Pre-65 Bikes

Hi all, Does anyone have any information on the Cotswold BSA frames and the history around them. I also hear a lot about John Husband, did he build he a lot of bikes?

Anyone have a link to a supplier of a decent 18 inch rear rim for a Bantam to be used with a widened hub . Also if you have built the wheels what spokes do you recommend ?? Thanks

Hi all , who sells rear number plates for trials bike ???? , oval mudguard type .....Cheers Chaps

Hi, I'm building a bantam. I have knackered old C15 forks, and thinking of swopping for some off an early Jap trail bike, MZ, or TY175. But how do people switch over to a knock-through spindle. I don't have access to a lathe, or friend with a lathe. In addition to the above, are there any forks that are an easy fit (I'm also keen to avoid too much re-work in terms of the length of the steering head which seems quite short on a Bantam). TonyP.

Is anyone here using a Wes exhaust on a Bantam, have you a picture of it? Does the silencer sit at an angle sloping downwards ??

Hi Guys , just trying to get my James Captain trials registered (road altered bike), frame letters very hard to make out , i can just about make the numbers out , but what do the frame numbers - letters start with , i'm filling in the Vintage Motor cycle form in .....Cheers

Dear all, Do need some advice here, where to search for proper black full lenght, ~180dg, polymer compound 5" mudguards similar to all OEM, Acerbis, UFO... mesaurements and shapes identical to 5" alloys = accurate diameter for 18 x 4.00 for "periodic 50´ rigid look:-) Were naive enough assumed no one offering rear 5" full lenght with smaller radius than required for 18 x 4.00.... should match what?? 17 x 3.75 is it even possible to find for OEM Cota 125?? And China compound not at all corresponding to all trials / motocross panels, tanks, mudguards..Ive ever seen from -75 up to date. M G.. Cheers,

Can anyone help please, I have an Amal concentric carb, looks like a Mk 1.5 concentric with the choke lever, the body has a cast number 625 with L1 stamped to the left of it and number 1 below the 6. Can't work out from the Amal website exactly which type it is 1600 or 1900 to order spares. Any advice gratefully received

My 199 Cub is fitted with the R cam, it always has had this cam so I have no comparison but at a trial today I rode a 199cc Cub with similar engine set up to my bike but with the std Cub camshaft. Now I realise that bike set up is subjective and it could have been the 'new broom' thing but the std cam seemed to provide as much power at the bottom end but possibly a more controllable and steadier pick up. The R cam really makes the motor go once off tick over but having ridden the alternative set up I now am thinking might this be the way to go? In most trials you simply do not require loads of power, a smooth engine seems better so what cam is most widely used in the li…

Hi peeps, I'm optimistic that the pre 65, pre-unit AMC chaps on this site, can offer me the benefit of their experience? I want to renew the oil seals in the "teledraulic" front forks on my 350 AJS trials bike. I've owned the bike for twenty years and never had to strip the forks. I've withdrawn the legs and removed the setscrew from the base, which I believe secures the inner damper tube. There isn't a circlip above or retaining the oil seal, as with Honda and Yamaha. How do I withdraw the stanchion from the lower leg? I'm not inclined to apply any force at this stage. It may be possible to remove the seals by drilling into them and using two self tapping screws to gain…

My wife has been left this after her Grandfather passed away. All I know is that I believe he built it from parts he found/bought. Any help in identifying it would be much appreciated. It does run and seems to be in fairly good order, there are a few parts missing and I will be replacing them soon and hopefully riding it. Carl

Hello, just in the process of gathering parts to build another Bantam trials. I have found a set of BSA C15 forks and was wondering if these are any good for tricking up with internals from say a jap bike ? if so, any suggestions for what to look out for, advice or info much appreciated. Many thanks, NB.

Trying to re-furbish a set of Ceriani type forks, probably from a Greeves Griffon.Does anyone know the correct spring length and width? Can new ones be bought anywhere? What weight and quantity of fork oil should be used? Any help would be appreciated Thanks Geoff

Well because I'm sat here bored out of my skull slowly recovering from bronchitis,I thought I'd report on my recent engine rebuild job on my rigid 350 Ajay. I've only done one trial on it since the rebuild,the Golden Valley March Hare,but a good amount of practicing and gentle running in around the lanes. I'm pleased to report that it was worth the effort,the engine starts and runs a treat,pulls like a freight train on a whiff of throttle and idles like a Burrell steam engine.... Another nice bonus is the vastly reduced vibration through the footpegs and bars when at cruise speed on the road - its much smoother.So the dynamic rebalancing of the crank has certainly worke…

Just finished rebuild of Bantam D7, with a couple of running issues. Takes a good while to start - seems when you put some petrol down the port and heat the plug it will start, then run ok - changed plug cap and new plug. It will then tick over and rev out, but when you ride under load it bogs after about quarter throttle - sounds like it is pulling a load of air in. Any thoughts ? (crank seals ??) cheers guys John

Hello, I have a Wasp RT3 with a unit 500 Triumph engine in and would like to put a day light MOT on it. Has anyone used the mountain bike type speedo and horn with any success, if yes, what make are they. I have looked at a few on line but they seem to cheap to be any good !! but I would prefer a wire less one . I will have to fit a small battery for the stop light, so plan to used a led bulb to cut down on power drain (the electronic ignition has no charging provision), I could also connect the horn to it, so it only leaves the speedo to sort out. Regards, NB

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone knows what length the forks should be from the top of the top yoke to the centre of the wheel spindle, on my dads Drayton bantam.

thinking of putting tubeless rims on a new bantam build and would be pleased to hear any comments or suggestions good or bad thanks.

Morning all. Physically fitted but no spark, could anyone please confirm for me stator connections to ignition unit (spade connectors) for blue and black leads. Also I have timed it at 5 degrees BTDC using the mark on the rotor with the closest mark on the stator. Apologies for really simple questions but didn't get any instructions with the system. Thanks.

Anyone know were I can get a alloy sump guard for a bantam?