Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: guest7 on January 21, 2010, 06:18:12 PM
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I think I've asked this before.
What Brit thumper can still be ridden regularly and reliably? I'd say a Gold Star isn't top of the list, but a sidevalve Norton might be one option. However, some performance is required to compete with modern traffic.
Thoughts?
GC
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That BSA Regal 'Gold Star' with an SR500 engine ?
Richard
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Cheat ;)
I've always heard good things about the MatchlessG80/AJS model18. A good solid workhorse apparently.
After reading 'The Last Hurrah!' I have to say that I hanker after a big Panther.
GC
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Having ridden a Panther, once was enough. I wouldn't mind trying a Velocette or a Vincent or Arial Red Hunter, whether they would be reliable enough for 7 days a week use is a question for any owners out there to answer.
Jez
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If there was an affirmative answer to be had to your question they would still be making them ??? and RE Bullets are the exception that proves the rule. :'( I thought that properly fettled one might find the bullet to be the sort of thing you're talking about but frankly despite the undeniable and delightful charm I would rather have my ETZ250 everytime. It's lighter, faster, more reliable, will carry as much luggage and doesn't require any where near the amount of attention.
Steffan
>:(
;D
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I always fancied a BSA B31. But an old norton would be nice. I had a look and listen to the new Enfield with the race tank and exhaust and it looked and sounded the part.
Ken
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Bu55er.....kerabo beat me to it.....the B31 has to THE workhorse...I had a plunger framed one for 5 years, commuted on it every day, and i swear i did sod all to it except look after the chain (remember duckhams 'linklife?) and change the tyres....just kept on going, used and abused in all weathers....wish i still had it.
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When I worked in a place where I could securely park my Gold Star I used to ride it to work, they work better if you ride them.
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from my experience slow brit bikes are the most reliable and last longest.
'cooking' 350 singles will keep up with most town traffic.
bullet350
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Believe it or not, I have never ridden a British bike :o :o :o
I hang my head in shame, sorry, I shall never be a true old duffer harping on about oil leaks, primary drive cases, blah-de-blah...
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It's pretty easy to replicate the Brit bike experience, cross your legs and drain half the fluid out of your brake's master cylinder.
GC
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I've just got hold of a C15, is it big enough to be called a thumper.
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is it big enough to be called a thumper.
Well you wouldn't want to pick it up unaided would you? ;) :D
Easily big (and heavy) enough
GC
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I've been having a good, long think... and you know, I don't think I've ridden a brit bike either! :o :-[
Mind you, I've ridden a Laverda 750SF with a clutch that would have made a body builder whimper, and if I want the 65mph and no frills of a cooking brit single I could just go back to a cg125 and enjoy economy and reliability as well ;)
Nah, I keep getting tempted, but the good stuff is stupid money and for what I do I need a bike (well, I would like a bike!!) that I can use like "white goods", switch on, use, switch off, forget. Much like cars. (but much nicer ;) )
If I'm ever in the position to have a Brit it will be as a weekend plaything (or if I win the lottery a weekday plaything ;D ). They are imho unjustifiable as practical day to day transport for 99.9% of us. Either far to expensive, or if within our budgets, too maintenance intensive :(
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i swear i did sod all to it except look after the chain (remember duckhams 'linklife?)
I certainly do!....I also remember spilling a tinfull of the stuff on the kitchen floor!!!...my mother was NOT impressed!! :o ( I was 17 at the time)
I too have never ridden a Brit. I started bike just a bit too late (1976).
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I'd like to have another Tiger Cub just to see. However the accountants have got their teeth into them now and they've become investments.
I also like the idea of a G3 or G80 Matchless.
Rob.
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It's pretty easy to replicate the Brit bike experience, cross your legs and drain half the fluid out of your brake's master cylinder.
GC
Only half????
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My first thumper was a pretty little Tiger cub reg 850 CAT (the 850 Ducati had just come out!)
Then a C15 Star reg 444 CAC Plain bearing timing side was a 'mare!
Then a 3TA reg 255 KH Beautiful silky smooth and went like a scalded cat
Then a Featherbedded ES2 (proper model) amazingly torqey, stay in top all day long!
Then a B31 ran great just toooooo slow in modern traffic.
Out of all of them I would have the 3TA back again, real performer, just put on a front disc and it would be OK on todays roads no problem.
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Cheat ;)
I've always heard good things about the MatchlessG80/AJS model18. A good solid workhorse apparently.
After reading 'The Last Hurrah!' I have to say that I hanker after a big Panther.
GC
I went looking for one of the Matchless/AJS's a couple of years ago, but couldn't turn anything up within budget. I want to chop one. I'd love a Panther, my mate Dave has built a very nice Panther trike. Never owned a brit thumper, but I do own a 94 Speed Triple which also possesses some maladies from time to time...
