While reading through another recent thread [ before it became too chidish for words :] I came accross the following sentiment -
"As for the NAME of this forum, I'm wondering how much of the aforementioned stuff can ACTUALLY DO THE TON?
I have made it a point NOT to post anything that I have the slightest reservation about being able to do that."
Now then - for the avoidance of future doubt, this is NOT a dig at the author, but brings up a relevant point as to the relevance of Doing the Ton.
OK - the site name is DTT, however the logo and patches / decals have the strap line "Cafe Racers" [ encompassing all "Specials"].
Back in the day [ 50's / 60's ], "Doing the Ton" was an aspiration - not a foregone conclusion or an entry pass to some elite club. IF doing the ton were the main criteria here, we'd have a whole load of Rice Rockets claiming that - in second gear and bog standard.
Most of us - then as now - start [ ed ] out with a small capacity machine to cut our teeth on. A lot of modern 250 [ and probably 125 ] machines will achieve the Ton off the showroom floor with no input required from the owner. Stick a set of low bars / clip - ons and some chequer tape on one of them and you have a Do the Ton machine? Or maybe not.
There's a whole World of difference between taking an unsporty 500cc or 650cc 50's / 60's machine and turning it into something that WOULD achieve the "Magic" Ton - and doing that at will with an off the showroom floor modern bike.
Of more relevance would be to make a modern bike do the Double Ton ?
However, that is NOT the point - nor was it ever such - the Cafe Racer of the day was as much a way of life, mostly built is sheds and garages up and down the country with no instant "buy it on E-Bay" goodies available.
How many contemporary "Cafe Racers" back in the Sixties would Do the Ton ??? Maybe 20% of those built, but those of us who did, actively encouraged the rest to keep at it. By the time the '70's rolled around the Japanese invasion had arrived and DTT was no longer a goal that had to be worked at [ just the handling ! ] Nowadays 100mph is just a figure on a speedo.
I can appreciate the workmanship that goes into building a 125 / 250 Japanese "Classic" just as well as a beautifully crafted Triton or Tribsa [ whatever ] - however not so of a "factory" Cafe Racer that aped the real thing.
Someone else put it very succinctly .......................................... "Tolerance" 8)
- or maybe just acceptance of those that don't want to join the "Let's all be different together" club.
"As for the NAME of this forum, I'm wondering how much of the aforementioned stuff can ACTUALLY DO THE TON?
I have made it a point NOT to post anything that I have the slightest reservation about being able to do that."
Now then - for the avoidance of future doubt, this is NOT a dig at the author, but brings up a relevant point as to the relevance of Doing the Ton.
OK - the site name is DTT, however the logo and patches / decals have the strap line "Cafe Racers" [ encompassing all "Specials"].
Back in the day [ 50's / 60's ], "Doing the Ton" was an aspiration - not a foregone conclusion or an entry pass to some elite club. IF doing the ton were the main criteria here, we'd have a whole load of Rice Rockets claiming that - in second gear and bog standard.
Most of us - then as now - start [ ed ] out with a small capacity machine to cut our teeth on. A lot of modern 250 [ and probably 125 ] machines will achieve the Ton off the showroom floor with no input required from the owner. Stick a set of low bars / clip - ons and some chequer tape on one of them and you have a Do the Ton machine? Or maybe not.
There's a whole World of difference between taking an unsporty 500cc or 650cc 50's / 60's machine and turning it into something that WOULD achieve the "Magic" Ton - and doing that at will with an off the showroom floor modern bike.
Of more relevance would be to make a modern bike do the Double Ton ?
However, that is NOT the point - nor was it ever such - the Cafe Racer of the day was as much a way of life, mostly built is sheds and garages up and down the country with no instant "buy it on E-Bay" goodies available.
How many contemporary "Cafe Racers" back in the Sixties would Do the Ton ??? Maybe 20% of those built, but those of us who did, actively encouraged the rest to keep at it. By the time the '70's rolled around the Japanese invasion had arrived and DTT was no longer a goal that had to be worked at [ just the handling ! ] Nowadays 100mph is just a figure on a speedo.
I can appreciate the workmanship that goes into building a 125 / 250 Japanese "Classic" just as well as a beautifully crafted Triton or Tribsa [ whatever ] - however not so of a "factory" Cafe Racer that aped the real thing.
Someone else put it very succinctly .......................................... "Tolerance" 8)
- or maybe just acceptance of those that don't want to join the "Let's all be different together" club.