June 2011 Classic bike news
Above: Does the world really need another variation on the Royal Enfield theme? Well, yes, actually. We'll take 'em any shape, size, or colour. This model is the firm's new cunningly-named Bullet 500. Fitted with RE's ultra lean-burning, 84mm x 90mm, unit construction, single-cylinder motor (c/w 5-speed gearbox), the bike also offers both electric and kick-starting. The price? £3995. The quality of these bikes is constantly improving. And the fuel consumption is still over 70mpg. Bargain? We think so.
Lambeth Council redefines potholes McQueen's Husky breaks auction record
£2 million netted by Bonhams at the 2011 Tory MP moots dangerous and reckless MAG gets a grip
Cylinder Head Shop ties up with BLR Francis-Barnett: The Complete Story
February 2011 Classic bike news Dave Degens at South of England Ardingly Classic Bike Show Vinnielonglegs under the hammer 50 years of the Welsh Dragon Rally Crash Card launched at the Ace Cafe VMCC raffles a T160 Triumph Trident for 2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster Custom Douglas: Light aero engines from Kingswood Bonhams' Paris Grand Palais £144 Lucas ammeter on eBay. Sold! BSA Golden Flash eBook from Sump
January 2011 Classic bike news 1942 Royal Enfield WD/CO for sale on eBay Steve McQueen Husqvarna for sale at Bonhams New Royal Enfield V-twin denied VAT rise hides dealer price hike Ealing to boot bikes from bus lanes? Harley-Davidson share price rise Triumph leading UK big bike sales Rare Megola heading for Bonhams' Grand Palais Paris auction Draganfly John Bull knee grips & toolboxes Hildebrand & Wolfmüller sells for a record $161,000 at Las Vegas BSA Golden Flash eBook from Sump
December 2010 Classic bike news Two old Texans head for Bonhams' big one Two more HD dealers hit the skids Prince Charles: "I hate motorbikes" 1925 Brough Superior prototype set to smash marque auction record Police supt changes speeding plea UK blocks Euro wide motoring fines plan "Select" MPs call for new drink driving purge New old stock US container bonanza from Burton Bike Bits US Government bailed out Harley with $2.3billion April ‘Real Classic’ Malvern Classic Bike Show date change Eight Vincents on offer at Bonham's 1st Las Vegas sale Simulated riding research "shock"
November 2010 Classic bike news Royal Enfield Fury set to launch Roberto Rossi Rivale Bonneville 1926 Indian Scout tops Bonhams' Zero emissions racer hits cyclist Fall in London bus driver assaults 120,000 tons of Aussie salt on the way Off duty New York cop shoots bike thief Rare AMC Rickman Métisse auction 1929 Scott 3-speed Flyer TT Replica Michelin wants its windows back, please 5p off Shell V-Power—for one day only Stolen bike recovery rate falling Royal Enfield and Watsonian Squire High level Hinckley Bonnie exhausts Oxford speed cameras back in the frame Bonhams to auction rare Hildebrand
October 2010 Classic bike news |
Don Godden: 1936-2011
We've only just heard the news about grasstrack racer, engineer, and businessman Don Godden who died on May 28th this year—but that doesn't mean we can't give him a belated mention.
We first met Don more than 20 years ago, and the man was nothing if not interesting, amusing, generous and a gentleman. He began grass track and long track racing way back in 1953, and spent over two decades in the saddle notching up victory after victory and winning dozens of awards including three British 500cc titles and the 1969 European Long Track Championship.
In 1958, Don founded Godden Engineering and quickly built a reputation for its high-quality speedway and grass track-framed racers powered by JAP engines. When JAP could no longer cut it (or was not prepared to invest further in a diminishing market), Don worked with Weslake and helped develop a four-valve, 500cc single that was to the seventies was JAP was to the fifties and sixties.
When the Weslake tie-up soured, Don developed his own 500cc GR500 engine which became the basis of a successful 1000cc V-twin sidecar racing powerplant.
Kent-based Godden Engineering employee, Gary Drake, bought the business in 2003. Following his "retirement", Don kept busy working as an advisor and honorary ambassador for the sport. It's said that his funeral, on June 14th, was attended by over 400 friends and fans.
