Looking across to the snow capped alpine mountains seen from the back seat of a motorcycle

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Upt'North ¹ said :-
Well if you're going to use hard facts this discussion will go nowhere.
Pffffffftttttt.

19/03/2024 11:03:23 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
The 187 KG figure amazes me. They must fill that frame with lead.
Colin Chapman obviously didn't do a spell at RE.

19/03/2024 11:05:46 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
"Add lightness and simplicate". That's a pretty typical weight for a 1950s single - which the Enfield basically is. My 1952 Norton is around the same weight. A lot of cast iron and steel....

19/03/2024 13:53:42 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian Soady¹ said :-
CCM: 124kg, 42bhp, electric start, frame tig welded by a craftsman in Bolton....

Would that be Ren moonlighting again ?....
Nigel

19/03/2024 16:55:09 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I said craftsman....

19/03/2024 16:57:24 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Bodging is a craft.

20/03/2024 07:39:23 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Or how about this: interesting hybrid. Engine the same as a CCM in a Beeza frame. Probably a BSA (BSA Suzuki Allsorts).
Posted Image

20/03/2024 10:17:42 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
So... errr... eh? What engine is that? Are you telling me it's a Suzuki engine grafted into an old BSA frame? Looks odd with the rad stuck out there.

21/03/2024 08:03:07 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
It's a Suzuki DRZ400 - the same engine as the CCM. Watercooled single pushing out a similar 42bhp although I expect the whole plot will be heavier than the CCM. Looks like quite a nice installation although I agree the rads (one each side) look a bit of an afterthought. But where else can you put them? The frame is the ubiquitous C15/B40 which was more or less the same for all the unit singles. The pic shows the engine in its native habitat. I'd need a stepladder to get aboard it.

Being impulsive I've gone for it. What can go wrong for £2,400? The current owner (who didn't build it) has done 4,000 miles or so in the last 2 years according to the MoT history. I think it will be something of a project as I can already see things I'd change.

Can't wait for both my new beauties to arrive.
Posted Image

21/03/2024 09:57:00 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian , interesting purchase, living in Ireland I'm guessing for insurance purposes we or I never get to see many of these types of projects . My immediate thoughts looking at the photo are 42BHP and original BSA brakes ... and please, tell me my rather poor eye(sight) is deceiving me and it doesn't have a R/H gear change !!
Nigel

21/03/2024 11:04:44 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Well spotted on the gearchange Nigel -not sure how it's been achieved but I assume a crossover shaft. It avoids having to relocate the brake lever and linkage although I would have thought that would have been easier!

The front brake looks like the 8" (or maybe just 7") twin leading shoe unit which was well respected back in the day and was good enough for heavier and more powerful bikes like the Bonnie and Spitfire. They do need careful setting up however. It wil definitely be better than the 6" British Hub brakes that were on my Tri-Greeves.

I haven't actually seen the bike but am buying blind as it's way down in Dorset / Somerset. I've made a deposit and will pass on the balance when my transport chap arrives to pick it up when he can check it is what it's said to be. I've done this in the past and it worked well. I will of course report back....

21/03/2024 11:53:49 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Seen this Ed?
Upt.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2024/march/honda-gb350-low-cost-ad...

21/03/2024 15:42:51 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Now that's a tidy looking bike.

22/03/2024 10:10:29 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I am aware that Honda has the GB350 alongside the CB350 and H'ness 350 but alas and alack there's still no sign of any one of these models reaching the UK's shores. You know me, I'm not all about those big BHP numbers but 20 bhp from a 350? Like the HTNR350 I hope it's frugal, really really frugal in that low state of tune. If it is indeed super frugal and popular enough here in blighty to support the aftermarket parts market, I could be tempted.

In that state of tune it ought to be very reliable too. One can only hope.

22/03/2024 12:49:20 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Well the BSA-Zuki arrived today courtesy of the seller. I have to say it seems to have been executed rather well. There are a number of things I'll have to sort out - for example, all the control cables are notchy and rough (the throttle so bad it doesn't return), there is lots of untidy wiring with those horrible connectors that slice through the insulation (can't remember the name).

I can't believe that people ride bikes with such nasty controls. Oh, and clutch and brake levers are on upside down with the cable entry slots to the top. Only a detail but....

So some happy hours fettling in store. I started it up and the engine sounds great.

26/03/2024 16:15:57 UTC
nab301 said :-
I often wonder do people ride bikes with cables like you describe there or has it been laid up for a while, as for "there is lots of untidy wiring with those horrible connectors that slice through the insulation (can't remember the name)." I call them Scotch locks ?
Nigel

26/03/2024 16:35:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Scotch Blocks or Scotch Locks... take your pick. I was always told they're bad news. Enjoy the new toy Ian.

26/03/2024 17:01:23 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The seller told me it's been in regular use and it's done 6,000 miles or so in the last 2 years in his ownership. He did seem like an honest sort of bloke. He reckoned he was selling as he'd bought a 500 Moto Morini to live with the 350 he already had and hadn't told his wife....

Speaking of wives, mine thinks it's pig-ugly although didn't quite use that term.

Yes scotch locks was what I meant. Horrible things.

27/03/2024 10:01:00 UTC
KiwiJeff said :-
Out riding in the autumn sunshine in about 24 degrees celsius. The ride was 180 miles, about my limit even with a good coffee stop. Picture is a petrol stop in one of the quieter parts of NZ. Mates bike is the Honda CB650R, nice bike but not that much quicker than the old Bandit, so much for 20 years of progress in bike and engine design? NZ avoided the cyclones of last sumner so we had a quieter dryer summer weather wise. Have retained the wind screen despite a bit of helmet buffeting it certainly stops the bugs! Haven't had any problems with the screen causing instability in high winds or from passing trucks.
Posted Image

28/03/2024 10:37:45 UTC
nab301 said :-
24 deg C , lovely , and agreed , there's not a lot to beat a Bandit !
Nigel

28/03/2024 16:18:25 UTC

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