Motorcycle General Discussion

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Hello all, quick question what thread is used on Amal monobloc carbs (276) of 1957 vintage. As far as I can tell they are BA am I correct?
Mark P.

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

Cookstown 100 M/C races on BBC NI TV tomorrow night (Monday) and catch-up afterwards.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08pv5fb

The Cookstown 100 is the oldest road race on the island of Ireland and was first held as a 30-mile event on Thursday, June 15, 1922. This makes the race four months older than the Ulster Grand Prix, which was first held on Saturday, October 14, 1922.

Mick – another for your bucket list?

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Mick:
you said “.. now that the IoM TT has become ridiculously expensive.” might I ask what aspect(s) you find so expensive ?(I have a good guess but don’t want to put words in your mouth)

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Ulster GP is well worth the visit so add it to your list after the North West. I get over for three or four of the races most years. TT is not all that costly but I tend to go for either the first day or for the Senior as a day trip.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by thaiguzzi on 05/05/2017 09:06:24:

Posted by Hopper on 04/05/2017 07:00:25:

Posted by thaiguzzi on 04/05/2017 03:34:50:

…

Thanx. Motor is 830cc, Weslake "Full Circle" crank and Carillo rods. Crank, if ever sold (not going to happen) on Ebay et al would go for a fortune, possibly £2k… Bike was built to this spec (ish) and looks in '94-95. Owned it from new.

Access bung is for an easy bleed of the Morgo rotary oil pump. Each rockerbox has it's own breather too. Can't have enough of 'em on a Brit parallel twin.

Getting it into Thailand. Long story, but basically came in with my Guzzi in two of my own containers c/w Snap On tool cabinets, Boxford lathe, Mig welder and all household and workshop possessions. Paid legal import tax on everything EXCEPT the two bikes. Big mistake in hindsight. They have legal import p/work now and all taxes paid, which was expensive and a headache, but no legal plate, and because they are not FI, never can have. Can legally ride them everywhere except inside Bangkok (not interested riding in there anyhow) and the two main motorways from BKK to the NW and NE.

So yes, nowadays importing your own is impossible. However there is a huge bike scene over here, and in the last 5 years, new and S/H prices have dropped dramatically. Although most models are still more expensive than in the West. Triumph and Ducati have factories here, and there is a good choice of motorcycles of all styles these days.

Plus… it is Thailand…

Going back to the "Nanny State West" occasionally once every 18 months or so for a 4-6 week period, and it just saddens me, not shocks me, saddens me.

Me, i "retired" out here when i was 43…

Edited By thaiguzzi on 05/05/2017 09:23:13

Sounds interesting. Both the bike and the country. Yes I hear you about the Nanny State feeling when returning after living in the Third World. Lot to be said for living in places where cops have more to worry about than measuring the width of your handlebars.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Mark P. on 05/05/2017 18:55:58:
Hello all, quick question what thread is used on Amal monobloc carbs (276) of 1957 vintage. As far as I can tell they are BA am I correct?
Mark P.

Yep.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Hopper on 08/05/2017 00:57:36:

Posted by thaiguzzi on 05/05/2017 09:06:24:

Posted by Hopper on 04/05/2017 07:00:25:

Posted by thaiguzzi on 04/05/2017 03:34:50:

…

Thanx. Motor is 830cc, Weslake "Full Circle" crank and Carillo rods. Crank, if ever sold (not going to happen) on Ebay et al would go for a fortune, possibly £2k… Bike was built to this spec (ish) and looks in '94-95. Owned it from new.

Access bung is for an easy bleed of the Morgo rotary oil pump. Each rockerbox has it's own breather too. Can't have enough of 'em on a Brit parallel twin.

Getting it into Thailand. Long story, but basically came in with my Guzzi in two of my own containers c/w Snap On tool cabinets, Boxford lathe, Mig welder and all household and workshop possessions. Paid legal import tax on everything EXCEPT the two bikes. Big mistake in hindsight. They have legal import p/work now and all taxes paid, which was expensive and a headache, but no legal plate, and because they are not FI, never can have. Can legally ride them everywhere except inside Bangkok (not interested riding in there anyhow) and the two main motorways from BKK to the NW and NE.

So yes, nowadays importing your own is impossible. However there is a huge bike scene over here, and in the last 5 years, new and S/H prices have dropped dramatically. Although most models are still more expensive than in the West. Triumph and Ducati have factories here, and there is a good choice of motorcycles of all styles these days.

Plus… it is Thailand…

Going back to the "Nanny State West" occasionally once every 18 months or so for a 4-6 week period, and it just saddens me, not shocks me, saddens me.

Me, i "retired" out here when i was 43…

Edited By thaiguzzi on 05/05/2017 09:23:13

Sounds interesting. Both the bike and the country. Yes I hear you about the Nanny State feeling when returning after living in the Third World. Lot to be said for living in places where cops have more to worry about than measuring the width of your handlebars.

I would'nt call Thailand Third World anymore. Out in the sticks in Cambodia i would, and parts of Laos (which by the way is a stunning country), but Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand have really moved on in the last 10-15 years.

Not only nanny state, but political correctness too. Helluva lot of Aussies out here (which surprises me) and the stories they tell me about Mother Australia make me wince. Running an SME over there sounds like a nightmare, i thought the Brits and Euros had it bad with red tape.

