Out in Wales…

We spotted this old AA box, so a photo opportunity was taken, My G12, Graham’s Speedtwin, And Geoff and Sara’s M20 combo.

40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, out in Wales.

Best of British Bike Day…

 

Best of British.

Joining The Collection…

Back in January I had a look at a 1962 Matchless G12 650 twin.  Well a week or so ago I managed to get a ride on the bike, and I have to say it was really quite good. So good in fact that I bought the bike. So this bike has now joined my little collection and I hope to get some good use out of it over the summer months. The AJS/Matchless club meet just three miles from me as well, so I shall drop in there when the evenings drag out a bit.

62 Matchless G12

Matchless 650

Matchless G12

And another bike has also joined the fleet, but this is really just a hack to be kept outside and used as a general runabout. Yesterday (Saturday) I dropped into my local garage, and they had this Sportster in as a trade sale, no frills, no warranty, just an old bike that needed to be moved on.  just as you see it here. we cleaned the carb, put some air in the tyres, and took it for a short ride. it starts, stops, everything works, and it doesn’t leak any oil.
Is it an 883 0r 1200? now there’s a question! it is registered as an 883, but the garage were told it had a 1200 upgrade, but without pulling the heads you can’t really tell. so I am happy with 883, it also has the usual Screamin Eagle stage one kit fitted. low milage too for a 1999 bike.

Harley Sportster

Harley Hack

January is Done…

I am always glad to see the back of January, it is the most depressing month in my opinion. It is not January’s fault per se, but it has so little to offer, following on from Christmas and the celebrations of the new year as it does. But in amongst the drabness we get the odd glimmer of hope of better days, the days drag out slowly, the odd flower braves the cold dark days, and we sometimes get a day or two of motorcycles to remind us of warmer days ahead.
Today, the last Sunday of the month is when they hold the Talmag trial, I usually go, but I have a bad cold, and it is raining hard, so this year I have passed the walk in the woods, and the smell of Castrol R. But I do have a few pictures to end the month with.

This last week I took my Norton to have a wiring loom fitted, and some other missing parts, clutch, pegs and other assorted stuff. But while there I got to look over some nice old Matchless bikes.

Classic Motorcycles

Matchless G12

 

Nice original 56 G11…

Only two owners from new, totally original, low mileage and has original sales receipt.

Matchless G11

Introduced for 1956, the Matchless G11 and equivalent AJS Model 30 boasted an engine of 593cc, which went into the newly introduced cycle parts shared with the heavyweight singles range. Along with the new frame came a restyled oil tank and toolbox, full-width front brake and longer seat, while the excellent AMC gearbox – also fitted to Nortons including the Manx – was phased in during the year. ( taken from Bonhams 2013 auction site)

1956 G11 600cc

Stafford Show…

Last Saturday I paid a visit to the Stafford show, at Stafford County show ground. I have not been for a few years, and I think it may be a few more before I go again. The bike jumble outside was good fun, but the show inside was to tight to move around, and as for the concessions vans, I think they may have been the same people who carried out the Hatton garden Robbery over Easter! £19.80 for three bacon rolls, and three cups of instant coffee! daylight robbery, and totally unnecessary.

Matchless V Twin

Indian

Norton Inter Brake

Playing Catch-Up, Part Two…

It is Sunday morning here, so I shall post the second catch-up while I have my coffee…

A couple of weeks back (where does time go?) I attended the annual Banbury Run over at Gaydon heritage motor museum, in Warwickshire, now this is a must see, if you are ever in the UK at this time of year, a great chance to get up close and personal with all kinds of early vintage motorcycles, that are actualy used out on the road, not just static museum pieces.

As usual I take far too many pictures, so I shall post a couple more here and then put a link to a slideshow of the rest at the bottom of the post.

BSA

Patina

Matchless

Brough

And here is the slideshow link as mentioned above…

http://kevindean.zenfolio.com/p651633/slideshow

Saturday and Sunday…

I had to work over the weekend, but that didn’t mean I could not find some bikes.

So Saturday I was out most of the day, a trip to Brighton, for work, and then I thought I would call in at Mick’s place on the way home, just to see what was hanging about the Yard…

Norton 500

Manx and Riley

Garage Queens

NorField Cafe Racer

And then on Sunday I took a drive over to Popham airfield to get my pass for next weeks motorcycle show,  I am glad I did, as there were a couple of nice bikes, there, and a few De Havilland Bi-Planes..

Matchless

De Havilland

Bi Plane