classic motorcycle forum

Hi Arb,

No, it's not an FN.

The bike is much older than it looks - possibly as old as 1910 or even earlier! I can spy an early open-magnet magneto and the tram-handle for an NSU 2-speed gear on the mainshaft of the motor.

That said the bike has been thoroughly modernised with Brampton Bi-flex fork, disk wheels, sidecar etc.

Let me guess the photo was taken immediately after WW1? There was massive inflation after the war and for a couple of years bikes were hard to afford. Easier to make your own!

Cheers

Leon

Do you know what model it is Gary? With the magneto drive on the off side it's clearly not a 1930 Model C.

All the models in the 1930 catalogue show inverted levers, but you'd do best to identify (and date) the bike before you decide what's what.

As a guide, BSA did away with inverted levers in 1930, and although you could still get a double lever for the throttle/air control an AMAL straight-pull twist grip was standard on most models. Repro versions of these are available, as are originals if you keep an eye out.

Cheers

Leon

Is it a flywheel magneto system, or does it require a battery to run? Maybe the flywheel system is for a generator, and the ignition circuit is really the battery (recharged by the generator), and a coil, timed by the points.

There are many different systems, but for an off-road bike of this age it might be reasonable to expect to find a flywheel magneto system with points? In that case is the points cam part of the flywheel? If so, timing is not too bad because there are two things that have to happen together: the magneto system has to be at its maximum flux point just as the points are opening, and the points have to open just at the right time - say 17-20 degrees before the piston reaches top dead centre.

I have to say that not having a key on a flywheel magneto is pretty strange. Usually the flywheel would be fixed to the crank shaft at a very specific angle (so that the the maximum flux point happens at said 17-20 degrees BTDC) then there would be some method of moving the points around to give fine adjustment of the timing.

If there is really no key way, then I'd guess the timing is set by moving the flywheel around on its taper. Or more likely it's just a generator, and the ignition circuit is battery point and coil.

Maybe photos would help.

Leon

There is a catalogue on the web http://motos-anglaises.com/ and all the 1930 RE models were offered with and without  lights. The Model C had no lights, the CL had a electric lights powered by a Maglita (by then made by Lucas I think). If you were too cheap to buy a Model CL, you'd probably fit acetylene lights.

Leon

I think it's rather nice - if not so much "ISDT" then more "enduro" than "trail". I'm not sue if they had any kind of reputation in off-road competition?

I have a 1956 Maico ISDT Replica, so I have a soft spot for this kind of thing. Good luck with it Kevin!

Leon

The front wheel in the photo above is the "Westwood" pattern. The Westwood rim has a dropped centre, compare with others that can have either a flat or slightly rounded profile.

The rim you are looking for is a "xx spoke (count the holes in the hub - I assume 36) beaded edge Westwood rim to suit a 26 x 2 1/2" tyre". The over-all diameter of such a rim is about 22 1/4 - 22 1/2" (check against the front rim if you still have it). Under no circumstances accept a rim that is 21" diameter: despite the argument that 26 - (2 x 2 1/2) = 21" ALL modern BE tyres are made to fit a 22" rim.

The historical background to this is that early tyres were 26x2 and fitted on a 22" rim. 26 x 2 1/4" tyres came along as a oversize and fitted on the same diameter rim, and later ditto for 26 x 2 1/2" tyres. Original Dunlop tyres were labelled "26 x 2 1/2 x 2 1/4" or sometimes "26 x 2 1/2" suit 2 1/4" rim", but tyres now are just labelled 26 x 2 1/2. In the era there WERE genuine 26 x 2 1/2" tyres that fitted on 21" rims, but these are no longer available. Modern 26 x 2 1/2" tyres are a very sloppy fit on a 21" rim - dangerously so - and should be used at your own peril.

Cheers

Leon

Lovely photo; difficult bike to identify.

From the features - early style Brampton Bi-flex front fork, belt drive with 3-speed gear in the rear hub, small 4-stroke motor with outside flywheel - I'd say the bike dates to about 1913-14, and was probably built on the continent.

It might take a little time to figure this one out.

Leon

Well it looks like it's mostly there, which is a good start. Since it's a fairly modest thing, be careful not to pour too much money into the restoration: maybe think of painting some of the bits that have been chrome and are now rusty.

Good luck!

Leon