Pre-65 Bikes

before i order chain and sprockets, what combination do you guys use 13-64 ? it has the road going gearbox and 18-52 clutch.many thanks

Well, I asked how much they weigh before I collected it............put it on the bike rack and I swear it was lighter than my 340 Sherpa. Anyway, I said previously , learning but still a bit green where Pre 65s are concerned. It is said, I term it that way as the Gentleman I purchased it from,purchased it from the Estate of a deceased friend, he knows nothing about it apart from a letter that was concealed in amongst a raft of receipts for work done. The letter said it had an engine rebuild in the mid 90s, fitted with a Serco Trials gearbox, Boyer Branden ignition, frame modifications, hydraulic clutch, and a specialist oil tank ( some purists will wince at…

Long story short: I decided to paint my Armac Cub tank (Holtworks?). The colour was chosen to commemorate a friend of mine who passed away this year and had his Cub the same blue. I got a couple of quotes (at around 200 pounds) then decided to have a go myself! I got most of the materials from a local automotive paint supplier and the pinstripe and tank stickers from Ebay. I used rattle cans for an etch primer and also bought the rattle can equivalent of 2K colour and lacquer. (I don't know how you can get a 2 part paint into a rattle can either!) I have always liked the 'Gulf'' colours on Triumph Bonneville's so thought I'd do mine in a similar style. …

Hi guys, new to pre 65, taking the leap. Just agreed a purchase, but going to pick it up with a Dave Cooper bike rack that I take my Bultaco to events with. They say maximum weight for the rack is 120kilos. Anyone weighed a Cub recently. Thanks.

Hi Can anyone recommend someone to widen a rear bantam hub by 35mm? Really struggling to find someone who is comfortable doing it. I am in the south east but do travel north regularly thanks

When up at the Two Day pre 65 Trial I saw some Bantams which looked 3 speeders but were definitely not. Am I correct in thinking it is a simple (!) case of fitting a 3 speed crank in a 4 speed c/case to get the ignition on the ‘correct’ side and using 3 speed outed casings? Our son has a B175 based trials bike and we were thinking of converting a spare engine to a 3 speed look-a-like over the winter just for something to do. Any suggestions on what to replace the old Amal carb with – make (Mikuni ?), bore etc? He will never be competing in any restricted specification events so no worry on that issue. Jim

Sorry if this is a bit off topic... I'm in the middle of a build,not really even a trials bike,its an ex Army B40 frame with a B44 round barrel motor. I'm using four bolt forks and a 6" conical BSA/Triumph front hub.All shiny and smart, except brake shoes are rocking horse poo. Mark Cook of CCM Britain or PES apparently made some new billet ones which I'd like to buy.Been calling on the phone,leaving messages and have emailed as well.No response... Any suggestions, the parts are stacking up and it's close to me needing to nail it all together.The idea is a trail bike or long distance trials nail.

Hi all After riding my greeves a couple of pre65 events and not doing to bad iam considering options to improve the bike. The problem is the hubs they are the full width bhc 1s good looking but very heavy on the rear and the brakes dont work that well. After speaking to other people brand new 1s from gerry seem to be the way to go but didnt really want to go for new i would prefer the grimeca hubs that wiggy put in the dots he made but would it be scottish legal on a greeves. Any thoughs?

Hi Im building a 500 Bullet / Crusader trials bike. I would like some advice please on gearing for trials. engine sprocket? gearbox sprocket? rear sprocket? or Hitchcocks low ratio gearset? thanks in advance

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum but have read several posts here and it sounds like some of you might have the knowledge I'm after. I am working on restoring a 1939 Sunbeam B24/25T and have been searching high and low for information on likely ratios in the Burman box. I admit to knowing next to nothing about trials machinery but the bike is in my workshop and I've committed myself to it as the next project. The bike came to me (loosely put together) with both the 350 and the 500 engine, the latter in frame. The former has had a hard life but may yet be saved. The 500 came from Lithuania (apparently) but is in good order. I digress but the 350 or 500 engine is perha…

Evening folks, I'd be grateful of any advice for two problems, the first is in relation to a Triumph piston which I've bought from Burton Bike Bits as an upgrade for my 1960 C15 I've had the barrel rebored to 69mm but on fitting the recommended Triumph piston the gudgeon pin is too tight in the little end, it'll fit but far too tight. Do I need a different little end bush or is the con-rod just incompatible? The other problem concerns the clutch actuator arm, where the clutch pushrod seats into the barrel in the arm, the barrel has a pin through it but the pin carrier has sheared and no body has a replacement part, I could fabricate something solid but it looks like …

Hi guys Im going to get crausder frame from my friend wanted to put bullet engine to build trials it quite common practice in trials world Questions .. > Does it need lot of frame mod .. > How about swing arm does it need modification to fit 4.0 x 18 tyre ? Any mod please suggest and pics if possible Thanks

Hi all, so I have ended up with a C15 Road bike in my garage ready to convert into a trials bike. I realise that it will never be as good as an Otter or Drayton framed bike but it's all I've got to play with at present. So what I want to low is what hubs do I use to get laced to the 19 rear and 21 front rims, do I use the C15 hubs that I have or do I use something different? Do I use the C15 forks or enter the minefield of Fork / yoke /wheel options? Bearing in mind I would like to maybe upgrade to an Otter / Drayton frame one day. Im sure this has been asked to death so sorry for this but I need a shove in the right direction. The last bik…

I have just finished building my dream Armac Cub but am slightly frustrated at not being able to stop a minor oil leak from the gearbox side. I cured the clutch side by fitting a belt drive primary and diaphragm clutch I had a spare gearbox cover, a lathe and a mill so decided to try the Armac conversion and do away with the outer cover, however, I only have a photo to work from. I don't have access to ally welding equipment so am trying to avoid welding if possible. I have machined the flanges off the edges of the side cover, modified the case for a clutch lightener (I'll be using my original Armac clutch lightener on the bike), machined the selector ho…

Can anyone tell me what is the correct ignition timing setting for a 199 cc Tiger Cub which has PVL ignition.

Hi, can anyone tell me where I can find any info/pictures etc on Sprite Motorcycles? If anyone's got any literature, advertising stuff I could buy copies of or anything for sale I'd be interested. Cheers, Glenn.

Even though I don't have a trials specific C15 I thought I would try posting my question here as there seems to be loads of experience of people working on C15 engines. Hope that is ok? I have a collection of BSA C15 parts that I have been trying to build into vintage flat track style bike having been inspired by the picture attached. I have a complete engine and also another bottom end and head that I was thinking of trying to get a bit more HP out of with a few easy modifications. When I finally started looking at these parts last week I discovered I had been very lucky. The head is SS80 that has also been ported and a huge inlet valve fitted. The bottom end w…

Hi Im new to this site- I am building a Crusader trials bike with 500 Bullet engine. I would like some advice on forks, please. 1- 1 - Indian bullet forks with ali top yoke- will go straight on and i have a set 2- 2 - 35mm MZ forks- I have a set but no yokes 3- 3 - Crusader forks - any good? option 1 would be the easiest route but I don’t know what it would handle like. Im no expert but I do want it to steer properly. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. the forks dont need to be authentic as its an Indian Bullet engine. Ta

Hi All. Can anyone point me towards a good starting point for oil capacity and weight for 1960's REH forks? I'm thinking 200cc of 15W per leg. Thanks in advance David

Hello Just bough another C15 and the new side panel that covers the battery is missing. As far as we can tell from the reg the bike is pre 62 and the engine has the points on top not side, so this looks to be correct year wise. Are the side panels the same for all years?