classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => Identify these bikes! => Topic started by: ken1 on June 17, 2009, 12:34:03 PM

Title: My grandad's bike?
Post by: ken1 on June 17, 2009, 12:34:03 PM
Hope this works - it's my first effort. Below is a picture of my mother and one of her brothers taken in their back yard in approx. 1927/8.

I have another which I'll post separately which is maybe 1937/8. Any information about the bikes - names of/ prices of/ English?  etc. would be very welcome


(http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee114/minette_010/Album2Allisons/CopyofJeanDouglasAllisonc1925or6.jpg)



Ken1
Title: Re: My grandad's bike?
Post by: m3bobby on June 17, 2009, 07:50:00 PM
Quote
Hope this works - it's my first effort. Below is a picture of my mother and one of her brothers taken in their back yard in approx. 1927/8.

I have another which I'll post separately which is maybe 1937/8. Any information about the bikes - names of/ prices of/ English?  etc. would be very welcome


(http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee114/minette_010/Album2Allisons/CopyofJeanDouglasAllisonc1925or6.jpg)



Ken1
I've no idea about the manufacturer but i have noticed its a direct belt drive so must be just post 1st war or so.
Title: Re: My grandad's bike?
Post by: cardan on June 18, 2009, 12:02:17 AM
Hi Ken,

The bike looks to be a Levis "Pop" (short for Popular) which was a 211 cc two-stroke direct-belt-drive model built over a surprising wide date range. The EIC magneto on this one suggests it was built well into the war years (say 1916) or post war (1919 - pehaps 1922). A Levis expert will be able to help with details. Certainly in the "cheap and cheerful" category, but bikes like this were probably used by a wide cross-section of the community - you could certainly be very middle class and still choose an economical, lightwieght bike for transport.

Leon
Title: Re: My grandad's bike?
Post by: ken1 on June 18, 2009, 11:01:00 AM
Thanks to both of you and especially to Leon for suggesting where I could look for more detail. Isn't the internet wonderful? I can get a pair of experts just like that! I hope someone can help with the other picture......

Ken