Where are all the Brit bikes?
- Thread starter Greaser
- Start date
cafetbird
Bound for the Playground....
I didn't hear anyone accuse anyone of hating.
I think this is more of a generational thing here. Many folks gravitate towards the bikes they could identify with growing up. This board seems to appeal to a younger generation of rider than most I have seen - ones that really have little choice but to work on their own. I guess that pegs the two of us right off, Greaser! There are probably as many Brit bikes from the 60's and 70's out there as there are Jap machines from the 70's and 80's, but the purveyors are dying off, and there are fewer and fewer folks that know anything about them...
I agree though that Brit bikes are as cheap, readily available, and cheaper (and easier) to fix up than most of the desireable Japanese rust out there. You just need to know where to find them, and want to find them. The Midwest U.S. Is FULL of affordable early 70s OIF Triumphs, which use standard hardware (few new tools req'd), and for decent prices. Parts are in reproduction, so are easy to come by. Nice tip on ordering the parts, BTW.
Ducs and Guzzis, on the other hand, are a little tougher to come by. Beemers not so much.
I think this is more of a generational thing here. Many folks gravitate towards the bikes they could identify with growing up. This board seems to appeal to a younger generation of rider than most I have seen - ones that really have little choice but to work on their own. I guess that pegs the two of us right off, Greaser! There are probably as many Brit bikes from the 60's and 70's out there as there are Jap machines from the 70's and 80's, but the purveyors are dying off, and there are fewer and fewer folks that know anything about them...
I agree though that Brit bikes are as cheap, readily available, and cheaper (and easier) to fix up than most of the desireable Japanese rust out there. You just need to know where to find them, and want to find them. The Midwest U.S. Is FULL of affordable early 70s OIF Triumphs, which use standard hardware (few new tools req'd), and for decent prices. Parts are in reproduction, so are easy to come by. Nice tip on ordering the parts, BTW.
Ducs and Guzzis, on the other hand, are a little tougher to come by. Beemers not so much.
platkeyboy
Been Around the Block
Yeah, Ringo's sentence could have been written, "You will find no Brit bike hate here." As for me, choosing a Brit bike for the basis of a cafe racer, just because it's British, is a bit rote anymore. I would rather choose something that hasn't been done as much, but that's just me. HOWEVER, I DO appreciate Brit bikes for the things that made them popular in the first place--for example, the character and sound of the engines. You're not going to find a lot of hate in general on this site. In other words, "PSA: we don't hate BSA."
I avoid the most Brit boards. Too many "upper crust twits smoking their pipes and arguing over waxed cotton thread count telling me I know nothing because I am under 40 and don't have the proper accent."cafetbird said:Greaser has been hanging out on the Brit boards a long time... too many smart-arses over there.....
There are people saying that Brit bikes are too expensive but the odd thing is, I see the price of Japanese bikes climbing now due to the popularity of "café racers."
There are plenty of bikes around if you know where to look and HOW to look. Everything from Vincents, Indians to Norton, Triumph BSA Ducati Laverda and Moto Guzzi. Once you find one it seems they all come out of the wood work. I know of two basket case Moto Guzzi 850 T's, with at least one title and a freshly powder coated frame that the guy just wants out of his garage. I know of another basket case Indian Chief that can be had for a decent price. There was a running, complete and nice looking Trident T150 for sale near Vancouver for $3500. They are out there.
PS: I do hate BSA (not really just think their plain bushing on the bottom end is a little stupid 8) .)
cafetbird
Bound for the Playground....
Greaser said:
Finally wised to that, eh? I wearied of seeing the battles there also.
Right. There is only a margin of a few hundred dollars anymore, really. CBs and XS650 are really going up, due to the popularity. One pops up on Craigs, and it is gone in a flash. The irony is that they cost more to get up and going, so you end up out more dosh often in the end.
But that is still a bit steep, compared to the current range of Japanese models. And Tridents can be a bit tempermental - wouldn't recommend one for a begining Brit-biker of questionable paitentence, and a head full of bad oil jokes. On top of that, most folks would be better off with a good mentor. There is someone who knows how to work on Japanese in-line fours in just about any hick town. Brit bike builders, pasta, and schitzel experts are a bit more scarce these days in most of the U.S.. Once again, it is mostly about what you know. Even Indian guys are getting to be a bit of a rare breed. You have to get connected with the AMCA to find much of that know-how much any more.
But even that is simple enough to remedy. A competent machine shop can take care of a bearing pocket...
stik70
Coast to Coast
I love all kinds,have several japanese and english bikes. For me with the Honda's, i can find junk bikes for free or at least be able to get parts for a low price here locally (midwest). My british bikes, need to order everything, this is no big deal, but have shipping costs. Even with that, my last british project was as cheap to find engine parts, cables, seals, as any japanese bikes i've done and some parts cheaper. With the topic of "spreading the love", next project is finishing my victor, or an early Indian. We like ALL kinds of bikes here at DTT!
