Why do we love them?

[Itsme]

Hi Thumpeteers

Do you ever wonder why you love a particular bike? Why with all its faults and failings does one bike attract you whilst another with seemingly none of those faults doesn't? I love Sid my 350 Enfield, but to be brutally honest it isn't made to the best tolerances. The engine is fine, but everything else fits where it touches. If you don't believe me try removing a standard part, say the pillion seat, then re-fit it, with no modification, and wonder why suddenly none of the bolts fit back into their standard holes. The product of fitting at the factory with hammer and crow bar. And yet I love Sid.

Yesterday I was at a loose end so continued bolting bits onto The Mighty Midget which although they have been kicking around my garage in various crates for a couple of years all fitted perfectly. If I was sensible I would have continued buying Japanese bikes and steered clear of Indian ones. But despite all this I love Sid, how odd!

Just to reinforce my decision to retire the MM on grounds of cost to right all of its wrongs in terms of worn out parts I looked on ebay for a side-stand spring for it as this, up to now, is the only part I seem to have lost. Prices asked (which I know is different to prices acheleved) ranged from £13 for a spring to £113 for a side-stand with a spring, all second hand.

Ian

[iansoady]

I think the reason I like old clunkers / desirable classics (delete as appropriate) is that they were made using fairly agricultural machinery so can be maintained and modified using the sort of tools that are readily available.

As for your stand - I have used Kawasaki prop stands on a number of my bikes as they are almost always available on ebay for 10 quid or so. They have a nice flat mounting plate which is easy to adapt to many situations once the switch etc have been removed with an angle grinder.

See project area for development on my outfit....

[Itsme]

Hi Ian

Thanks for the suggestion I will have a look around sometime to see what is available. I deleted desirable classics but added 'which we love' to old clunkers!

Ian

[Itsme]

Today I changed the air filter on my Enfield. Unlock the tool box, undo the three screws holding the cover, slip in the new filter, screw the cover back on and re-lock the tool box. Except in the two minutes since I unlocked it the tool box lid no longer locks! Despite fiddling for ages it just would not engage anymore with the lock plate so eventually duct tape was employed to solve the problem temporarily.

I really love riding my Enfield but have to admit its build quality is best described as shoddy. It's better than the 2006 and 2016 models I owned but it really is poorly fitted and finished when it comes to tolerances and alignment of frame and allied components. I won't give up on it but do get tired of rectifying bad workmanship. I intend to convert the tool boxes to bolt and wingnut a bit like the originals were on Reditch models.

Ian