Thinking about going back to two wheels

[Splitpin]

Paul .... "Vincent HRD Rapide" tell me more .... or even a picture .
I have a friend with a 37 Manx Norton, a 39 Velocette 500 (MSS) , A 52 Royal Enfield Bullet , and a 49 Vincent black shadow .... god knows how much they are worth now , but like you , the Vincent hates him the most
Went and looked at a 74 Trident today (square tank) genuine 3400 miles , but way too expensive for me ...BUT .... in the back of this chaps shed was a 1958 triumph thunderbird , covered in rubbish (hardly visible in fact)
When i asked about it , he said " not sure what that would be worth , if anything .... make me an offer" , i did , and he's going to contact me.
The dear old thing is in a sad state , but its been kept dry ..... just a bit of surface rust , the seat has rotted , the tires are stuffed ..... but its 90% complete , without knowing what the engine is like . It may have seized for all i know .
I will find out more and let you know .... nice to know that treasures are still about , even if the "owners" don't.

[emfrat]

In the early 1960s, before I was old enough to drive on the road, I had a racing licence, issued by the Perth & District Motorcycle Club, along with my membership card. Sad to say, didn't have a bike.
I used to cycle out the five miles or so to an old airfield circuit at Gask, for about 4 meetings a year. The 998cc Vincents were very popular as sidecar machines. If you walked too close behind one as it was being warmed up, it almost blew your leg off. Aermacchi 250s, 7R AJSs, Manx Nortons, and G12/G50 Matchboxes...them was the days.

[emfrat]

Paul .... "Vincent HRD Rapide" tell me more .... or even a picture ..

Marty, I think you'll enjoy these:
http://www.theworldofmotorcycles.com/vi ... t-hrd.html

[Fozzer]

My troublesome machine was the 1948 HRD 998cc Rapide (with the word "Vincent" over the top).




Gave me no end of problems after a few miles on the clock, mainly due to its over-complicated design resulting in mechanical, etc. failures!
(1) OHV Rocker Bearings.
Increased wear causes a rattling noise, and made correct valve clearances almost impossible (special mod to cure? it).
(2) "Brake linings" in the centrifugal clutch.
Oil mist in the Clutch housing, coated the linings with oil, making the clutch permanently slip!
Timing Gear Chest:
Stripping teeth on the cast iron 1/2 -time breather pinion.
Stripping teeth on the fibre Magneto pinion.
...all causing total failure.
(3) Magneto:
Almost impossible to obtain the correct 52 degree firing intervals.
Weak magnetism....not a cat in hell's chance of getting a decent spark to start the engine. (Recipe for heat failure).
(4) 6 Volt lighting system (in common with old Brit bikes) resulting in the headlight just glowing feebly in the dark.
(5) Excessive wear in the Girder Fork linkages affecting steering.

I'll tell you what, out of all my many Brit bikes, the HRD was the one I was most glad to get rid of. It let me down on the road so many times. Sold it in 1992 for £6,000 as a basket case, to purchase my new Honda CBR 600FM Supersport for me, and the Yamaha RXS 100 for my youngest school lad at the time
The Honda got stolen, (and replaced with my present Honda CB500RR), and I still run the classic Yamaha RXS 100, 2-stroke, to everyone's delight, (slowly destroying the Ozone Layer with clouds of 2-stroke mixture!)....wonderful!

...but no more Vincent HRD's for me... ....thank-you very much!... ... ...!

Marty: Your BSA Gold Flash uses a similar 650cc engine to my BSA Super Rocket. Gold Flash=Iron head, Super Rocket=Alloy head.
Magneto's and 6V lighting again!.... ..!
She will take a long time to get on the road! How about a small "run-about" in the meantime....for two-wheel fun?

Paul.... ...!

P.S....I have to keep editing this post as I remember more and more things wrong with my Vincent HRD... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Crikey .. I'd also better dig up the ole RAF flying reviews , the old motorcycle adverts just for you, bring back memories for you

[scaber]

I've been following this thread with a little bit of envy. Used to love riding my two bikes - a bit small compared with the ones you guys have experienced. I would really like to ride again but going by the number of times I fall off my mountain bike it would probably spell the end of me if I did take it up!

Though, i guess riding on the road instead of the single tracks I have my accidents on might mean that I have a better chance?

[Ian Warren]

I've been following this thread with a little bit of envy. Used to love riding my two bikes - a bit small compared with the ones you guys have experienced. I would really like to ride again but going by the number of times I fall off my mountain bike it would probably spell the end of me if I did take it up!

Though, i guess riding on the road instead of the single tracks I have my accidents on might mean that I have a better chance?