I'll try and find a pic of the crank and rods…

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Yes it's 30 years since I was in Thailand, I'm sure it's changed since then! Were plenty of Aussies over there then too. It is right on our doorstep so flights are cheap. It's cheaper to fly there and stay in a resort etc than to holiday in Australia. Only bikes I saw then were the usual small capacity Japanese bikes one sees in much of Asia.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Hardly Dangerous was the dominant seller when i moved here in '03. Lots of wealthy Thais buying into the "lifestyle". Who could outdo the other by buying the latest and most glitzy Twin Cam. That scene has slowly been replaced by similar wealthy lifestyle Thais, but buying into the Triumph and Ducati brand. Both are big sellers here. Triumph probably out sell all other Euro/USA brands now. BMW with their adventure style bikes sell well, and since import levies were dropped for Japanese manufactured big bikes, they have become very popular. Huge amount of Honda 500-650 here, Kawasaki have a factory here making pretty much most stuff pre 1000cc, sell well. Suzuki and Yamaha are probably the least represented in the big bike mart.

The smaller stuff, 110-150cc, as you say, sell in the millions, most households have several bikes. Kids get their first bike nowadays aged 13-14 and ride to school. Market is dominated by Honda, then Yamaha. You can put a down payment of £30 down, and ride out of a showroom on an auto scooter paying it back for the next 3 years, at silly rates.

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

North West 200 race highlights. What a sad life some live watching TV instead of being in the 'shop!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08qlpqk

Edited By JimmieS on 13/05/2017 20:23:49

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Latest project. Bought these 4 last February 2016. Sold as one job lot. All are 1984 Japanese market Yamaha ty250 monoshock air cooled trials bikes. The first production monoshock trials bikes. Bunch of spares included, paid about £825.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

The idea was to build two identical (bar the paint jobs) nice ones from the four.

Just finished them. 'Ol Blu and 'Ol Yeller;

[Dave SpicerParticipant @davespicer27262]

Nice restorations, I rode a 125 Yamaha in trials in the mid 70's and it was the best of the 6 or 7 different makes I had over a 12 year period

Dave

[mgnbukParticipant @mgnbuk]

Nice job there TG.

My brother-in-law had a late model "pink" TY250 when they were current.

I started with a twin-shock SWM (280 Rotax), then a monoshock Armstrong (280 Rotax), followed by a JCM 240 Europa & finally a twin-shock Honda TLR 250. My wife had a Fantic 300 twin-shock & a Beta 240 mono. Trials used to be very popular in Yorkshire, but I don't think it is as much these days – finding suitable land & getting permission to use it was always a problem, which has only got worse.

After 5 years or so competing at club level, I gave up trials when the Honda was stolen some 20 years ago.

Nigel B

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Had a trouble free run on the VMCC Banbury Run today but boy was it hot.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Thanx. Spent about a grand in total, and well over 200 hours on them. Brought a load of parts back with me in a suitcase last time i was in the UK in December, and had parts posted over monthly till May.

Services over here inc painting 4 wheels and brake plates (£27) and painting the two bikes inc chassis, s/arm and bodywork for £185…

Seats recovered £3 each…

New fuel taps at £2 ea, new 90 degree throttle assemblies, med action c/w bearing and very nice grips £6 ea. Gotta love Thai bike shops…

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Dave Spicer on 18/06/2017 10:03:40:

Nice restorations, I rode a 125 Yamaha in trials in the mid 70's and it was the best of the 6 or 7 different makes I had over a 12 year period

Dave

Sure it was'nt a 175?

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Nigel B on 18/06/2017 10:23:58:

Nice job there TG.

My brother-in-law had a late model "pink" TY250 when they were current.

I started with a twin-shock SWM (280 Rotax), then a monoshock Armstrong (280 Rotax), followed by a JCM 240 Europa & finally a twin-shock Honda TLR 250. My wife had a Fantic 300 twin-shock & a Beta 240 mono. Trials used to be very popular in Yorkshire, but I don't think it is as much these days – finding suitable land & getting permission to use it was always a problem, which has only got worse.

After 5 years or so competing at club level, I gave up trials when the Honda was stolen some 20 years ago.

Nigel B

All the bikes you listed, especially the Fantics and SWM are "classics" these days. Twinshock trials is very popular in the UK and Europe.

Maybe worth getting back into it?

Regards,

Mike.

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

This brings back fond memories of my trialling days, mostly in Yorkshire. I now live in the home of trials "Silsden" AKA Lampkins territory.

I rode BSA Bantams, Yamaha TY175, Bultaco 350, Ossa 250 Gripper, Fantic 200, Sealey Honda 200.

I then progressed onto the pre 65 scene with BSA B40, Royal Enfield 350 Bullet, Triumph 350 twin, Trifield 500, and a special with a B40 engine in a R.E. Crusader frame.

Not ridden now for 26 years but still go to watch now and again.

Phil

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Thinking of doing a RE 350 Bullet as the next project. Just waiting for the price to drop. It is an Indian road bike, with disc brake front end. ie lots of stuff needs changing and modifying…

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

There should be something interesting coming up at Bonneville this year, Lee Monroe, Bert's great nephew has broken records in preparation runs in California in the Modified Partial Streamliner – Gas Class Bike section, his bike is 1350 cc on a modified Indian frame (I think).

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 19/07/2017 12:43:38

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Thanx for that, interesting, i will check it out. Hopefully a vintage SV Indian motor, rather than one of the new (OHV, DOHC) ones.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I think it is a Kiwi built motor(not too sure on that). There is also a 2000 cc streamliner, 4 wheel vehicle going over too, I think that has a locally made motor.

Ian S C

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Just read he's broken a record. Unfortunately the motor is one of the new liquid cooled DOHC Scouts. They go fast straight out of the box.

Unlike Bert's 180 odd mph record on a SIDE VALVE based m/c….

Edited By thaiguzzi on 23/07/2017 05:25:08

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I think the motor is 1350 cc.

Ian S C

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