1950s Biker anyone out there who was..?
Discussion
Ive always had a bike, No1 a Triumph Tiger 80, BMW R50 ? Duke was racing B.ms. Eddie Dow Part Xd for New Gold Flash, I went on it to Yugoslavia with Ken & Molly Craven remember Craven Equipment thats how Ken tested it. Eddie then Xd me for a Tiger 100 (nacelle was nice ) Then a Norton 88 Feather-bed useless power plant, good on bends, if no need to stop in anger, sold private got myself the then ultimate machine Vincent Rapide Cheap, needed ex valve so bid 80 quid got it didnt like it not sporty! done well tho sold it for 120 that was money in 1961. Had lots since, last serious rider one was a very original 650 SS Featherbed bit better lump than the 88, then Im not so keen to drop a cog and bite the dust like WE LADS used to. What am I trying now, its back to a V twin, a Sportster its 03, and Im a bit older fit not feeble, anyone care to catch up with me and write about rider mechanics, thats what we were. Always carried a spanner or 3 they had tool boxes for the use of.I did my national service rode a Matchless G.L.350 in trials, good days !Knibbo.
Happy days mate. 
'Bout 20yrs before I was born right enuff, child 'o the seventies me. Always had a passion for old brit iron, ever since as a toddler a friend of my parents popped over on his big black n chrome thingy. Rapide not sporty? Yeah, but with some Black Shadow bits and shoved in the 88's frame it'd go some!
There's some Aussie mob recreating the engine with some modern tweaks and putting it in a fairly modern chassis, that'd be nice. www.irvingvincent.com if you want to see a bit more.
'Bout 20yrs before I was born right enuff, child 'o the seventies me. Always had a passion for old brit iron, ever since as a toddler a friend of my parents popped over on his big black n chrome thingy. Rapide not sporty? Yeah, but with some Black Shadow bits and shoved in the 88's frame it'd go some!
There's some Aussie mob recreating the engine with some modern tweaks and putting it in a fairly modern chassis, that'd be nice. www.irvingvincent.com if you want to see a bit more.hiccy said:
Rapide not sporty? Yeah, but with some Black Shadow bits and shoved in the 88's frame it'd go some!
You mean a Norvin.And who needs Aussies, John Mossey Restorations in Herts will build you a brand new one for......take a deep breath....£25k...
Yes please...
http://www.johnmosseyrestorations.com/JMR_norvin.htm
They'll do an Egli-Vincent as well.
http://www.johnmosseyrestorations.com/JMR_eglivincent.htm
Edited by aeropilot on Thursday 21st June 08:27
I've got a very slow moving Triton project on the go- same principal as the Norvin just a bit cheaper!!
I'm going to try and make it look like a Manx Norton (Manx tank, seat and fly screen, and black conical hubs), but it'll have a pre-unit 650 Triumph engine with two matt black high level pipes. I've wanted this spec of Triton since I was a kid!
I'm going to try and make it look like a Manx Norton (Manx tank, seat and fly screen, and black conical hubs), but it'll have a pre-unit 650 Triumph engine with two matt black high level pipes. I've wanted this spec of Triton since I was a kid!
srob said:
I've got a very slow moving Triton project on the go- same principal as the Norvin just a bit cheaper!!
I'm going to try and make it look like a Manx Norton (Manx tank, seat and fly screen, and black conical hubs), but it'll have a pre-unit 650 Triumph engine with two matt black high level pipes. I've wanted this spec of Triton since I was a kid!
I'm going to try and make it look like a Manx Norton (Manx tank, seat and fly screen, and black conical hubs), but it'll have a pre-unit 650 Triumph engine with two matt black high level pipes. I've wanted this spec of Triton since I was a kid!
biker's nemesis said:
That's a good first post, Got the Triumph T120 bit, though most of the rest went over my head.
There might be some older one's on here who can better decipher your post more than I can, but come back and tell me more.
Well makes I wonder who really is out there, R U sure all the nuts R tight on your racer ? De cypher ...I did!nt refer to a T120, was all in the mind A. Thanks for reply tho ! anyone else care to cypher"" de..bait ! There might be some older one's on here who can better decipher your post more than I can, but come back and tell me more.
Not quite the 50s but I also had a Norton 650 SS back in the sixties after I'd started on a Francis Barnett Falcon 87.
I've had a number Of Jap bikes more recently and for the last 11 years I've been riding a Yamaha Royal Star (1300cc detuned V-Max based engine) which has taken me as far as Poland, the Shetlands and the Arctic Circle.
I've never been into spannering, despite being an engineer, which is why the Royal Star is ideal. Even after chucking it down the road in the rain in Poland at 70ish we just pushed a few bits back into place and carried on. I put 14,000 miles on it in the first 12 months and it's only needed regular servicing to keep it running perfect.
I've had a number Of Jap bikes more recently and for the last 11 years I've been riding a Yamaha Royal Star (1300cc detuned V-Max based engine) which has taken me as far as Poland, the Shetlands and the Arctic Circle.
I've never been into spannering, despite being an engineer, which is why the Royal Star is ideal. Even after chucking it down the road in the rain in Poland at 70ish we just pushed a few bits back into place and carried on. I put 14,000 miles on it in the first 12 months and it's only needed regular servicing to keep it running perfect.
Edited by A1ec on Friday 22 June 00:11
knibbo said:
biker's nemesis said:
That's a good first post, Got the Triumph T120 bit, though most of the rest went over my head.