In his day, Don was unquestionably one of the best of his breed, a man who understood the mechanics of grass track and long track racing as well as he understood the methods. He was 72.
— The Third Man
Foundation
It's been a long time coming (38 years actually), but now that it's here, it seems like the obvious move forward—and long overdue. It's the Ted Simon Foundation; named after one of biking's best known globetrotters, not that Ted would ever call himself a biker. But in view of the fact that back in 1973 he rode around the planet on a 500cc ex-police Triumph Tiger 100 (and wrote a much loved book called Jupiter's Travels), a lot of people would disagree.
Regardless, the foundation will officially be launched on 6th October 2011, which will mark the 38th anniversary of the start of the original global trek. But the website's up and running, and you can take a peek now.
What's it all about? It's about pooling information and knocking down national fences and promoting world understanding, etc. Sounds dull? Well take a look before you write it off, especially if you're a traveller yourself and want to network with other people of a similar bent.
If you want to attend the launch, you'll have to pootle along to the Coventry Transport Museum, and you'll need to book sooner rather than later if you want to ensure a place. See the website (below) for details.
Meanwhile, check out our Ted Simon page for more on one of the most intrepid travellers (in various senses of the word) of our age. There's a lot more to Ted than most people realise.
— Girl Happy
Norman Vanhouse 1916-2011
The late Norman Vanhouse (pictured left, with Fred Rist and Brian Martin) was laid to rest on 2nd June 2011 at Robin Hood Crematorium, Shirley, Birmingham.
Born in 1916, Norman spent 35 years in motorcycle competitions and experimental departments before joining BSA in 1952 as a sales representative. Throughout his life, Norman was a significant competitor in motorcycle sporting events winning over 150 awards, notably for hill climbs and trials.
But perhaps his greatest claim to fame was being part of the 1952 International Six Days Trial team that won both the Team Award and captured the coveted Maudes trophy.
Riding 4500 miles from Birmingham to Vienna, then through Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the 500cc BSA A7 team—which included Brian Martin and Fred Rist—put on a faultless performance and returned safely to Birmingham, thereby securing the Val Page, Herbert Perkins and David Munro-designed parallel twins' reputation as a competent, reliable, all-weather tourer.
Norman, who had seen active service with the British Army riding (notably) BSA M20s, later published a book entitled BSA Competition History, a down-to-earth. amusing and highly insightful tome that's still available through various online and offline outlets, and of course autojumbles.
Norman Vanhouse will be missed. — Del Monte
Romney Marsh Bikejumble
It's on this Sunday 3rd July 2011, and you can find it all happening from 10.00am at Marsh Road, Hamstreet, Kent TN26 2JD (A2070 6 miles M20 J10).
So toddle along there and watch motoball, and enter your bike in the prize-giving, and stuff your face, and drink whatever you feel like drinking, and generally do what ya gotta do. The point is, it's a decent show and still building, and the days are already getting shorter and you ain't getting any younger.
There's a motorcycle only jumble, by the way, and there will be plenty of clubs and whatnot. What more do you want on a bloody Sunday?
More details on: 01797 344277 — Dexxion
"2000 visitors" at Enfield weekend
Royal Enfield importers Watsonian-Squire are said to be highly chuffed about the attendance at their recent Open Weekend on 25th-26th June 2011 at the Watsonian-Squire factory in the Cotswolds.
Two thousand visitors, we hear, turned up to enjoy a couple of days of chin-wagging, curry-eating, drinking, tyre-kicking—and, of course, test-riding RE's range of 500cc Bullets, with a new variant being launched at the event and priced at £3995.
Special guests included motorcycle adventurer, author and Royal Enfield expert Gordon May, and ISDT gold medallist Johnny Brittain. Meanwhile, the Motorcycle Action Group, were busy drumming up support for their Get a Grip campaign (see Sump April). — Del Monte
"Gold Star number one" on eBay
We're not arguing about the provenance. We'll take that at face value (although the details certainly warrant closer consideration). We're just marvelling at the auction start price of AU $288,888—which converts to £150,462. The bike is said to be unrestored and unmolested (nothwithstanding a touch-up brush on a few scratches), and was allegedly first sold on 15th February 1938 by Bennet & Wood, Birmingham.
