bazbro

Good to hear yours is actually road-ready, Japes. It gives me encouragement. And good luck with the Championship rounds. I've never restored a 'bike before - polished, yes, but restored,no! And I'm not a mechanic either. So my qualifications are... zero. But I make up for that with enthusiasm and a desire to do as good a job as is possible, as my Dad would have liked and in his memory. I know a lot of guys here are used to their 'bikes being knocked about and covered in filth because that's what they were built for - I understand that. They see no need to do any more to it than wipe it with an oily rag. They're also concerned that mine will become a "garage queen". Well, it'll be neither of those - not an oily-ragged mud-plugger nor the dreaded "garage queen"! It'll be a 'bike that will look as near identical as when it came out of the factory (it's all there) but... it will be used regularly as a runabout, to visit trials (not to compete), a regular ride to Torbay's "Paignton Bike Night"*** and to go on the back of my motorhome as I tour around. I'll have original wheels/tyres, tank and will happily submit it for the odd show. That's what I want. Watch this space to see if I achieve any of it! ***Paignton Bike Night is a regular Wednesday meet throughout the summer on Paignton's seafront - "BMAD - Bikers Make A Difference" - a great charity - GO THERE!

Time for a quick update, though not a lot has happened since my last update. I've made contact with a great guy who has offered magnificent and priceless support to me and for which I am extremely grateful - my knowledge and skills are very limited. So at least the 'bike will have a degree of professionalism in its restoration. Homelife is still problematic and I don't have my garage yet. A month or two yet, just in time to tuck myself away in it for the winter - thank goodness it's centrally heated! The frame is still up on the stand and as yet untouched. I have the two Rupert Ratio books that I keep reading and trying to inwardly digest. I've obtained a recon speedo (looks like new). I've a recon horn that also looks like new, although I'm convinced that no horn was ever originally fitted?? There is what looks like a factory-fitted blanking plate where the horn would have been. What "warning device" the factory used instead I have no idea. My Dad had fitted a horrid little Chinese thing, already removed and disposed of... My friend has the tank that I found on t'internet and is getting it rechromed and painted along with tanks of his - he has used these people before. I still have the original tank in original (scabby!) condition to satisfy the purists! The dents were removed by Andy at 'Specialist Dents' - a brilliant job and I highly recommend him.. I also have a brand new, uncracked 20" Dunlop Trialsmaster, albeit 2.75 instead of 3.0 section. I've extra front and rear hubs to lace into new rims in order to fit road-biased knobblies and 21" front. I can leave the original wheels with authentic 20" front wheel and tyre for displays. The engine is due back from Dave Hopwood any year now...! No rush though because I've so much else to do. Barry

What a nice, clean resto, japes. It just "looks good", doesn't it? And you've even trialled it too. I hope I can match your standards though. That'll be the big question, because I've only ever polished my bikes before! Even my beautiful little Sammy Miller Cub only needed lights and a gearing change (for road use) - nothing else. I am to mechanic-ing how Mike Tyson is to ballet... We'll see... Good luck with your fettling and ironing out the 'little things'. Have fun! Barry

I'm so sorry, Japes - I've only just spotted your post. Not collected engine from Dave Hopwood yet - It's nearly finished, he tells me. Personal circumstances at home (don't ask!) have precluded any work on the 'bike until I can have my garage back, free and uncluttered. I don't want to make a half-a***d start, only to then not be able to complete the C15T properly - a recipe for a 'basket case' methinks. However, I have been busy obtaining the odd, difficult to source bits that I will eventually need. I have a reconditioned speedo, original horn in excellent condition, front and rear hubs to build some road-going wheels/tyres (but also have the original trials wheels/tyres), tank, etc. I'm all ready to make a start when my home-life situation improves, maybe within the next month... I believe the correct blue is Sapphire Blue. Good luck with your resto. How goes it? Barry

I echo b40rt... Contact Boyer here... http://www.boyerbransden.com/contact.html They've always been really helpful to me.

Just a quick update... I've sent the engine to Dave Hopwood in E. London for a complete restoration and I'm just awaiting its return. The frame and parts are sitting, looking at me, daring me to "restore" them! I was extremely grateful for all of your good advice "Don't restore, just ride it". For a variety of reasons already stated I cannot ride it off-road, so it will only ever be my road transport. However I'd love to visit more local Trials on it and, if appropriate, let a good rider take it for a 'spin' just to see it used how it should be. To that end I've decided to curb my original restoration-plans. I cannot just wipe it with an oily rag (I loved that suggestion!) - it's looks too much like a pigsarse. It'd then just look like an oily pigsarse!! I absolutely abhor the latest fad for "rat bikes" and that's what it would look like. The frame is extremely rusted in parts, many fixings are corroded, the tank looks dreadful and so on. What I propose is to have the frame cleaned and resprayed (not powder-coated), the forks restored, dodgy fixings/cables/hoses replaced, electronic ignition, new wheel bearings/chain/brake shoes/tyres and an MoT. And then ride it. Hopefully that will satisfy the purists who like a truly original finish, satisfy me who is a bit 'obsessive/compulsive' about a clean, shiny machine, and satisfy my Dad who is 'up there' looking down with despair at me buggering about with his beloved baby. Thanks again, guys.

