Wednesday 23 December 2009

Triumph 1943


Amal Pre-monoblock


Just spent an afternoon scanning illustrations from old motorcycle books - lots more to come.

Monday 21 December 2009

Triumph England


Recognise this? The Vintagent wants to know.  I remember it in Bike magazine or possibly Super Bike in the mid or late seventies, but can't be certain after thirty plus years.

Sunday 20 December 2009

Donuts

Take a lesson from this man. Chris Carr Watch the video, go and practice.

Doughnuts in the snow


Saturday 19 December 2009

Thursday 17 December 2009

Thursday 10 December 2009

Wednesday 9 December 2009

New look


Just made up a new seat, mainly to make it lower but I like the look.

Monday 7 December 2009

Another car


Whilst this would be rather useless, especially in Cumbria, I can't help wanting one.

Moto Guzzi V12



Moto Guzzi concepts always look great but seem to loose something in production, lets hope not with these.

Friday 4 December 2009

Four wheels






I'm not going to post cars very often but I have always liked the Reliant Scimitar.  The Orange GTE was my first car and then about ten years later got the Coupe.  The yellow Coupe (not mine) was preped for hill climbing, and very fast.  Designed by Ogle Design.

Thursday 3 December 2009

Friday 27 November 2009

First bike


Bought this as soon as I was old enough. It was and still, is the best bike ever. It was better than every other 250, every other KH, every other Kawasaki, better than everything else except perhaps, your first bike.

Thursday 26 November 2009

BSA Fury





Life is full of things that you really ought to have done and BSA should have built this. The grey framed bike is at NMM and the black one here.

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Patinated


Pipe insulation


Had I got the Bultaco forks before the frame was derusted and painted, I would have had proper stops welded on. But sometimes you act first and then see what you should have been done. Pipe insulation works well and is now done more tidly.

Finished 348


Can't tell the difference from the earlier post? Good, whilst I wouldn't knock anyone who does a total restoration, I like my bikes to show their age. And the most important thing is that it works. Still needs shocks, silencer and a front mudguard bracket but money's tight.

Monday 23 November 2009

Napier Deltic

Removed the animated gif 'cause it made the page hang.

Just found this at driverchris and more at Wikepedia.  My father-in-law worked on the Deltic diesel engine whilst an apprentice at Napier.  He remembers them having some spectacular failures during bench testing and suggested that it proved too expensive to productionise, however Wikepedia indicates that it had a long production life.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Loud? pardon?


And this was the third.  So loud it hurt.  John Williams made some replica exhausts, but it wasn't any quieter.  It wasn't that fast, despite the reputation, but the way it held its speed through the corners was remarkable.  Recall that the vibration at maximum revs would blow the bulbs, so it wasn't easy to ride at night.

T140 = oil leaks


This was the second bike I owned. Didn't know much about maintenance but soon learned to replace the base gasget.  Quickly learned that it made no difference and grew to accept it for the way it was.

Saturday 21 November 2009

The Ride Journal


Just got this from here, The Ride. Great illustrations, great writing.  And it even smells great.

Thursday 19 November 2009

Wall of Death II

Wall of Death


Don't ever turn down a chance to see this. Couldn't get any good pics whilst these guys were riding but it's a fantastic spectacle. When they come upto the wire the bikes are less than an arms length for your face. It's like being run over, without the pain.

How much?


This is also stunning. Beautiful mix of 70's and carbon fibre, etc. But can't help thinking that at that price they will mostly be used for display.

Light weight dural box frame girder


Don't know what it is, or who built it but this 50cc racer (also at Stafford) is just fantastic.

Where does this bit go?


Went to the Stafford show in Oct. A few days before I had fitted Bultaco forks to the 348. They should have been a direct fit but didn't. I just assembled them as delivered hoping that it would all become clear. Couldn't tighten the headset and it was clear that the locknut was in the wrong place. I didn't get a chance to sort it properly before the show but finding a mid 70's Sherpa in the competition hall showed how it should be done.