1995-2005 MADRAS BULLET 500 £1500-1600

Hitchcock’s have recently imported a batch of 17 500cc Bullets from India to sell as resto projects.

“They’re popular because it’s a blank canvas,” says Allan. “With a Redditch Enfield, people tend to feel obliged to keep them original, but one of these makes a perfect basis for a green-laner, café racer – even a chopper. In India, the 500 is a sought-after bike so they are not easy – or cheap – for us to pick up.” Noticing just 1264km on the speedo, I ask what condition they’re usually in. Allan laughs: “Either it’s a new speedo or it’s on its second or third time around! They’re all meant to be ‘runners’ but we don’t know exactly what we’ve bought until we open the crate.” Wayne, who sorts out the second-hand bikes, chips in: “So far this lot look pretty good – they all have compression and turn over OK. Thing is they know how to fix them in India; wherever you go you’ll find someone who can repair them. Bikes work hard there, but they tend not to run them into the ground.”