classic motorcycle forum

Just to end all this I've settled on a nice prewar Douglas aero with the hand shift and girder front end from a seller in Scotland.  Has everything I've been looking for and a steady supply of spares. I had to up my budget a bit but I had him throw in a french 125cc Peugeot  as well which I quite like.  I've been running around on that and find it to be a wonderful bike.  I dont understand the hate for them but I suspect it's just british bias. The douglas runs well enough but isnt as fun as the Peugeot.   It's like a slow rumbling tank.  Not at all nimble like the peugot.  I think the douglas may need a bit of tuning which will keep me off it for a while until I figure it out.  Seems to run well enough so it's probably just me being paranoid but I will look into it anyway just for piece of mind.  I am having a friend scan manuals and notes from lars Anderson for it and send them to me so i can double check settings and components.  There library is massive for these old bikes.  Lots of private notes and comments on some as well in regards to tuning and racing.
The little peugot has gotten a lot of comments when I bring it up to newlands corner.  I cant wait to bring the douglas there. 

My reasoning for the hand shift is pure nostalgia.  I've always wanted one on my Harley but couldnt do it.  If I am going to go old school I'm going to do it right.  Hand shift in my opinion is one of the things that makes these old bikes great.  It's really the only thing I wont budge on.  I would prefer a tank mount unit vs the side saddle one but I think either one is fine.

A tidy 500?

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1165473

Leon

If only it had a hand shifter.  I really like the ajs and matchless brands but they seemed to modernize much quicker than others and ditched the hand shifter quite early.  They seem to sell really quickly with the hand shifter, at least the ones I've seen.

Beware, mini-me, your tongue might poke all the way through your cheek! 

I'm not sure everything is OK with this bike: the fork spindles look like Whitworth bolts and the bronze under the gearbox is, well, a lot of bronze. The other thing is that this bike will be physically small. But as mini-me says, if you want it go for it. Budget for lots of time and money if you want it to ride.

In the hierarchy of things, wouldn't a British bike with a 197 Villiers be a better bet? Or a British 350, like the B31 suggested earlier, AJS, Ariel, 3T Triumph etc?

Personally I don't change my bikes very often, so for me time spent deciding exactly what will suit is time well spent.

Cheers

Leon

Thanks for pointing out the flaws to that bike.  I knew it probably wasnt going to a good choice for me anyway but I do like mostly what it offers.  That shape and style with most of its features is what I am after.  An old simpleness to it. 

I've looked into a few old triumphs and it looks like parts are a huge issue with them.  I do like them though. 
I know bsa is probably my best bet and they are certainly in my price range but I'm not crazy about them.  I do like the bantams though which is the bike that got me into looking for a much older bike.  Too bad it doesnt have a hand shift.  Plus prices have really gone up recently it looks like.

Is it wrong I really like this bike?  Other than being French and brown and most likely to small for me it ticks all my boxes. 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1950-ALCYON-TYPE-23-125cc-TAX-MOT-EXEMPT-GIRDERS-HAND-GEAR-CHANGE/362757625343?hash=item54760a15ff:g:3X8AAOSwWH1b61hR

It seems I like French bikes too.  A good amount of the bikes I like turn out to be French after I look into them.  There is also an old Peugeot listed that I also really like but it has no v5 and I feel is well overpriced even if it did have one.

I imagine I will have something to go under the tree Christmas.  I just need more knowledge to buy the right one, whatever that may be.

I agree on the ajs but it may not need that much to bring it back.  It's something I can discuss with them I am sure.

Thats too bad about the favor but its good info. I almost certainly would have bought it if I saw it in person and not known what I got myself into. 

Your comment on engine size brings up a question.  In modernish bike a 125cc 2 stroke is far better than a 125cc 4 stroke.  I would equal the 125 2 stroke power closer to a 250 4 stroke.  Does that not hold true on the truly old bikes as well?  I know none of them will be speed racers but my gut says a 2 stroke might make them more ridable in a lot of respects unless I get a large engine bike which looks to be out of my price range.

So, I am finally in a position to purchase my first truly old motorcycle.  I have experience in bikes from the early 70's onwards but I want to try something different this time. 
What I want to buy is a single seater pre-war bike.  Something along the lines of a new imperial or matchless looking bikes.  So with that in mind I have no idea what models or manufacturers I should be looking at.  I think it's best I list my wants and needs and take it from there.  I welcome all advise and discussions.

Budget- £6000 tops.  I see bikes ranging from £2k and up with a majority of them around £5000 so I think my budget is good.

Must be a single seat.

I would prefer a prewar but new ones are possible too.  Looks like the style I like dies out around mid 50's.

I would like one with a twist throttle and lighting.  I've never ridden a lever throttle bike but I dont think I would get on well with it.  Lighting is a nice add on but realistically I could build a rechargeable lighting system if the bike didnt have any.  I doubt the bike would be ridden at night but you never know.

Hand shift

I'm a bigger guy at 6ft and around 110kg.  I'm not sure how the power works on these old motors but I am thinking I need a bigger motor.  Question is how big?  Frame size may also be an issue.

Reliability and parts availability need to be pretty good.  I know thats a relative statement but I dont want to buy a bike that I have no chance of repairing if something simple goes.

Where is the best place to look to buy one?  I've been watching Ebay and a few other sites lately.  I've seen a few nice bikes I wouldn't mind checking out but i feel i lack the knowledge to make a good decision at this point.  I am planning on taking the long drive to a few dealers in the coming weeks to see some first hand.