above. The Hornet was the equivalent of a Crusader Sports, but had parts mixed in from the earlier Indian Hounds Arrow, a trail bike.
Sadly, Jim Luzier died July 15, of an apparent heart attack. Aimee performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but could not save him. Before he died, though, Jim Luzier left the answer to the question where Aimee could find it.
In 2008, in what Aimee says was a playful mood, Jim posed for a picture for a friend in England named Alun. Jim is shown in the picture holding up a sign that reads: "I need a wiring diagram from UK for this Hornet RE and/or a (Indian) Hounds Arrow. Jan. 20, 2008. Jim Luzier, USA."
As part of the joke, the motorcycle was festooned with extension cords from Jim's shop; it sure did look like he had a wiring problem!
Aimee also found a 1977 picture that showed her on the motorcycle, before restoration began. It shows the black frame, Chinese red tank and alloy fenders a Hornet would have. "Dad decided to paint most of the frame white for visibility when he was restoring it," she explains.
The
little Hornet's immediate future is unclear. Aimee is leaving the U.S.
for Norway, for a position as a teacher at the Red Cross Nordic United
World College."I may have to just put the bike in storage until I return in two years, although I will be looking for a new owner who can lavish the same kind of love on it that my Dad did... I do have a lot of material (maintenance, wiring diagrams, paint, etc.) that Dad used in restoring the bike... I will hold onto it until I find the right person," Aimee writes. She signed herself "Aimee Luzier - daughter of James E. Luzier 1934-2009."
