Pre-65 Bikes

Just completed a bantam new build. Started with a 4 speed engine and heavyweight forks bought cheap off a lad at work. Frame kit from progressive classics, bantam hubs with new akront rims, everything else new or newly manufactured. Was it cheap ? Probably about £2500 without all of my dads labour or many "guvvys" from work but I think worth it and looks good. First try out tomorrow . Any opinions ? Cheers John

I see Cubs with both the usual longish front pipe and silencer between frame tube and shock, or a short pipe with the silencer more over the gearbox area finishing near the rear tyre. Has anyone tried both options does it make any performance difference which is used?

I am preparing a1955 James in trials trim for this years Beamish Trophy Trial. I want to improve the robustness of the ignition system by doing away with the villiers ignition coil and using an external coil. I have just ordered a FS1E 6 volt AC coil. I need to know in very simple easy steps how to modify the current villiers system sso that I can use the new coil. A wiring diagram would be a great help. I have read the page in the Villiers improvement handbook but it has confused me [not difficult as elctrics are not my strong point.] I really need some expert help but in very simple terms. Can anyone help. I will watch to see what help is given and I can also be contact…

Hi all, Just wondering what spark plug I should be using in my 500T. It's running a standard BTH TT magneto and the plug cap has no resistor in it. I do get a bit of sooting of the plug but I guess that's from running slow a lot. Thanks in advance.

Hello, Would anyone be able to help with a wiring diagram for a PVL system on my C15, I bought the bike with the system not fitted and no wiring diagram, Ive fitted it but really would like to double check before i attempt to fire her up in case i do any sort of damage. Many Thanks John.

For my sins, I have just bought a 1962 C15 (distributor model) which looks the part of a trials bike but has a standard road version engine. It has a 375 monobloc Amal carb. I am going to change the engine duplex sprocket for a 18T and the gearbox sprocket for a 13T with a 64T on the rear wheel. Once I have taken off the lights, got it to run smoothly at low revs and got used to Pirelli tyres I hope to trial it. Am I on the right track to have a usable machine or do I need to do anything else? I had heard that lengthening the inlet manifold helps with low revs and torque - does anyone know if this is true? I would like to find a kick start that clears the footpegs -…

Hi All, i am in the process of building myself a unit construction BSA either C15G or WD B40 for trials, my question is simply this. how essential is the Wide ratio box. I have a C15G, which has the standard road box in it, unfortunately the B40 GB motor i bought has had the Wide ratio gears robbed and a stub tooth B25, B44 road box in it, i was assured on buying the motor it was a standard B40GB with the wide ratio box, unfortunately the owner got his facts wrong, he has offered to have it back but for what I paid I would sooner keep it. unfortunately a Wide Ratio box is going to cost in the region of £300, which is alot of money to me. I am an average club level…

Gents is this a left or right handed thread, before I give it some welly tonight?

Hi all, recently I have been thinking about buying a pre 65 bike. I ride twinshock at the moment and would like a Tiger Cub bike to occasionally ride some easy routes on. I understand that some started life as a factory trials bike and some were converted from road bikes to trials. I think I’d rather get a factory trials machine. Is there any advantage to either? And is there a definitive way to identify exactly what model the bike is, can you tell from engine/frame numbers? Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Can someone please let me have Mick Dickingson's (I think that's his name) contact details? The chap that makes the Ariel short stroke barrels. Thanks

Has anyone had the same problem as me when it comes to fitting a 13T g/box sprocket and a 420 chain, The chain will not sit down on the sprocket as it contacts with the seal and bearing housing.The crankcases are twin roller bearing and the only difference I can see from the old ones that got damaged is that they have two seals on the g/box sprocket while the old ones had only one, This makes the sprocket too close to the bearing housing which would cause the chain to wear away the seal lip. Anyone have any thoughts ?

Can some kind soul give me the dimensions of the springs for a tiger cub clutch. IE overal length, inner and outer diameter. Cheers

Hi can anyone tell me where i could get my bike insured for fire and theft, its not road registered i have a bike already insured with carole nash but there is a upper value limit then theyre not interested many thanks

Hi all, can anyone give me some advice on the drawbacks of purchasing a Drayton Bantam? I've been given the opportunity to purchase one at a good price but heard that they aren't accepted at many of the pre65 British bike type trials? I'm thinking I may have a problem getting in at BMCA events and I guess the Scottish should I ever decide to have a go. Is this generally the case? Will I be limited? Do they hold their value as well as the purer versions as far as the investment goes? Many thanks, Stewart

Hi Ive covered rim size on a previous post, but thought I would ask the remaing (at the moment) questions in one go 1 - Sprocket size Its a 4 speed engine - unsure of any internal gearing changes. What the best combination of sprocket sizes ? Also- chain, 428 ? 2 - Wheel offet Im about to get new rims built onto bantam hubs Rear (using a widened swinging arm and engine offset 8mm) - I think needs no offset ? Front - I think 6mm offset to brake side ? 3 - Chain tensioner Any advice on best type ? may think of more ! cheers John

What size of sprockets are you fellow Triumph Tiger Cub riders running on the crank, gearbox and rear wheel also rear chain size. My bike is 199cc currently fitted with a 420 chain.

Does anyone know where I can get the front fuel tank retaining rubber strap, the type used on the Holtworks style tank that hold around the mushroom / bobbin type thing at the front. Thanks in advance

I am looking for some photos of an Elstar BSA, these were made in the mid 60's and were fitted with engines such as C15, Cub and Villiers. I am interested in the C15 version. Does anyone know of one in use?

Several years ago I bought this Cagiva but never could get it running right. The previous owner mentioned he wouldn't mind getting it back from me. So at the recent vintage bike show I see he has this AJS so I offer to swap the bikes. He gets the Cagiva and I end up with ANOTHER project. Fortunately for both of us he agrees. This last box is fully of freshly chromed parts. Unfortunately this includes the oil tank, which I think should be black. I haven't had a chance to fully inventory the parts. Then again I barely know what it should look like when it's complete! I went out today and looked at the parts more carefully, here are some more pics: I b…

Hi Guy's. I have had the story from Ally Clift about the Original BSA "Otters" built down in the west country by the late Harry Foster. The story is now on the BSA Otter web site if you care yo look. www.bsaotter.com Ok. After reading the stories, I now think I should try and find an Harry Foster BSA "Otter" frame in any condition, so that I can build one of these bikes up for the web site, and for my collection. Do any of you know where there is a frame? There were 36 built, so there still could be a discarded one in someones garage? Let me know on my web site, if you have or find one, thanks. Regards Charlie.