British 4 cylinder bikes
Discussion
Hi everybody & anybody. Bit of a shot in the dark, but I wondered if any of you guys have ever heard of/ seen some 4 cyl bikes made from scratch by a Brit guy maybe by the name of Phillips? I think they might have been a bit home-made but i've heard a rumour that there were maybe 3 or 4 made including a 250cc -4 that looked a bit like the immortal Hailwood Honda-6. There may have been a 350 & possibly even a 125 but that seems a bit unlikely. Be interested to know as it seems quite unusual & I was a BIG fan of the Honda multis from the 1960's. Any info. welcome.
sprinter885 said:
Hi everybody & anybody. Bit of a shot in the dark, but I wondered if any of you guys have ever heard of/ seen some 4 cyl bikes made from scratch by a Brit guy maybe by the name of Phillips? I think they might have been a bit home-made but i've heard a rumour that there were maybe 3 or 4 made including a 250cc -4 that looked a bit like the immortal Hailwood Honda-6. There may have been a 350 & possibly even a 125 but that seems a bit unlikely. Be interested to know as it seems quite unusual & I was a BIG fan of the Honda multis from the 1960's. Any info. welcome.
George Beale, made a few replica's of Hailwoods Honda 250 Six a few years ago, I remember my dad saying, might be somewhere too start looking.Biker's Nemesis said:
sprinter885 said:
Hi everybody & anybody. Bit of a shot in the dark, but I wondered if any of you guys have ever heard of/ seen some 4 cyl bikes made from scratch by a Brit guy maybe by the name of Phillips? I think they might have been a bit home-made but i've heard a rumour that there were maybe 3 or 4 made including a 250cc -4 that looked a bit like the immortal Hailwood Honda-6. There may have been a 350 & possibly even a 125 but that seems a bit unlikely. Be interested to know as it seems quite unusual & I was a BIG fan of the Honda multis from the 1960's. Any info. welcome.
George Beale, made a few replica's of Hailwoods Honda 250 Six a few years ago, I remember my dad saying, might be somewhere too start looking.
wandering off topic ,
I seem to have vague memories that there was a guy who worked at Triumph many years ago on the early days of the Trident.
In his spare time , but using bits from the factory he made a 1000cc 4 cylinder engine for the Trident frame by just "grafting" another pot onto the 750 engine , this would have surely slowed the jap onslaught into the British economy .
But the guys at Triumph "who know" , werent happy with it , and it was never taken up .
I seem to have vague memories that there was a guy who worked at Triumph many years ago on the early days of the Trident.
In his spare time , but using bits from the factory he made a 1000cc 4 cylinder engine for the Trident frame by just "grafting" another pot onto the 750 engine , this would have surely slowed the jap onslaught into the British economy .
But the guys at Triumph "who know" , werent happy with it , and it was never taken up .
Busamav said:
wandering off topic ,
I seem to have vague memories that there was a guy who worked at Triumph many years ago on the early days of the Trident.
In his spare time , but using bits from the factory he made a 1000cc 4 cylinder engine for the Trident frame by just "grafting" another pot onto the 750 engine , this would have surely slowed the jap onslaught into the British economy .
But the guys at Triumph "who know" , werent happy with it , and it was never taken up .
Is this the one you mean? http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_b...I seem to have vague memories that there was a guy who worked at Triumph many years ago on the early days of the Trident.
In his spare time , but using bits from the factory he made a 1000cc 4 cylinder engine for the Trident frame by just "grafting" another pot onto the 750 engine , this would have surely slowed the jap onslaught into the British economy .
But the guys at Triumph "who know" , werent happy with it , and it was never taken up .
Right- this has been bugging me!
I think that the bike you're thinking of may be a Jones. They were built and raced in the 50's/60's, but I can't find a picture anywhere!
The Phillips seems to have been built more recently as a 'replica' of a 60's GP machine, using some more modern components and being of smaller capacity.
Another option is the Marsh. I have found a picture of this one in the Millars price guide book 1997/98.
Clearly takes a lot of influence from the Gilera's of the era.
Another four that was built (admittedly earlier) was the supercharged V4 AJS. Built just before the second world war. There's one in Sammy Millers museum, which he regularly runs.
Couple of pics of it- because it's worth it!!
