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Messages - Kit352

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: December 04, 2019, 04:31:17 PM »
Just to end all this I've settled on a nice prewar Douglas aero with the hand shift and girder front end from a seller in Scotland.  Has everything I've been looking for and a steady supply of spares. I had to up my budget a bit but I had him throw in a french 125cc Peugeot  as well which I quite like.  I've been running around on that and find it to be a wonderful bike.  I dont understand the hate for them but I suspect it's just british bias. The douglas runs well enough but isnt as fun as the Peugeot.   It's like a slow rumbling tank.  Not at all nimble like the peugot.  I think the douglas may need a bit of tuning which will keep me off it for a while until I figure it out.  Seems to run well enough so it's probably just me being paranoid but I will look into it anyway just for piece of mind.  I am having a friend scan manuals and notes from lars Anderson for it and send them to me so i can double check settings and components.  There library is massive for these old bikes.  Lots of private notes and comments on some as well in regards to tuning and racing.
The little peugot has gotten a lot of comments when I bring it up to newlands corner.  I cant wait to bring the douglas there. 



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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 05, 2019, 03:13:35 PM »
He's in the USA, where the museum library he refers to is.

you are all being taken for a ride chaps.

This is getting old with you.  First I'm French because I like French bikes now I live in America because I have visited an American museum several times.  You really need to ask questions before blindly accusing with absurd and quite frankly nonsensical guesses.  I dont know what's wrong with you but you really need to stop.  Everything with you is all accusations or false information.  I thought you were blocking me?  Please do so.  People are allowed to travel and like foreign things.  Your life must be so sad to act like this and for that I pity you.





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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 05, 2019, 03:05:45 PM »
My reasoning for the hand shift is pure nostalgia.  I've always wanted one on my Harley but couldnt do it.  If I am going to go old school I'm going to do it right.  Hand shift in my opinion is one of the things that makes these old bikes great.  It's really the only thing I wont budge on.  I would prefer a tank mount unit vs the side saddle one but I think either one is fine.


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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 05, 2019, 08:41:09 AM »
Just popped up at Andy's.  I like everything about these 2 bikes other than the small engine sizes.  I'm also assuming the frames are very small.

http://www.andybuysbikes.com/bikeshtml/07352ctn.html#  I really like this one.  Cant find much info on it though.

http://www.andybuysbikes.com/bikeshtml/07351mtg.html  seems very similar to the above one. 

Where is a better place to do research for old bikes like these.  I've only really had good luck at the lars Anderson museum library but that's mostly looking at technical information and maybe some history.  It doesnt really help much with actually determining if it's a good purchase.

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 04, 2019, 05:06:53 PM »

A tidy 500?

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1165473

Leon

If only it had a hand shifter.  I really like the ajs and matchless brands but they seemed to modernize much quicker than others and ditched the hand shifter quite early.  They seem to sell really quickly with the hand shifter, at least the ones I've seen.

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 04, 2019, 05:04:14 PM »
The AJS equivalent of Ian's 1931 Sunbeam: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1148783

I'm getting hooked...

Leon

I like this one too but lack of lighting is a little bit of a worry.  I need to research more on being able to put at least some lighting on it to make it a touch safer to ride around. 

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 04, 2019, 05:01:01 PM »
Beware, mini-me, your tongue might poke all the way through your cheek!  :)

I'm not sure everything is OK with this bike: the fork spindles look like Whitworth bolts and the bronze under the gearbox is, well, a lot of bronze. The other thing is that this bike will be physically small. But as mini-me says, if you want it go for it. Budget for lots of time and money if you want it to ride.

In the hierarchy of things, wouldn't a British bike with a 197 Villiers be a better bet? Or a British 350, like the B31 suggested earlier, AJS, Ariel, 3T Triumph etc?

Personally I don't change my bikes very often, so for me time spent deciding exactly what will suit is time well spent.

Cheers

Leon

Thanks for pointing out the flaws to that bike.  I knew it probably wasnt going to a good choice for me anyway but I do like mostly what it offers.  That shape and style with most of its features is what I am after.  An old simpleness to it. 

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 04, 2019, 04:57:52 PM »
He doesn't want a bike at, all it's a wind up, E's aving  a larf innit.

I suspect he is one of our previous discontent french bike fans on here.

Or, those on here who frequented Real Classic site may recall that legendary timewaster  and fantasiser NBAY? [no bike as yet]

Whatever answer he got, he'd refute it and then ask another silly question, and another, and another, in the end someone offerd him a free bike, he still came up with a reason not to have it.
People wasted a lot of time trying to encourage and help him.

One of his excuses was that he was a tall heavy guy, same as this bloke.

for myself I am about to block him so I don't have to read his nonsense. So he can spout off at me all he likes. 8)

It's one of the weird things about old bikes, when I was in the trade I got them all the time, 100% fantasy, sort of mechanical wet dreamers. Ignore him.

I have no idea what your talking about and I think it would be best if you did block me.  I have done nothing but ask questions and give responses .  It seems you already have it out for me simply by asking for advise.  I'm not taking advise from you anyway as you seem to be a little off, maybe a lot off.

