1911
BSA
It
is that time of year again and MOT time for my Velocette LE. I have
used Jack Lilys since 1993 when they were first in the High Street in
Shepperton and then when they moved to Ashford. The MOT was last
Friday and I always feel a little uneasy when I have to be at a
destination at a specific time on a 50 year old bike. Needless to say
it performed as it should and got me there and home again with no
problems. I usually ride a much bigger bike so only having 200cc
available you have a different approach to how you ride. Starting
with some trepidation with the A312 which is a speedy dual carriage
way I expect to be be run over or carved up at any moment but after
that it is a much more slow speed journey but still with the same risks.
I got to Jack Lilys in plenty of time, got an MOT and made my way
home again. Leaving more fliers behind. Pete had been there too as there
were still a few left and I also left application forms for the BMCT.
On the way home, this time of day, in much heavier traffic I now
had the upper hand! I could filter and maintain my progress. All
those motorists that whizzed by me only got to the traffic jam
sooner, I passed with ease and left most behind. I was well pleased
with my trip home and with the traffic, as opposed to the norm of
being harassed by impatient drivers.
On
Saturday I zipped out to Tescos on it a well and Sunday, after a trip
out on the Buell to the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Observed
Sundays handing out more flyers for the Museum and the BMCT I was out
on the LE again to drop in to the Museum to see what was going on.
The Thames Valley Velocette Owners Club had paid a visit the other
Sunday Pictures of the bikes is on the Museum Facebook page. Sorry I
missed you. I was hanging around to hear Rowley get the Venom Clubman
fired up for the first time after rebuilding it. I left before it was
started up.
It
was a nice sunny afternoon and he was hot and bothered by all the
kicking. While waiting I had a close look at our new acquisition the
1911 3 1/2 HP BSA. If you compare it to other machines of that era it
was bristling with innovation. BSA had been producing motorcycles
since 1906 so had some idea about what they were doing.
On
early BSA models the tank badge actually has Birmingham Small Arms in
the logo. Later models did not have this. From the outside it had
something on the right side that looks like a cloth cap box.
I'm
not sure what that was for but the mechanical ideas are very
interesting. Heal and toe gear change that operated a Sturmey Archer
style hub gear. Unlike the bicycle that you pull the gear into
position BSA had used a rod on a screw thread that pushed or pulled
it into the right gear. Even the gearbox was connected to the pedal
and chain drive.
It
must had been a bit heavy to pedal along. The other departure was the
type of leather belt used. Instead of using a studded belt they used
a link one. I guess that the studded belt ran a bit rough so the
linked one would be much smoother.
On
the cylinder head is a tap and a pipe that comes from the petrol
tank. The carburettor does not appear to have a tickler so I, again,
guess that this was a way of getting fuel directly into the engine to
aid starting. I think Rowley might need this on the Venom! On the way
home I did more filtering on the LE. I think the sun had brought out
something nice in the motorists and was quite a pleasant ride.
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