The first owner was a Mr Rogers (no Christian name given), who passed it down to his son Malcolm, affectionately known as Curley. Hidden (or overlooked) during WW2, the 500cc, race-ready, all-aluminium single "resurfaced" in 1955 and again in 1994 (when Curley died). The current owner states that the engine (number: JM 24 101) was "glued" solid with hardened Castrol R, but after sympathetic rebuilding, it's in full working order and ready to rock'n'roll.
If you want to buy it now, the price is AU $248,888. Unrealistic? Cheap? A misplaced decimal? A bitsa?
Fact is, the blue-chip classic bike market has never been stronger (particularly with regard to pre-war exotica), and continues to surprise—and there's no doubt that this one will raise a lot of eyebrows. But if you're looking for top dollar, is eBay the right place to offload a machine like this (assuming it's genuine)? We've got our doubts and wonder what Bonhams would have to say about this one.
— The Third man
Okay. There are already thousands of makes and style of shades on the market. You're pretty much stuck for choice. But getting the right ones ain't always easy, especially if you ride a bike and want to keep the windblast and road grit out of your swollen peepers.
These shades are from Ugly Fish and have removable arms allowing you to strap 'em on instead. And they've got gasket thingies on the inside to seal you in. They're said to be Australia's leading brand, and they've passed all the usual safety and UV standards, or so we're told.
Prices are from around forty quid to sixty-five quid depending on what "package" you buy (various lenses, etc). Strap, gasket and hard case is included. Check 'em out.
— Girl Happy
A circa 1950 Vincent 998cc Black Shadow/Rapide at £31,050; a 1952 Vincent 499cc Comet at £10,350, a 1949 Vincent-HRD 500cc Meteor at £11,500; a 1966 Velocette 499cc Thruxton at £18,400, and an unrestored circa 1919 Triumph 550cc Model H at £7,475.
But if you want an investor tip for the future, Bonhams is looking very closely at BMW. — Del Monte
According to Mike Penning, nine bikers were killed in the UK each week during 2009 (the last year for which reliable figures are available, we're told). These numbers, although relatively low, and generally falling, have nevertheless got successive governments in a lather. Why? Because motorcycles make up only one percent of UK traffic, yet account for twenty percent of fatalities; a hugely disproportionate statistic.
Mike's remit as Road Safety Minister is to get those numbers down, hence a new Think! campaign unveiled on June 17th 2011. Sounds good in principle. And Mike, being a biker, no doubt has his heart in the right place. So we're not complaining per se—except that it seems we're hearing a lot of government propaganda these days about bike safety which might well be the prelude to a new round of "anti-bike" legislation, perhaps in the form of compulsory daytime lights, mandatory reflective clothing, more restrictive access for learner riders, and even power limits.
No, we've heard nothing specific. But clearly the government bean counters are hard at work trying to get healthcare/accident costs down, and it might well be that rider accident figures have pretty much reached the practical baseline—until, that is, automatic bike-recognition devices are fitted as standard into cars, if they ever are fitted (and if they ever actually work).
Which, arguably, might leave the government with "little option" but to target the victims of motoring stupidity rather than tackle the perpetrators.
That, at least, is so often government thinking—and new legislation is, after all, generally cheaper than putting more coppers on the streets, or funding high-profile road safety campaigns.
So what can you do about it? Not a lot, except watch out for those first rumblings of approaching "anti-bike" legislation and react accordingly. The current road safety programme is laudable. But you can be sure that the government is going to want a return for its money.
Think bike! Think car! Think government! — The Third Man
The company has just celebrated its 35th birthday, which is no small milestone. We prefer to write our own copy for Sump news features. But in this instance, we're happy to let Draganfly tell you in their own words what all the fuss is about. Happy birthday, guys.
"Thirty five years ago this August Roger Gwynn began Draganfly Motorcycles. The summer of ’76 saw the beginning of a business that started with a vague plan, no real capital and crumbling premises. More than three decades and a 100 mile move later ‘Drags’ is a specialist company delivering parts (and advice) worldwide.
