| I am developing this page to write about some of the unusual bikes I have ridden but not owned. I did not take pictures of the actual bikes I rode so I have copied photos of similar bikes off the WWW Still to Add - Joel Smets 525 KTM replica, BMW 90S, Husaberg 500, Norvin |
Some of the memorable bikes I have ridden but not owned
Yamaha 100cc YL1 twin with the GYT
Upgrade kit. This upgrade included new
pistons, barrels, heads, bigger carburetors
and high level expansion chambers. The
result was a 20 BHP twin in a moped frame
and she flew. This is the only bike I knew of
in 1973 that would wheelie on the throttle. At
school all my mates had Lambretta's with
225cc conversions, amal carbs, ancillotti
exhausts etc. They use to ask me to take
their passengers because 2 up the little yam
was still faster. Top speed was supposed to
be 93 mph. An absolutely mad, highly strung
2 stroke, no reed valves or anything, just
huge ports and a bonkers all or nothing
power band. I sold it to my French exchange
friend who rode it round London when he
lived in the UK.
Upgrade kit. This upgrade included new
pistons, barrels, heads, bigger carburetors
and high level expansion chambers. The
result was a 20 BHP twin in a moped frame
and she flew. This is the only bike I knew of
in 1973 that would wheelie on the throttle. At
school all my mates had Lambretta's with
225cc conversions, amal carbs, ancillotti
exhausts etc. They use to ask me to take
their passengers because 2 up the little yam
was still faster. Top speed was supposed to
be 93 mph. An absolutely mad, highly strung
2 stroke, no reed valves or anything, just
huge ports and a bonkers all or nothing
power band. I sold it to my French exchange
friend who rode it round London when he
lived in the UK.
Dad bought a Norton 19S 600 from an old guy
who we kept in touch with for many years. A
proper gent and old time biker. This bike is
basically a 500cc Norton ES2 pushrod engine
which is "Stroked" by fitting a longer stroke
crank and longer con rod increasing capacity to
600 cc for hauling sidecars. Our bike was solo.
The engine was so tall the head occupied most
of the space under the tank. The bike had a
manual advance and retard, 6v dynamo, a
magneto for sparks Ah, legendary British bike
engineering!. I rode it for a 6 weeks into London
and back. A real man's bike to start. I loved
accelerating away from roundabout's in top,
opening the throttle and advancing the ignition
to get the best drive. The 19S was so full of
character.
who we kept in touch with for many years. A
proper gent and old time biker. This bike is
basically a 500cc Norton ES2 pushrod engine
which is "Stroked" by fitting a longer stroke
crank and longer con rod increasing capacity to
600 cc for hauling sidecars. Our bike was solo.
The engine was so tall the head occupied most
of the space under the tank. The bike had a
manual advance and retard, 6v dynamo, a
magneto for sparks Ah, legendary British bike
engineering!. I rode it for a 6 weeks into London
and back. A real man's bike to start. I loved
accelerating away from roundabout's in top,
opening the throttle and advancing the ignition
to get the best drive. The 19S was so full of
character.
Dad acquired a Panther 650 Sloper in bits with
a spare engine. Much heavier and cruder than
the Norton 19S. This bike was intended for
hauling sidecars and had all the necessary
lugs cast into the frame. The Panther was
famous for having twin low level pipes on a
single. I never really liked it much as it seemed
too heavy and had slow steering.
In the small town where I now live the guy who
owns the Photography shop has not one but
two Panthers, one with a sidecar. As they get
older they become more desirable to own but
in my opinion not much fun to ride.
a spare engine. Much heavier and cruder than
the Norton 19S. This bike was intended for
hauling sidecars and had all the necessary
lugs cast into the frame. The Panther was
famous for having twin low level pipes on a
single. I never really liked it much as it seemed
too heavy and had slow steering.
In the small town where I now live the guy who
owns the Photography shop has not one but
two Panthers, one with a sidecar. As they get
older they become more desirable to own but
in my opinion not much fun to ride.
Dad had a friend Dave who owned a Builder's Merchant near
Maidenhead. Dave was a real character and always had 10 to
20 bikes in his garage at any one time. He let me ride one of
the first RD 400's in the UK. These bikes were quick, I found it
very hard to keep the front down when it came into the
powerband. The RD had disk brakes front and rear and a good
frame. Probably as fast to 30 mph as anything ever made. A
bike you can never forget. Lots of piston slap made the engine
harsh.
Dad went on to buy a Red and White version new, he fitted a full
fairing, micron cans, Ledar jetting kit etc. His bike was quick but
it was no fun on the cruise at a steady throttle with the usual 2
stroke ting, ting, ting, ping, ting, ping, ting, ting etc.
Maidenhead. Dave was a real character and always had 10 to
20 bikes in his garage at any one time. He let me ride one of
the first RD 400's in the UK. These bikes were quick, I found it
very hard to keep the front down when it came into the
powerband. The RD had disk brakes front and rear and a good
frame. Probably as fast to 30 mph as anything ever made. A
bike you can never forget. Lots of piston slap made the engine
harsh.
