motorbikes old/new...open thread??

A few images of an 'Indian' Royal Enfield.

ah!!! that bloody brake on the rhs...the japanese started that with the honda 50 in about 1960 and it caught on in "UK" models as they became more exportable
there is something sweet and body friendly about using the right foot for gears as you stand with your left foot on the kerb....
??
yours
old faart..
 
Hi, going back in time ( - and in image quality :sorry:. ) --- Nürburgring Elephant Rallye 1972, snow, frost and fog.

(L to r.) NORTON Commando, HONDA CB500 four, BMW R75/5 (my bike):


View attachment 139184


The things you do, and the risks you take, when you are young ... ---

yes..i hit a van...T110...pulled out in front of me
killed a dog...Viper...owner let dog off leash and it ran under the front wheel...dark night
 
Now that's lovely. I had an A7 shooting star for a while, but reliability was something that happened to other people, and it eventually snapped the crank in half & got traded for a Yamaha XS500 ratbike.

brilliant!!...i can just see you sitting on this...you are a mean man!!
welcome to the old bikers thread...loads of chaps here who cut their teeth on two wheels...
thanks for the reply
geof

14_12_2015_Relic_Yamaha_XS500_01.jpg
 
brilliant!!...i can just see you sitting on this...you are a mean man!!
welcome to the old bikers thread...loads of chaps here who cut their teeth on two wheels...
thanks for the reply
geof

14_12_2015_Relic_Yamaha_XS500_01.jpg

That was the model, but with wire wheels and a nasty 2:1 exhaust, plus a JPS paintjob with black hammerite and self-adhesive gold pinstripes. :eek: I repainted the tank & sidepanels, sourced original pipes (quieter and much more power) and used it for about 3 years - replaced the bottom end when it threw a rod. It was a complete son of a bachelor to start, especially on frosty mornings, and I got good at the art of run and bump.

I've been riding since I was 15, on and off.
 
:D:D
and how to pack your own parachute...one on your back and one on the rear of the machine...braking distances y'know

Thankfully, the brakes are pretty damn good. Mind you, having to stop 300+kg (dry, so over 400 full and with me aboard!) they have to be. Engine braking's pretty effective as well when I'm riding less spiritedly.
 
like the architecture of the frame and racing vibe of the exhaust design..
cheers

ps is it easy to get these to go in top gear slowly...say 60..touring speed for me
 
ah!!! that bloody brake on the rhs...the Japanese started that with the Honda 50 in about 1960 and it caught on in "UK" models as they became more exportable
there is something sweet and body friendly about using the right foot for gears as you stand with your left foot on the kerb....
??
yours
old faart..


Too right G! hitting the brake instead of the gears put the bejabers up many a following biker!
Left foot on the kerb though, yeh, remember that, buggered up the cyclists progress too!
Loved my Honda 50 in the 80s, a 10 mile commute to the center of Manchester 6 days a week on less than
a tank full! If I remember right it held just over 1/2 a gallon!
 
My Lad with HIS pride n joy.

Jared and his Tiger 800.jpg

This was when he first got it, he has changed a ........few things!
Seat, exhaust, bars, brakes, rear grab thingy, sump guard, and other stuff that I don't really understand now.
 
love those conversions...i put ace bars on the velo...it had a valve lifter, choke lever to fit on...it was a squeeze
on the T110 i cut the rear valance, took off the rear shockers dust covers...painted the springs
and
put this on

Fairing_Mountain_Mile_Peel.jpg


i could hardly steer the thing stopped...had to do about 3 3 point turnings....
the whole bike went and i got the viper
 
love those conversions...i put ace bars on the velo...it had a valve lifter, choke lever to fit on...it was a squeeze
on the T110 i cut the rear valance, took off the rear shockers dust covers...painted the springs
and
put this on

i could hardly steer the thing stopped...had to do about 3 3 point turnings....
the whole bike went and i got the viper

That almost made sense, I had to read it 3 times, I think I understand it now. :confused:
 
The left foot change/right foot brake thing is (among other reasons) because the majority of people are right handed/footed so have slightly better feel in the right foot allowing better modulated braking. Gear changing is a gross movement so doesn't need the finesse that braking requires.

On the BikeSafe course, we were advised to put the right foot down while at a standstill since (here in the UK) the road surface is a bit closer so it's not such a stretch. It also lets you be ready to snick into first gear for pulling away.
 
I'm not fussed about which side has the brake and which the gears, other than wanting it to be instinctive when riding.
 
TBH, I rarely use the rear brake anyway. Thinking back, I reckon it was only the Bantam that had a left foot rear brake (of the bikes I've owned) - ABS (by accident rather than design!!!) unless I stood on the pedal.
 
I've had a mix over the years, mostly right foot, but 4 bikes with left foot braking (Benelli Enduro, BSA B175, BSA A7, Motoguzzi V50).
 
