Innehållsförteckning för February 2019 från Classic Bike Guide

Having purchased a Bluetooth compatible record deck has allowed this aging loon to drag out the vinyl collection from the loft and play some albums I’d genuinely not listened to for decades. Tucked away on Queen’s A Night at the Opera is an album track that also B-sided the tremendously successful Bohemian Rhapsody. I’m In Love With My Car was written by Roger Taylor and contains one of the best lines of any pop song: “Told my girl I’ll have to forget her, rather buy me a new carburettor”. And if any lyric sums up our strange infatuation with the infernal combustion engine, then this is probably it. Quite simply the vast majority of us are all too easily obsessed by that bike on the lift, the engine on the…

Speak to those in the know – clubs, owners, specialists. Is this the bike for you? Get some quotes – how much are parts, how easy is the bike to work on and how much will it cost to insure? See if you can have a go on one. This may be tricky, but if you have comprehensive insurance a kind owner or dealer may let you try one out. If you can’t do all the jobs yourself, will a local dealer be prepared to work on it? If you’re unsure of any of the above, email us at editor@classicbikeguide.com  and if we can’t help, we’ll try to find someone who can. Our aim is to bring you as much detail as we can on a specific model…

OWNING A CARBURETTOR-EQUIPPED Indian Bullet is not for the mechanically faint-hearted, but if you do have basic garage skills then Bullet ownership is likely to improve them. It does suit those who like to fettle, to fiddle and to improve their motorcycle. The Bullet isn’t the kind of machine you can just ride and then cover it in Muc-Off and hose down until next time. Maintenance is a regular occurrence and checking nuts and bolts are tight, that your tappets are properly adjusted, that your oil levels are good, and all your bulbs still have intact filaments is part and parcel of Bullet ownership. If you are the kind of owner who likes to do their own maintenance and only have experience of Japanese, American or European bikes rather than…

ON THE ROAD a Bullet is solid and surprisingly compact, thanks partly to the frame design which allows a low seat height. Kick-starting a Bullet is a knack, though it is easy to get the hang of it, especially if the carb and ignition are properly set up. The handling is safe and predictable and while they have a reputation for being a sturdy plodder, a well sorted Bullet with some weight reduction carried out can be surprisingly sprightly. There’s not a lot to a Bullet and with firm suspension and good ground clearance the Bullet can be an agile mount and there are plenty of tuning parts around. Trials conversions are a fun ride with plenty of low-down grunt to get you out of the mud, and while road…

Irwin Bolt Grip Sockets THERE’S THAT DREADFUL moment when working on your motorcycle, especially a Japanese one from the 1970s, when you realise that 10-minute job is going to take days to sort out. You’re undoing a stubborn bolt, or a drain or filter plug and your heart sinks as there’s the faintest of clicks and you feel the spanner go loose. Yes, you’ve rounded off another bolt head, usually one made from that curious mixture of cheese spread and aluminium that was used in the factory. Getting it out now is going to be a challenge. Vice grips will be considered, as will punches, hammering an undersized socket on, or trying to cut a slot for a screwdriver. Few of these will succeed, and as the bolt is almost…

COUNT Agusta’s desk sits on a platform 18 inches high. His desk seat, throne-like and domineering, is just about high enough for him to peer down at those lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to be invited into his office. This is a story about power; power on every level, powerful machines and powerful personalities. And the hotbed of this power – both in its human and mechanical form – was the sprawling Meccanica Verghera factory in Northern Italy, which was owned by Count Domenico Agusta. And it was here where a young Mike Hailwood would have endless meetings and clashes with the formidable Count Agusta. Mike joined the MV elite in 1961. It was the ultimate coup in motorcycle racing: MV machines – especially the four-cylinder 500cc motorcycles – were…

There were several different types with different internals and different lengths. A quick peak through the parts suppliers will reveal lots of parts and information on the Commando forks that had much better rebound and compression control, but little on the basic damper rod design used here. ES2 models have just one hole in the damper rod controlling the flow of oil that could be drilled out for more flow or welded up and drilled to make smaller for slower flow. As our bike is to be standard, this was left alone and 20W fork oil used – if that feels too slow at harnessing the spring to you then changing to a lighter oil is a much easier solution. For reference, these are classed by many as ‘long’ Roadholders,…

A NEW IMPORTER has been appointed for the retro brand Mash with Dorset-based 3X Motorcycles becoming the official importer and distributor in the UK. The French brand, based in Burgundy, started designing motorcycles at the end of 2011, becoming a leader in the French market in the 125cc segment. Since then the range has been evolving and expanding to multiple models and capacities from 50cc to 400cc. A new 650cc Mash is due to appear later this spring. Mash motorcycles first arrived in the UK in 2015 and have built a dedicated following among buyers who want a classic-style motorcycle with modern refinements like electric starts and ABS brakes. HQB, who were the UK importers, ceased trading in November leaving owners in the dark over spares supply and warranty claims.…

