9 replies to this topic

[scotty]

Hi Guys,

Im interested in a AJS trials bike on Ebay item number 200317965961 it states its an ex-Peter Pykett bikes is this correct? if so did MR Pykett leave the std fixed footrests and the cylindrical tool box holder and 19" rear wheel on the bikes? please cast your eyes over this and give me your honest opinions.

Thanks Scotty.

[Big John]

Peter Pykett worked for Rickman Brothers at New Milton. He specialised in AMC machinery and went into producing AJS & Matchless trials replicas using a variety of parts mainly sourced from road machines as many standard parts were used in the competition models. He tended to produce bikes that resembled the factory produced 'comp' models, but used fibreglass fuel tanks as the original alloy comp tank was highly sought after and in short supply.
I can't remember how many replicas he produced, but he did make a number of alloy competition type cylinder barrels, sadly some of these were substandard and leaked oil as they were reputedly porous. From memory originals were made by Wellworthy, but don't quote me on that! But they have a series of relief pattent numbers on the cylinder base which I don't think the Pykett ones had.
Be aware that Pykett machines are certainly not genuine factory 'comp' models as the engine usually was a modified road model set of crankcases and in this particular example the magneto is Lucas standard road, not the genuine 'wader' type competition or racing magneto with the waterproofed end cap.

The genuine comp model would be a 16MC not a 16MS (road machine) as shown on e-bay.

Big John

[TRICKYMICKY]

Pykett alloy barrels had one less fin than the genuine ones, resulting in the fins having larger than normal gaps between them. That looks to be the case with this one.

[scotty]

Thanks for the replys guy's, Is the bike really worth £3500? bearing in mind it woud still need extra money plus time to convert it further and is this bike a road bike frame/engine with trials bits added or is it a proper trials model?
why does it have the std mag and not the proper Wader fitted possibly belying its roadster origins maybe?

[charlie prescott]

Hi Guy's.
Hi Scotty.
I think you are right, it is not a bike that you would want to dismantle and rebuild with a load of trick bits, or even spend the other £350 on the bits the owner has collected to fit to the bike,( I would like the PAL mag though), To Be Honest, it is not a bike to ride in compititions, but to buy for a collection and ride at the local county show, or do the bike show rounds, My opinion anyway, £3500???? I don't know.

Regard's Charlie.

[Big John]

scotty, on Mar 12 2009, 09:28 PM, said:

Thanks for the replys guy's, Is the bike really worth £3500? bearing in mind it woud still need extra money plus time to convert it further and is this bike a road bike frame/engine with trials bits added or is it a proper trials model?
why does it have the std mag and not the proper Wader fitted possibly belying its roadster origins maybe?

Worth £3500? ... well probably as road bikes are not much (or if at all) cheaper than that nowadays.

To begin, I am not 'knocking' Pykett AMC bikes! Nor would I ever 'knock' Andy Bamford replica frames either, they have kept some old warhorses going longer than the factory could ever have imagined!

Firstly, Pykett frames were 'replica' trials frames based on the 1959 on factory produced trials frame. A road frame is easily identified as they have a sidecar mounting cast boss just under the steering head. They are also set lower than a trials frame.

The hubs used on the pukka late trials model were the WD type as shown on this example on e-bay. The rear frame loop is correct also, but Pykett replicated them too.
The use of a standard road Lucas Magneto is simple, 'wader' / 'competition' or even 'racing' Lucas mags are a darned sight more expensive and elusive!

Big John
(owner of some original AMC trials machinery)

Edited by Big John, 13 March 2009 - 01:01 PM.

[charlie prescott]

Hi Guy's

Well £2700, Was cheap, in the end, he must have lost his bottle,or had bills to pay, bloke who bought it must have a grin all the way to cheshire.

Regard's Charlie.

[Beamish Owners Club]

charlie prescott, on Mar 15 2009, 06:22 PM, said:

Hi Guy's

Well £2700, Was cheap, in the end, he must have lost his bottle,or had bills to pay, bloke who bought it must have a grin all the way to cheshire.

Regard's Charlie.

Something went wrong here as it's back on Ebay! It's making more money than before which is unusual..... Mind you, the description is only a lot shorter than before - do you think he had 2 last bikes in his collection?

[charlie prescott]

Hi Guy's,
Hi BOC,
This is a different bike and from another part of the country, Gloster, not Horncastle. I think this bike that is on eBay at the moment looks like a better bike than the other, (a bit tidier and newer) and probably worth the upgraded price. My prodiction is that it will make a fair bit more. I bet I am wrong now, I usaly put the Kibosh on everything.

Regard's Charlie.

[Beamish Owners Club]

charlie prescott, on Apr 1 2009, 11:32 PM, said:

Hi Guy's,
Hi BOC,
This is a different bike and from another part of the country, Gloster, not Horncastle. I think this bike that is on eBay at the moment looks like a better bike than the other, (a bit tidier and newer) and probably worth the upgraded price. My prodiction is that it will make a fair bit more. I bet I am wrong now, I usaly put the Kibosh on everything.

Regard's Charlie.

Ah, my mistake Charlie, I thought I'd seen this one before but obviously I hadn't. I think it was the Pykett reference that had me fooled!