Reading more magazines

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

More from Magazines

On Monday 25^th July we had a visit from a Swiss family and one of the children left behind a gaming console. We have it and it is safely stored at the Museum.

I was out to Jacks's Fish and Chip shop in Bagshott the other Wednesday for the discount chips for seniors and to make contact with the local VMCC who just happen to meet there. Pretty much everyone knew about the Museum so not many fliers to hand out. It was surprising what they did want were application forms for the British Motorcycle Trust and they took all I had. So far the last few Monday has been quite busy and there has not been much time to look up anything but a few articles have come to light. These are: A track test on a Seeley Khun Dominator similar model to the one we have at the Museum from Motorcycle Mechanics June 1970, a rebuild of a 1930's Triumph that I have been told is a rebadged New Imperial and the Ariel in line four that looks like an oversize Leader both from The Classic Motorcycle March 1984.

While I was reading magazines Pete was composing some ditties to fill in the time and has come up with this one for our amusement:

At the London Mo’cycle Museum,

There are bikes and you really must see ‘em.

While there’s Triumphs galore,

There’s a good many more,

To be seen at the London museum.

You must see the Crosby Collection.

They’re the Triumphs of Bill’s own selection.

Right from 1905,

To the one that’s alive?

It’s a full working Speed Twin in section!!

If it’s looking a classics you seek,

Then we’re open just 3 days a week.

There’s some biscuits and tea,

For just 80p.

And it’s free if you’re needing a leek.

                          

                                                    Proge.

After this I was on my way to Chalbury for the Wilderness Festival, not sTaying but being a taxi the return journey towards Oxford was just a traffic jam so I decided to get some food and found refuge in the Chequers at Cassington. This is where I picked up their newsletter and the event, this year, raised a very impressive £948 from bucket shaking and the pubs, hotels and business donated £3595 to help make the Bike Night happen. All the charities in the village did quite well too!

 The Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club meeting on Sunday morning and there are always some choice bike to see. This day was no exception and what caught my eye was this 200cc Duke from KTM. It is so small and I recon that with an engine double the size it would be a real gas to hoon around on.

Sunbeam Owners Club

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

Another Ray of Sunshine.

It has been a little while since I did a presentation about the London Motorcycle Museum and this one resulted from doing some fund raising at Kempton Park last March. George Smith took my details and after a week or two I received a message about arranging a date. What was months away arrived on one of the warmest days of the year. At last I am going out on the bike with no threat of rain!! Perhaps, at last, the honour of Rheinmeister has been passed on and I can get a bike ride done in the dry! It is Monday 18^th July and I am on my way to West Kingsdown and the village hall to meet the guys and gals from the Sunbeam Owners Club. They are the business as they are the people who organise the Pioneer Run and the London to Brighton. Within the club are experts on pretty much anything. Would my meagre knowledge cut the mustard? I had left plenty of time to get around the M25 but a Tomtom failure to recognise the location left me 10 miles from where I should have been with 20 minutes before the meeting started. Fortunately I arrived just in time loaded with laptop, back-up memory stick and lots of fliers. All turned out well as I set up the laptop and projector, Screen arrived and within a few minutes I had launched into my presentation. I spoke a little about what I do for the Museum, all voluntary, representing them at events and shows and, when possible get out to bike clubs to promote the cause of getting people to visit us. The most recent thing is to try to raise funds to keep the Museum doors open for as long as possible. So far we are good until the new year. On this evening I was talking about the bikes at the Museum and some of the historic events that influenced the types of motorcycle produced. The presentation covered 1902 to 2003 starting with our 1902 Ormonde and finishing with Bruce Anstey's 2003 Super sports TT winner and lots of stories around some people who influenced the motorcycle industry like Harry Ricardo and Granville Bradshaw. 

1092 Ormonde

Bruce Anstey's 2003 TT winner

It was a very good evening with contributions from many people. One of the motorcycles, the 1930 OHC Triumph racer, that had expired at Brooklands a few weeks before was now running and I played the video of it being started. 