I am a fan of old bikes, though I don’t have anything older than the 1960s. Most of my ownership has been Japanese street bikes, but I have owned Enduros too. I’ve owned an OSSA and currently have three Yamaha 250/360 two-stroke off-road bikes, including a 360 I’ve owned since 1972 and used as a commuter, an enduro racer, a hare-scrambles bike and an off-road playbike. One of my friends, whose parents owned British dealerships going back to the 1950s, and who raced successfully, as did his four brothers, has a history with BSA. I’m including an ad which ran in USA motorcycle magazines showing two of the brothers, surrounded by their trophies, and featuring two race bikes. The racers are Tom and Norm Robinson of Spencerport NY, USA. Norm…

I am resolved. It happens every year, try not to be alarmed. While its true that I don’t really have an ‘off’ season and I ride pretty much all year round, I’m typing this on New Year’s Day, a time for looking forward coupled with a desire not to repeat the mistakes of the previous 12 months. From a motorcycling perspective that means checking tyre pressures before setting out, ensuring you have enough petrol to get home again and remembering that British bikes require different spanners, cables and spares to the Japanese and European stuff. So, in 2019 I am resolved not to be caught out yet again sitting at the roadside trying to remove a punctured wheel on a Yamaha using Whitworth spanners, or desperately trying to persuade an…

ENGINE: Four-stroke, air-cooled OHV single, 2 valves per cylinder LUBRICATION: Dry sump, integral 2.5 pt oil tank CAPACITY: 248cc BORE x STROKE: 70 x 65mm. COMPRESSION RATIO: 9.5:1. CARB: Amal 1.5ins Monobloc IGNITION: Points, coil TRANSMISSION: Chain primary drive, wet multiplate clutch, four-speed gearbox FRONT WHEEL: 3.25 x 17 REAR WHEEL: 3.25 x 17 FORKS: AMC Teledraulic REAR SUSPENSION: Girling shocks, 3-way spring preload FRONT BRAKES: Single 6in (152mm) drum, front and rear SEAT HEIGHT: 760mm (30in) WHEELBASE: 1345mm (53in) WEIGHT (wet): 150kg (330lb) FUEL TANK: 16 litres (3.5 gallons) TOP SPEED: 83mph…

THE CARB-EQUIPPED BULLET is made for the home mechanic, with the engine basic and simple to work on, and servicing limited to checking things over and changing oil, plugs and setting points and tappet clearances. Other jobs, like wheel and steering bearing replacement are not for the fainthearted however, while replacing a failed starter clutch on the ES and Electra-X is a tricky job. A fine mist of oil comes from the engine of the cast-iron barrelled Bullets and keeping the chaincase oil-tight is tricky, though not impossible. Depending on your outlook this is either a messy and unsightly or an example of period charm. As long as levels are regularly topped up this isn’t a major problem unless you are obsessed with oil tightness and if you are it…

ONE MAJOR ADVANTAGE of opting for an Indian Bullet is that spare parts availability is good, and parts are, if not cheap, certainly more affordable than most. Hitchcocks website lists thousands of parts including complete engines from £1600, toolkits for less than £20, and cables starting at £6. It’s easy to turn your Bullet into something personal and special on a budget. Hitchcock’s Bullet catalogue is nearly 300 pages long and is a must for all Bullet owners, while devotees of other marques can only stare and wonder at the riches within. The bikes use old fashioned rubber for the foot pegs, kick-start and gearshift. This is quite soft and will wear out quickly, but replacements are cheap and easy to fit. Hitchcocks supply kits to build authentic 1950s throwbacks,…

Make and model: Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and XE (in brackets) Price: £11,500 (£12,300) on the road, 24 month warranty, 12 months Triumph Assist Engine: 1200cc inline twin, 8v, liquid-cooled Power: 89bhp @ 7400rpm Torque: 81lb-ft @ 3950rpm Frame: Steel tubular Brakes: Twin Brembo calipers, 320mm discs, rear single two-piston caliper, 255m disc Transmission: six-speed, chain drive Suspension: Showa upside down forks, Ohlins twin rear shocks, both fully adjustable Wheels/tyres: 21in front, 17in rear, 90/90 x 21 front, 150/ 70 x 17 Metzeler Tourance Seat height: 840mm (870mm) Fuel capacity: 16 litres MPG: 56mpg claimed Weight: 205kg (207kg) Wet not given Contact: triumphmotorcycles.co.uk…

This rather handsome Royal Enfield scrambler has been given a new lease of life by its enthusiastic owner, Louis Paterson. I doubt admirers would ever have guessed that this beautiful motorcycle has been created and assembled from a collection of disassociated parts. With this revelation in mind, some might write it off as a ‘Bitsa’ – whereas others might pause for a moment to admire its timeless and classical lines. But whatever the onlooker’s first impressions are the yellow number plate will immediately identify this machine as a modern Indian Enfield Bullet. Nevertheless, CBG readers should judge this book by its cover - for this functional off-roader has been carefully planned and skilfully executed by its proud owner. THE AUCHTERMUCHTY INDIAN(S) Louis is a devotee of hassle-free modern machinery, but…

