Impetuous Youth or, The Tale of the Tardy Royal Enfield Panniers

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a recently acquired Royal Enfield 500 Twin, a pocketful of readies and a romantic interest two counties distant, must be in want of some panniers.

It's where we find BP Neal, sometime in mid-1953, weekly riding the 160-mile or so round trip in all weathers between his parents' home in Southampton, digs in Chippenham and workplace in Hanham Road, Kingswood, Bristol, with nothing better than a wartime pressed cardboard suitcase to house a week's worth of work- and leisurewear strapped to the pillion saddle. Highly unsatisfactory.

Panniers then, are the answer. Top quality panniers, waterproof (to a degree) and complete with mounting frames and stout straps. You have the cash, and the shortages of wartime are beginning to fade – go on, treat yourself!

Try telling that to Messrs Jenkin and Purser Motorcycles of Southampton (and choice locations across the South and West). No amount of cajoling will speed the process of acquisition: the panniers are on back-order from Royal Enfield and that's that.

Ah, but impetuous youth! Does he return home, pockets jingling but resigned to a lengthy wait? Not a bit of it. BP decides that if RE won't come to him he'll go to RE – well, write a letter, anyway. That letter is lost in the mists of time but the reply, on official RE headed stationery, isn't. And here it is…

"Unaccustomed as we are to being chivvied by
demanding youths…" RE responds to BP

The Service Department at Royal Enfield responds with charming and kindly formality yet, between the lines, there's a faint but detectable hint of chagrin as they seek to assure that every effort is being made and the J&P order will be executed without delay – it's maybe not all they'd like to execute!

But on this occasion the man on the Clapham omnibus wins the day. How can we know? The camera never lies…

As fine a set of spanking new panniers as ever graced an RE 500 Twin