British Beat

[banquo]

OK, so it's not about Harleys, but you can't help but think it's odd to walk down a street in Tokyo and find a showroom and workshop dedicated to old Brit bikes, with everything from a C15 to Tridents to Various Norton singles and twins, and a few Meriden Triumphs.
No wonder there's nothing at the autojumbles these days....
Even a few motors for sale in the window (is that a square four?)
There was a guy just getting fired up on an old Norton single, plunger framed and girdered, open primary, and the biggest fishtail in the world, just as I arrived. Shame I didn't get the camere a out quick enough for that one...
Few Sporties out on the roads, which are salt free, and the temperature mid fifties in the sun....
Hope you can see these:
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jak...bum?.dir=/6ef5

[Ming the Merciless]

Personally, I am thrilled and pleased that the sound of Brit bikes is still being heard somewhere in the world. If these machines are being loved and ridden by doting owners, what better tribute to bygone days when British iron ruled the world?

It's always interesting to note how people from other countries often value things from Britain that we Brits were prepared to let slip out of existence.

[hippy]

The head japaneze guy in the uk for Honda use to ride a late sixties Bonny to work cant remember where i read it but i was impressed.
With the demise of the British bike industry it was left to Harley to carry on the tradition of building long stroke engines ,there nowt wrong with Brit bikes they sound great and go great so it looks like the japs have discovered real bikes at last

[banquo]

Yep, and it's interesting to see how, in this age of nostalgia, they're going all retro with their own stuff, and producing long stroke singles and twins too. We've all seen the Kawasaki W650, but I saw a retro Kawasaki single yesterday, with separate rider and pillion seats like you got back in the forties and early fifties. Found a photo too:

It's an Estrella, but I've never seen one here...

Kawasaki's first entry into big bikes was a copy of the A10, which was so well copied, it suffered from the same sticky valves as the BSA.

It wasn't the long stroke that killed the British bike: it was the obsession with vertically split crankcases IMHO, and the oil leaks and whippy cranks that resulted. It's often been said that their demise was due to the fact that most of them were based on pre-war designs, and that's true, but it's ironic that it's that very heritage that's kept Harley alive today.

[Hawkeye]

I really don't see the fascination in British bikes, i have worked on many of them over the years and think they are rubbish.

Yes they look reasonably good but they need tinkering with to keep them running. I have seen so many Jap bike riders pass their test and get the great British bike, only to find they haven't got a clue how to start them let alone ride them.

I am talking about pre 1980 bikes here. I have had my fair share of Triumphs, BSA's, Matchless, Norton, AJS.

[chilly]

Chill

[banquo]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I really don't see the fascination in British bikes, i have worked on many of them over the years and think they are rubbish.

Yes they look reasonably good but they need tinkering with to keep them running. I have seen so many Jap bike riders pass their test and get the great British bike, only to find they haven't got a clue how to start them let alone ride them.

I am talking about pre 1980 bikes here. I have had my fair share of Triumphs, BSA's, Matchless, Norton, AJS.

True enough I guess, but needs to be taken in context: traditional British bikes were dead by the seventies, and your average Harley of the same era suffered from exactly the same problems of unreliability, oil leaks, poor quality control, and reliance on derivatives of pre-war designs.
Difference was the fanatical zeal by which some Americans supported their domestic industry over the hump, despite the shoddy goods that were sold to them, and allowed the Phoenix to rise from the ashes.
Here, most couldn't transfer to Japanese machinery quick enough, and the modular singles, twins, triples and fours that were on the drawing board never made it past the prototype stage. Maybe a cash injection from the much criticed AMF could have saved our industry too, but British financiers have never been known for their foresight, nor for their ability to take risks...

[little_dave]

You're right Banquo, when the brits put the backing in, you only have to look at Triumph, if i was going to buy another bike other than a Harley, then that's what I would go for; we can produce good stuff, you only have to look at the ( I think it's the Nissan cars made oop North to prove it!) and certainly Triumph are up there with the best of them.

[Hawkeye]

I do agree with you on that point but there seems to be no thought of design and looks. Take the Boniville of today, it is plain ugly !!! you can still see the looks of the old 1940's bikes.

Why not make it an OHC or run the push rods inside the barrels to clean it up a bit.
I think i was a bit harsh in what i said, i do think the early pre-unit Trimuphs were quite good looking but they just rested on their laurels.

I remeber an old 350 Triumph i had, if i gave that a handful on gravel the rear wheel would move 4inch either side of the front wheel !!!, now that dont make for good handling.

I will never changs my Sportster for any brit bike thats for sure lol.

[Battersea]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I remeber an old 350 Triumph i had, if i gave that a handful on gravel the rear wheel would move 4inch either side of the front wheel !!!, now that dont make for good handling.

And your Sporty doesn't

Every bike i have owned has done that