Fortunately I found one a few months ago, probably not in as good condition, but was very affordable (but let's just say its a project)
With lots of interest in the 'right bits' on Ebay and at the Jumbles, it looks like there's going to be a new wave of beautiful bikes out there very soon!!
Yes pretty cool - Rode the Pete Michell Trial in the afternoon not mentioning it - then a few hours later we see him on the box, live. : giving a speech after receiving his Bafta.
:thumbup
Any idea what category he won?
Was trying to find it on the BAFTA site but can't find him.
That apprenticeship in the Windsor Comp shop obviously stood him well!
Silhouette formula is the way forward, the bikes are upwards of 43 years old. Expecting them to be original is a joke.
Being more open over allowing modifications means that less money needs to be spent hiding them. A more open approach would mean that you wouldn't have to hide fork internals with expensive maching etc.
At the end of the day its the nut holding the handlebars that makes the difference.
You'd probably want to start with an alloy barrel as it will run cooler, then I think it you can out to 220/230 leaving the crank alone - think it might be a Kawasaki piston. Crank mouths have to be opened out to fit the bigger dia. liner. So its a full strip down etc.
I costed it out many months ago and it didn't work in for me, so have stuck with a 199.
I think DaveD444 sold a complete engine a while back on ebay, he might be able to help out on the spec.
Technosel is a good start. Make some templates in card first of the areas that you want to protect, then cut up you sheet and replace as you need. Airbox side is important to do.
If that's not enough for you try lewisportusa.com. Adrian used to do some poly engine covers that were a bit more substantial.
I owned 5 315s and just did the Technosel thing and it kept them looking neat and tidy. The frames take a hammering and still come up looking good when freshend up with a Johnson Baby Wipe!
Forget all what you heard above - lots of people have dealt with BVM with no problems at all (including me - I have bought bikes and parts there and the service has always been excellent) , the post has been ****e down here over the Xmas period and there's this nice looking '04 on their website
I quite like the fat lass in her new outfit. Looks a bit like she's tarted herself up for the Xmas party. Trouble is I don't think she'll look that great the next morning
Can't help thinking how ****e the frame and swinging arm will look after a year or so. So would not want to own one.
The anodising wears on the silver frames, around the boot area but doesn't notice, and on my bikes I like to scrape the swinging arm along rocks etc (habit I can't break, I'm a crap rider) - so its not going to look to hot when the black wears through to silver, not such a problem when the silver wears through to silver.
The 4RT frame guard market is bound to take off as a result.
Having stripped a GG down to the frame, its surprisingly heavy. But remember its built for the masses.
No reason why a lot of weight couldn't be saved from the frame using better materials, butted tubing etc. I would guess that the frame spars are about half the size on the prototype.
If cycle frames are anything to go by there's no reason why you wouldn't lose strength. It would just cost a lot more!
As this is heading down the general noisy 4 stroke route, I'd thought I would chip in.
I own a Pre-65 'pile of scrap', I previously owned a 4RT and GG Pro.
My Pre-65 is noisy, even the MOT tester commented on it but still ticked the box, (noise is only observed in the MOT not tested). The GG was noisy when it popped at tick over, then less so on the throttle (that's what my elderly neighbours think) and the 4RT while quiet at tickover then barks at mid to full throttle (my opinion). All ran a manufactured exhaust / silncer that hadn't been modified by me.
No problem with any of the bikes unless anyone is around to complain. However all three bikes could do with being a lot quieter when you consider the sensitive nature of most of our venues. There'd be a lot less pressure if there was no noise that accompanied our sport, however that isn't practical until the OSET grows up.
So in the meantime we all have a noise problem, Josephine Rambler (read Janet Street-Porter) doesn't care whether its a 4RT, Pro or Pre-65. She just hears one noise and that's the nail in our coffin going in blow by blow. Most of the time in open country you hear a bike but rarely see it.
We ALL need quieter bikes, not just within ACU limits on a noise meter, but standard road bike quiet.
I believe that both the 230 or 250 routes need a new alloy barrel. Then the crankcase mouth needs machining to accomodate the larger liner. I'm not sure if the new 250 crank needs roller bearings - 230 uses your existing crank.
I have the same set up as TRF and agree that it seems to work reasonably well. If you do the conversion you'll want a PVL fitting, and so maybe it would be best to start with some later cases.
Dot Villiers Square Barrel Question
in Pre-65 Bikes
Posted
Think this little fella is going to go for really silly money !
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=013
Fortunately I found one a few months ago, probably not in as good condition, but was very affordable (but let's just say its a project)
With lots of interest in the 'right bits' on Ebay and at the Jumbles, it looks like there's going to be a new wave of beautiful bikes out there very soon!!