Motorcycle Discussions > British Bikes
Coventry Eagle
Rex:
There's a lot of knowledgeable blokes on here who know about pre-war Villiers-powered tiddlers, so anyone know about a Coventry Eagle "Super Sport" 1931 175c? Appears to be up-together and a runner, and although would probably struggle with the rice pudding skins it has a certain charm. Any thoughts?
cardan:
Very lovely - no doubt 33d6 will explain the fine qualities of the 175 cc Super Sport engine. It's pretty special. The c1930 Villiers Super Sport, or the larger 6 port Levis, have surprisingly lively performance, particularly if the rider is not carrying too much "excess baggage". The light weight of the machine itself is undervalued. What a joy it is to have a machine that can be wheeled around, put on and off its stand, and started with ease.
Enjoy!
Leon
33d6:
Yes, Leon, I've seen two of these recently. A restored one in the Sydney Powerhouse Museum and an unrestored one in the South Oz Birdwood Museum. The Birdwood one is incorrectly described as having a 150cc engine but it's not. It has a 175cc Super Sport and is identical to the Powerhouse bike..
The major snag with this model Cov Eagle is not the engine but the accompanying two speed gearbox. This is either a major handicap or a riding challenge depending on how you feel on the day. It's fine in top gear but the drop in ratio is so great you are reduced to walking pace the minute you have to change down. I have exactly this issue in my same era Sport (not Super Sport) powered Excelsior. Depending on mood and company it makes for either a fine hill climbing challenge or a bleeding nuisance. Excelsior offered an alternative three speed box which I have in the workshop but not installed in my bike as its top and middle ratios duplicate the two speed box with an ultra low bottom gear underneath that. You can then climb any hill but have to take care you don't fall asleep whilst doing it. Unfortunately these inappropriate ratios are a common problem with many British lightweights. The engine is never a problem the gear ratios are.
Albion knew this and produced their first lightweight four speed box in the early 30's but most manufacturers were reluctant to take it up. Eventually they did offering it as a posh extra. Cov Eagle were doing this by 1934 or so but by that time Villiers no longer made the Super Sport so you only got it in a Cov Eagle fitted with a 'cooking' 150 or 250. Pity about that. Still, lesser engine or no, the overall package with four speed box was better than the earlier version and was faster point to point if not in outright speed.
Finally, the Villiers 175 Super Sport engine was a little ripper and in it's day held every record for both outright speed and endurance in it's class. Every distance record up to 2000 kms and every time record up to 24 hours. They are still the favoured vintage Villiers engine today.
Rex:
A couple of pics
Rex:
2
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version