Withdrawal symptoms

[franknjan]

Hi fellow bikers.
Is it just me. I'm getting frustrated with the weather at the moment. It's just not fit for motorcycling. Also too cold to do maintenance and fiddling.
I don't mind riding in the cold. I can wrap up accordingly but I draw the line when the roads are icy.
I haven't ridden any of my bikes since August due to 90 days spent in warmer places.
My only plan at the moment is a ticket booked for the Dragon rally, just a day visit no camping. (Anyone else going?)
What you are up to?

 

[Roger S]

It's the salt on the roads I don't like !

 

[Spriddler]

I've done the Dragon a couple of times in a tent - had to thaw my breakfast egg, bacon and sausage one year before I could fry them.
I haven't ridden for two months, not even to take one bike 3 miles for its MOT, now 3 weeks expired.
If the weather warms up enough to prevent ice I'll be meeting up on my 1947 bike with chums for our usual Boxing Day and New Year's Day rides to a pub, hopefully.
Our annual Toy Run this weekend has been postponed to Wednesday due to the ice and snow. For many years around 50 bikers have each taken a wrapped Christmas gift to children's homes and a hospital and given some of the excited youngsters a short run, just around the car parks, on the pillion or in the sidecars if too young or disabled for the pillion.

 

[franknjan]

Spriddler. Just looked at your avatar, is that a Matchless?
At first glance I thought the setting was the Horseshoe pass. N. Wales. On closer inspection I don't think it is.
Here's a photo one of my bikes on the Horseshoe pass.

 

[scotzsue]

John was on his bike a few weeks before his hip replacement. He had his first walk outside today, across the grass to the garage to check his bike battery

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[franknjan]

Hi. Hope John makes a full recovery and is soon able to get his leg over. (The bike obviously)
He's certainly got his priorities right and getting his physiotherapy sorted at the same time. Nothing worse than a flat battery after all the waiting.

 

[bladerunner]

Agree, ice and salt stop me riding, otherwise it helps my skill level to ride all year round.
So glad I have other vehicles. For years in London I had no choice but the bike.
Have a look at for some sunshine.

 

[bladerunner]

Or the set of four, stating with:

 

[Stealaway]

Spriddler. Just looked at your avatar, is that a Matchless?
At first glance I thought the setting was the Horseshoe pass. N. Wales. On closer inspection I don't think it is.
Here's a photo one of my bikes on the Horseshoe pass. View attachment 698260

Always referred to as a Puke in my day - I loved them

 

[Neckender]

I was still riding mine up to mid November but now salt on the roads I won’t bother until it’s all cleared.

John.

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[franknjan]

Always referred to as a Puke in my day - I loved them

I like them also. Here's another.

 

[Stealaway]

That's an odd place for the carb - disc valve?

 

[franknjan]

No. Conventional to a point?
It's a twin piston single??
Here's a photo of cut away engine, although the inlet port in the photo is different to mine.

 

[Crazylegs]

I’m a member of Widowsons Masonic biker association, we are delivering Teddy bears and chocolates to local hospitals tomorrow. Just got to get my 150kg bmw up our iced up drive to the road first.

 

[Stealaway]

No. Conventional to a point?
It's a twin piston single??
Here's a photo of cut away engine, although the inlet port in the photo is different to mine. View attachment 698326View attachment 698330

Ah a twingle. Those Krazy Krouts tried everything.

Ive just remembered I nearly bought an American import from a shop near Matlock. It was sold by the big American mail order store

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[Spriddler]

Spriddler. Just looked at your avatar, is that a Matchless?
At first glance I thought the setting was the Horseshoe pass. N. Wales. On closer inspection I don't think it is.
Here's a photo one of my bikes on the Horseshoe pass. View attachment 698260

Yes, a 1954 350cc Matchless G3LS. It was shipped new to the Rhodesian police force and I've had it for 26 years, covering more than 100,000 miles on it. Don't know exactly as the speedo has been out of action for some of the time.
The pic was in the Pyrenees in 2018 on a 2 months 3,400 mile faultless solo camping trip to celebrate my 70th birthday through France to Portugal, then Spain, Andorra, Milan and back via the Alps following the Rhine to home in Sussex. I slept and ate at the tent except when after changing a punctured wheel for two very elderly sisters in a country lane they invited me to stay with them for three nights.

I had to leave its (one previous owner) stablemate, a 1947 AJS 500 Model 18 sulking at home as its unsprung rear end wasn't good for a 70 yr old back.

I do like your Puch and regret not buying the 125cc model recently for sale at a local classic bike dealer.

 

[Neckender]

My two girls.

John.

 

[cyberyacht]

Ah, a Bonny. What Norton featherbed owners described as a bike with rear wheel steering.

 

[Howard B]

Mine is stripped at the moment so i can give it a service & a bit of TLC. Only managed 1000 miles on it last year

 

[Oldrat]

This one is definitely staying under wraps until the salt clears and better climes arrive.

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[Geistguy]

Riding in north east Scotland until last week's snow, Keiss heated jacket and Oxford heated grips keep me oh so toastie warm.

 

[ontheroadagain]

This one is definitely staying under wraps until the salt clears and better climes arrive.

Mine is now permanently under wraps - It lives in our front room lol!

 

[Oldrat]

Beautiful

Works of art should be on show

 

[68c]

This one is definitely staying under wraps until the salt clears and better climes arrive.

View attachment 698944

Funnily enough I am working on my brother's 1972 GT750 motor. One problem I am having is timing the distributor/points housing. All that complicated trail of timing gears have timing marks, except for the 2:1 reduction inside the housing. Will have to use a timing disc once the valve gear is built up I suppose unless you have any idea.

 

[68c]

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[Jaws]

a ticket booked for the Dragon rally,

Last time I went was in 1969 !!
It was the year of freezing cold and lots of snow ...............
I believe the venue was Abergele

 

[Oldrat]

Will have to use a timing disc once the valve gear is built up I suppose unless you have any idea.

Best of luck with that, looks like quite a bit of work

 

[68c]

Best of luck with that, looks like quite a bit of work

Yes, it is my brothers bike, he bought it new in '73 while in the Army in Malta. Been in bits in a box for years, hoping to get it up and running for him. He is doing the frame, I'm doing the motor. Hopes to ride it again before gettiing too old.

 

[Oldrat]

Yes, it is my brothers bike, he bought it new in '73 while in the Army in Malta. Been in bits in a box for years, hoping to get it up and running for him. He is doing the frame, I'm doing the motor. Hopes to ride it again before gettiing too old.

Sounds like it’s well worth doing, good luck.


Mine is the 750 Sport, it taken me 2 yrs to acquire/import. It’s been in a private collection for 35 yrs.

Newly restored and just recommissioned.

 

[68c]

Did you restore it yourself?

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