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Ian Soady¹ said :-
No, the knee problem put a kybosh on that just when I was ready for the maiden trip. I've emailed the dealer to see if he's interested in some sort of deal. I'd probably lose money on it - the Herald is listed at £1500 which seems quite cheap. The last time I did this was my ill-fated adventure into scooterland and I really did lose out there.
13/05/2026 16:58:48 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I had to google "Boreens" nab301 - back roads apparently. I've lived in North West Manchester for 35 years now, I've despatched here, I've been a bike instructor here and I used to think I've been everywhere here. And still I find new roads and new things to explore all the time. I yearn to explore distant lands and yet there's so much within 50 miles of home I've yet to see.
I have mixed feelings about the Herald Ian. I cannot subscribe to the "Chinese bikes are poop" mentality because Sharon's Keeway was a very well made machine that served her very well indeed. However it's not a mainstream brand which means parts might be an issue... or maybe not. Herald bikes are re-badged and slightly re-engineered generic Chinese models so the parts may be very available and very cheap - if you can find a match. I doubt you'll be doing 15,000 miles a year on it anyway and it'll be polished to within an inch of it's life - it'll last forever.
But - will you love it? That's the great unanswerable question...
14/05/2026 08:16:38 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've been in touch with the dealer and we may be able to put a deal together. I'd like that as it would save all the faffing around selling the Beeza, but I don't want to give it away. And we know how dealers hate sheeling out cash.
I don't polish my bikes Ren, just maintain them carefully so the muck gets wiped off in the process. But you're right it won't be doing 15K miles a year. The engine of the Herald is apparently a Suzuki clone; running gear looks straightforward and the trusty lathe is at had to make unobtainables.
I do have a cunning plan to swap the foot controls over but this may prove unfeasibe. Buut it would match the New Imperial tank badges. For you lot, New Imps were a very highly regarded pre-war make famous for making unit construction engines (ie engine and gearbox in a single casting) when these were a rarity.
14/05/2026 09:54:23 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Just popped (well struggled through traffic) to Wolverhampton to have a look at the Herald. It looks very tidy - no rust / scrapes etc. I think the dealer's had it a while, and I suspect the idiosyncratic tank emblem has put the yoof off. But he did make me a somewhat derisory offer on the C11. I'm happy to take a hit but probably not that much. So it's on the dreaded facebook and will find its way to ebay before long I think. I accept I will lose money on this one although have enjoyed rebuilding it from a pile of mismatched bits.
He was a decent enough bloke and as his favourite bikes are Norton Commandos - which latterly were built in Wolverhampton - we can probably come to an accommodation pricewise.
14/05/2026 14:50:26 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ian, hope it all works out in a mutually rewarding sort of way. You got me thinking, when did I last buy a bike from a dealer and when did I last kick-start a bike.
Same answer....2008. Time flies when you're having fun.
Upt.
15/05/2026 18:53:55 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've decided against the dealer route and have put the BSA up on FB etc and as a penultimate resort will put on ebay. Last resort will be an HJ Pugh auction. Two similar - but much poorer condition - bikes went for £1500 each in their last sale. As for the replacement, there are several Chinese 250s under £1500 on ebay like this one so it shouldn't be a problem.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157875330751...
16/05/2026 10:06:27 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
When you say FB Ian I'm guessing you mean FaceBook Marketplace? I've got rid of some junk on FB Marketplace by advertising it for free - it's usually gone within a few hours. 2 big old mirrors went to a Goth lady who was going to break them to make some kind of sparkly dress which I thought was dangerous but cool. 2 crusty taps went to some fella for the sink in his garage. Some old saddle bags went to a yoof for his college books on his bicycle.
How do you get on for selling bikes though? I'd be worried about randomers turning up on my doorstep and poking around in my shed. There'll be tyre kickers, time wasters and thieves scoping the joint for an imminent return. Have you had much luck with FB?
21/05/2026 08:21:29 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Presently here but no daring motorcycle stories, which I'm glad about this wee dreich Scottish morn. Although there are some very damp and miserable German GS riders braving the ride. Fools.
There's no fool like a German fool. Other fools are available.
Upt.
21/05/2026 10:02:34 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've sold a couple of bikes as well as some parts through facebook and also bought three. All were easy smooth transactions with no problems or horrifying after-effects. Given the plunge in old bike prices I'm not too bothered about folk seeing what's in my shed despite the theft a couple of years ago. I think that was planned and done by someone who knew what was in there. Probably one of the cowboy paving / landscaping contractors who were ripping us off at the time....
The little Bessa is on FB at the moment - 700-odd views, 65 watchers. Most of the latter probably people with a similar bike seeing what they fetch. A possible sale fell through when I texted the wrong person my address. Ho hum.
21/05/2026 10:13:17 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Sold! To the nice chap from Worcester. Didn't fetch as much as I'd hoped but then when do they. Currently trying to contact an ebay advertiser with a Sinnis retrostar but he's not answering. No rush though. I may end up with the red fake New Imp which is overpriced but pretty.
22/05/2026 09:57:33 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Off to look at this one on Sunday. Was listed on ebay but failed to sell......
22/05/2026 11:20:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
125 or 250 Ian? Looks 250 to me. USD Forks - get you!
22/05/2026 13:11:47 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
250 based on the Suzuki GN250 which is a tough little engine. Yes, I know about the forks - must be getting senile. Looks like good value at £1150 and only 3,000 km!!!! The MoT history is remarkably clean.
22/05/2026 14:48:27 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I had a GN250 for a while Ian as a commuter, nice little engine.
Good luck.
Upt.
22/05/2026 23:00:36 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Well I've bought it. Nice chap selling it, he's bought an Enfield HNTR. At £1,000 how could I refuse? He's off on his hols later this week so it will have to stay in his shed till he returns and I can get it picked up.
24/05/2026 15:02:58 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The nice Ian from Worcester picked up the C11 today. It looked so lovely in the sunshine I was strongly tempted to keep it......
25/05/2026 11:12:42 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ahh so you have bought the Herald - good show. Did you get chance to ride it or will you have to wait to collect the bike next week?
26/05/2026 08:22:44 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Knee still preventing me riding. The seller is off on his hols now so have arranged for my usual bike transport bloke to sort out pickup and delivery. He's very reliable and quite cheap but tends to be busy so often there's a bit of a wait. He charged me £150 to collect the Steib from Wisbech and bring it over to Redditch. A lot of people wouldn't touch it.
This is him if anyone needs a bike moving.
https://www.motorcycletransportservices.co.uk/...
26/05/2026 10:06:05 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
First day ride of the year, tick.
62f's and sunny, it'll do.
Upt and Er'Indoors.
27/05/2026 17:05:28 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Anybody seen these with the corresponding road markings to assist with positioning. They were a new one on us.
Upt.
27/05/2026 17:07:13 UTC
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