Dad went on to buy a Red and White version new, he fitted a full
fairing, micron cans, Ledar jetting kit etc. His bike was quick but
it was no fun on the cruise at a steady throttle with the usual 2
stroke ting, ting, ting, ping, ting, ping, ting, ting etc.
Name a desirable Belgian made motorcycle?
How about the 1967 Flandia 50cc Record 5
Special. I got to ride one while staying in
France with my French exchange friend. The
bike I rode was highly tuned and whizzed
along at insane speeds for a 50cc. In the Brie
region of northern France all the roads are
straight with what seems like a 2+ mile run
between bends. As a result everyone, tuned
everything to get the highest top speed at the
highest possible revs. I'm certain the one I
rode could do over 60 mph.
The Flandria had twin straight through high
level exhausts (on a 50cc single!) these were
the coolest thing I'd ever seen aged 14. The
Flandria had 5 gears when a BSA Bantam
had 3. One of the best bikes ever made with
peddles for footrests. Still makes me tingle to
think about it.
How about the 1967 Flandia 50cc Record 5
Special. I got to ride one while staying in
France with my French exchange friend. The
bike I rode was highly tuned and whizzed
along at insane speeds for a 50cc. In the Brie
region of northern France all the roads are
straight with what seems like a 2+ mile run
between bends. As a result everyone, tuned
everything to get the highest top speed at the
highest possible revs. I'm certain the one I
rode could do over 60 mph.
The Flandria had twin straight through high
level exhausts (on a 50cc single!) these were
the coolest thing I'd ever seen aged 14. The
Flandria had 5 gears when a BSA Bantam
had 3. One of the best bikes ever made with
peddles for footrests. Still makes me tingle to
think about it.
My best mate Steve bought a GT750A from Ken Heanes in Fleet.
A stunning bike in it's day with a very smooth 3 cylinder 2 stroke
equipped with water cooling. I had my air cooled GT500 twin at
the time. I remember my bike stayed immaculate, mainly
because following Steve I was riding in a constant 2 stroke oil
mist (read fog). No kidding I had to gunk my bike to get it clean.
I rode this bike and I also went pillion. A great bike in it's day
with real road presence and the ability to cruise at the 100mph.
Steve could spin the rear Avon Roadrunner in 3rd on the throttle
and often in 4th (Way to heavy to wheelie). Following him I could
hear the tyre squeal after every gear change. Just shows how
poor the grip used to be from tyres in the 1970s.
Steve crashed his GT750 in the middle lane of the M4 when it
got into a speed wobble, broke his wrist and still rode home.
Looking back these bikes were heavy with vague wobbly
handling, poor brakes that failed to work in the wet, horrible
plastic seats, chrome that needed looking after every weekend
to avoid rust, poor grip and horrendous fuel consumption.
Todays bikers have no idea how lucky they are.
A stunning bike in it's day with a very smooth 3 cylinder 2 stroke
equipped with water cooling. I had my air cooled GT500 twin at
the time. I remember my bike stayed immaculate, mainly
because following Steve I was riding in a constant 2 stroke oil
mist (read fog). No kidding I had to gunk my bike to get it clean.
I rode this bike and I also went pillion. A great bike in it's day
with real road presence and the ability to cruise at the 100mph.
Steve could spin the rear Avon Roadrunner in 3rd on the throttle
and often in 4th (Way to heavy to wheelie). Following him I could
hear the tyre squeal after every gear change. Just shows how
poor the grip used to be from tyres in the 1970s.
Steve crashed his GT750 in the middle lane of the M4 when it
got into a speed wobble, broke his wrist and still rode home.
Looking back these bikes were heavy with vague wobbly
handling, poor brakes that failed to work in the wet, horrible
plastic seats, chrome that needed looking after every weekend
to avoid rust, poor grip and horrendous fuel consumption.
Todays bikers have no idea how lucky they are.
Ling's loaned my a lovely Rocket III when my Tiger 1050
went in for it's 6,000 mile service. Very nice, I want one when
I'm retired, once I've grown a big belly and I have a ZZ Top
beard to match.
I took this photo at Orwell Marina, I then had to push the
Rocket III backwards up a very slight incline. The surface
was gravel and I needed every once of strength. You need to
plan where to park these beasts.
These Rocket III's are wonderful and the power is subtle but
amazing. The bike just burbles along and the speedo
think's it's a rev counter. Accelerating hard up a slip road
feels so leisurely until you try and squeeze into traffic going
60 mph slower than the bike.
Other Tiger owners have said they are near impossible to
overtake on a rideout. I've ridden a Harley and these Rocket
III's are much better to ride. Give one a try.
went in for it's 6,000 mile service. Very nice, I want one when
I'm retired, once I've grown a big belly and I have a ZZ Top
beard to match.
I took this photo at Orwell Marina, I then had to push the
Rocket III backwards up a very slight incline. The surface
was gravel and I needed every once of strength. You need to
plan where to park these beasts.
These Rocket III's are wonderful and the power is subtle but
amazing. The bike just burbles along and the speedo
think's it's a rev counter. Accelerating hard up a slip road
feels so leisurely until you try and squeeze into traffic going
60 mph slower than the bike.
Other Tiger owners have said they are near impossible to
overtake on a rideout. I've ridden a Harley and these Rocket
III's are much better to ride. Give one a try.