Everyone needs a magical tin of ‘bits’ When I wore my 'stupid' hat this month and lost some vital and odd bolts, I scoured my bits tray. But, being mainly a metric man, it was to no avail. The narrow-headed, cycle thread bolt to keep the damper rod in place in the ES2 forks (see page 99) would also not be in my friends Stu and Dodge’s bits coffee jars; so I shot to see Hutch, to see what his bits pot contained. Alas, not only did the fine man have a couple, but he even had a cycle thread die with which to clean and re-profile said old-school thread. It all goes to show that friends are an essential part of keeping old bikes alive and that you need…

A lifelong and largely inexplicable passion for elderly motorcycles has resulted in my having a large shed loaded with an alarming amount of stuff. To the initiated this looks largely like jumble … to the uninitiated it looks entirely like junk. You can choose sides should you so wish. When I acquired most of it I regarded it as simply stuff, simple soul that I am. Other opinions are available, and previously I would have also remarked that they’re irrelevant. Except… As well as a large shed containing a lot of old bike stuff, I inhabit a house which also contains a large amount of stuff. Less of that stuff is metallic, and less still is actually seriously oily, rusty and filthy, but there’s still a vast pile of stuff…

IF YOU WORRY about bike security, a new ‘smart’ motorcycle remote alarm system called The Limpet is coming. The Limpet comes from Geotekk, a British-based startup focused on combating bike theft. If a motorcycle with the Limpet fitted is moved outside of a certain preset perimeter, an alarm will sound and a strobe light will flash, while the owner will be notified that their bike has been moved via a text message. The Limpet is designed to be attached to a bespoke throttle lock on motorbikes and secured by an electronic solenoid operated by a mobile phone app. The Limpet is fitted with GSM and Bluetooth connectivity and an encrypted app allows you to access the system remotely. Geotekk founders James Sheppard and Matthew Leach were inspired to develop the…

When we ride, our shadow chases us, its darkness our two-dimensional projection, distorted and flat. So it is with the myths surrounding motorcyclists in the western world, where the shadow of the Dark Rider has embedded in the public’s psyche for generations. Riders are often portrayed as Satan’s mechanical henchmen, obnoxious yobs, or, at best, inclined to suicide by a cocktail of asphalt and hurtling steel. This wasn’t the case before the Second World War: motorcycles only acquired a touch of evil via the subtle sensitivities of artists at first, then through the far less subtle machinations of the press, who sold a lot of ink portraying bikers as trouble. In 1909 the futurists first clocked the psychological impact of a rider on a noisy machine, grasping thrills for both…

FOR AN EARLY 1960s British 250, the CSR is a substantial beast that you sit on, rather than relax into. The handlebars are almost flat and turned down at the ends, and with the speedometer in the headlamp nacelle you are left with the impression of being perched on the seat with little in front of you, despite the bulbous tank. The riding position sees you pushed slightly forwards in a mild sporting crouch, though not uncomfortably so. The handlebar grips on the CSR when it came out of the factory would have been smooth, which came in for some criticism as they slipped when wet, though this example has had good quality ribbed replacements fitted, while the original fitment control levers have an air of bargain basement about them.…

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM until 1998 was old-fashioned and used bullet connectors rather than blocks. This makes for a complex, unreliable and unwieldy collection of coloured wires and can cause problems. Later models were fitted with block connectors to make things more reliable. The first 350s on sale in the UK had 6v electrics until 1986, long after most manufacturers had gone to 12v. It is relatively simple job to change a pre-86 Bullet to 12v, and most bikes from the period still on the road will have had this done. In 1999, Enfield changed the electrical system from the old 12v AC/DC system to a 12v DC system. Electronic ignition arrived in 2004 as a standard fitment and alternative aftermarket set ups like the Boyer Bransden ignition can be retro-fitted…

MANUFACTURED: 1990-2007 ENGINE: Air-cooled ohv single BORE / STROKE: 84mm x 90mm CAPACITY: 499cc COMPRESSION: 8.5:1 POWER: 22bhp @ 5500rpm LUBRICATION: Dry sump IGNITION: 12v Battery and coil CARBURETTOR: Micarb VM28 TRANSMISSION: Chain GEARBOX: Four-speed foot change FRAME: single downtube cradle FRONT SUSPENSION: Telescopic forks REAR SUSPENSION: Swinging arm, twin shocks FRONT BRAKE: 7in 2ls drum REAR BRAKE: 6in sls drum TYRES: 3.25 x 19 front 3.50 x 19 rear WHEELBASE: 54in/1372mm SEAT HEIGHT: 30 ins/760mm DRY WEIGHT: 361lb/165kg…