Sunday, 13 April 2014
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Yorkhill Easter Egg Run 2014
If any of you within travelling distance of Glasgow would like to take part in this year's run, here are the details:
Basically it's a case of turn up, give a donation, and go for an organised run round the West End of the city.
Last year about 850 bikes took part and raised £25,000 for the hospital.Fancy dress is encouraged. (Now, where did I put my glitter mankini?)
Go on - it's for charidee!!
Last year about 850 bikes took part and raised £25,000 for the hospital.Fancy dress is encouraged. (Now, where did I put my glitter mankini?)
Friday bike
Another 'bike I nearly bought'.
Back in about 1981 I was starting to get tired of the limitations of my SR500, so was thinking about what to buy next. I still had a hankering for European touring, so a friend and I planned a camping trip to France. We hit upon the the idea that we would both buy the same model of bike (to minimise spares we had to carry), and after a lot of delibertion, decided on the Moto Guzzi V50 Monza. This was the 'sportier' version of the popular V50 with lower bars, fairing, different saddle and upswept silencers. So we started saving, planned selling our existing bikes, and a few months before the holiday buy a pair of Monzas, fit them with Krauser panniers, and the world would be our oyster.
Except, of course, it didn't work out that way. I had real difficulty selling the SR500, and after about 6 months of trying had to accept a much lower offer than expected to get rid of it. Also, I was offered a BMW at a really good price, so bought that instead. My friend bought a Ducati Darmah (which rarely left his garage!), and our European trip never happened.
Still think the Monza is a good looking bike, but very rare now as it only sold in small numbers compared to the 'standard' V50 model.
Moto Guzzi V50 Monza
Back in about 1981 I was starting to get tired of the limitations of my SR500, so was thinking about what to buy next. I still had a hankering for European touring, so a friend and I planned a camping trip to France. We hit upon the the idea that we would both buy the same model of bike (to minimise spares we had to carry), and after a lot of delibertion, decided on the Moto Guzzi V50 Monza. This was the 'sportier' version of the popular V50 with lower bars, fairing, different saddle and upswept silencers. So we started saving, planned selling our existing bikes, and a few months before the holiday buy a pair of Monzas, fit them with Krauser panniers, and the world would be our oyster.
Monza with Krauser pannier frames.
Except, of course, it didn't work out that way. I had real difficulty selling the SR500, and after about 6 months of trying had to accept a much lower offer than expected to get rid of it. Also, I was offered a BMW at a really good price, so bought that instead. My friend bought a Ducati Darmah (which rarely left his garage!), and our European trip never happened.
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Friday bike
A few years ago I posted a series called 'Old Flames' where I featured bikes that I'd owned. This week's Friday bike could be the start of an occasional sries of 'bikes I nearly bought',
Back in 1979, I was 21 and was at last earning enough money that I could afford to buy a new middle sized bike, and drew up a list of 'possibles'. Eventually I bought a Yamaha SR 500 but a close second on my list was a Honda CB400N 'Super Dream'.
A bit of history: In 1977, Honda launched the CB 250/400T 'Dream' ('Hawk' in the US) which was a major step forward compared the previous CB 250/360 G5 models. The Dreams had a 3 valve per cylinder twin cylinder engine with electronic ignition and balance shafts, and the bikes had fabricated 'Comstar' wheels and sealed chains. They got very good reviews for their technical innovation, but were less well regarded for their rather podgy styling. Within 9 months, Honda launced a revamp as the CB250/400N 'Super Dreams', with 6 rather than 5 speed gearboxes and much improved styling which matched the larger bikes in their range.
The Super Dreams were very succesful, especially the 250 version which fitted in with the learner laws at the time, and was for many years was the biggest selling bike in the UK.
The 400 sold fewer as most riders who'd passed their test on a 250 moved onto 500/550 cc bikes, but it was still highly regarded and I remember a magazine saying that if BMW built a 400cc twin, it would be like this.
Being so popular meant that there were plenty of aftermarket accessories, with Rickman fairings and Rickman or Krauser luggage turning them into useful tourers.
Had I bought a CB400N, it would have ended up with a Rickman fairing and Krauser luggage, and I probably wouldn't have bought the BMW I eventually went touring on.
