Motorcycle General Discussion

Not fence post Gary, but lamp post !!

That 600cc ohv single had 35lb flywheels and if you had the engine nicely tuned you could, with care, do a "party trick".

With it on the stand, start the engine having engaged the half-compression lever (to reduce risk of broken ankle). Then when warm, disengage choke & half-compression lever and progressively retard the ignition. The lump would slow right down until the tick over was so slow it could move itself right off the centre stand due to the massive inertia in the flywheels at each ignition stroke.

They certainly had massive low-down torque, hence sidecar use, despite only producing about 20 bhp..

A couple of years ago, I was lent a Fireblade for a few weeks. Ignoring all its 'mod cons' and brakes that actually worked, the lack of any low-down grunt was startling by comparison.

Re the photo - did anyone notice the name of the inn behind the Panther? Was told years ago that a Panther was not only as big as a barge but also handled like one.

Not so on either count.....with all that low down flywheel weight, as a solo, they handled very well, at least as far as mid 50s, thin tyres would allow. Looking at those sloper engines you'd think they were long strokes but they were only just 'longer than square'.

But before John complains about all this non-model engineering stuff, as a homage to Phelon & Moore who made Panthers, I did give my Clayton wagon P&M livery. Totally fictitious though as P&M never had a Clayton wagon.

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Well worth a visit, if you're in the area.

**LINK**  and  http://www.bugsworthbasin.org/pages/sitemap.html

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 14/11/2015 20:22:01

as a reasonably new member it is interesting to me for a few reasons this bit as i have a collection of panther motorcycles all used regularly having just retired after 57 years working on bikes i have my opinions on what was rubbish when new and still is today ,my daily transport is a 1937 panther mod 85 or a recently got 1955 mod 65 as i am only 72 the day i hang up my boots is a long way off my doctor has his orders to keep me fit enough for my competion licence as i hope to keep racing untill at least 75 , some people think i am mad but having finished a new 40 x 30 workshop i now have to move in my collection of engineering machines and tools which include , pallas mill .colchester student , colchester master , elliot 10m shaper geo taylor mill,, elliot horizontal mill,. murad bormilathe ,. murad cadet.,,wolf valve refacer., pollard drill .,,.canning polishing lathe . atlas power hacksaw ..,plus a selection of grinders , drills , decent welders , all to set up to enjoy my retirement,then just sort out the 20 or so projects waiting to be sorted ,so please keep the forum going as it is as i find it has and will be of help to me , as for help if any members want information or help with old motorcycle related things you only have to ask except weds as i have a 1895 simson strickland quadruple expansion steam engine to maintain for the local musuem apoliges for going on a bit will from sunny norfolk

John, what sort of racing bikes did you work on? And what era? Got any pics of racing exotica to share?

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In my defence, I must point out that I was admitting a previous misconception on my part; founded on what I remembered seeing in the early 1960s, when old Panthers were probably least-loved.

[it was rather like when an area of fine Edwardian houses turns into 'bed-sit land' ... and I am delighted to see both houses and Panthers being better appreciated]

MichaelG.

Hopper,

I'll post later tonight, finishing the lights off in the Donald at the moment but the vast majority were the classics of the day, Manx's, 7R's, couple of NSU Sportsmax's and various others.

I have pics of later years 1980 onwards but in the earlier years I backed the wrong horse and took most pictures on transparencies as these were cheaper that paper but time wasn't good to them and they all got so bad they were thrown in the last house move.

Started off doing a bit of racing but was so useless at it I found I got more enjoyment out of making bits than lying in Louth General staring at the ceiling. I was a that frequent visitor I used to get Christmas cards off the nurses ! [ no joke ] St John Ambulance used to wheel me in and a big cry would go up "Here he is, the Horizontal Champ "

However I can recommend it as what with sliding down the track repeatedly and having the piss taken out of you, you do develop a very thick skin.

So more later.

> now have to move in my collection of engineering machines

Hi Will, that sounds like nice challenge...

Neil

When I sat on a friend's big panther on a slow tick-over it felt as though the piston stood still and the bike moved up and down! Colin

Current stable is Honda XRV750 Africa Twin which takes me round Europe and the UK, Kawasaki ZX7R which is the reason I bought a lathe to make spacers for a ZX10R swingarm and ZX14 front end, and a Hongdu GY200

John

LOL, there's worse things in life than being called the "Horizontal Champion" by a bunch of nurses.

Manxes and 7Rs, now those were the glory days of motorcycle racing.

Before leaving the UK I had a friend who was a very keen road racer. Sadly he used to fall off a lot and always seemed to land on his head. His crew had specific instructions to NOT take him to the nearest hospital to Brands Hatch as he had had some bad experiences there. His preference was to go to the military hospital at Haslar, near Gosport. The staff there got so used to him and treating his head injuries, as well as other injuries, that as there was some doubt, they gave him a very official looking certificate certifying that he was actually sane!! The certificate was duly framed and took pride of place in his shop!!

cheers

Bill

The above post features my latest new toy. My air cooled monoshock trials bike project. 1989 Aprilia Climber rolling chassis and bodywork with a 96 Yamaha RXZ 135 air cooled 5 speed motor bored out to a current 142cc. Have about £200 into it on top of the £340 purchase price, and in excess of 100 hours work. Goes well now, especially after fitting Boyesen Dual Stage reeds and making a new exhaust system. Certainly more capable than the owner at trials, but its all good fun...

Thaiguzzi, very nice job you've done there !.

Thank you RW. That £200 spent inc $32 for the Boyesen reeds, and £42 for some footrest bling from the UK, plus postage. The rest were the usual outstanding prices and value for money up here in NE Thailand.

Paint job, 8 x pieces of plastic inc fuel tank £50.

Seat recover £3.

New 420 chain, 132 links £4.

Set of 6 stickers, custom made with computer, next day turnaround £5.

steel tube material to make exhaust, inc 4 x 90 degree bends £4.

New fuel tap £3.

90 degree throttle c/w bearing for cable run, and nice grips £6.

Full gasket set £1.80.

Inner tubes £1.40 ea.

etc etc. Marvelous.

Should you intend to alter a tubular frame:

http://www.bsaotter.com/2015_news_page..html

For any straight line speed event members here is the latest 2016 meetings

Top Speed days and wheelie practice days all at Elvington

Well I couldn't resist it, I had to buy this original low milage 1971 BSA 250 Victor Trail, it was a Christmas treat to myself.

It is one of the infamous Oil In Frame type machines, and is quite a contrast to the more traditional style and build of British bikes produced upto 1970, such as the 1969 BSA Starfire that I also bought last year, although the engines of both are just about the same.

A year or two after this bike was produced it was just about all over for the once mighty BSA Small Heath Factory.

Edited By Lathejack on 04/03/2016 20:42:42