classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => European and Other Bikes => Topic started by: Tony J on March 21, 2018, 08:05:37 PM

Title: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: Tony J on March 21, 2018, 08:05:37 PM
Hello to everyone..new member here, I have a 100cc french motorcycle 1957 Lucer Ak3 grand sport...I can't find any others for sale, or indeed, any information on the bike, it appears to be a rare old bird.....does anyone have any information on this model...or own one? Thanks
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: R on March 21, 2018, 09:22:04 PM
So is this one related to you ?

(https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/cars/any/9885168.jpg)

The wiki entry does seem a little brief...
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucer

Looks related
http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/classics-l/Lucer-1948-Factory.htm
You can click through for a view of a few other models there
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: Terrotmt1 on March 21, 2018, 10:29:55 PM
As the owner of a well known French workman bike, I wish you every bit of luck with your bike.
My Terrot MT1 is almost known about in the U.K. And in France there are 2 good forums, but spares are almost non existent, info is hard to find, and will be in French.

It will be very hard to sell and recover the material costs of a decent restoration, but if you have it for a challenge, then you will have a good time.
It is the unique parts that are so hard to find, so I hope the bike is complete.

My advice is to get it to start and run well fist before anything else, I did not do this, much to my dismay.
Graham.
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: murdo on March 22, 2018, 07:11:04 AM
please... no more french flea market tat ::) ::)
How could I have guessed you would say that. ;D
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: Tony J on March 22, 2018, 07:28:23 AM
Wow...no more french flea market tat....I seem to have touched a raw nerve there....thank you for the constructive replies, the bike is indeed complete and a runner, I was hoping a few owners might be able to supply additional info without the vitriol and sarcasm.
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: Terrotmt1 on March 22, 2018, 09:01:34 AM
Tony, non meant from me.
I bought my non running Terrot and sorting it out is very hard right from UK registration to today.
I have a thread by yours about the engine saga.

These small French bikes are very poorly supported and very few know of them in the U.K.
There were many manufacturers post war before they failed or were bought up.
Terrot were bought by Peugeot in the mid 50s after making some iconic bikes.
The grand bikes are well supported, but the small one less so.

You may find this with yours, I've never heard of the make, but bikes are not my first interest, so certainly no expert.
Google will be your best friend, look for French bike forums as well as the manufacturer.

I have found this site more helpful than any other, the Terrot.org site have been more observers than help and I have posted there in English and French.

Yo have yours running is a huge plus, wish I was in the same boat.
Graham.
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: TGR90B on March 22, 2018, 09:24:34 AM
"Vitriol & sarcasm". Tony take it in the light hearted manner it was intended. Best to get into the site a bit before biting. Everyone's different.
Dave.
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: mini-me on March 22, 2018, 10:00:32 AM
Another delicate one who want his hand held.

What you got from me was the hard truth,and incidentally some sensible help if you bothered with the links? I think your engine is more likely an Ydral now, and if you search for info about Ydral you'll get some more.

What on earth makes you think this site and this country is awash with obscure french bikes? its not, despite the efforts of  various chancers importing van loads of french tat to Kempton and ebay?

I have had quite a few decent french bikes through my hands and am well aware of the difficulties and expense involved in owning them, and that was when I made regular trips to France and had many contacts over there.

If you don't speak/read french you are even more up against it,  mon petit chou. a bientot fleur.


Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: The Artful Bodger on March 22, 2018, 10:57:49 AM
Hi Tony, as another member with a "no more french flea market tat" bike, welcome! Mini - Me seems a crusty sod, but actually will have a look around and offer suggestions for info etc. I think maybe he's got a soft centre hidden somewhere??
  I asked on this site hoping someone might have some experience with a bike like my latest project with about the same response as you got. But don't be put off. Two strokes are pretty simple things and most things can be overcome, but since your bike is running you don't have a problem............. as yet.
  A bike's a bike and I don't care where they come from as long as they make me smile, hopefully the same for you. Just enjoy it but remember the value will be limited on re-sale so watch your spending. When I bought mine I knew I would be making most everything I needed for it, both because it's French but also since it's from the '20's. I'd much rather own, ride and enjoy a French flat tanker than not have one at all, looking at British ones but not being able to justify the cost of owning one. In reality I love the look of mine and don't consider it a compromise. Enjoy yours!

Colin
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: Rex on March 22, 2018, 11:04:32 AM
I've had a Monet-Goyon 1936 and 350, and while it was stylish and fun it was hard work to get any bits or info about it. M-G does have a dedicated forum but the French do seem to resent the Rosbifs taking what's left of their classic motorcycling past, unless it's a Transit load of incomplete, totally-spunked little two-strokes on offer at Kempton in which case they're enthusiastic.
If yours is running that's at least a good start, though when I did search Ebay.Fr for bits etc I never saw your make of bike come up ever, so maybe it's more than  little obscure.
Best thing is clean it up get it running a flog it to some twerp who drinks out of jam-jars, doesn't wear socks and has a big bushy beard.
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: Terrotmt1 on March 22, 2018, 01:14:54 PM
Did Tony take his picture on my driveway? ;)

Sadly, I bought my next project from a UK antiques dealer living in France, straight out of the back of her Transit just before I bought my lovely Terrot from a local motorcycle shop who bought it from a UK Antiques Dealer at the Bike Show in Stafford....
I feel a bit wiser today.