Roger only knew that he wanted to work for himself, having had trouble fitting into moulds in ‘conventional’ jobs, and that he wanted to work with bikes. He also wanted to become synonymous with some facet of motorcycles, to be the company to go to - what for, hadn’t been decided yet. He had £400 from the insurance his stolen Triumph had afforded him and a lock-up shop due for demolition. This, combined with the fact that he had no other ideas of what to do with his time, eventually led to the Draganfly Motorcycles we know today.
“This is where I hoped we would be” says Roger “We’ve got the balance of small family business and world domination just right! I don’t want us to get much bigger!”. On his nickname ‘the Ariel guru’ he is a little sheepish – “it’s flattering when people know who you are and what you do, but when you’re introduced to new people like that it can be a bit embarrassing!”
"When asked about high points in the company’s history he responds immediately with “marrying my wife Janet” - who now works at Draganfly too - “she showed me that I could leave work before 10pm and still keep the shop going!” And in all the 35 years not one employee of Drags has had a serious accident on their motorbike. One broke their arm, one broke their clutch lever arm and Roger hit a manhole at 20 mph and bumped his head. Storeman Mick did have an altercation with a large white van which ran over his BSA WM20 but thankfully he jumped off quickly enough to escape damage himself.
"And low points? “When we had to move premises in the early days. We spent three months with our stock and equipment in someone else’s premises without their knowledge so we couldn’t do any business for all that time, but had no other choice! They didn’t want to sign their lease and were stalling as they were in liquidation but the estate agents took pity on us and gave us the keys anyway.”
— Del Monte
It's £145 plus VAT. That's the important bit out of the way. Andover Norton say that this little doo-dah replaces the cylinder head isolastic top mount on all Commandos and is shim-adjustable in various planes for ease of installation. It's made of zinc-plated steel with a machined aluminium alloy clamp. If you've got a Commando, you'll know exactly what this is all about. If not, don't fret.
Check their site for more info. That's it. Buy, or don't buy.
Roy certainly is still on the island. We checked with a couple of local post offices—one of which knows Roy very well—and they confirmed that he had indeed moved. But it's not clear if he's still offering dating certificates for classic bikes. If anyone out there can furnish any other information, we'll be glad to hear it. But as it stands, it looks like Roy's off the grid. — Girl Happy
Okay. Here's the story.
They're also available in + .020" and + .040" oversizes, and are designed to offer standard compressions of 9:1 (T120s) and 8.5:1 (T140s).
However, keep in mind that most T140s are probably running slightly lower compression engines at between 7.5:1 and 7.9:1 to cope with lower octane fuels, etc. So talk to Norman about this if you've got any concerns. Chances are, of course, that Norman's already considered this, but it pays to check.
Kits include a pair of pistons, rings and circlips. The price is £151.99 which includes UK VAT. Overseas customers can get them for £125.99
— Del Monte
First Daventry Motorcycle Festival
— The Third Man
Travelling with
Look, we haven't actually seen this book, but we're happy to give it a plug, anyway.
It's evidently one of those off-the-wall tomes in which Nigel C Winter, riding a modern Triumph, takes a "personal" road trip from Lands End to John o'Groats following in the tracks of Meriden Triumph supremo Edward Turner—who needs no further introduction here (but there's a link somewhere on this page if you're new to the classic scene).
Turner's riding a Triumph Terrier (which he designed), and the pair mark riding time by examining their respective social histories. It's not clear where fact and fiction meet, or where and when their world's collide. But it'll no doubt all become clear as the pages turn.
Sounds like an unlikely premise, but these quirky, shoot-from-the-hip books often work and give you a whole new perspective on the established orthodoxy. Looked at another way, it's a sidelong glance at the "post-war rock'n'roll years" when Triumph ruled and could do no wrong.
Anyway, if you're interested, pop along to Panther Publishing and check out the official blurb. The book's 166 pages with 30 photos. The price is a modest £9.99 with free UK postage. — Del Monte
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The 1098cc eight-valve lump was sold at Bonhams' Third Annual Sale of Collectors Motorcycles held on 18th June 2011 alongside the VMCC's Banbury Run. The auction house turned-over £427,500, with 85% of lots sold.
Classic bikes for sale
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(I think, therefore I ride)
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