Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
....and it looks like there's enough room to squeeze a one lunger combustion engine in the frame
...sorry Tony, I'll get me coat..
Hairy Bikers and Other Petrol Heads
- Thread starter Eastsidepilot
- Start date
...sorry Tony, I'll get me coat..
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
You're not suggesting - oh no no no - not a - Villiers......
.....no, no, no.. 4 stroke mate !Bunkerbarge
Member
The trouble seemed to be all too often with too many two strokes was that the bits didn't always move in the direction they were supposed to!
I must admit I have never thought of a two stroke motorcycle as elegant. Ever since my father's villier's powered Bond three wheeler in the early sixties, that you started with a draw cord through the dashboard, through to my own Raleigh Runabout first moped in 1973, that would disappear in a cloud of two stroke blue smoke when it eventually decided to start, I have always thought of road vehicle two strokes as smelly, oily, noisy, temperamental and frequently set up with a power band narrower than Twiggy's waist. Not to mention having to frequently decoke the things to maintain a semblance of performance and reliability and to prevent them dripping horrible black gunge out of the rear of the silencer all over your shed floor.
I agree they were simple, they needed to be as you were always fixing them!
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Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
I must admit to having once owned a 2-stroke to be precise a Suzuki GT750, brand new one in '76, went like a rocket for it's time but you couldn't stuff through the twisty stuff too fast
Col.
Col.
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simond
Western Thunderer
The only one I owned was a KH125 for MrsD to learn on. She decided not to in the end (shame, she was quite smitten by some of the Guzzis in Mandello last month) and it was sold on. Sweet little thing, and the bike was nice too…
But I did spend a year developing a fuel injection system on a tiny 2S engine on a Dyno for my thesis, back in 1982. I don’t know if it was the only injected 2S in existence at that time, but it stood a good chance.
But I did spend a year developing a fuel injection system on a tiny 2S engine on a Dyno for my thesis, back in 1982. I don’t know if it was the only injected 2S in existence at that time, but it stood a good chance.
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
I met the owner of the white Morgan this morning. He also owns the lightweight Land Rover I have seen many times. The car is a Morgan but, as SimonD said, it has a Honda moteur. It goes well, he was driving it with haste around the block to catch an empty parking space. The Landy on the other hand is pumping out diesel smoke.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Most if not all of us bike nuts would have heard of Phil Read who sadly passed away on the 6th October.
In post #50 I photographed Phil in the pits at Brands Hatch during one of the 70's Transatlantic race meets.
Col.
In post #50 I photographed Phil in the pits at Brands Hatch during one of the 70's Transatlantic race meets.
Col.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Now I could go for one of these
....no ! Robin you've got a Guzzi now
....no ! Robin you've got a Guzzi nowBunkerbarge
Member
I used to live quite close to Oulton Park in the days of the Trans Atlantic trophy meetings. I used to go and sit on the wall at the end of our road and watch the steady steam of bikes going by to the races, then all go back the other way at the end of the meeting. Brilliant days.
Boyblunder
Western Thunderer
The Transatlantic series in the 1970s was the most enjoyable motorcycle racing ever in my view. Spot the famous faces in this Youtube collage. R.I.P Phil Read and all the others riders of the era no longer with us. Somewhere in those crowds at Brands and Mallory was me when I had hair. My new Meriden Bonny didn't get as far as Oulton that year, pity.
Boyblunder
Western Thunderer
Colin I wouldn't swap the Guzzi for the latest Commando anyway, I can't stand the look of those awful brake fluid reservoirs. Presumably the designers expect a lot of leakage. The latest Kawasaki could be of more interest to railway modellers for transporting large layout boards across exhibition halls:Now I could go for one of these
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
I come from a long line of building contractors ( H. Dowling, Est. 1813 ) which started out in Bow, London and ended up in Rayleigh, Essex.
Through the post WW2 years from the 50's-80's we were quite a major contractor building for County Councils etc. one example being Ockendon Hospital and other similar size projects.
In 1967-68 we built Barclays Bank in Rayleigh, Essex which was going through a period of modernisation on the High St. An Uncle recently gave me some photo's of the installation of the escalators which had arrived from Holland, they came over on tilt trailers sent by ferry and collected by British haulage contractors.
I thought these few picked out from about thirty shots might be of interest to those who like modelling commercials and cranes.
