Flying Flea Bike

It is June 5th, the day before D-Day, and we note the significant event by relating the story of the restoration of a Royal Enfield Flying Flea, a motorcycle designed to be parachuted out of an aircraft and used by British troops after the landing in France. In Part 1, Eric Davison recounted the joys of rebuilding the motorcycle his grandfather once wrote about. In Part 2, Davison has achieved the impossible; he’s gotten his Flying Flea running.
But will he ever be able to ride it?

Story by Eric Davison

The magneto came back from England and was installed. It generated spark but the bike would only cough.

About this time my brother and his wife came down for a visit. We tried to start the bike. Only coughs. We even tried bump starting it by pulling it behind my truck with brother Mark holding a rope. This was not only stupid but dangerous and ineffective. [Read more…] about Royal Enfield Flying Flea for D-Day

This story does not involve anything Italian or French, and is about a motorcycle instead of a car. Long-time contributor Eric Davison (Memoirs of Watkins Glen) has written this timely, delightful article about restoring a WWII era motorcycle designed for D-Day, and after all, it is Memorial Day weekend; next week on June 6 we celebrate D-Day. What could be more appropriate? We know you will enjoy reading of Eric’s hilarious trials and tribulations bringing his “Flying Flea” back to life. As there were only two wheels, a tiny single-cylinder engine and a basic frame, how hard could this restoration be?

By Eric Davison

I am not quite certain of why and when I became infatuated with the motorcycle with the improbable name ‘The Flying Flea!’

In thinking hard about it I have come to the conclusion that it was a seed planted in my head by my paternal grandfather Augustus ‘Gus’ Davison, an Englishman. [Read more…] about The Royal Enfield Flying Flea Motorcycle