DEVELOPMENT of
ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR
MOTORCYCLES

PREAMBLE 21March2008

This summary is to help buyers and sellers of Interceptor motorcycles and parts know what they are dealing with. Use it for parts orders; and take a copy to swap meets – just in case. But at your peril; this is a guide only. Parts used on motorcycles varied with available supply, and with customer orders. Enfield could produce a single motorcycle to order. Dealers also modified bikes in their showrooms to make sales. Cooper Motors adding lights, speedometers, and mufflers to VAX engine models being the biggest example.

Information is from parts books and original documents where possible. Mistakes will be found in that material and in this interpretation. This is a work in progress and any help with errors, omissions, or new information will be greatly appreciated. Contact Chris Overton via the contact page at www.ozemate.com/interceptor, or the related forum RE_Interceptor@yahoogroups.com. It is hoped this collaborative effort of the Enfield community will continue to grow. Material is particularly needed for the 700cc Interceptors and the earliest 750’s, engine YA 15200 and lower. Please contact Chris if you are an owner willing to answer questions about your 700 or early 750.
Comments, suggestions, and contributions are welcome and encouraged.

Each section is dated and will be superseded by new pages with new dates as better information becomes available.

The Interceptor was in near continual development over more than 10 years of production (January 1960 to July 1970), with a major revamp every couple of years.

700cc VAX engines January – December 1960
700cc SCX engines October 1960 – April 1962
750cc Series 1 YA engines March 1962 – October 1963
750cc Series 1 YB engines November 1963 - February 1966
750cc Series 1A YC and 1A engines May 1966 – September 1968
750cc Series II 1B engines October 1968 – July 1970
800cc Series III experimental engines ~1969 – mid 1970

© Copyright is claimed, and sale of this work is expressly prohibited. ©

These chronologies of model development are compiled and made available by volunteers, at their own expense. This is all in a spirit of freely shared knowledge to help each other maintain or restore our machines. This work may be copied to assist the hobby interests of motorcycle collectors and enthusiasts.

Please respect the effort in this work. Anyone thinking of using this work for personal gain will have respect re-explained to them, on their doorstep, by hairy, smelly, angry bikers.

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