There might be some older one's on here who can better decipher your post more than I can, but come back and tell me more.
Well makes I wonder who really is out there, R U sure all the nuts R tight on your racer ? De cypher ...I did!nt refer to a T120, was all in the mind A. Thanks for reply tho ! anyone else care to cypher"" de..bait ! There might be some older one's on here who can better decipher your post more than I can, but come back and tell me more.
And yes, my nut's are really tight, they don't get slackened that often nowadays.
John.
John, Liked your reply after the T 120 cock up, sounds like you may be a more mature biker, where are all the 50s bikers suppose they avoid the P.C. button pushing stuff, I like wasting time "browsing" . Are there any Nat: Service O.Rs to chat to, R.E.M.E was my corp for the forced Government sentence, spannered on Matchless G3 Ls, B.S.A. M20s, used to trial em to it was sport rather than regimentals ! Where are you, asleep in the retired area . Get on parade. Can U "ear me " Knibbo.
Hello knibbo, and welcome, it's a nice change to have some old Brit iron mentioned on here. I'm a child of the 60's and didn't start riding until the 70's, but I have a strange fascination and attraction to British bikes (see my profile) I've got it quite bad, in fact there is little hope for me I recon! I do like modern machinery as well (most recent acquisition is a Honda Blackbird). I'm sure half the fun of the old Brit bikes is that you can do so many running repairs on them yourself, and that the bikes have so much more personality. OK so modern bikes just don't need 99% of the running repairs that old Brits do but it's good to have an excuse to spend lots of quality time in the garage!
One of each, a modern and a classic, that's what you need, then you have the best of both worlds covered. Just don't keep collecting like me or you will never get to fully enjoy any of them!
One of each, a modern and a classic, that's what you need, then you have the best of both worlds covered. Just don't keep collecting like me or you will never get to fully enjoy any of them!
Good morning, and thanks Hooli D1 mad & wacky racer. Nice to find such enthusiasts ! Fine list of bikes, yes Ive seen em all in daily use, usually work transport in week, and touring w/e. I mean touring not bending the needle.
Sounds you enjoyed the Welsh trip Hooli, takes me back to w/e trips from midlands round Abergavenny on a Triumph T100 Then later to Dubrovnic, no mistake Yugoslavia on a B.A.S. 650 Gold Flash. Try it in September better roads now !
Hello D1 MAD, pity you toos not a few years earlier, to enjoy the Brit bike hey-days, no knee pads needed then "skid lids" became reluctant head gear, and double lines were a menace to be abused to the disgust of the "Morris 8 " owners etc: So you have a Blackbird..is that wise, is it necessary, may I suggest a Vincent Black Shadow less squirt...more appeal ! Like your style "old & newer ! Im that way inclined spanners in a box, Fergi T20, in workshop, Subaru Legacy cus it got all 4 driving, the Harley Sportster 03. gives me the occasional exciting trip, but never in the wet ! talk again bikers past. Knibbo.
Morning knibbo, thanks for the pm. As for 'is the Blackbird wise or necessary' well no if I had my sensible head on, but it was a bargain, and how boring is being sensible all the time. Also I could buy 3 brand new Blackbirds for the price of an OK Vincent, and if I had all Brit classics my metric spanners would feel abandoned and unloved, apart from when working on the Royal Enfield which was made in 1964 then restored in India in 2004 and as such is an mix of Metric and Whitworth, often on the same fixing!!!
Anyone ever ride any earlier stuff. I have access to a few of my Dads pre-31 bikes (1928 AJS K8, 1928 Royal Enfield Model 180 and sidecar and a loony 1928 Scott two-speeder (bored out to 600cc!)).
The AJS is stunning to ride (500cc OHV single)- once you've mastered the hand change 'box! The old man used to race it in the 60's, but it's been slightly de-tuned now for road use (runs on petrol now, and the carb no-longer tries to eat your knee) but will still easily keep up with 50's/60's stuff.
The Enfield is very sedate (1000cc sidevalve V-twin) with an original Enfield sidecar- third wheel takes a bit of getting used to but the reaction from other road users is priceless!
Haven't actually ridden the Scott (600cc parallel twin two speed two stroke), have tried to keep up with it pulling out of speed limits on a Velo Venom and barely could! Got the red eyes to prove it..
Realise I'm in a lucky position to be able to try these things out, but if you're a member of the Vintage Motorcycle Club they hold "try a vintage bike" days at airfields where you can test some out- well worth it, they're great fun!
The AJS is stunning to ride (500cc OHV single)- once you've mastered the hand change 'box! The old man used to race it in the 60's, but it's been slightly de-tuned now for road use (runs on petrol now, and the carb no-longer tries to eat your knee) but will still easily keep up with 50's/60's stuff.
The Enfield is very sedate (1000cc sidevalve V-twin) with an original Enfield sidecar- third wheel takes a bit of getting used to but the reaction from other road users is priceless!
Haven't actually ridden the Scott (600cc parallel twin two speed two stroke), have tried to keep up with it pulling out of speed limits on a Velo Venom and barely could! Got the red eyes to prove it..
Realise I'm in a lucky position to be able to try these things out, but if you're a member of the Vintage Motorcycle Club they hold "try a vintage bike" days at airfields where you can test some out- well worth it, they're great fun!
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