Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Very nice, I particularly like the pedestrian slicer on the front.
Col.
Col.
Hairy Bikers and Other Petrol Heads
- Thread starter Eastsidepilot
- Start date
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
simond
Western Thunderer
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Totally out of place on this thread but I hope some of you like this shot:
A couple of points that may be relevant.
First, the MSVCR badge, we had some great bikes in the Far East back in the 1970s. The mention of valve lifters reminded me of a friend’s Brough Superior. The pent roof head is also present on the Riley 9 engine though with only two valves, not four.
Second, only after buying the car at auction did I notice the headlamps are Marchal. Quite why I’ll never know as I have history only going back to 1957.
A couple of points that may be relevant.
First, the MSVCR badge, we had some great bikes in the Far East back in the 1970s. The mention of valve lifters reminded me of a friend’s Brough Superior. The pent roof head is also present on the Riley 9 engine though with only two valves, not four.
Second, only after buying the car at auction did I notice the headlamps are Marchal. Quite why I’ll never know as I have history only going back to 1957.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
More on the Percy Riley (PR) 9hp engine. This one belonged to a now lost 1933 Monaco. I rebuilt the engine in 1979 then sold the car due to being transferred to Texas. I took the wrong car with me, a real MG TD, not knowing there were many fake ones built on VW chassis. But it went yo a good home eventually.
The Riley 9 revolutionized light car design, with two in block camshafts and short push rods. The front view shows the location of the camshafts and the rocker covers.
The cylinder head with new pistons:
The design was later used in the development of the ERAs.
The Riley 9 revolutionized light car design, with two in block camshafts and short push rods. The front view shows the location of the camshafts and the rocker covers.
The cylinder head with new pistons:
The design was later used in the development of the ERAs.
Boyblunder
Western Thunderer
I see Eastsidepilot has appeared on Old Bike Mart's homepage this week. Nice one Colin.
Giles
Western Thunderer
A bike I had for a few years in the early 2000's. Bought on EBay brand new in the early days for about £400. No problem registering or insuring it. Fairly dodgy beast, as you could go round the gears - 6th to 1st with no problem. It wouldn't do much over 30, but that was quite fast enough, being the cheaper end of Chinese.
Extremely useful for taking stuff down the tip......
2018-10-26_01-20-37 by giles favell, on Flickr
Extremely useful for taking stuff down the tip......
2018-10-26_01-20-37 by giles favell, on Flickr
Giles
Western Thunderer
If I recall it was a 125 or thereabouts, and yes - Chinese copy of Honda. It had a basic diff, so it wasn't too bad in that way, so long as uou took it fairly easy so as not to fold the front end under.....but the build quality was awful in every respect.
No helmet required. I once turned up to the Ace Cafe on it - much to everyone's bemusement.
No helmet required. I once turned up to the Ace Cafe on it - much to everyone's bemusement.
Al Tait
Western Thunderer
Not at all Paul, I've altered the thread title to suit.
Col.
I've been lurking for a while in this thread but bikes don't apply to me. I am bad enough on four wheels let alone two. This is my toy taken just over a year ago. It has unfortunately not moved this year, partially due to covid (didn't want to risk it failing on me and getting stuck somewhere) and partly as I've not go it reliable yet. Won't start at the moment again so I have got to strip down all the plugs and leads again. Seriously considering a 12v conversion as its a bit beyond me!
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Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Like the truck Al. I had a later offering from Flint, Michigan in the form of a Chevy Scotsdale, some years back now.
....an I've stayed with a Yank but moved to Chrysler in retirement.
Col.
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Interesting piece on Royal Enfield developments on BBC News Business today:
British-bred Royal Enfield speeding ahead in Asia
I like the way they offer a WW2 era finish - note different numbers:
British-bred Royal Enfield speeding ahead in Asia
I like the way they offer a WW2 era finish - note different numbers:
Attachments
simond
Western Thunderer
Couple of my colleagues bought Bullets when we were living in India 2007-2010. They were the only “big” bike available at that time, I think there were some regulations regarding maximum capacity, and bikes were not allowed on the expressways in any case (not that you’d want to mix it with overloaded, underbraked trucks anyway).
