Hairy Bikers and Other Petrol Heads

[Eastsidepilot]

Thought I'd start a new thread as there seems to be a lot of current/ex bikers around.
So to get the ball rolling I offer this.



My old 'one lunger' which I could ride up the wooden stairs behind it to my first floor flat !

Got plenty more to post later.
Col.

 

[Scale7JB]

I always wanted to be an ex-biker, but I wasn't allowed !

JB.

 

[PMP]

In a land and time long long ago....

Silverstone at Chas Mortimers racing school. Me riding an school RD400. Taught by instructors such as Chas himself, Clive Horton, and others from that group of successful TT, Road and track racers of 250/350’s of the mid 70’s into 80’s era.

 

[Osgood]

....

My old 'one lunger' which I could ride up the wooden stairs behind it to my first floor flat !
....
Col.

I’ve heard of the Wall of Death - but the Ladder of Death?

I had to look it up but didn’t expect this:

 

[Allen M]

Hi Col
Your first post. The RE looks like a ISDT trial model 500cc Bullet from the late 1950s or early 60s. Is it? or is it a copy?

Ex biker, now with just a 125cc scooter in the garage, Bikes nearly continuously since 1957 (passed test in Jan 1960) with a list of 21. And cars since 1963 (passed test in Jan 1959) and a list of 31.
Regards
Allen M

 

[Max M]

My 'Baby' a '99 V Max bored to 1300 + Mikuni Flat slide cars and ported heads. Many other mods as well.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Hi Col
Your first post. The RE looks like a ISDT trial model 500cc Bullet from the late 1950s or early 60s. Is it? or is it a copy?

Ex biker, now with just a 125cc scooter in the garage, Bikes nearly continuously since 1957 (passed test in Jan 1960) with a list of 21. And cars since 1963 (passed test in Jan 1959) and a list of 31.
Regards
Allen M

It was a replica as far as I was aware back then, '91, what I'd give to have that back.
Col.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Another favourite of mine was this, if I remember right , 1990 HD low rider sport, Evo engine and kevlar belt final drive.
I ordered it with Wide Glide bars which made it a bit more comfortable with the low seat height.






Col.

 

[adrian]

My 'Baby' a '99 V Max bored to 1300 + Mikuni Flat slide cars and ported heads. Many other mods as well.

Very nice - is it all your own work? Some really nice detailing on that - the discs they aren't standard are they?

I don't seem to have many photo's of my bike - too busy riding it and it's getting a bit tatty now - definitely needs a new exhaust. Although I might have some time now to give it some TLC. Also a V4 but only 800cc. This was from several years ago when we surprised my Mum for her 60th. So in the photo - my brother, Mum and Sister out for a ride to a familiar location. The Honda VFR800 being my bike.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

I’ve heard of the Wall of Death - but the Ladder of Death?

I had to look it up but didn’t expect this:
View attachment 119715

I remember the wall of death down at the Kursall in Southend, my father took us there as kids. The whole structure used to sway as the bikes went round, it was built from timber and the joints must have worn loose over the years.!

Col.

 

[simond]

I was just reading Guy Martin’s book with the wall of death speed record.

some people just do the transit screws up half a turn more, I guess...

Atb
Simon

 

[Max M]

Very nice - is it all your own work? Some really nice detailing on that - the discs they aren't standard are they?

I did as much as I could and where I had the necessary equipment. Specialist stuff like paint/ powder coating/ plating/boring/ porting/ upholstery were farmed out.
It came to me pretty much stock and it went downhill from there.
Discs are Braking Wave with ISR six pot calipers and m/c's. Rear caliper has been underslung but is 'only' an R1 item painted to look like the ISR's.

 

[Boyblunder]

Colin, you have really opened up the nostalgia. My daughter and I had a count up a some years ago and decided I'd owned 29 bikes. After that I remembered 2 ex-Post Office 150cc (yes) Bantams so that took it up to 31. I've only got pictures of 3, here was my brand new pride and joy in 1972. This Commando Interstate took me to 130 mph on the A1 and my only speeding ticket, so far. It then chucked me off with a massive tank slapper and put me out of work for 17 weeks. It was repaired with the later frame, baffled tank and hydraulic steering damper but I didn't trust it after that and sold it. From a financial perspective I wish I still had it.