British engineering at its best....
To answer the last Triumph four quetsion, Triumph themselves made quite a few prototype 'Quadrants'- I'm sure that there was more than one at the Beezumph rally at Cadwell a couple of years ago.
I think that the bike you're thinking of may be a Jones. They were built and raced in the 50's/60's, but I can't find a picture anywhere!
The Phillips seems to have been built more recently as a 'replica' of a 60's GP machine, using some more modern components and being of smaller capacity.
Another option is the Marsh. I have found a picture of this one in the Millars price guide book 1997/98.
Clearly takes a lot of influence from the Gilera's of the era.
Another four that was built (admittedly earlier) was the supercharged V4 AJS. Built just before the second world war. There's one in Sammy Millers museum, which he regularly runs.
Couple of pics of it- because it's worth it!!
British engineering at its best....
To answer the last Triumph four quetsion, Triumph themselves made quite a few prototype 'Quadrants'- I'm sure that there was more than one at the Beezumph rally at Cadwell a couple of years ago.
Many thanks to all for responses -& those with piccies especially the Marsh "MV lookalike", AJS V4 (immaculate looking bike-never heard of that before) & Triumph 'Quadrant'. Again I never knew the 'old' Triumph company had ever tried a 4 pot.
I remember the "Squariel" - in fact (in my yoof) I knew a guy who put Square 4 motor in an old Sunbeam frame. Went like stink but no idea what handling was like.
Regarding George Beale rep. Hondas I believe Bob Heath of Visors fame owned a 4 or 6 pot but trashed it just last year (approx £300K worth allegedly-ouch!)
Original post still unanswered-but will continue. p.s. it was a "Phillips" , described as an RPS by the way -not a Jones- & I understand built by Ron Phillips hence RPS(pecial)who had some input in tuning a 50cc moped for some sort of speed record.
I remember the "Squariel" - in fact (in my yoof) I knew a guy who put Square 4 motor in an old Sunbeam frame. Went like stink but no idea what handling was like.
Regarding George Beale rep. Hondas I believe Bob Heath of Visors fame owned a 4 or 6 pot but trashed it just last year (approx £300K worth allegedly-ouch!)
Original post still unanswered-but will continue. p.s. it was a "Phillips" , described as an RPS by the way -not a Jones- & I understand built by Ron Phillips hence RPS(pecial)who had some input in tuning a 50cc moped for some sort of speed record.
Sorry- thought you were after general British 4 cyllinder bike info.
I'll have a word with my brother later- he's the editor of an old bike magazine and I they've got a huge archive so if there's pictures of the Phillips about he should be able to find them.
By the way, I think that Bob Heath's Honda four is a genuine ex Hailwood bike, although I think he may of had some engine internals re-manufactured.
I'll have a word with my brother later- he's the editor of an old bike magazine and I they've got a huge archive so if there's pictures of the Phillips about he should be able to find them.
By the way, I think that Bob Heath's Honda four is a genuine ex Hailwood bike, although I think he may of had some engine internals re-manufactured.
srob said:
Sorry- thought you were after general British 4 cyllinder bike info.
I'll have a word with my brother later- he's the editor of an old bike magazine and I they've got a huge archive so if there's pictures of the Phillips about he should be able to find them.
By the way, I think that Bob Heath's Honda four is a genuine ex Hailwood bike, although I think he may of had some engine internals re-manufactured.
No problem-info on other bikes was most welcome as I said above. Didn't know Heath's bike was genuine ex-factory (350 wasn't it?) Heard a story that Neil Tuxworth (of Honda HM Plant BSB fame) had been told by Honda to bid for it at auction when Bob Heath bought it -but (typical Tuxworth !) seemed to think when it went over £150K it was getting a bit dear !! So the factory didn't get it. Thanks for making other enquiries about the "RPS"- I'll check back here at times.I'll have a word with my brother later- he's the editor of an old bike magazine and I they've got a huge archive so if there's pictures of the Phillips about he should be able to find them.
By the way, I think that Bob Heath's Honda four is a genuine ex Hailwood bike, although I think he may of had some engine internals re-manufactured.
wildone63 said:
Is this the one you mean? http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_b...
thats it , thanks for that memory jogger Edited by Busamav on Wednesday 15th August 17:00
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