The Motorbike Show
Discussion
Mr2Mike said:
I watched the first one and I couldn't understand why they expected the bike to be capable of hitting 70-80mph in standard form when it was never capable of that when new, let alone at 70+ years old. That's like buying a bog standard 1950's Morris Minor and being disappointed that it won't hit 120mph.
I also don't understand why they felt the need to build a bike from scratch with a bespoke frame etc. when the original bike simply needed a bit more power. I guess that wouldn't have made such an involving project, but the way he was moaning about the costs you'd think there was no other choice.]
A WD-spec Triumph is the wrong bike to start with really. There will be precisely zero off the shelf tuning parts for that 3HW.I also don't understand why they felt the need to build a bike from scratch with a bespoke frame etc. when the original bike simply needed a bit more power. I guess that wouldn't have made such an involving project, but the way he was moaning about the costs you'd think there was no other choice.]
Should have bought a rigid B31 and read Roland Pike's tuning tips (MACs are too expensive).
srob said:
What was the bike they were trying to get to go fast?
I'm not sure if the actual model was mentioned but it is an early 40's Triumph 350. Google images suggests it's a Triumph Tiger 80 or a 3HW, it certainly looks like one of those.EDIT: Wikipedia suggests the Tiger 80 managed almost 75mph at Brooklands in 1937, which is very impressive; much quicker than I expected.
Mr Coles example struggled to hit 55mph, so even if they just got the engine running properly they would be very close to the speed they needed for the Bonneville record. Makes the whole scratch built special project even more pointless.
Edited by Mr2Mike on Wednesday 20th August 13:49
Mr2Mike said:
srob said:
What was the bike they were trying to get to go fast?
I'm not sure if the actual model was mentioned but it is an early 40's Triumph 350. Google images suggests it's a Triumph Tiger 80 or a 3HW, it certainly looks like one of those.EDIT: Wikipedia suggests the Tiger 80 managed almost 75mph at Brooklands in 1937, which is very impressive; much quicker than I expected.
Mr Coles example struggled to hit 55mph, so even if they just got the engine running properly they would be very close to the speed they needed for the Bonneville record. Makes the whole scratch built special project even more pointless.
Most Army bikes were the side-valve BSA M20 (my old man was in the Royal Signals in WW2 and was lucky(?) enough to DR on BSAs) and Norton 16H. If you were really lucky you got to ride a Matchless G3L (Overhead valves! Telescopic forks!).
Remember that Bonneville is at 4200 feet above sea level, so they'll have to make it go a lot faster in the UK to have any chance of beating the record in Utah.
Edited by gareth_r on Wednesday 20th August 14:44
moanthebairns said:
mrh1275 said:
moanthebairns said:
mrh1275 said:
I think it's a great programme and really like
the guys sense of humour..
I've taken a lot of drugs in my youth but obviously none as good as what your on. the guys sense of humour..
tmoanthebairns said:
mrh1275 said:
moanthebairns said:
mrh1275 said:
I think it's a great programme and really like
the guys sense of humour..
I've taken a lot of drugs in my youth but obviously none as good as what your on. the guys sense of humour..
tmrh1275 said:
moanthebairns said:
mrh1275 said:
moanthebairns said:
mrh1275 said:
I think it's a great programme and really like
the guys sense of humour..
I've taken a lot of drugs in my youth but obviously none as good as what your on. the guys sense of humour..
tgareth_r said:
Most Army bikes were the side-valve BSA M20 (my old man was in the Royal Signals in WW2 and was lucky(?) enough to DR on BSAs) and Norton 16H. If you were really lucky you got to ride a Matchless G3L (Overhead valves! Telescopic forks!).
If you were really lucky you'd get a J12 BSA like my old mans bike. They were a 500cc OHV v-twin when really, the only other British OHV v-twin on the market was a Brough Superior SS100 or 680. They were deemed too fiddly and fickle for military use though and they only ever made a few hundred. I'm sure if you were one of the DR's that got one though you'd have been the envy of your mates, been like getting a Ducati Desmocedici instead of a CB500
gareth_r said:
t's a 3HW, which was the military version, I think, so it's a very different bike from the Tiger 80 (probably related though). IIRC Triumph didn't manufacture many military bikes because the original Triumph factory in Coventry was bombed.
Most Army bikes were the side-valve BSA M20 (my old man was in the Royal Signals in WW2 and was lucky(?) enough to DR on BSAs) and Norton 16H. If you were really lucky you got to ride a Matchless G3L (Overhead valves! Telescopic forks!).
Remember that Bonneville is at 4200 feet above sea level, so they'll have to make it go a lot faster in the UK to have any chance of beating the record in Utah.
Just had another look at Sundays program; he does actually say it's a 3HW and there's a pic on his tw*tter account. Most Army bikes were the side-valve BSA M20 (my old man was in the Royal Signals in WW2 and was lucky(?) enough to DR on BSAs) and Norton 16H. If you were really lucky you got to ride a Matchless G3L (Overhead valves! Telescopic forks!).
Remember that Bonneville is at 4200 feet above sea level, so they'll have to make it go a lot faster in the UK to have any chance of beating the record in Utah.
Edited by gareth_r on Wednesday 20th August 14:44
The pictures that I can find of the Tiger 80 and the 3HW show them to be almost identical from the outside at least, just less chrome and extra racks etc. on the military bike.
I'd imagine the 3HW would just be a de-tuned Tiger 80. Probably softer cams and maybe a lower compression ratio as I doubt they'd risk compromising reliability through trying new materials, bearings etc. The War Office were big on reliability, for obvious reasons!
Bung a massive GP carb' on it, jet it to run on methanol (as is still legal in vintage racing), re-gear it and get some hot cams in it. Drill holes in anything too heavy, take off anything you don't need and Bob's your uncle.
I assume from reading this thread he's making a frame or something? A stripped out rigid framed lightweight is pretty much ideal as it is!
Bung a massive GP carb' on it, jet it to run on methanol (as is still legal in vintage racing), re-gear it and get some hot cams in it. Drill holes in anything too heavy, take off anything you don't need and Bob's your uncle.
I assume from reading this thread he's making a frame or something? A stripped out rigid framed lightweight is pretty much ideal as it is!
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