KeV
Oh, and Greaser, when the '69 Lightning gets finished, it IS getting a roller lower end.
KeV
Oh, and Greaser, when the '69 Lightning gets finished, it IS getting a roller lower end.
DrJ
Over 1,000 Posts
I bought a basketcase SL350 for $150 and someone gave me a CB350. No one is giving away Triumphs, Nortons or BSAs. I can go into a hardware shop and buy metric bolts. I can't buy Brit bike fasteners at a hardware store. I can go to a Honda dealer and order parts for a 40 year old bike and receive them 2 days later. I can't do that with a Brit bike. That's not to say I'll never build a Brit bike but I know it's not going to be anywhere as easy and economical as building an old Honda.
platkeyboy
Been Around the Block
VonYinzer said:
Hahaha. Maybe, but we'll let the author explain his motive. Maybe just honest curiosity? Want to hijack it and turn it into something more noble?
DrJ said:
I used SAE or metric fasteners where ever I could for convenience. In a few places I had to drill out and use thread inserts. I don't trust 40-50 year old bolts with rounded off heads and I won't use them to be "correct" for the snooty waxed cotton boys. I also ditched (well it is on the shelf) the original Lucas K2F as it is a truly stupid design that won't live in the 90+ degree summer heat I get. Sure the Hunt has no advance mechanism but I've had no issues with that. Always starts easy (as long as the plugs and points are clean and gapped right...) Same with the single Mikuni carb. No adjustment issues, just simple reliable performance. I have ridden twin carb Amals with single Mikuni carb bikes and I really don't see the point of Amals unless you are the kind who argues about the correct inner tubes and spoke diameter. Sure some people like them and swear by them, and they can. I had to replace the whole intake as my bike had none on it when I brought it home. The Sudco Mikuni kit was the obvious (and only ) choice.
I tried not to stray too far away from period items and the bike is pretty much all Norton from different periods. The only concession to modernity is the RGM belt drive. I used this as the Commando diaphragm clutch wouldnot fit under the stock Atlas primary cover AND I didn't want leaks. The Norton Oil Bath primary has one of the dumbest systems for sealing: a big rubber band held by a one central bolt and some sort of felt thingy to stop the oil at the drive sprocket behind the clutch. Belt drive is run dry, no oil and I was able to machine off the alternator and clutch bumps for cooling (and it looks cool to see that stuff spinning around.)
As a side note, I did one time see a guy bracket racing an old Yammy 920 V twin. It was a shabby red colour and nothing spectacular by the old cagey rider was as consistent as a Swiss watch. He made his own single carb set up for this bike. I wish I'd taken a picture. Hmm maybe he wouldn't let me...I forget.
cafetbird
Bound for the Playground....
DrJ said:
Project Triumph I am working on right now was given to me by a bloke going into a retirement home. A buddy nearby has a 650 Guzzi that was practically given to him by the son of a man who had passed away...
There are still barn-find gimmes going on in the Midwest on Brit bikes.
As I said before, by the mid 70's Triumphs had standard english fasteners, not Witworths, save for a couple in the head. These are available most everywhere, albiet many are fine thread.
Sure you can. Want me to give you a list of dealers that can provide them to you? Plu$, most of the Brit parts will be CHEAPER than the parts you buy from you Honda dealer, if your local can actually get them....
It is bone simple once you know how. These are the typical misconceptions out there regarding British Iron. It's fine by me though.... the more people out there that are scared off by Brit bikes makes it easier to find what I need.
VonYinzer said:
I imagine it was just honest curiousity. Most cafe boards you see have photos of Limey iron plastered all over them. This place is a nice change of pace, as it is a bit more honest to the roots of what cafe racers are about. Low budget, home built, and hand made honest bikes that people aren't afraid to ride! 8)
The most expensive part on my bike. Open up a K2F and you'll understand why I run one of these:
Another shot from the INOA in Lumby last summer. As the judge told me, "Not the nicest, but it is the rarest."I purposely keep it a little grimey for the rivet counters and waxed cotton boys to have chest pain over:
Another shot from the INOA in Lumby last summer. As the judge told me, "Not the nicest, but it is the rarest."I purposely keep it a little grimey for the rivet counters and waxed cotton boys to have chest pain over:
ProSimex
RUN SCREAMING!!!
Ok I'm sold. Im gonna stop by my buddies bike barn and demand a frame and engine. He has a ton of parts ( he used to own cycle salvage here in ottawa) its just painfull trying to get him to prt with aany of it, even for money. Strange that a guy who makes a living from selling bikes and bike parts never wants to prt with them. After he goes on and on about how hard it is to build them and find parts for them and yadda yadda yadda ill shove money at him till he shuts up and get the damn parts.
