Triumph Rocket 111

The original model was released in 2004 as the "biggest productioon bike in the world"and has remained in production with only minor modifications other than a change of engine colour from silver to black in 2006. In England this model was awarded Motorcycle Cruiser magazine's 2004 Bike of the Year, Motorcyclist's 2004 Cruiser of the Year, and Cruising Rider magazine 2005 Bike of the Year.In 2006 a black finish to the engine was introduced and new colour choices of Graphite and 'Scorched Yellow' were added to the original colours of Jet Black and Cardinal Red. In 2007 the colour schemes were changed to Phantom Black and Mulberry Red and in 2008 to Phantom Black and Claret.

Dave Burton

www.bargain-motors.com

Velocette LE "The Everymans Bike"

The Velocette LE was made from 1948 through 1970 in Great Britain.The LE emblem stood for "little engine" of initially 150cc.One of the largest customers was the British Police force,which at one point accounted for half of the production for over 50 forces across the country,the last force to use them was the Kent Constabulary which purchased the remaining spare parts and were able to keep LE's running until 1974.
The police also gave rise to the name "Noddy" bike which came from riders acknoledging their superiors by nodding to them rather than taking their hand of the handle bars to salute.
The Velocette LE was a 150cc four-stroke, water cooled, horizontally-opposed twin cylinder engine, the LE also had a radiator and was fitted with coil ignition to help starting.The final drive was by a shaft mounted in a swing frame with adjustable suspension. Aluminium leg shields were designed to keep the rain off and footboards gave it a scooter feel.
Instruments included a speedometer and trip recorder. To reduce noise and vibration the engine was rubber mounted and the pressed steel frame was lined with soundproofing felt.Carrying capacity was boosted by quickly detachable panniers and a "glove compartment" in front of the petrol tank. All this made the MkI LE expensive, however, at £126 compared with the BSA Bantam at £76.
In 1970 the company went into voluntary liquidation.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

The Panther 100 "Sloper"

The Panther Model 100 was a British motorcycle manufactured by Phelon & Moore between 1932 and 1963 it was a 598cc air cooled, single cylinder, overhead valve, pushrod four stroke engine
with a top speed of 70mph with a four speed gearbox.
The brakes were a 8in. front drum and a 7in. rear drum
and weighed 425 pounds.
The engine replaced part of the front downtube of the frame.Panthers were manufactured in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, UK from 1900 to 1967,the engine and overall layout stayed essentially the same, the specifications steadily evolved over these thirty or so years.
Miss Florence Blenkiron and Miss Teresa Wallach undertook the epic journey from London to Cape Town, crossing the Sahara: the first such journey on a Panther motorcycle combination in the early thirties.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

The BSA Bantam D1

The BSA Bantam was a two-stroke motorcycle that was produced by BSA from 1948 to 1971,which was made in Birmingham England.In which overr 250,000 were sold.
The design of the Bantam was a near copy of the DKW RT 125 a German made motorbike.This original Bantam, the D1's were available only in all-over "mist green", and sold for £60 plus tax. Later models changed distinctly from the original; over the years it gained improved suspension including a rear swinging arm, electrics and the engine size increased from 125 cc to 175 cc.
The engine is a unit construction (engine and gearbox of one piece) single cylinder 2 stroke. The barrel is cast iron while the head is alloy. The gearbox was initially three speeds,. The electrics run by a magneto was on a composite assembly sitting within the flywheel with its magnet inserts; windings gave power either directly to the lights (with a dry cell for when the engine was stopped) or through a rectifier into a lead acid battery. The early D1s had a flattened fish tail style exhaust.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com