In response to others I have seen some non-ebay auction bikes but since I have no idea of the buying process or how the whole thing works I have ruled them out.  I figured buying from a dealer or known person would be far safer. 


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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: November 03, 2019, 12:12:30 PM »
I've looked into a few old triumphs and it looks like parts are a huge issue with them.  I do like them though. 
I know bsa is probably my best bet and they are certainly in my price range but I'm not crazy about them.  I do like the bantams though which is the bike that got me into looking for a much older bike.  Too bad it doesnt have a hand shift.  Plus prices have really gone up recently it looks like.

Is it wrong I really like this bike?  Other than being French and brown and most likely to small for me it ticks all my boxes. 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1950-ALCYON-TYPE-23-125cc-TAX-MOT-EXEMPT-GIRDERS-HAND-GEAR-CHANGE/362757625343?hash=item54760a15ff:g:3X8AAOSwWH1b61hR

It seems I like French bikes too.  A good amount of the bikes I like turn out to be French after I look into them.  There is also an old Peugeot listed that I also really like but it has no v5 and I feel is well overpriced even if it did have one.

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: October 31, 2019, 03:25:08 PM »
    FFS Do what the rest of us did, buy anything and learn from your mistakes,on the job as it were.

But what ever you do, don't buy french tat.

PS, I always liked those FB cruisers, would I buy that one?... or from there?? :(   it's debatable, the crimp on wiring is asking for trouble, look at where the fuel pipe runs so close to the chain.
bound to find more.
Anyway I never did like @, bloody numberplate dealer.


I have made many, many motorcycle buying mistakes in my past and while I know I am sure to make more I would like to have as much info as possible for buying one of these.  They are just out of my realm of general knowledge.  I'm not worried so much about the running of them, it's the parts availability to keep them running.  I dont want to end up with a beautiful bike that i cant ride because a brake pad wore out and i cant find a replacement.  I have an old gsxr400 right now that suffers from something similar.  I've been trying to find one rubber piece for nearly 2 years now.


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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: October 31, 2019, 02:03:36 PM »
I imagine I will have something to go under the tree Christmas.  I just need more knowledge to buy the right one, whatever that may be.

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: October 31, 2019, 07:51:04 AM »
I saw that FB cruiser as well and I know it ticks every box for me but I think it's very ugly. It's the lower bullet shaped area that kills me.  Everything else about the bike seems perfect to me.  If it was cheaper it would probably swing my vote but I think I can get something more my liking for similar money or a bit more. 


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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: October 30, 2019, 01:22:38 PM »
I agree on the ajs but it may not need that much to bring it back.  It's something I can discuss with them I am sure.

Thats too bad about the favor but its good info. I almost certainly would have bought it if I saw it in person and not known what I got myself into. 

Your comment on engine size brings up a question.  In modernish bike a 125cc 2 stroke is far better than a 125cc 4 stroke.  I would equal the 125 2 stroke power closer to a 250 4 stroke.  Does that not hold true on the truly old bikes as well?  I know none of them will be speed racers but my gut says a 2 stroke might make them more ridable in a lot of respects unless I get a large engine bike which looks to be out of my price range.

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: October 30, 2019, 06:33:18 AM »
Thanks for the tips.  I had looked at verralls before but they have nothing that I can even come close to affording.  Andy Tiernan on the other hand has lots I could happily buy right now but i haven't been to the shop yet.   I particularly like the Favor he has, the small Cotton and an AJS at the top of my budget.  There are also numerous BSA bikes available as well but for now I trying to avoid the easy brands.

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The Classic Biker Bar / Advise on my first vintage purchase
« on: October 29, 2019, 04:30:44 PM »
So, I am finally in a position to purchase my first truly old motorcycle.  I have experience in bikes from the early 70's onwards but I want to try something different this time. 
What I want to buy is a single seater pre-war bike.  Something along the lines of a new imperial or matchless looking bikes.  So with that in mind I have no idea what models or manufacturers I should be looking at.  I think it's best I list my wants and needs and take it from there.  I welcome all advise and discussions.

Budget- £6000 tops.  I see bikes ranging from £2k and up with a majority of them around £5000 so I think my budget is good.

Must be a single seat.

I would prefer a prewar but new ones are possible too.  Looks like the style I like dies out around mid 50's.

I would like one with a twist throttle and lighting.  I've never ridden a lever throttle bike but I dont think I would get on well with it.  Lighting is a nice add on but realistically I could build a rechargeable lighting system if the bike didnt have any.  I doubt the bike would be ridden at night but you never know.

Hand shift

I'm a bigger guy at 6ft and around 110kg.  I'm not sure how the power works on these old motors but I am thinking I need a bigger motor.  Question is how big?  Frame size may also be an issue.

Reliability and parts availability need to be pretty good.  I know thats a relative statement but I dont want to buy a bike that I have no chance of repairing if something simple goes.

Where is the best place to look to buy one?  I've been watching Ebay and a few other sites lately.  I've seen a few nice bikes I wouldn't mind checking out but i feel i lack the knowledge to make a good decision at this point.  I am planning on taking the long drive to a few dealers in the coming weeks to see some first hand.

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