1930 OHC Triumph

A couple who had visited the Museum just the day before had a treat as Frank had had a modern technology failure and was not able to show them the clip on his phone. What an evening as each person in the club had something to talk with me about even down to the former owner of the 1915 Calthorpe that he used to ride regularly. I had a great time and I think everyone who turned up enjoyed it too. Their collection for the Museum added another £74.50 to keep us open a bit longer. I am amazed how generous the Sunbeam Owners Club are and more people have promised to pay us a visit especially on a Monday!

Some odd bits

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

Odd bits for Now

Just received the July Newsletter from the BCMT and there is a bit about Moto Museo at Bassella! Somewhere that I visited last September and now it appears in the News. Another co-incidence? More people are visiting the Museum but the numbers still need to increase. The Haynes Museum gets 100,000 visitors a year. How much better we could do if we had that number coming through the door? What has peaked my interest and get me to go along to Sparkford is that Robin Spalding’s collection of British Scooters is well displayed there. Good for a visit on a rainy day later in the year (or August).

Moto Museo Bassella

Now back at our Museum and passing the 1927 Sunbeam I see spots of red stuff on the floor. No pools of blood visible anywhere, no body lying around so I guess it has come from the bike. Perhaps it really is a living thing that responds to the rider?

To me, it looks more like RedX the fuel additive, but why it should appear now? I have no reason as it has not been run for some time. Could it be a spiritual phenomenon? There have been many such things reported about tears from statues in religious quarters. So something coming from a revered motorcycle should that not be significant too?

So while I was having fun in Swindon and Chinnor Byke Dayz going on Frank was off at Brooklands doing the test hill. Having done it twice on the, one and only, 1930 OHC single It expired on the third attempt. Frank thought he had broken it so he spent last Sunday working away to find out what had happened to it. It turns out that the rockers have clamps on the bearing shafts. The spindle has no flats on them to stop the rocker arms moving so as things warmed up the clamps worked lose and the valves remained firmly closed. Once the clamps were tightened up valve operation returned and we, once again, have a running bike. It should be fine when it goes again at Kop Hill. Not sure what else will be at Kop Hill.

So here is the link for the short video of Frank firing up the Triumph after being fixed.

https://youtu.be/u199yteQ3Go

So far I am progressing slowly with the book on Granville Bradshaw, “The Flawed Genius” and when I have finished it I'll report back. It is very technically detailed and is requiring slow and careful reading. Little nuggets of information pop out. Granville did lots of work for lots of people and Zenith was one of them. Zenith had a factory in Lower Mill Road East Molesey and there was some production at Hampton so could the Gradua at the Museum have been produced at East Molesey instead of Hampton? Another thing is that the ABC works, now a housing estate, in Hersham was across the road from the Barley Mow pub and behind the Petrol station. Many of the ABC twins were produced in the Sopwith works at Richmond Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

Further to that the Scootamota in 1919 was produced at the Hersham works but from later that year to 1922 it was made at Selsden Engineering, Brighton Road, Croydon. The engine is reputed to be half of the 250cc unit that was used to power generators in World War One and could produce 3bhp at 4,000 rpm and one was reported to have managed 10,000 rpm!!!!!! Even so, 4,000 rpm was a good pace for any engine at that time. More to come on Granville as I work my way through he book

Windsor Great Park Run 2016

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

BEN Charity Ride

throughWindsor Great Park 2016

Normally I'm a bit sharper at getting things done but over the last couple of weeks I've been out and about quite a bit so computer time has been limited. Now it's catch up time having done the usual bike check for the run the little Velocette Valiant's exhaust crackled its way over some 63 miles on the Saturday, using not a lot of fuel but I think and equivalent amount of oil. Pleased I wasn't following me! The main delay has been getting the forty or so minutes of video down to something watchable without being too boring so now you can see what I've been up to

https://youtu.be/VWV3ms5Eysk

This time around I returned the “Bully Cup” awarded last year and now I have had to return it for someone else to win. This year the bike turnout was not so good and like most events like this the enthusiast is torn between which one to go to. 

Winners this year were a 1932 Francis Barnet in the pre 1945 class and the Rumi in the post 1945 class.