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Is the Duckhams linklife a big tin or greeny/brown wax that you heat on a stove then dip your chain in it? If so then i still have a tin of the stuff under the bench in the garage..... Only problem is that the chain is link less on the Tenere. :(
Crusty
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Had 4 (Four) Tiger Cubs :-[, 2 Standards, one T20SH Sports Cub(used to spit big ends out regularly) and 1 "Super Cub" (Cub engine in a bantam frame) and had trouble selling them all except the Super Cub which I put in part exchange for a Honda CB175 (5 speed box and twin leading shoe no less!!) I think that the Super Cub would have been ok used daily (I didnt own it long enough to find out, made a profit of £5 on the deal tho) but none of the others...they were far too fragile.
Ian
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I didn't think you was old enough to have those bikes Steve :)
Ken
[
quote author=steveD link=topic=4103.msg27097#msg27097 date=1264152399]
My first thumper was a pretty little Tiger cub reg 850 CAT (the 850 Ducati had just come out!)
Then a C15 Star reg 444 CAC Plain bearing timing side was a 'mare!
Then a 3TA reg 255 KH Beautiful silky smooth and went like a scalded cat
Then a Featherbedded ES2 (proper model) amazingly torqey, stay in top all day long!
Then a B31 ran great just toooooo slow in modern traffic.
Out of all of them I would have the 3TA back again, real performer, just put on a front disc and it would be OK on todays roads no problem.
[/quote]
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Never owned a Brit bike and don't think I'd want to either. All the horror stories of oil leaks and dodgey reliability quite put me off. Character will get you so far, but most of the time you want your bike to start when you ask it to and run till your ready to stop. Then STOP!
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The Hinckley Triumph has been the most reliable bike I've ever had. If you want something to leak oil and be a PITA get a BMW IMHO. The Enfield was reliable too so long as you sympathetic to it's limitations. I'd quite fancy 70's Triumph but it'd have to be rebuilt from the ground up using modern parts and a new loom and then equipped Ted Simon style. No old thumpers for me though, with that level of metallurgy 500cc is just too limited.
Andy
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My Brit thumper wish list would be:
BSA B33
(http://www.thesidecarcafe.com/images/bsab33.jpg)
Featherbed ES2
(http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Norton%20Bikes/images/Norton-ES2-61.jpg)
Arial Red Hunter (single saddle version)
(http://i.pbase.com/u34/jim_panzee/upload/22623905.Ariel3500ccRedHunter1941.jpg)
Manx Goldie
(http://www.thumperclub.com/drupal/system/files/imagecache/node-gallery-display/photographs/2010/thumper4b25668410e75.jpg)
Of course if someone could 'liberate' GOV132 then that would be nice to have ;)
(http://members.shaw.ca/rjohns/ariel/beaulieu.jpg)
GC
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Andy writes.............."If you want something to leak oil and be a PITA get a BMW IMHO."
I beg to differ, though speaking only of airheads.
At some point every bike I have owned has leaked oil, probably more to do with a hamfisted owner than the bikes though.
RIchard
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In 1975 I had a C15 trials bike. When it was working it was good fun, but 90% of the time it didn't want to play. Must have pushed it a hundred times further than I rode it in a effort to bump starting the ......... thing. Swopped the C15 for a 250 Cotton/Villiers trials bike which was much better (two-stroke), but that was stolen only a few weeks after I got it! Both were bashed about but if they are still alive somewhere are now probably too expensive for what they are/were!
Anyone want to borrow my rose tinted specs?
Boyd
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Andy writes.............."If you want something to leak oil and be a PITA get a BMW IMHO."
I beg to differ, though speaking only of airheads.
At some point every bike I have owned has leaked oil, probably more to do with a hamfisted owner than the bikes though.
RIchard
Talking of bikes of this era I should have thought of the airhead. I came within a few minutes of buying one but stupidly bought the F650.The airhead is of course the bike that was so far above competition it made the reputation that F's and oilheads fail to live up to.
Andy
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What is that last bike on the list. Royal Enfield?
Ken
My Brit thumper wish list would be:
BSA B33
(http://www.thesidecarcafe.com/images/bsab33.jpg)
Featherbed ES2
(http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Norton%20Bikes/images/Norton-ES2-61.jpg)
Arial Red Hunter (single saddle version)
(http://i.pbase.com/u34/jim_panzee/upload/22623905.Ariel3500ccRedHunter1941.jpg)
Manx Goldie
(http://www.thumperclub.com/drupal/system/files/imagecache/node-gallery-display/photographs/2010/thumper4b25668410e75.jpg)
Of course if someone could 'liberate' GOV132 then that would be nice to have ;)
(http://members.shaw.ca/rjohns/ariel/beaulieu.jpg)
GC
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Ariel HT5 Trials bike.
Sammy Millers no less !
Jethro
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Ariel HT5 Trials bike.
Sammy Millers no less !
Jethro
Jethro, your knowledge is good, or you are a lot older than you look ???
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I saw the Sammy Miller bike last summer in the New Forest. Excellent museum, highly recommended.
Richard
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I saw him riding the bike (or a copy) in the Talmag trial (early 80's), very impressive bike/rider pairing.