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Messages - R

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811
Identify these bikes! / Re: Confirm make and model please.
« on: March 05, 2017, 01:13:55 AM »
It looks like the Waratah in the adverts has the speedo in the headlight?, as does yours ?
And the Excelsior has a separate one. So you are looking good.
And its not like you are creating a model that doesn't exist anyway.

Interested to hear what you find under the paint.
Although they seem to have often done a thorough job back then,
so if its been back to bare metal you may not find anything, like you say...

812
Wanted Bikes / Re: Royal Enfield Engine
« on: March 05, 2017, 01:05:14 AM »
A pic could be helpful, that number could cover a range of possibilities.
Is it an earlier single or a more recent big twin ?

813
Identify these bikes! / Re: Confirm make and model please.
« on: March 04, 2017, 03:23:28 PM »
Quote from: Paullowe on March 04, 2017, 11:00:08 AM
Would it be a sin to just badge it Waratah without being sure?

It will certainly muddy the waters for all future lines of enquiry if its not, and you do !

Are there any pics of this model with Waratah decals. ?
Or Waratah adverts of this model ?

814
British Bikes / Re: British motorcycle history
« on: February 27, 2017, 07:12:49 AM »
Quote from: mini-me on February 26, 2017, 10:18:43 AM
Thats nearly as ugly and impractical as the 3 wheeled rubbish I see about these days.

Bit irrelevant here for this context, but if you saw them in action you wouldn't say that. !!
They are highly sought after, and suitably priced for a good un.

For pre 1900 motoring, they were highly mobile, and light years ahead of other countries efforts.
They still have races for them even today, and they really motor along. And back then held records for any number of distance races that were popular back then - Paris to Marseilles, Paris to Rouen, etc. 

An important part of motoring history, and the development of reliable and capable engines...

815
British Bikes / Re: British motorcycle history
« on: February 26, 2017, 12:52:44 AM »
In a strangely perverse world, RR are now selling cars with all the bling and more into china,
its more than half their total market.  Including whole slabs of gold plating. ..

Whether any motorcycle makers are buying them is another question though.

As to the french perfecting bikes, its not entirely related, since proper 'bikes' came a little later,
but De Dion had reportedly sold +40,000+ motors prior to 1901.
(makers bought an engine, and built a car/trike/conveyance around it)
Trikes were the name of the game back then, high fashion...
The french were light years ahead of everyone else at this.



Bit earlier than the OP's question, but related.
The British having a large empire to sell to is also related, in later eras.

816
British Bikes / Re: British motorcycle history
« on: February 23, 2017, 11:10:31 PM »
Its also worth considering the earlier history of motorcycles,
and the shifts in inventiveness and manufacturing over the various eras.

Its been stated that "the germans invented motorcycles",
that "then the french perfected motorcycles",
and that "the british marketed motorcycles to the world"
and there is more than a grain of truth in these statements.

And, if you take a wider view, its also worth remembering that Indian Motocycle in 1914 manufactured more 'motocycles' than the whole of the british motorcycle industry.

Also, in the 1970s Motobecane was the worlds largest maker - mopeds, mopeds mopeds.

And, for current trends, that there are currently more motorcycle manufacturers in China than in the whole of the rest of the world combined - and they make more motorcycles than the rest of the world.

What goes around comes around, as they say....

817
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: bead blast or not
« on: February 06, 2017, 11:11:22 PM »
Vapour blasting with plastic beads gives by far the best finish.
And the beads don't embed themselves in the alloy, to come back and bite you later, unlike most other forms of blasting.

Can't help with any practitioners for you, but many gearbox shops use these, ask about locally. ?
MCNews will have adverts for bigger operators.

I've used sawdust to lightly clean up alloy on whole assembled bikes.
Many cabinet makers are pleased to give it away.
(May need sieving to take out the larger bits)( plastic bags around carbs/aircleaners etc)
hth

818
Identify these bikes! / Re: Help needed to identify more info on this Alcyon (c.1950?)
« on: January 31, 2017, 09:01:45 AM »
Is this related ?
http://www.lva-moto.fr/forum/topic-15183-alcyon-type-23-de-1950-restauration-complete-page-1.html
Doesn't quite look the same though...
And looks later (?).

