So...finally...it's back in the US and with my engine guy for a few days. I'm in a six-month intense training thing right now at work, and trying to get my Matchless running in my spare moments, so I was glad he was able to pick it up and give it a once-over, plus he's going to adjust the base gaskets for more compression w/ US premium fuel. Was fun having him quiz me on a few things I did that are pretty unique to my bike (the cartridge emulators, taper bearings, disc brake, oil hosing, etc.). The bike has definitely turned some heads with its weirdness.
He'll have it re-jetted for east coast weather, the timing re-checked (he's better at that by ear than me) and back in my hands in a few weeks. Just in time for cold weather...but I should still be using it to commute the mile and a half to work through the winter.
(Again, "engine guy" is Sumanth "Chumma" Janardhan, one half of Ace Engineering. If you have an Enfield, you need to see Ace to get it running right...)
Edit: Crating it back from Africa was a nightmare, btw. They tried to "crate" it in a birdcage of rough wooden sticks, which I put a halt to right away. Had to go to the moving lot where they eventually built a proper box, but had put the ratchet straps I gave them around the fork mid-front wheel height and wrapped it a few turns around the sliders, and chocked it in with some kind of Wile E. Coyote arrangement of wood blocks. After much fussing, I was able to get it sort of properly tied down at the bars and across the rear wheel, at which they shook their heads sadly, saying (best I can tell) "that'll never work, silly Toubab [white guy]." However, it did make it home OK, so I'm pleased I made the effort to stave off disaster.