 Both deserved winners. The proceedings were interrupted by a heavy shower but other than that an enjoyable afternoon dishing out fliers for the Museum. An uneventful trip home kept the day sweet.

I was not sure if I was going to get to it, as rain clouds loomed again on the Sunday there was a fund raising event for the Museum organised by Dave Goddard at the Crown Pub Colham green Road Hillingdon. I turned up on the Valiant to hand out fliers and go around with the collection bucket. I met up with Francis Barnet man again and he won another prize for best bike! This day I got one too for the Valiant. There were some very nice bikes there and I was particularly taken with the bright blue RAC outfit. Our great thanks to everyone who was there and gave us some very generous donations making it possible to stay open a bit longer.

 Back at the Museum on the Monday but not able to get to Cassington in the evening, I had talked so much during the day that I had no voice left to do any more. However I had recovered enough to get the Kawasaki and Buell MOT'd during the week and got out to Chinnor Byke Dayz on the Friday evening to help put the welcome pack together and for me this meant putting Museum fliers along with a bike shop flier and voting cards into the program. After doing that I headed home not staying for the first bands of the weekend as I had to be in Swindon early next day. This year there were Seventeen!!!!! Non stop entertainment and well worth going along so time to put it in the diary for next year as the first weekend in July.

French Trip 2016

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

A Trip to France

I'm now catching up with the Isle of Man TT races and to think that in 1911 when the organisers decided that the mountain circuit was a good idea to test the motorcycles of the day we now see astronomical speeds that are only increasing, 133mph so far. I think something the original organisers would never have thought possible. They did have the foresight to help motorcycles develop from the single gear, barely more than a bicycle with an engine, to ones with gears that could climb hills. As seen in 1911 with Indian winning on a two speed machine ridden by OC Godfrey averaging 47.63mph and from then on everyone had to catch up.

Now nothing seems to happen for ages and then it all happens at one. This June is no exception. I have been to the 2CV National Rally in Chichester where my wife and I deep fried pakoras for the whole event. Interesting in that what people eat relates to their knowledge of the food and not what it tastes like! Pakoras are like an onion bajee but with different degrees of spice. These were light weight and were well received. 

We now have some gear and experience of catering on site. As usual I did some promotion for the Museum. We had just enough time to turn ourselves around and jump on the Buell off to France. Nice weather was with us until we got to L'Aigle where we met up with the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club and their annual French trip. 

The roads in France are amazing having either bullet straight roads or tight nagery bits on polished tarmac that test the limits of your bravery especially when it's wet. So arriving there in glorious sunshine on the Friday, Saturday was a bit wet and Sunday a bit wetter. So wet in fact the Buell drowned in the rain coming back from a club run to Pegasus Bridge where we had lunch. After a patient wait to dry out we were on our way. We left the group and headed directly back to the hotel. 

In the evening I visited a bar and found a little Motoconfort there. Not able to take a picture then I went back a little later but they had closed and I could only get a picture through the window. Monday we left L'Aigle and on to Rouen. Staying at an Ibis with secure underground parking near the centre of Rouen. This trip was dry and we got there in no time at all but finding the hotel was a real pain. It took all my school boy French to get us directions. Settled in Rouen it is a pleasant place to visit even in the rain. On the way home on Wednesday we have a dry run up the A28 and got to the Tunnel with lots of time to spare and got an earlier train. This did us no good at all. We would have missed the rain if we were on our old schedule. As soon as we were on the M20 the heavens opened and everything was awash again. Rain drops the size of golf balls drowned the bike again and we took refuge under a bridge away from the rain only to be hosed down by passing lorries. After another patient dry out we were on our way again. Keeping the engine revving kept us going. I have yet to find out why this is happening, everything around the ignition system and fuel injection was dry and not affected by the weather. I have a feeling it may be the side stand switch causing the problem and will need to be replaced. We did nearly 900 miles over that weekend. Things dried out, bike washed down and all the gear put away it was time to get back to the Museum and prepare for the next event.

