Moving on. Bike resto

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abowie
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#1 Moving on. Bike resto

Post by abowie » Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:09 am

So I've restored 4 E Types of my own, and a dozen or more for customers.

Restorable series 1 cars are now unobtainable at sensible prices. So I'm thinking of turning my attention to other things.

A friend restores Briggs and Stratton lawnmowers. Kinda leaves me cold.

But I thought... motorbikes. Smaller, easier to store. More available. Cheaper... maybe.

As a teenager one of my formative moments was as a pillion passenger on a Ducati Dharma doing a wheelie at about 70 mph up a long hill. I can still smell the terror. I don't have a bike licence, and have no interest in riding one. I'm a doctor, after all. Bikers are just a convenient supply of transplant spares.

So I thought. maybe I could restore a motorbike.

Ducati maybe?

What do the lot of you recommend?
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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malcolm
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#2 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by malcolm » Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:43 am

If you like older, what about a Velocette Venom? 500cc single which for decades held the world record for averaging over 100mph for 24 hours. It was a production Venom Clubman, but prepared by the factory. This was in 1961! Until a 750 cc Norton finally ended the reign. I had the 350cc version, the Viper Clubman. Would still do 90mph, and outhandled most bikes on the road.
Malcolm
I only fit in a 2+2, so got one!
1969 Series 2 2+2
2009 Jaguar XF-S
2015 F Type V6 S

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#3 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by abowie » Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:53 am

Keep them coming.

I know virtually nothing about bikes. But I love cool vintage stuff.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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MSM
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#4 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by MSM » Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:21 am

I can still smell the terror.
Andrew - you surely can't still have the same pair of trousers (strides)??
Mike

1969 S2 FHC

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#5 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by abowie » Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:47 am

I wish. I had a 28" waist then.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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#6 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by steve3.8 » Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:52 am

Depends what era you like Andrew. Take a look at the early K series Honda 750 ,iconic bike ,beautiful to look at with good spares availability.
Or a 400 4 if you want a smaller bike .

Coincidently ive just been trying to research the bike my dad had when doing his National Service in Malaya 58-60, it took me a while , anybody else know the model?
Image
Steve3.8

64 3.8 fhc, 67 4.2 fhc

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#7 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by mgcjag » Sun Sep 29, 2019 10:12 am

Hi Andrew...how about building yourself a nice C type replica like in your Avatar......worth investigating. ..there is also a good profit to be made depending on your build......Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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#8 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by MarkRado » Sun Sep 29, 2019 10:21 am

:yeahthat:
Mark
1963 OTS 880436

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#9 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by Heuer » Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:16 am

If you are interested in Ducati then your very first call should be to Rory Simpson of Simpson Mécanique fame = rfs1957 on the Forum.
Image

More here:
https://www.liberiders.tv/2018/11/21/du ... mecanique/

Great guy and valued Forum member.
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810

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#10 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by Series1 Stu » Sun Sep 29, 2019 1:17 pm

steve3.8 wrote:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:52 am
Coincidently ive just been trying to research the bike my dad had when doing his National Service in Malaya 58-60, it took me a while , anybody else know the model?
I'm no expert but that looks like a Moto Guzzi. Could be very wrong though.

Andrew, how about an MV Augusta? Really well engineered bikes. Or build a Triton out of a Norton Featherbed and a Triumph Bonneville engine? Would stand nicely next to an E Type.

:drinkingcheers:
Stuart

If you can't make it work, make it complicated!

'62 FHC - Nearing completion
'69 Daimler 420 Sovereign
'78 Land Rover Series 3 109

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#11 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by Heuer » Sun Sep 29, 2019 1:51 pm

One of these?:

Image

"Says James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a '52 Vincent and a red headed girl.
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won't do
They don't have a soul like a Vincent '52"

David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810

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#12 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by Durango2k » Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:36 pm

BMW from the 30s and 40s of course.

Zen or the art of maintaining a motorcycle, by Pirsig... read that first.

Carsten
Jag E '66 S1 2+2, 74’Citroen DS 23 Pallas iE, 73’ Citroen SM 3.0, 75’ Concept Centaur MK1, 54’ Citroen 11 BL, 71‘ Velosolex, 88‘ Unimog U1650

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#13 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by 288gto » Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:40 pm

steve3.8 wrote:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:52 am

Coincidently ive just been trying to research the bike my dad had when doing his National Service in Malaya 58-60, it took me a while , anybody else know the model?
Image
Marusho Lilac LS18?
Simon
1969 S2 OTS

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#14 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by Series1 Stu » Sun Sep 29, 2019 3:31 pm

Great song, David. I like Richard and Teddy Thompson's version of Tim Finn's Persuasion. Brilliant!

Regard
Stuart

If you can't make it work, make it complicated!

'62 FHC - Nearing completion
'69 Daimler 420 Sovereign
'78 Land Rover Series 3 109

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#15 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by H7OB » Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:41 pm

Hi Andrew,
It’s a great idea and one of my favourite part time hobbies! They don’t take up much room, a nice size to work on and generally shouldn’t cost a fortune, depending on what it is. There are so many interesting brands, British, European, Japanese, American. The big question is where do you start? If you’re able to get to a classic show or two that might help you zone in on what brand, era and price suits. Here are some of my random projects...

1979 Moto Guzzi Le Mans based, big, torquey vee twin that sounds fab and handles really well!
Image


Very rare 1967 Norton P11 ex US market desert racer. 750 twin in a lightweight Reynolds 531 frame. Started it for the first time on Friday and it sounds like thunder and made me feel like a teenager!
Image


1967 Triumph TR6 scrambler with a previous long service in the Kenyan police force! Rides really nice and sounds lovely!
Image


Have fun looking and let us know what you find!
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

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#16 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by steve3.8 » Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:30 pm

Spot on Simon ,yes Marusho Lilac .

Like the Triumph Paul , looks great.
Steve3.8

64 3.8 fhc, 67 4.2 fhc

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#17 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by abowie » Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:27 am

I had no idea that there were so many tasty bikes out there!

Rory? Your 2p worth?
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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#18 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by 288gto » Mon Sep 30, 2019 9:30 am

abowie wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:27 am
I had no idea that there were so many tasty bikes out there!

Rory? Your 2p worth?
I know what Rory will say, “ never mind your Triumphs, Nortons and Ducatis get a nice old Soviet M72” :wink: :lol:


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Simon
1969 S2 OTS

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#19 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by H7OB » Mon Sep 30, 2019 9:43 am

steve3.8 wrote:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:30 pm
Spot on Simon ,yes Marusho Lilac .

Like the Triumph Paul , looks great.
Thanks Steve.
I was very embarrassed to say I didnt recognise your Dad's bike so researched the hell out of it to finally find Marusho Lilac LS18, before I noticed that Simon was all over it! Every days' a school day...

So Andrew, all sorts of random suggestions coming out of the woodwork, who knows where this might go! :bigrin:
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

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#20 Re: Moving on. Bike resto

Post by malcolm » Mon Sep 30, 2019 1:36 pm

All going for pics to back the cause huh?

Here's the Venom Thruxton:


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Malcolm
I only fit in a 2+2, so got one!
1969 Series 2 2+2
2009 Jaguar XF-S
2015 F Type V6 S

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