Motorcycle Discussions > Identify these bikes!
Help identify Coventry Eagle, 1928 or 1929?
Micke:
Ohoy,
28 year old cub here, completely new on this forum but indeed passionate for the hobby.
I’ve found myself a Coventry Eagle with frame number 42529 on the typical CE "bridge" between the front and rear of the frame. Reportedly it is a 1929 with JAP ohv 350cc. The engine that came with it is a 2 port 350 OHV from 1929, marked S.
I’m having a real hard time finding what the 1929 350 ohv looked like. Some literature say it looked like the 1930 and some more like the 1928. I’ve read that 1929 was the first year with Webb's fork and JAP 350 ohv 2-port but I’ve seen the fork on 1928s. All and all the literature I’ve found so far is scanty and I would love pictures of similar bikes and ofc getting in contact with other CE owners so that I can restore it correctly.
Help me find out what this bike looked like and if I have an engine with one exhaust pipe too much. Pictures below (The gas tank on the pictures is from a Montgomery and has nothing to do with the bike).
Greetings from Stockholm
Michael
R:
I know its probably stating the obvious, but have you had a look at the reproduction sales stuff ?
e.g.
http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/product/coventry-eagle-1929-abridged-sales-catalogue-all-models/
A lot of folks might say to just restore what you have, and then defend it from all the "experts" ?!
That looks like a dommie crankshaft rolling around there... ?
Micke:
--- Quote from: R on August 02, 2018, 09:28:33 PM ---I know its probably stating the obvious, but have you had a look at the reproduction sales stuff ?
e.g.
http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/product/coventry-eagle-1929-abridged-sales-catalogue-all-models/
A lot of folks might say to just restore what you have, and then defend it from all the "experts" ?!
That looks like a dommie crankshaft rolling around there... ?
--- End quote ---
Thank you, sir! I just ordered the 1928 and 1929 catalogue. As I wrote I’m a rookie so you stating the obvious was very helpful. I will look there next time :)
Yeah it might be, it is not my workshop. The label says M7 so perhaps you are right. That and alot of other stuff is probably for sale.
Thanks again!
Cheers
/Michael
cardan:
Hi Michael,
Nice project.
We seem to talk about Coventry Eagles quite a lot here: use the search box at the top to have a look at older discussions. For example have a look at http://classicmotorcycleforum.com/index.php?topic=5610 where we discussed 1928-29-30 models.
42529 as a Coventry Eagle frame number seems to be more 1928 than 1929, and your frame is of the earlier type with the gearbox mounted from the top, and bolt-on stays from the bottom of the gearbox plates to the lugs dangling down from the frame near the rear axle.
The 1928 models at the Olympia Show in October 1927 included a sports 350 to this spec. The attached illustration from The Motor Cycle shows the 500 - a bit different from your bike with curved front down tube and Brampton (?) fork. But note comments in earlier discussions about Cov Eagle - small firm with varying specification that depended on what old stuff was lying around the factory at the time.
Cheers
Leon
cardan:
The image in the post above comes from The Motor Cycle, 27 Oct 1927 - "First Special Show Number". I had a flip through the following week's issue (you guessed it - "Second Special Show Number") and there is another description of the Coventry Eagle range, which included "LAST YEAR'S MODEL" of the "FLYING 500". So it's likely that image of the 500 from the previous week shows it in 1927 trim, and re-iterates earlier comments about Cov Eagle offering last year's model while they were still available. Based on all this, it wouldn't surprise me if a 1928-numbered Coventry Eagle left the factory in later 1928 or early 1929 with a 1929 JAP motor.
Cheers
Leon
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