Figuring out the bore and stroke could be an important first step.
Whipping off the head and making with the vernier calipers could be quite helpful ?
Be sure to replace it, to at east keep the bugs and dust out.
And oil it...

Alcyon was quite a large manufacturer, there must be a large volume of info lurking someplace out there. Parlez-vous francais ?

819
British Bikes / Re: bsa lightning carb set up
« on: January 31, 2017, 08:38:45 AM »
Kicking back vigorously is often a sign the ignition isn't fully retarding at starting speeds, or is simply not set correctly.

Professional rebuild or not, it sounds like getting hold of a strobe timing light and checking that the timing is all correct and shipshape could be worthwhile - assuming this BSA has a facility to do this - Commandos certainly do.  And, if the timing isn't correct, this has the potential to damage the engine with extended running, so likely very worthwhile having it checked.
hopethishelps.

820
British Bikes / Re: bsa lightning carb set up
« on: January 29, 2017, 10:21:53 PM »
Have you tweaked the idling settings, so that it idles nicely and evenly on BOTH cylinders ?
Without this, starting could well be 'difficult'.

Also that the ignition is perfectly timed at full advance, so that the ignition is retarded at idle speeds, which gives easy starting.

Also2, twin carb setups ALWAYS require the carbs to be 'synched' (synchronised),
so that both cylinders are pulling their weight - and one is not doing all the work.
This mainly entails ensuring and adjusting the throttle cables so that both slides lift evenly.
hth

821
Classic Motorcycle Sport / Re: My Dads bike
« on: January 06, 2017, 11:35:03 PM »
Looks like your dads would have been the Super S.
Great photo !



Uses the twin engine.
Not sure if there were previous years versions of this, it wasn't new for 1960 ?
Your dads engine could be genuine Villiers, and this ad a slightly later engine?

This is not quite the same model or the same engine - but same colour scheme ?
http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1960-ambassador.jpg

Even today that trip is stated as an hour, would have soon notched up the miles if that was every day....

822
British Bikes / Re: Can anyone id my late dads Motorcycle.
« on: January 03, 2017, 11:36:04 PM »
I'm not sure !  We'll need someone with that model to confirm.
Or a good photo from approx the same viewpoint to compare.

823
British Bikes / Re: BSA L29
« on: January 03, 2017, 11:33:12 PM »
Sheldons has a page of basic specs.
http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/bsa-1929/BSA-1929-L29.htm

Indeed, the appropriate parts list will be vital in this. 
BSA made a proliferation of models, with yearly changes, and was a big manufacturer.
You probably almost need to see one in the metal somewhere, and take some detailed pics.

824
British Bikes / Re: Bronze carbs in Australia
« on: January 01, 2017, 10:19:39 PM »
Allparts (note the name) built (licenced ?) Amal carbs in bronze, in considerable quantities sometime around the war years. No makers markings or stampings, not plated either, just bare bronze.
Considered to be quite good quality too, excellent machining,
although the castings tended to be a little rougher/coarser.
Helped alleviate a spares shortage, and kept many a bike on the road.
A number of bikes today still use them, if you you keep an eye on such things...

That one looks to have been bead blasted, takes away the natural bronze colour.
Maybe the 'patina' will come back in time ?

825
British Bikes / Re: Can anyone id my late dads Motorcycle.
« on: December 31, 2016, 04:49:52 PM »
Leon's BSA pages should nail it.

http://home.planet.nl/~leonhop3/1939_e.html

I think it has to be a silver star,  based almost entirely on the size of the tank badge !
And has to be 1939. 350 or 500 - maybe someone can count the fins ?
http://home.planet.nl/~leonhop3/1939_m23sp.jpg

Bit of a difficulty that the brochure pics are all of the timing side, and yours is of the clutch side.
The tank painted panel design is not too clearly visible either
Great pic of your dad, btw.
That extra headlamp low down on the forks is interesting.
Appy new years to all.

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