(https://s14.postimg.org/8lcana5dd/DSC_0025.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: mini-me on March 22, 2018, 02:37:46 PM
Yes I am a crusty sod, the crust comes of years in the bike trade followed by the despair at the things some folk waste time and money on.

each to his own or  à chacun son goût as the frogs say.

I am 90% that your engine is an Ydral; these engines were quit ewidely used in all sorts of vehicles from invalid trikes, to mini cars or velo moteurs in which France abounded after the war. That's the 1939-45 one not the Falklands which is about as far back as some's memory goes.
They seem to have been reliable enough units so engine stuff is possibly easier to get which is half the battle.

If you spoke/read french you could search ebay.fr, don't bother with ebay uk, for issues of Moto Revue or RTM revue Moto Technique which over the years covered such engines in depth, as near a manual as you'll get.

There are three dealers over there who supply spares for all sorts, their names are on here; They are OK to deal with, accept cards and paypal. Postage is a killer if its a  parcel.

I have bought lots from ebay.fr when the exchange rate was in our favour; never had a problem with seller or post, just check they'll send to here and take paypal first, 'cos lots don't.

Start all enquires with  "SVP Monsieur" as it helps a lot.

As was said they aren't keen on exporting their heritage, I have seen so much old shit sold to us rosbifs.

Over the years I ahve owned

1930s Terrot LST
1947 FN 450 with  the rubber suspension.
 A 250 Peugeot

a Motobecane Z22c  175cc which was a far better made bike than a tiger cub
a Motobecane Z2 125cc
a Manhurin scooter,
and numerous mopeds.

The mopeds sell readily enough to mugs here, all the others got sold/traded back to France, the best place for them.
At least yours goes. I hope you got it for nothing.
Just about all your likely problems and their answers will have arisen in the Terrot saga. You could share his patience.

That's my lot, if it offends, I don't care that's life.

I think there should be a separate section for french bikes because of my blood pressure.

1920s French flat tankers are a whole different thing.

I have a massive knee op soon, so  I think I'll dig out some of my pics of interesting french bikes and scan and post them, maybe some of the crap too.

I still got a pile of french bike mags that are destined for the binman soon.
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: iansoady on March 22, 2018, 03:42:49 PM
Good luck with the knee. I had a total knee replacement 6 years ago and it was a life-changing event (for the better).
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: mini-me on March 22, 2018, 04:03:04 PM
Thanks Ian, I can manage about 600yds max these days; haven't given the dog a proper walk for two years, people keep asking the wife if I 'm dead.

No dog walks meant the beer gut is impressive through lack of exercise.

Its a good job I managed to keep my sunny disposition through it all ;) Always look on the bright side is my motto. 8)
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: iansoady on March 22, 2018, 04:22:08 PM
I can tell.......
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: mini-me on March 22, 2018, 06:38:08 PM
 ;D ;D


I've been on bikes for 55 years now, would not change one minute of my motorcycling. Apart from the sheer fun of riding,it got me a ace wife, 40yrs and still arguing, a business, some really good mates.

I have always encouraged lads into motorcycling, as I tell them its the most fun you can have with your clothes on, and cheaper and often less grief as you can easily junk the dud ones.

My problem is, I have seen so many promising lads put off bikes  for life because they were sold a pup which cost a fortune in repairs, no one restored anything after 1930 back then; or they bought something totally unsuitable, or got bad advice from some cackhanded "expert". All those poor saps that bought Pride and Clarkes specials for instance, Pannonias, TWN, Guzzi Lodolas, CZ and found they could not get spares or service and the seller did not give a toss.

Put off for life they were. I see danger of it being repeated with Kempton Park specials. It's the hard blunt truth that these are not suitable for beginners to start with, plenty of old tat British two strokes about instead. Unsellable, sometimes un-insurable, totally unsuited for the roads except for Buzzing club runs and the like, so you get stuck with them.

The French don't want to help,they hate us anyway; I was member of the Motobecane club, the biggest in France, getting anything out of them was like drawing teeth. I used to go back and forth a lot so bought my stuff at jumbles there, where they are happy to take our money. Advice? forget it. Spares? not from private people, as I said, ebay.fr is ok but postage rates especially for parts outside of France varies considerably, often depending on the post master/mistress.

Motorcycles are great, restoring them is mostly a lot of fun and learning, riding them is great, but don't start on a Kempton special.

Looking for fellow owners is naive its probably the only one in the UK.

If Tony wants any help with French terms or sites I can help, don't expect song and dance and pretty things. I bought my experience hard.

Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: Tony J on March 23, 2018, 08:04:46 AM
Thanks for all the replies, very helpful...even mini_mi (Cornelius Grouch) appears very knowledgeable on the subject, once he allowed his blood pressure to drop....and I hope his knee op goes well and you can return to managing your Torquay hotel.Regards
Title: Re: Lucer Ak3 grand sport
Post by: mini-me on March 23, 2018, 08:51:55 AM
A sense of humour lad, goes a long way.

Blood pressure is under control, so Op booked.

I sold the hotel and am now working for DSS because of my capacity for compassion ;D