I did think of buying one to bring home (no VAT if you’d owned it 6 months) but figured having one old bike was probably enough.
when I got back, a dealer in Horley was selling them for around twice what I’d have paid. Ho hum.
Atb
Simon
I did think of buying one to bring home (no VAT if you’d owned it 6 months) but figured having one old bike was probably enough.
when I got back, a dealer in Horley was selling them for around twice what I’d have paid. Ho hum.
Atb
Simon
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
The real crack would be to buy one out there and take a 6 month tour riding it all the way home , not that safe to do nowadays 
.
Col.
, not that safe to do nowadays .Col.
simond
Western Thunderer
One of my pals brought his home (his home is in Austria) and then went off on an attempt to circumnavigate the Mediterranean on his Enfield. I think the Arab Spring put the mockers on that.
but whilst we were in Pune, some friends-of-friends turned up, he’d been made redundant (2009 financial xxxx-up) and his fiancée was able to request redundancy & got it, and they bought a LandCruiser, and drove there. Had a very pleasant dinner at the mutual friends’ place and heard their travellers’ tales.
Atb
Simon
but whilst we were in Pune, some friends-of-friends turned up, he’d been made redundant (2009 financial xxxx-up) and his fiancée was able to request redundancy & got it, and they bought a LandCruiser, and drove there. Had a very pleasant dinner at the mutual friends’ place and heard their travellers’ tales.
Atb
Simon
I learned on a CB175, twin carb. Ultra reliable for the numpty that I was then, and easy to repair for someone who's riding ability fell short of self perception.
I then had several brits, a Constellation, Continental, Franny B, and finally my main ride was a Triumph TR6 [single carb Bonneville]. I spent more time repairing it than riding it so I gave in and bought a reliable bike, Honda750F1. I did some 60,000 miles in the 8 years I owned it, no faults.
Best bike I owned was a Honda CBR1000F, very fast, good predictable handling and enough room for camping baggage. I used to follow what 24hr races on the continent that I could get to. In the UK I went spectating most weekends, all types of circuits from clubman at Darley moor to internationals all over the UK.
I have three abiding memories, Phil Read in his maroon leathers on the maroon MV, riding at Mallory, very smooth and sounded great.
Mike Hailwoods come back on the Island. I was spectating at the gooseneck, he got round the hairpin and started the climb, rather slowly on his Ducati 900, I turned to my future wife and said that he should have kept his legacy intact, as he was too slow. He won the race!!. Great rider.
The third memory was again at Mallory when a very tatty Panther 600 sloper single entered the sidecar race against among others the great Dick Greasley on his Chell Yamaha outfit. It didn't win.
only memories now
Kev
I then had several brits, a Constellation, Continental, Franny B, and finally my main ride was a Triumph TR6 [single carb Bonneville]. I spent more time repairing it than riding it so I gave in and bought a reliable bike, Honda750F1. I did some 60,000 miles in the 8 years I owned it, no faults.
Best bike I owned was a Honda CBR1000F, very fast, good predictable handling and enough room for camping baggage. I used to follow what 24hr races on the continent that I could get to. In the UK I went spectating most weekends, all types of circuits from clubman at Darley moor to internationals all over the UK.
I have three abiding memories, Phil Read in his maroon leathers on the maroon MV, riding at Mallory, very smooth and sounded great.
Mike Hailwoods come back on the Island. I was spectating at the gooseneck, he got round the hairpin and started the climb, rather slowly on his Ducati 900, I turned to my future wife and said that he should have kept his legacy intact, as he was too slow. He won the race!!. Great rider.
The third memory was again at Mallory when a very tatty Panther 600 sloper single entered the sidecar race against among others the great Dick Greasley on his Chell Yamaha outfit. It didn't win.
only memories now
Kev