Thanks Davetom - Gottit!! Stored in the dark, the tyre looks in first class condition. Let's hope so, as it has sorted that particular problem for me.

Thanks for your comments, folks. There is a 20" tyre (here http://www.classictyres.com/item/692/300s20-ensign-road-tyre--universal ) but it's not a trials tyre so pretty useless to me. I'll keep the original front wheel (fitted with its crumbling trials tyre!) purely for posterity, hanging on the garage wall! And then I'll keep my eye open for a ceefer front hub/wheel to lace a new 21" rim to. Then everybody will be happy! I'll then just wait for the 'anorak' to come up to me and say "Of course, they weren't fitted with 21" wheels originally..." Well, they were, smarty-pants... apparently the factory competition ones did, according to Charlie Prescott (BSAOtter).

Thanks for that info - I guessed I might end up fitting a different wheel. "What's the problem with running a 21"..." I know I have a little gem of a 'bike here and I'm really trying not to destroy anything while I "restore" it. I currently have the original BSA wheel so to just discard it is a bigger step than you might think. If the 'bike had already been altered in any way, it would have made my decisions so much easier, but because it is 100% (really, 100%) totally original, exactly as it was purchased in 1960, I'm desperate not to destroy it with careless "modifications". "Garage Queen..." Very good! No, it won't be locked in a garage and swooned over, but I'm afraid a Trials Rider I ain't. It'll be used as regularly as I can get out and about on it, and I hope to visit some Trials with it and maybe 'have a go' at something really easy (my trials-riding Dad will turn in his grave!). And if I saw a Lampkin & Co, I'd be honoured for him to "take it for a spin"! Thanks again for your help. It looks as though it's Plan B then. Unless I can locate a 20" tyre...

I'm now up against a problem that you're probably familiar with(!) but I've only just come across - where can I get a 20" trials tyre from? Do Dunlop occasionally produce some for older 'bikes or are 20" trials tyres now made from "absolute unobtainium"? I can't seem to find one anywhere. I've even considered lacing another C15 hub onto a 19" or 21" (clearance problems with 21"), while keeping the original wheel (and old, cracked tyre) for posterity. But what a lot of unnecessary and expensive hassle, particularly when I want to keep the 'bike completely original. What can I do? All suggestions gratefully received. Thanks. Barry

Thanks for that, Sparks. I'm gradually getting my head round what I would like to achieve with this, and I've taken on board all your comments, folks. Clearly, the engine has got to run, run reliably, and start easily!!! So that's Number One task. Then brakes, suspension, cables and wiring - all working properly. New tyres, then MoT it and ride it. Yes? I can let the rust fester for a bit longer while I think about things, but I know the horrible appearance will eventually get to me! Then I'll just have to restore a few bits, the worst bits. Like the fork headlamp brackets...

Thank you all SO much for your responses - more interest than I hoped for and a lot for me to consider. I'm in a real quandary now... I'm approaching 70 and I've never ridden Trials (but an enthusiastic spectator!) so I really can't see me starting now. I've actually tried off-road and it ain't for me! I tested one of the Met Police ISDT 500 Triumphs ('Mini' Minskip's 'bike, for any that knew him) at Hungry Hill and I terrified myself, descending a steep sandy gully far too fast and unable to stop. Unable to do anything actually, apart from hang on for dear life and pray! Even Green Lane-ing on a DRZ400 was a miserable experience. So I don't think this C15T will ever go off-road in my incapable hands! It's rusting and the engine's not run for over 10 years, maybe even 15 (my Dad was 97 when he passed away). The photos belie the true poor state that it's in. But nevertheless, you've given me another angle to consider - someone else said "Just get it past an MoT and ride it" and you all seem to concur with that. Hmmm...

Hi, I've inherited my late Dad's '60 C15T and, despite not riding Trials (but a motorcyclist for over 50 years), I intend to restore it. I'm not clear yet quite how to go about it, what my priorities are or should be, and... I am NOT a mechanic! But I know my limitations and I don't intend to sod the 'bike up through ignorance. I'm going to convert it to 12v and fit Boyer Bransden electronic ignition (it was a bugger for my poor old Dad to start!) as I'm OK on electrics - I fitted a Boyer Bransden to a Sammy Miller Trials Cub I once owned. Then I need someone good to completely rebuild the engine (with the desirable mods) - someone good and not someone who just thinks they're good!! I've considered SRM (expensive) but not yet had a reply to the email I sent them. I'm unsure whether to then run it for a while in tatty condition with the good engine, or jump in with both feet, completely strip it down, powder-coat, polish, rechrome and repaint everything and then put it back again (a bit daunting for me, I confess). And none of this can start until September anyway when I have an empty garage to work in. So plenty of time to plan! I'm happy to take advice and recommendations from anywhere and anyone! This is all new for me - a classic Trials bike and a restoration too. Thanks and best wishes, Barry