A picture a day... biker banter (Vol 6)
Discussion
tvrolet said:
Ours was a Zodiac with 4 lights (and a whole row of instruments on the dash!) and the kid up the road’s dad ‘just’ had a Zephyr…with 2 lights. I always found this to be the case although no doubt exceptions? I actually ended up checking on Wikipedia and it’s saying “ The Zodiac Mark IV and "Executive" had four headlights and an uprated 2,994 cc (183 cu in) V6 engine.”. Ours was certainly the 3L V6. Never heard of “Executive trim” (at the time or later) so maybe a Zephyr with Executive trim also had 4 lights? But the regular cooking Zephyr just had 2.
It’s certainly how we told them apart as kids. There was also a triumph herald where the cooking model had 2 lights and the sporty one had 4…can’t remember the model names now.
The Zodiac was actually a really nice car to drive in its day with big comfy leather seats etc. Although it was an auto I learned to drive in it, and then managed to borrow a family friends car that was a manual for a couple of sessions just before my test, which was an easy transition.
Triumph Herald Vitesse.... It’s certainly how we told them apart as kids. There was also a triumph herald where the cooking model had 2 lights and the sporty one had 4…can’t remember the model names now.
The Zodiac was actually a really nice car to drive in its day with big comfy leather seats etc. Although it was an auto I learned to drive in it, and then managed to borrow a family friends car that was a manual for a couple of sessions just before my test, which was an easy transition.
Edited by tvrolet on Friday 22 March 16:07
Edited by tvrolet on Friday 22 March 16:08
My mum had one in dark blue and a convertible to boot... loved that car bobbing around the lanes behind Brands Hatch as a kid..... and it was certainly a step up from the Fiat 500 that preceded it
Biker's Nemesis said:
tvrolet said:
If you'd had a Honda CB250K3 then it wouldn't have been a problem 
The G5s were notable slower than the Ks.
My first 'customisation' on my K3 - clip-ons, rear sets, wee front mudguard, LOUD dunstall exhausts, etc... All the safety gear too
Had to be 1974 as by '75 I had the Commando.
But yes, I do remember the Yamahas well, and that one looks really nice. I certainly prefer looking at and riding older bikes now.
As the recent bike show I realised I could recognise/name pretty much everything in the classics hall, but for the new bikes I had to read the badge on the tank and I couldn't tell the model or engine size without looking at the plaque.
I love pictures like this. Is that a Zeypher or Zodiac in the background and also is that your Father? The G5s were notable slower than the Ks. My first 'customisation' on my K3 - clip-ons, rear sets, wee front mudguard, LOUD dunstall exhausts, etc... All the safety gear too
Had to be 1974 as by '75 I had the Commando.
But yes, I do remember the Yamahas well, and that one looks really nice. I certainly prefer looking at and riding older bikes now.
As the recent bike show I realised I could recognise/name pretty much everything in the classics hall, but for the new bikes I had to read the badge on the tank and I couldn't tell the model or engine size without looking at the plaque.
Great photo.
CZ175 by Neil M, on Flickr
The Green Millom by Neil M, on Flickr
Wet roads, gusting winds, icy rains and then it hailstoned... before the sun came out...
Bloody fantastic. I needed that! First ride since before Christmas, more notably, for me if no one else, first ride since an unplanned midnight trip to the Royal United Hospital and subsequent surgery - a good way to queue jump, but I wouldn't recommend it. Can hardly move now, but a small price to pay...
Bloody fantastic. I needed that! First ride since before Christmas, more notably, for me if no one else, first ride since an unplanned midnight trip to the Royal United Hospital and subsequent surgery - a good way to queue jump, but I wouldn't recommend it. Can hardly move now, but a small price to pay...
gareth_r said:
There was a Zephyr 4, as well as a Zephyr 6, distinguished by different grilles. Straight engines in the Mk III, Vs in the Mk IVs.
Mk I and II also had straight engines, but the 4-cylinder model was the Consul.
Sorry to nerd and post card related stuff on a bike forum...Mk I and II also had straight engines, but the 4-cylinder model was the Consul.
The Zephyr 4 and Zephyr 6 had the same grills. There was a base model that had no grill between the lights (they're all fake and don't let air through as the spare wheel is behnd there, the radiator is lower and the grill below the bumper is the "fresh air" entry point at the front). The Zephyr Deluxe had a grill between the headlights and could be a 4 or 6. Zodiacs had 4 headlights as did the Executives which was a trim level on the Zodiac. Buying an Executive got you a sliding metal sunroof, vinyl roof, leather trim and as a no cost option an overdrive manual gearbox or automatic (both cost options on all other models). The Zodiac/Exec also got different trim from a Zephyr which included a 6 clock dash, "wood" dash surround, full width reflector/lights on the back etc.
All had Ford "Essex" based engines. A 2.0 V4 in the Zephyr 4, a 2.5 V6 in the Zephyr 6 and a 3.0 V6 in the Zodiac/Executive. The exception to this is Police spec Zephyrs that had the 3.0 (which is the spec most of the 4WD Zephyrs are).
They were fairly decent cars, with 4 wheel disc brakes, independant rear suspension etc. and the main failing was overly soft suspension as many cars had at the time.
I'm a bit of an anorak as we have a family history of them, my brother still has the one he bought 30+ years ago which is still a 2 owner car from new - not bad for a 1970 car!
Apologies for those only interested in motorbikes!!!
Brunstane to be precise. Biker's Nemesis said:
lancslad58 said:
Not quite in the same league as Yamaha or Honda but my trusty CZ175 complete with homemade tankbag.
CZ175 by Neil M, on Flickr
The Green Millom by Neil M, on Flickr
What year was that? and is that the same bike in the bottom photo?CZ175 by Neil M, on FlickrThe Green Millom by Neil M, on FlickrGreat photo.
It is the same bike though it started life as a 125 but the big ends collapsed so I put a 175 engine in that I picked up at the breakers yard.
At that point in time I moved to Manchester and bought a CZ250 with my relocation allowance.
I eventully sold the 175 having sat idle in the backyard over winter in the bedsit where I lived for about £30.
CZ 250 Sport by Neil M, on Flickr
CZ250 SPORT by Neil M, on FlickrThese were taken at my folks place in Surrey having just ridden 200 miles down from Manchester all on A roads (still,on L plates!)
|https://thumbsnap.com/JkVqUSxx[/url]
I replaced my shoei GT air 2 with the GT air 3 this weekend. I needed a new visor and pinlock and the 2 was an L which had always been just a little too tight and sometimes gave me a pressure point on my temples; I since got an nxr in XL which is really comfortable so I got the 3 in XL.
I missed them when sports bike shop was doing 20% off in January and would have taken advantage of motolegends doing their 10% extra price match deal so I was looking on eBay and saw riders of Bristol had some on with a make an offer so I made one of £380 and they accepted. They have an M and L still listed if anyone wants to avail themselves.
I think I can sense a difference in wind noise for the better, it seems like it has smoother airflow over your ears, although it's obviously impossible to test in the same atmospheric conditions. The neck curtain is bigger but the one on the 2 kept popping out on mine and the latches on the 3 look much less durable so that's somewhat concerning. The sunvisor is a bit bigger which was a bug bear on the old one and the thinner neck strap on the 3 feels more conspicuous but maybe I'll get use to that.
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