LETS RIDE The Christchurch Wild Hogs ..... I'll be the black guy 'Martin Lawrence' .. course Marty would have to be 'Tim the tool man' .. Greg with his computer prowess 'William H. Macy' and course Rob as 'John Travolta'

[Splitpin]

went back to look at the Thunderbird , and although my offer was excepted , i decided against it .
It was only good for parts , and i don't have the time for that. I would love to had bought the engine ... cleaned up , it would have made a great coffee table base .... but no deal ... and no time.
Just another dream , but thats ok .

[Ian Warren]

I have been thinking about getting myself another bike .. around the 500cc class but I can't trust myself on a mountain bike at the mo , Marty , I'd still go for the two wheel thing

[Fozzer]

went back to look at the Thunderbird , and although my offer was excepted , i decided against it .
It was only good for parts , and i don't have the time for that. I would love to had bought the engine ... cleaned up , it would have made a great coffee table base .... but no deal ... and no time.
Just another dream , but thats ok .

Excellent choice, Marty...

I must say I was a bit worried when you described its state!
You would not be riding the bike, but spending far too much time trying to get it sorted out instead!

Don't give up, for goodness sake!
The idea is already in your head. It depends on how far you want to ride. If its not too far, then a small 125cc or 250cc lightweight machine will do fine.....and also not cost very much!
New 2-strokes have been banned in the UK now, although my little 1993, 98cc Yammy is perfectly OK, as it is classed as an old classic motorbike!....(75 miles an hour on a good day!)!
Most new bikes now are 4-strokes only, and really new ones are now fuel-injected!
My main tourer is my 1994 Honda CB500RR, but its getting a bit too heavy for me now to push around, so my baby 98cc Yammy (98kg weight) is perfect for short journeys shopping, and even touring short distances!

The freedom of riding a motorbike is the greatest feeling in the World, far more satisfying than sex..and lasts very much longer....trust me!
(Sex just gives you a headache).

I spend my biking times with a massive grin stretching from ear to ear!

...and NO traffic problems...and free parking!

If the idea is in your head...get out and do it...remember life isn't very long!

No wind or steep hills, so I'm off for a 100 mile-round trip today, with my little Yamaha to meet up with fellow Bikers!

Paul...wind in the hair...flies in the teeth...and a Motorbike!.... ....!

Have a basin-full of this....
Henry Cole. Travel Channel. Touring New Zealand, top to bottom!...>>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlSsSqh5XJI

[Ian Warren]

Paul .. superb weapon systems for airport exploring 500 with an inboard pack-rack for ya tucker and photo gear .. be the way to go!

[Fozzer]

Paul .. superb weapon systems for airport exploring 500 with an inboard pack-rack for ya tucker and photo gear .. be the way to go!

Ian....
I'm well equipped with throw-over saddle bags, tank bag, and backpack.....waterproofs, sandwiches, and camera...and a Map/GPS...!

Sorted..... Ready for the highway!

Paul..... ...!

My Honda...>>>

[Ian Warren]

One thing with your 500 class is its far more economical on the tyres, on a norm I went thru rear every two ta three months on the 900 and 1100.

[Fozzer]

I reckon our Marty deserves a bit of love and affection.... ....

.....to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to polish and maintain, till death do part....

...and I reckon a nice new or second-hand Motorcycle will do the trick, and keep him happy and contented all the days of his life*....

..especially on warm, Summer, clear blue skies, Sunday afternoons...

Take the plunge, Marty!

Paul....Hally-bleedin'-loo-ya!... ... ...!

* ...it works for me... ...!

[Ian Warren]

.....to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to polish and maintain, till death do part....

And they say I have a way with words , the 900 , I clicked 215,000 km on it when it died ... one notorious failing with the type was the cam chain tension-er, when I first got the bike I recall it had only done 18,000 so making it cheap, but it was not looked after so with a little tender love and care it gave me that extra 215,000 , I preferred it to the 1100.

[cowpatz]

My toy. 1994 RF900R. Sort of a classic now I guess.

[Ian Warren]

Smooth machine Steve

[Fozzer]

Quite common on the roads here in the early 1990's, but a rare sight now.

Naked, all-round, tourers are the rage now.
Full fairings losing fashion...less expensive damage in a drop!

A really impressive bike at the time was the 1994 Honda 918cc "Urban Tiger" Fireblade! Beautiful colours!
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-new ... 25159.html

Paul... ...!

[Ian Warren]

I did like those 'Fire Blades' always love the Japanese designed bikes in this class

[Fozzer]

One thing I notice, are the vast amount of highly desirable machines that are exported from the Far East, that never appear in some of our countries (like mine)!
All sorts of beautiful machines, of all shapes, sizes, and types, that never see the light of day in my country!

The Far East, Japan, etc, seems to select only certain countries to export to, so many of us miss out on certain machines and models that would suit us/me!

There are many suitable lightweight machines, popular in the Far East, that never reach our shores!

Second-hand imports are mostly unsuitable for legal and spares reasons.

We need a bigger range of Bikes!... ....!

Paul.... ...!