1930's James?

[PeterS]

Good day all.

I'm looking for some informaction on a motorcycle that i own. I am told that it is a James from the 1930's. My eventual plan is to restore the bike. I got it with a villiers  engine, I do not know the capacity as the engine was stolen and sold for scrap.

Here are some pictures.





Regards Peter
Peter.

[R]

It looks like its going to be a postwar James ML model, a 125cc. ?

http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/james/images/James_1947_ML_125cc_in_The_Motor_Cycle.jpg

Not very much of it there or useable really, is there !
For something that was an economy lightweight model, with very limited road riding ability these days, you sure you want to continue with this - they are not very expensive to find complete and running.

And the one you have there looks to have other problems - the frame downtube (under the seat) looks to be gone, completely !!, and someone has added those two plain steel straps to replace it. So its missing the rear engine mounting.

You will have a lot of work finding all the missing bits, and be quite expensive to do this way. And, sorry to suggest this, but it would make good spares for someone looking for forks, or wheels.

HopethisHelps.

P.S. There were also quite a lot of these made in wartime. e.g.
http://miliblog.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/british-ww2-preserved-motorcycles/james-ml-military-lightweight-125cc-1943re-9889.jpg
Its possible yours has been civilianised - although shows no sign of this (for whats left, anyway).

[johnnyboy-wonder57]

Hi,
Research the bike thoroughly before you start, get a feeling for cost and availability of spares & support groups.
Restore it, have fun, just set yourself a realistic budget. Anything, from the 1930s should be cherished within reason the 1930s was an amazing time in motorcycle development, contact these people for advice:  http://famousjamesmotorcycleclub.webs.com/ 
http://www.simplywizard.co.uk/Lost%20In/myfiles/faq.htm
http://www.simplywizard.co.uk/period
http://practicallyclassics.phpbbhosts.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16
http://fboc.niceboards.org/t1187-james-motorcycle-club-up-and-running
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=othrmod&action=display&thread=94907
Included in the above are some interesting threads!

You know perceived wisdom often states, a British bike, has to be big four-stroke and an investment, the most fun I ever  had period on a motorcycle, was a 175cc D10 4 speed BSA Bantam, with a top speed in the 60+mph bracket & 10/11 bhp? Lightness, agility, and two-stroke zing all have their place!.

Go for it!


Cheers

JBW

[johnnyboy-wonder57]

Try  also,  http://www.britishtwostrokeclub.org.uk/

Hope this helps


Cheers

JBW

[Rex]

R has it right. Buy another and either use this for parts or sell it on Ebay to some other mug hopeful punter. Other than the wheels what's good about it?

Incidentally JBW I thought D10s were three speed?

[PeterS]

Hi thanks for the feed back.

JWB i have tried http://famousjamesmotorcycleclub.webs.com/ but have been waiting for a week to get confirmation and there are no email addresses for the administrators.

I am enjoying my fathers 1941 5/7 Harley, but am looking for something different again.

I will look into all aspects such as cost and availability of parts before i even start, If I do fix it it will be for me, with no real intention of selling it.

Regards
Peter

[Bomber]

He probably means a D10 with a D14/4 engine

[rogerwilko]

Porridge.

[johnnyboy-wonder57]

Guys,
Not sure what the engine number was the bike was registered as a D10, the spark plug went in slanted like the D7, but I am absolutely sure it had 4 gears, I know it didn't have 3 gears, I could never had put up with only 3 gears.   It could have been a D10s engine, the bikes cycle parts was listed as a Bantam Supreme, DEK907E,  (DEK), Wigan registration code, Supplied by Millers of Wigan & Chorley,  God Rest Her & all who sailed in Her!

It wasn't the very different looking D14/4 power plant, my carburettor was an AMAL Monobloc

I had some really good technical books/ Manuals on the Bantam & let them go for nothing, when I sold it,Duh!

Cheers

JBW

[wink]

PeterS is in Sarf Efrica so he aint gonna sell it even if he wanted to.
OK Peter, would you use it on the road? do you know the reg without a mudguard? Can you weld? How does the system work out there?  If it was mine IŽd sandblast it and see what I had left, the 2 downtubes might be OK, scrap the footrest bar and make make something in that area. Fit  a 125 Honda in it and get it used. Oh, and cut 3 inches off the bottom of the tank and weld in a new bottom, maybe put it under the top tube to look older.
Different subject. In a railway magazine I read that armed gangs with lorries, cranes and burning gear are entering railway workshops and cutting up rolling stock/engines to sell for scrap. Is this happening in SA?

[PeterS]

Dont know the reg. I do know how to weld, but the tank i would take to people I know who repair fuel tanks. I would sandbast the frame and see what there is to work with. I know of people in my area that have all manner of villiers  engines, that are in running condition. I would use it on the road.

I'm not sure about cutting up engines, i haven't heared of it(cablenot entirely impossible) but there are many cases of cable theft, and if the masses are angry because a train is late they burn it.