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Upt'North ¹ said :-
Nidge, thanks for that, never been to the Emerald Isle. Can't really say why, maybe Michael Flatley, but you can't all be like that. Thinking.....
Upt.
09/05/2026 18:52:07 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I will recommend Ireland too - with one proviso.
It WILL rain! It's not the Emerald Isle because of it's dry arid climate. You might be lucky and only get drenched a few times, otherwise prepare for rain.
It's a very green and pretty place. The west coast is reminiscent of The Highlands although not quite as dramatic or remote. There's countless pleasant small villages and towns.
They do drive on the correct side of the road and speak a sensible language. I was however disappointed to find there's NOT a singalong traditional music evening in every pub every night. I expected fiddles and accordions, guitars and bodhrans. I got nothing...
10/05/2026 10:27:49 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
That is strange Ren.
Are you sure you went to Ireland?
The website attracting tourists to Ireland says:- walking, horse riding, entertainment in the bars, and not a mention of rain.
https://www.ireland.com/en-gb/things-to-do/what-to-do/?ds_c=TI_GB_EN_PRO_BM_All+...
10/05/2026 11:51:06 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I'm only fairly sure I went to Ireland ROD after seeing that website. The country I went to had the same place names, the same kind of scenery, even the same kind of things going on. However I saw all this between raindrops on the visor and peeping out from my tent.
In all honesty I did get some rain but it wasn't a washout. You can read all about it if you've a spare hour...
https://bikesandtravels.com/biker.aspx?ride=777...
10/05/2026 13:17:42 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've been off the road for 2 months after tearing the meniscus in my right knee by carelessly dismounting my B'Zuki outfit. I saw a physio last week and she's given me some exercises which are helping but she did say that kickstarting bikes was not advisable. Not that I'll be trying for a while.....
I therefore may reluctantly be parting with the little C11 which I've done a nut and bolt rebuild over the last year or so. This is not an ad as such but I just wondered if there was any interest here. Nice lightweight post-war single which is ideal for anyone without dodgy knees for meandering along the B roads. I may look for a deal with a CG125 (electric foot model)
Some pics:
12/05/2026 16:13:33 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
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12/05/2026 16:13:56 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
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12/05/2026 16:14:17 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
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12/05/2026 16:14:31 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
She looks a beaut Ian, a really nice little BSA.
12/05/2026 16:28:27 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Cor blimey that's a tidy machine. You're welcome to advise us of the price. It's a pity the old knee is giving you so much grief though.
CG125 you say? Another classic Honda. Should be light and easy on the knee - but I seem to recall you're a tall fellow, might it not be a bit cramped?
13/05/2026 08:13:19 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Thanks both. Electra (wife not bike) says it's the prettiest bike I've ever had. But what does she know.
I've had some tentative interest on the C11/C10 forum. I'm looking for a couple of thousand or thereabouts which is about what it owes me.
13/05/2026 10:13:47 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian, in the words of Derek of Bangers & Cash fame to the film crew that restores vehicles usually at a loss , you really are doing a public service restoring all these bikes and selling them on in restored condition !
Nigel
13/05/2026 14:43:08 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
To be honest I hate selling bikes but not having unlimited space or cash it's the only way I can move on. I've been idly browsing and came across this. It's actually a Herald 250 but with a New Imperial tank badge and it looks rather pretty. I may see if the dealer is interested in some sort of arrangement.....
I take Ren's point that a 125 may look bit ridiculous with me on it.
13/05/2026 15:57:30 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian , the Herald looks good , I reckon a CG125 might be a tad underpowered even compared to the 250 BSA, did you ever get to ride the BSA on the road?
"Quote
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
You can read all about it if you've a spare hour...
https://bikesandtravels.com/biker.aspx?ride=777..."
Ren , I Just spent an hour catching up on this with rain beating off the windows... you got the flavour but could have spent weeks exploring all the Boreens in the areas you travelled through .
I used to participate in this over the years , maybe this year it's time to travel to every corner of Ireland again!
Nigel
https://irishphotorally.ie/map-2026/...
13/05/2026 16:33:10 UTC
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
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