Any old bike fans?

[srob]

Just thought I'd say hello. I quite often lurk around here as I love any old vehicles, but I'm a real fan of old bikes. I'm lucky enough to have access to several ranging from the late twenties (Royal Enfield and sidecar, AJS K8 and Scott two speeder), to mid sixties (Velocette Venom), via a few in the middle (Norton ES2, Vincent Comet, BSA Bantam and a few Italian lightweights). I'm only in my twenties, but I've always been bought up around old bikes, and we tend to share bikes in our family!

I'm building a Triton or a TriBSA (got two frames and one engine) at the moment when time/finances allow!

I have posted a couple of bits on 'biker banter', but it tends to be more modern stuff on there.

Any other old bike fans on here?

[aeropilot]

Yup, love all old bikes, (but you know that from bike banter) Old bikes was the reason I took my DAS 15 years ago. My instructor, and then examiner were amused to know that I wasn't going straight out to buy the latest Kawauzkionda plastic fantastic, but a BSA WDM20......
Don't think there's enough of us to have a Yesterday's Bike Heroes' seperate area away from the rice rocket brigade.....

[ELAN+2]

The first restoration project I helped my old man with was a Triumph 21/3TA bathtub jobbie in light metalic blue, this was followed by a Norton 650SS Dominator(slimeline), then a Sunbeam S8, the Dommie was my favourite even if it did earn me my last "good hiding"!!! (like all 14 year olds I really thought I'd get away with riding it through the village with out some one grassing me up!!)

We graduated onto Lotus's after that episode(mum banned bikes)

I had an RD200 twin and was hospitalised on(off) and RD350LC later!!

I'd love a Commando interstate for summer blats, esp to the Ace!!

Mark

[lowdrag]

My Greeves trials (1956) is still in the UK on a friend's farm and I remember with fondness my commuting bike of the '60's. Not fast, not special but my Fanny Barnett 2T 250 got me there and back without ever a problem. Then there were the line of Trophy's and Bonnies and amongst it a Matchless ex WD. On a more modern note there was a lovely collection of old bikes at the Phoenix, Hartley Wintney, on new year's day too.

[srob]

There's a few of us on here then! I've noticed a few younger people getting into old bikes in the last couple of years which is good. Looking forward to the decent weather in summer as I got soaked on the Velocette on Saturday- takes a while to clean the salt and road cr@p off it as well...

[restoman]

My father is currently restoring an OK Supreme which was collected from the factory new in 1935 by his father.

[Hooli]

i've got a custom '77 bonnie, lovely toy & great to own. shes nearly 3 months younger than me too. one day i'll have a pre-war toy. mind you i've only been riding for a year & 2 weeks so getting there slowly.

[PH5121]

My dads got a 1936 BSA M20 which he restored and has owned for the past 30 years, it has been in a museum for the past 10 years.
I am hoping he will give it me as he won't ever ride it again, then I will have an excuse to get a bike licence.
I have always liked old bikes, but cars have taken precedent.

[aeropilot]

PH5121 said:

My dads got a 1936 BSA M20 which he restored and has owned for the past 30 years, it has been in a museum for the past 10 years.
I am hoping he will give it me as he won't ever ride it again, then I will have an excuse to get a bike licence.

Perhaps he put it in a museum because you didn't have a bike licence.....
That's how my brain would be working.

Go and get the licence, and then perhaps he'll give you the bike.

[PH5121]

My parents when I was a teenager and laterly my wife have all discouraged me from getting on two wheels. As a bike rider all his life my dad realised his mortality about 20 years ago and sold his (then) modern superbike and started buying fast cars instead.
As a result I grew up with an interest in cars which has stayed with me, if I didn't have a reasonabley quick car I am sure I would be keener to have a bike to get the 'thrill' of speed.
Not something you would get with the BSA, but the tank mounted hand gear change would probably take someone with a bit of experience to master, so not ideal for a first time rider.

[Ferg]

I have a Tiger 90. Cafe raced and sitting in the back of my garage waiting patiently until I retire and have the time and inclination to ride it again.

[central]

Always some nice bikes at the Ashby Folville meet in Leicestershire -

[lowdrag]

PH5121 said:

My parents when I was a teenager and laterly my wife have all discouraged me from getting on two wheels. As a bike rider all his life my dad realised his mortality about 20 years ago and sold his (then) modern superbike and started buying fast cars instead.
As a result I grew up with an interest in cars which has stayed with me, if I didn't have a reasonabley quick car I am sure I would be keener to have a bike to get the 'thrill' of speed.
Not something you would get with the BSA, but the tank mounted hand gear change would probably take someone with a bit of experience to master, so not ideal for a first time rider.

Yes, as one of the people who decided to get back into biking I bought a Honda VFR 800 and found its capabilities were more than mine. Just so easy to ride and such phenomenal roadholding but so easy to get into trouble. I sold it but do like the new 800 Bimmer since being a short ass it is one of the few bikes I can sit on a put both feet on the ground. If I was sensible though one of the 250's would probably do me just as well for what I need.

[mph]

central said:

Always some nice bikes at the Ashby Folville meet in Leicestershire -

Nice Vincent. Someone has been busy with the polish. Reminds me of the old advert for Solvol Autosol. Does anyone remember that ?

[crankedup]

The bike next to the Vincent looks to me like the Royal Enfield crusader 'Continental', a bike that I seriously lusted after when I was in my teens (never did own one).

Noticed that all the chat is around British bikes so I hope that I'm not in for a roasting when I mention the illustrious Honda 250 six race bike. I had always spoke of this bike to my Son as he grew up, the sheer noise being spine tingling. He could'nt understand that it makes modern racers sound so muted, that is until he heard the Honda for himself at Brands a few years ago! My Sons a bike racer himself now as well so I must have helped bring him up proper

[central]

crankedup said:

The bike next to the Vincent looks to me like the Royal Enfield crusader 'Continental', a bike that I seriously lusted after when I was in my teens (never did own one).

Noticed that all the chat is around British bikes so I hope that I'm not in for a roasting when I mention the illustrious Honda 250 six race bike. I had always spoke of this bike to my Son as he grew up, the sheer noise being spine tingling. He could'nt understand that it makes modern racers sound so muted, that is until he heard the Honda for himself at Brands a few years ago! My Sons a bike racer himself now as well so I must have helped bring him up proper

I'll dig out some more Ashby photos. I've always liked 60s/70s Jap bikes......

[central]

[central]

[aeropilot]

central said:

Horrid incorrect paint finish on that WDM20....

[central]

Couple more of the RE5 -