Many years later I eventually rode a CB400N (I'd ridden plenty of 250s), and I was very impressed by the wide spread of power and how 'together' the bike felt. Not buying one back in 1979 was probably the worst motorcycling mistake I've made, but that's life!
However, there's a postscript to the story - in the early 90s I was thinking about buying another bike and I came across a Honda CB400A for sale locally. This was the very rare version of the earlier Dream fitted with a 2 speed automatic gearbox. As I was commuting across town at the time the automatic appealed, but I thought it would be too restricting for more open road use. Found a picture of one and you can see why Honda thought a restyle was quickly needed:
Back in 1979, I was 21 and was at last earning enough money that I could afford to buy a new middle sized bike, and drew up a list of 'possibles'. Eventually I bought a Yamaha SR 500 but a close second on my list was a Honda CB400N 'Super Dream'.
The Super Dreams were very succesful, especially the 250 version which fitted in with the learner laws at the time, and was for many years was the biggest selling bike in the UK.
The 400 sold fewer as most riders who'd passed their test on a 250 moved onto 500/550 cc bikes, but it was still highly regarded and I remember a magazine saying that if BMW built a 400cc twin, it would be like this.
Being so popular meant that there were plenty of aftermarket accessories, with Rickman fairings and Rickman or Krauser luggage turning them into useful tourers.
Had I bought a CB400N, it would have ended up with a Rickman fairing and Krauser luggage, and I probably wouldn't have bought the BMW I eventually went touring on.
Many years later I eventually rode a CB400N (I'd ridden plenty of 250s), and I was very impressed by the wide spread of power and how 'together' the bike felt. Not buying one back in 1979 was probably the worst motorcycling mistake I've made, but that's life!
However, there's a postscript to the story - in the early 90s I was thinking about buying another bike and I came across a Honda CB400A for sale locally. This was the very rare version of the earlier Dream fitted with a 2 speed automatic gearbox. As I was commuting across town at the time the automatic appealed, but I thought it would be too restricting for more open road use. Found a picture of one and you can see why Honda thought a restyle was quickly needed:
Friday, 21 March 2014
Friday bike
How about a twin BSA A7 powered outfit with an 'add on' electric starter? This was listed on Ebay but the auction ended today.
Listing details:
This historic bike was built by persons unknow in 1969.
First documented (next door to the 007 Bond 'rocket firing' BSA Lightning) in Bacon's "Book of the BSA twins & triples" . The bike's construction (from 2 x A7SS engines slung in an elongated frame) remains something of a mystery.
I have done some significant but discreet renovation work in order to bring the bike into good running order, with historic tax, MOT exempt, and on the road as an outfit.
The old Garrard chair body was passed on to me with a decent old leather jacket . I have fitted a propstand rear chain driven starter motor and sorted out the primary drive chain tensioning between the engines; I also rebuilt the mags and put a Linslay 12 volt conversion to a reconditioned standard A10 dynamo , so that a car battery is fitted in the sidecar boot for the starter motor. That's if if you can't kick start it for one reason or another. She goes well and ticks over nicely.
The bike was built and subsequently registered in '69 with a standard buff green log book, which I have. The registration number is 710BRB; My daughter tells me it could be worth more than you think. Anyway its the original registration number, on the original log book & current V5.
Roger Sharman of Cake street Classics found this bike at a show, and I swapped it with him for a number of part built bikes and motorcycle parts. You can see from some of the photos, the bike must have been laid up in a shed for years.
I like to swap bikes around, so here it is. You won't find another one like it. If you want a swap or a part exchange, give me a ring. Especially if you've got a Vincent Comet, or a bigger vincent or norvin in need of work.
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Friday bike
One of these went past me in the street and I thought it looked so cool that I had to search for it on the Web.
I really liked the flat tracker/street scrambler look, but am a bit disappointed as I thought from the tank badge it was a Yamaha.
Imagine if this was built by someone not based in China and had an engine of about 250 - 400cc - that would be really cool!
If anyone's interested , there are a couple of sellers in the UK offering the bike at around £1500. one two.
Technical stuff::
CPI SUV 125
I really liked the flat tracker/street scrambler look, but am a bit disappointed as I thought from the tank badge it was a Yamaha.
Imagine if this was built by someone not based in China and had an engine of about 250 - 400cc - that would be really cool!
If anyone's interested , there are a couple of sellers in the UK offering the bike at around £1500. one two.
Technical stuff::
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