The Motorcycle Challenge

[buksida]

Since the car challenge is so popular would anyone be interested in a bike challenge for the two-wheeled aficionados among us?

[buksida]

Take it that's a no then.

[Dannie Boy]

Take it that's a no then.

Just to show willing and start with an easy one, what's this very popular bike?

[Bristolian]

I have not been a biker for many years but the BSA Bantum was the first bike I ever owned. Totally reliable
This will probably be the only question in this thread that I will be able to answer...Thanks Dannie Boy

[Dannie Boy]

I have not been a biker for many years but the BSA Bantum was the first bike I ever owned. Totally reliable
This will probably be the only question in this thread that I will be able to answer...Thanks Dannie Boy

Yes a schoolmate of mine had one too, whereas I was into Lambrettas

I shall never forget one day when we were out and it was snowing and he came by with a big grin on his face that he could go faster having bigger wheels - just round the corner we found him picking his bike up having come a cropper!!

[Bristolian]

I have not been a biker for many years but the BSA Bantum was the first bike I ever owned. Totally reliable
This will probably be the only question in this thread that I will be able to answer...Thanks Dannie Boy

Yes a schoolmate of mine had one too, whereas I was into Lambrettas

I shall never forget one day when we were out and it was snowing and he came by with a big grin on his face that he could go faster having bigger wheels - just round the corner we found him picking his bike up having come a cropper!!

I also had a few Lambrettas , that I bought used. I started with an old LD 175 then LI 125 and finally an SX 200. I have to say that I came a cropper on these more often than on proper bikes
They are all worth quite a lot of money now as collector’s items.

[Dannie Boy]

I have not been a biker for many years but the BSA Bantum was the first bike I ever owned. Totally reliable
This will probably be the only question in this thread that I will be able to answer...Thanks Dannie Boy

Yes a schoolmate of mine had one too, whereas I was into Lambrettas

I shall never forget one day when we were out and it was snowing and he came by with a big grin on his face that he could go faster having bigger wheels - just round the corner we found him picking his bike up having come a cropper!!

I also had a few Lambrettas , that I bought used. I started with an old LD 175 then LI 125 and finally an SX 200. I have to say that I came a cropper on these more often than on proper bikes
They are all worth quite a lot of money now as collector’s items.

We could make this our own personal thread - I had a LI 150 that I had bored out to 175 and then a TV 200 which was increased to 225cc. Both of them I also stripped down and resprayed them, the TV 200 was Ford Metallic Fern Green.

Although they weren't that fast (about 70 mph max) they did have reasonable acceleration, but with their small wheels (10" I recollect), you certainly had to be careful with them. I agree about their current value and wouldn't mind having one now. Happy memories!!

[Bristolian]

I certainly wouldn't mind having my LD 175 back. I think that I sold it for £50, which seemed ok at the time. However in life, there are many things that we get wrong. For me it was selling this scooter. The number plate was "BAD 1". Of course before personalised plates became worth anything. Ooops

[magnum]

Yep back in the 60's had a couple of S2 Li's then worked up to Sx 200,just sold my TV 175 last year now in the process of building Lambretta auto with Aprilia 172 motor,at least it will start everytime and go like stink.
Lamies fetching good money the most desirable is the TV/GT 200 will fetch upto £8000 oh if we had known.

[buksida]

I love the naked street bikes and this beauty is a fine example, anyone tell me what it is?

[MrPlum]

MV Augusta Brutale

Although a biker for years... started on a CB500 until the buffeting and cold chill got to me...



Then went on to the VFR750FV (3 of them)...



(I like this pic because it reminds me of my escape from the UK via the Alps and Pyrenees before landing on an Algarve hillside)

...I was never an encyclopedia when it came to bikes. So, I'll leave this topic to the experts.

[sandman67]

BSA Bantam in old Royal Mail livery by the look of it.

A mate and I bought one off the Post Office when they had a clear out of an old storage facility and found a bunch in boxes at the back of the warehouse. They came in a bunch of boxes complete but only part built - rolling frame, separate boxed engine and tranny, separate tank and shin guards, separate exhaust still in oil paper wrapping, and best of all a full back rack and set of leather Royal Mail panniers. I think we paid about 250 queen sheets for ours.

It was all in pretty good nick all considered, but the engine needed a rebuild to clean out the age corrosion. We put it together in the kitchen, then after a couple of test runs replaced some of the bits with new OEM ones from a classic bike garage down in Colliers Wood as age had buggered them. We fitted the whole kit but left the shin guards off as they are fecking dangerous if you crash. Sold em to the Colliers Wood place for someone else to use.

Great little bike for blipping about on, and in its original livery it did get a few admiring stares and smiles from old folks when I went down to the supermarket on it, including meeting a bloke who used to ride one for the Royal Mail. Easy to put together as well - like a Mechano kit. Gotta say, despite its lack of stomp, an original headlight little better than a candle and skinny little tyres that had shag all grip in the wet I loved the little bugger.

Old bikes have character.

PS: Used to see a Thai lad blipping about town on an old twin - black n white tank and I think the one time I got a look at it it was some sort of Italian make. Anyone know him and what the bike is? Its a frickin beauty.

[magnum]

After Lambrettas got into Mini,s then Trikes built first one about 1979 last one a few years back (see pic)could allmost keep up with mates on there bikes unless we were going to rallies then they would load my trailer with there stuff and leave me to meet at venue b......s. Had some great fun on them would love one out in Thailand.

[richard]

An easy oldie for aging bikers (rockers in those days)

Big and bad.jpg (29.24 KiB) Viewed 1044 times

[dtaai-maai]

I've seen a few trikes out here, but only passing through HH, I think.