That almost made sense, I had to read it 3 times, I think I understand it now. :confused:

yes i can imagine how silly it sounded
the velo got ace bars and the space to fit the brake lever and valve lifter..one side and brake lever and choke lever on the other...just fitted on...i had grippy grips on as well
the Triumph T110 got the sheet metal conversion to the rear valances, took the dust covers off the rear shockers which then exposed the springs which i painted silver and finally fitted the peel mountain mile fairing..the fairing fouled the clip ons since it didnt have cutouts...ok just normal riding but turning the bike around required a few..not 33...back and forths with the handlebars...the resultant lock was poor..thats why....like some clip ons hit the tank as well
thats it old timer...
 
i had a DOT road machine...... think it was a 1958...got it in 1982 second hand...£30
something like this
.

I had one of those too! Stripped it down to the bare minimum and used it for scrambling around Drinkwater & Philips Park, Prestwich/Salford border in the Irwell Valley.
I think it was a 2T? 197cc Villiers.

Even though DOT ceased to be in 1968, last time I looked the factory and company still exist, next to the Mancunian Way/Chester Road at Hulme in Manchester.
Loved that bike, my mate JC also liked it, he bought a DOT Demon the same year.
 
cheers..i had a viper...detail...what is the lever under clutch lever??
my valve lifter lever was a short one...for cranking the engine to inlet stroke..easy starting
and the choke was a small one too
i went to the isle of man on my viper with a 500 clubman exhaust system fitted....it didnt do the trick...just got a flat spot
 
Hi, the SANGLAS brings back memories ... :

In 1971 I had two riders from the GUARDIA CIVIL escorting me to the next town in the south of Spain, where I had to change DEUTSCHE MARK to pay the fine for illegal overtaking - on the spot ... ---


mot-L1009639-L2824c_bearbeitet-1.jpg
 
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one from the "big box of old family photo's" - looks like one of my uncles on his mean machine...

Sidecar2 by The Big Yin, on Flickr

and my Aunt, when they went off touring in ireland (at least thats what was pencilled on the back of the photo...)

Sidecar3 by The Big Yin, on Flickr




Ratbike/Chopper/Scooter - this monstrosity is parked/abandoned just up the street from me, grabbed a shot of it with the cameraphone in passing one day...

Baad Motor Scooter by The Big Yin, on Flickr



BSA parked up at YSP, West Bretton - think I spent more time looking at this, than I did at the Henry Moores...

BSA in Black and White by The Big Yin, on Flickr

BSA by The Big Yin, on Flickr
 
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Like the outfit - ex WD BSA?

I would think that the ratty looking scooter is built to look like that rather than being abandoned - seems to be fashionable these days.
 
Hi, a German TORNAX. A friend of mine bought one like this in 1968 for 40 Deutsche Mark, then a typical asking price:


View attachment 139541


What's the big spring under the saddle for? It appears to be plunger rear suspension so can only think that the spring's for the seat itself. The seat arrangement looks like it could have been the inspiration for the Triumph Bobber's cantilevered seat.
 
What's the big spring under the saddle for? It appears to be plunger rear suspension so can only think that the spring's for the seat itself. The seat arrangement looks like it could have been the inspiration for the Triumph Bobber's cantilevered seat.

Hi, this is what I think, too. - In those days, when rear wheels had minimal (or no) suspension, comfortable saddles were essential.

My first bike, a ZÜNDAPP Norma 200, had a similar saddle.

For a better view of the TORNAX saddle spring:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornax#/media/File:TornaxV200.JPG
 
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huh ???

screenshot-www.talkphotography.co.uk-2018.12.02-17-53-30.png

surely any discussion of trading should be in the Classifieds ??? you've spent enough time in there to know the rules by now...

ETA: and it's not the brightest idea to change posts afterwards, when you realise that there's a staff member in the thread - we can read edit historys as well you know...
 
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Hi, this is what I think, too. - In those days, when rear wheels had minimal (or no) suspension, comfortable saddles were essential.

My first bike, a ZÜNDAPP Norma 200, had a similar saddle.

For a better view of the TORNAX saddle spring:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornax#/media/File:TornaxV200.JPG


Thanks for the extra shot, I can see now how it appears to work.

Had a catalogue delivered yesterday - assorted parts for Royal Enfields so I can start putting a shopping list together to get Roy sorted out for next year.
 
huh ???

View attachment 139571

surely any discussion of trading should be in the Classifieds ??? you've spent enough time in there to know the rules by now...

ETA: and it's not the brightest idea to change posts afterwards, when you realise that there's a staff member in the thread - we can read edit historys as well you know...
Mark, it was a mistake with a link via my elderly iPad. So sorry......!

Delete my post if need be.
 
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