Kelvin’s Royal Enfield Interceptor Mk 1

You don’t see many Interceptors because most of them went to the USA. Owner Kelvin has restored this one with a Mk 2 export tank, for the obvious reason that it looks fantastic.

The bike already had an ElectrexWorld STK1000 ignition/charging kit on it. This is a British-made kit that replaces the old points and distributor, and also the old alternator. In their place you get one unit on the end of the crank which produces CDI ignition, 12V AC for the lights and 12V DC to charge the battery for the horn and brake light. It also works with a capacitor in place of a battery, which is a good idea if you have a bike you can’t ride very often. I particularly like this kit because the ignition is driven from the crank. The old system used a chain to drive the camshaft, then a second chain to drive the distributor. That’s a lot of backlash, though I guess I should admit the lash disappears under load.

Although the kit was fitted and Kelvin had had the bike running, the loom was mostly original and very elderly, with various repairs and modifications. He wanted to start again, and take full advantage of the new system to keep everything out of sight. This turned out quite well: battery in the left toolbox; horn, reg rec, ignition coil and ignition box in the right. The ammeter in the headlamp shell was redundant, but two of the three warning lights were handy to indicate lights on and high beam.

Nice bike. It’s a shame I couldn’t take some better pics but it was snowing outside.