At the risk of boring you the following 11 shots were taken by a Great Uncle of mine ( The firm, by now H. Dowling & Sons, being run by my Grandfather and 4 of his Brothers ) who was a keen photographer.
All quite on a Sunday morning in '68 un-like today !
Two cranes in attendance and the tilts being taken off. Alright when you've got a crane but a pain in the butt when you ain't !
AEC Mandator ? tractor unit's
I'm assuming the Pickford's crane came from Harwich ?
First one off. Note the pole ladder up the side of the building
The little fella looking at the camera is one of my Great Uncles, George Dowling trying to emulate Alfred Hitchcock who often appeared in his own films.
Escalator being shoe horned in to position, there's a solid wall there now with the entrance into the bank to the right hand side of the building so if ever they have to remove them they'll have to demolish the front wall !.
I remember my Father taking me up to all the action but it's shame that my Father and I ( I was 12 yrs of age ) didn't get in the shots taken.
The building today is still Barclay's and as far as I know the same escalators, my Grandfather also built the Library and many houses and bungalows in the area at this time.
Col.
Through the post WW2 years from the 50's-80's we were quite a major contractor building for County Councils etc. one example being Ockendon Hospital and other similar size projects.
In 1967-68 we built Barclays Bank in Rayleigh, Essex which was going through a period of modernisation on the High St. An Uncle recently gave me some photo's of the installation of the escalators which had arrived from Holland, they came over on tilt trailers sent by ferry and collected by British haulage contractors.
I thought these few picked out from about thirty shots might be of interest to those who like modelling commercials and cranes.
At the risk of boring you
the following 11 shots were taken by a Great Uncle of mine ( The firm, by now H. Dowling & Sons, being run by my Grandfather and 4 of his Brothers ) who was a keen photographer.All quite on a Sunday morning in '68 un-like today !
Two cranes in attendance and the tilts being taken off. Alright when you've got a crane but a pain in the butt when you ain't !
AEC Mandator ? tractor unit's
I'm assuming the Pickford's crane came from Harwich ?
First one off. Note the pole ladder up the side of the building
The little fella looking at the camera is one of my Great Uncles, George Dowling trying to emulate Alfred Hitchcock who often appeared in his own films.
Escalator being shoe horned in to position, there's a solid wall there now with the entrance into the bank to the right hand side of the building so if ever they have to remove them they'll have to demolish the front wall !.
I remember my Father taking me up to all the action but it's shame that my Father and I ( I was 12 yrs of age ) didn't get in the shots taken.
The building today is still Barclay's and as far as I know the same escalators, my Grandfather also built the Library and many houses and bungalows in the area at this time.
Col.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
And not a green vest or hard hat in sight !
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
.....funny you should say that
I didn't used to own a Daimler V8- 250 for nothing mate, sshh don't let '28ten' hear !New Haven Neil
Member
Oh hello - new around here but not 'elsewhere', and a serial bike owner, both myself and Mrs NHN.
A nasty foot injury has degraded over the 7 years since I did it, and has caused real issues changing gear (left sided!) until the Mrs noticed this little new Enfield had a heel and toe change. Not really my cup of tea at all, but I had a test ride, and loved it. Slow, yes, but torquey, handles, economical, and there's no motorways here (Isle of Man). Away from the mountain road, this is simply one of the most rewarding bikes I/we have had - and we've had a LOT (Mrs NHN used to work for a Honda dealer). Funny how things turn out.
A nasty foot injury has degraded over the 7 years since I did it, and has caused real issues changing gear (left sided!) until the Mrs noticed this little new Enfield had a heel and toe change. Not really my cup of tea at all, but I had a test ride, and loved it. Slow, yes, but torquey, handles, economical, and there's no motorways here (Isle of Man). Away from the mountain road, this is simply one of the most rewarding bikes I/we have had - and we've had a LOT (Mrs NHN used to work for a Honda dealer). Funny how things turn out.
That looks like a Bullet but 60 years younger than the new one I had spring 1962. So much different yet so much the same. I hope you enjoy it.
I gave up bikes 18 months ago when I sold my only scooter as now being past 80 I felt venerable with all the traffic.
Regards
Allen
I gave up bikes 18 months ago when I sold my only scooter as now being past 80 I felt venerable with all the traffic.
Regards
Allen