More from Kempton Park 2016

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

More at Kempton Park 2016

It was a busy day at the LE Club stand and so was the London Motorcycle Museum stand near the entrance. Pete was his usual enthusiastic self tackling anyone in arms reach with fliers and extracting the much needed cash to pay the rent. There were some interesting people too with Our man who owns the Ormonde supporting us and meting up with someone who had a suitable spark plug. Wandering around too was Des Heckle who has many records to his name in the sprinting world. We have one of his bikes at the LMM. It is the 50cc Moto Minarelli that Des managed 51.3 mph at the end of a standing quarter and 82.9 mph at a flying one. Better than the average family car would go in 1973! 

Pictures from the Off Road Bike Show December 2015

He said he would pay the Museum a visit and when he does I would like to take a photo of him on his sprinter. We have some of him from 1973 and very special to have one of him now. The sprinter is so small it is amazing that he fitted on it at all. The riding position is for maximum streamlining so he basically draped himself around the bike. The clip-ons are so narrow that to control the machine he had to wedge his elbows into his knees. Locked in he was able to keep it in line. Brough Superior man himself, Mark Upham was there promoting his bikes and I believe that Eric Patterson has just received a new one which he was showing off that the show. I spotted that on Facebook. There was such a crowd around that I missed everything other than a Triumph triple that was a bit difficult to start.

Going around the stalls I saw a little clip-on engine that was fitted into a bicycle frame. There were no makers marks on the engine cases and only a riveted plate that said “Powerscooter” I know nothing about these so a bit of research being required. 

Not too difficult if you look up motorised bicycles on the internet. It turns out to be an 80 cc American Clip-on from Demon Cycles. A nice little two stroke. Single speed with chain drive to the rear wheel. Not sure how legal 80cc is is in the UK but I suppose it would be fine if it has a 15mph speed restriction on it. I thought the version with a “Jack shaft” that allows you to use the bicycle chainwheel and sprockets for extra gears with of course a freewheel on the chainwheel an interesting option. Look at it on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=bW8nAvOSntM&NR=1

Around the show was this nice Ariel for sale and for some reason this year Tiger Cub trials bikes were everywhere there was even a racing version with clip-ons for good measure. 

Most of the 50's singles were around at not too expensive prices with BSA, Royal Enfield, AJS and Matchless well represented giving lots of choice. The number of older Japanese bikes is increasing with one, a bit special, original 125cc Bridgestone two stroke twin for sale.

More Velocettes

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

Velocette Day at Brooklands.

One of our guys from the LE Club contacted me about going to the Velocette Day at Brooklands, I thought about about it for a millisecond and agreed to meet up at Brooklands on the day. His LE is sick with a poorly clutch that needs stripping apart. For this event I had a choice, LE or Valiant. I decide that after my cold and wet experience on the LE I thought something warm would be nice. Checked over and it was at the front of the garage I set out early on this Sunday morning with strict instructions to be back by one! If you have ever been with us at Wey Valley for a “Back by One Run” it never is and back by two is a better description. It was a pleasant run with only a few “silly” drivers on the way. There journey was some 20 miles and took me over an hour from Hayes to Weybridge. 

No sooner I had arrived Paul from the LE club was there too. He had seen me go by as he walked up from the station. My LE was the only one there and as it is a bit special it generated quite a bit of interest. There were some very nice big Velocettes there with KTTs, KSSs, MSSs, MACs and a very special vee twin with a couple of MACs strung together. I did like the green Vee Line with the full fairing. 

I left a whole load of fliers at the reception and handed out loads more as people went by viewing the bikes. Today I had a bottle of water with me and I didn't loose my voice. I also had the foresight to put on sun tan cream to not look like a lobster as I was using an open face helmet. I know I look manic wearing Halcyon goggles! I had to leave by twelve but that went by the board as, meeting up with Denis Frost, club historian and out and out Velocette man, he introduced me to Geoff Dodkin, Velocette dealer for many years and now retired knew of the dealer I had used at Brislington in Bristol. He was interested in what I had done to my LE. 

With a couple more photos taken and my bottle of water refreshed from a tap to top up the LE radiator before setting off for home I said goodbye to Paul and then raced off up the hill to the exit only changing into second gear at the top buzzing the engine quite hard. Another pleasant and even warmer trip home I arrived only 40 minutes late. About right for a “Back By One”