 

[Focalplane]

My nearest claim to fame on big bikes was helping the owner of a Brough Superior get it running when in Singapore. I was rebuilding a Riley 9 at the time so “pent roofs” were the topic of conversation as we struggled ever forward and upward.

More recently my wife and I have got to know the daughter of the MD of Royal Enfield in Redditch. She has some stories to tell and has been guest of honour at the National Motor Cycle Museum by Birmingham Airport. One small piece of knowledge about the name Royal Enfield- she told us that her father made it up: Enfield after the rifle, Royal because it sounded regal!

 

[Eastsidepilot]

View attachment 119778 Colin, you have really opened up the nostalgia..................

You look like a young Mick Jagger with that barnet mate. .....thought it might get a few of you going, I had an example, an 850 Interstate, did a lot of touring on it. This shot taken in '84.

You beat me on numbers I must of had around the 28 mark.



Col.

 

[Peter Cross]

View attachment 119778 Colin, you have really opened up the nostalgia. My daughter and I had a count up a some years ago and decided I'd owned 29 bikes. After that I remembered 2 ex-Post Office 150cc (yes) Bantams so that took it up to 31. I've only got pictures of 3, here was my brand new pride and joy in 1972. This Commando Interstate took me to 130 mph on the A1 and my only speeding ticket, so far. It then chucked me off with a massive tank slapper and put me out of work for 17 weeks. It was repaired with the later frame, baffled tank and hydraulic steering damper but I didn't trust it after that and sold it. From a financial perspective I wish I still had it.

I had a 500 gold star that was prone to tank slappers. I fitted a damper on that, that sent me down the road, having forgot to slacken it coming off the inner ring in Redditch.

My nearest claim to fame on big bikes was helping the owner of a Brough Superior get it running when in Singapore. I was rebuilding a Riley 9 at the time so “pent roofs” were the topic of conversation as we struggled ever forward and upward.

More recently my wife and I have got to know the daughter of the MD of Royal Enfield in Redditch. She has some stories to tell and has been guest of honour at the National Motor Cycle Museum by Birmingham Airport. One small piece of knowledge about the name Royal Enfield- she told us that her father made it up: Enfield after the rifle, Royal because it sounded regal!

Two friends of mine worked in the trade one a painter then test rider at RE, the other a machinist at BSA.
The above accident was just past the RE works it still had it written on the roof in the 80's.

 

[Rippers]

Collected and delivered this very morning for a mate (gives him something to work on though whilst in age related isolation over the next few weeks)


AJS 500 single - Pretty much original apart from the replaced registration.

Needs work though as it hasn't been ridden for several years and as a result has stiff steering and the entire drive disappeared in the cloud it omitted when we got it started.

 

[Crimson Rambler]

Being unsure if hairy bikers refers to riders of hairy machines or hairy riders on bikes here is a picture of the innocuous one I purchased as an apprentice in 1971. A James Captain built in 1963 and bought as an initial ride until I passed my bike test.

As it happens I still own it although it will have to go as I need the space for my baseboards. Fortunately I failed the test so the plan to buy a fellow BP apprentices's 1959 Norton 350 single, which could be upgraded to a 500, never materialized. Rather fortunate when I look back as given the way I used to ride the Captain I almost certainly would not be writing this!

Crimson Rambler

 

[Osgood]

Being unsure if hairy bikers refers to riders of hairy machines or hairy riders on bikes here is a picture of the innocuous one I purchased as an apprentice in 1971. A James Captain built in 1963 and bought as an initial ride until I passed my bike test. ....

Oh at last, something on this bike thread I can finally relate to - a Villiers 2 stroke

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Apart from riding the damn things I got just as much pleasure from building them, especially from basket cases.
I had a keen interest in Triton's, this one was my first example built around '81 which started with just a bare frame, a wideline bought for about £25.00 if I remember .....if only you could get 'em cheap now !
Based on the flat track style it was basically a Norton chassis with a pre-unit Bonnie lump fitted with TT pipes with a 2 into 1 collector and open reverse cone mega, not exactly a silencer ....wouldn't get away with it today.



Col.