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

The James 197cc

The James Cycle Co Ltd,started life in around the 1880's in Birmingham, England and was one of many motorcycle companies around the midlands, particularly Birmingham. James post war models were the 99cc Comet,the 122cc Cadet and the 197cc Captain.
The Captain was produced from 1954 thro' 1959 with 197cc Villiers engine.

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 BSA Goldstar DBD34

1956 BSA DBD34
The most prized model of the Gold Star range was the 500 cc DBD34 introduced in 1956,which was very popular in the 50's for their high performance,with clip-on handlebars, finned alloy engine, polished tank, 36 mm bell-mouth Amal carburettor and swept-back exhaust. The DBD34 had a 110 mph top speed. The Gold Star blitzed the Isle of Man Clubmans TT that year. Later models had a very high first Gear, enabling 60 mph plus before changing up to second.
In 1963 saw the end of production for the Gold Star and was only offered in scrambles, or Clubmans trim. In 1963 Lucas ceased to produce the magneto used in the B series, and that line of singles was ended.A sporting single was not produced again till the BSA B50 models that were produced from 1971 through 1973. Some remaindered stock were marketed in 1974 as Triumphs.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

The Triumph Tiger Cub

The Tiger Cub was a British motorcycle made by Triumph Motorcycles at their Meriden factory in Coventry,England.This was launched at the Earls Court show in November 1953.The Tiger Cub competed well against the other small capacity motorcycles of the time such as the Villiers two strokes.
The first Tiger Cubs were a derivative of the Triumph Terrier with the same frame and forks.An off-road version the T20C was produced in the late 50's with high level exhaust and improved suspension.The original model had a plunger frame but this was changed to the modern swinging arm and two suspension units in 1957.The later models had the ignition at the end of the crankshaft where as the earlier models were situated on top of the crankcases.The last model made was the T20B Super Cub, which was launched in November 1966, it was discontinued in 1968.

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

Rudge-Whitworth History

From its foundation in 1894 the Rudge Whitworth company built a reputation for quality, reliability, sporting prowess and innovation with many patented ideas reaching the production machines.
The famous 'Multi' introduced in 1912 with its variable gear ratios quickly became a sought after machine breaking many records and providing the company with their first TT win in 1914.It also saw the introduction of an in-house manufactured 4 speed gear box and the first four valve cylinder head on a 350cc which produced more power than the 500cc it replaced!
Coupled brakes using a linking cable appeared in 1925 and remained a feature until production ceased. They were also noted for their massive 8" diameter brakes which appeared for the first time in 1928.
The famous 'Ulster', which quickly became synonmous with the Rudge name, was introduced in 1929 following the Ulster Grand Prix win by Graham Walker at over 80 mph.
The Golden year of 1930 saw the junior TT 1, 2, 3 win using the newly untried fully radial 350cc 4 valve engines and the following year saw the first road machine with the fully radial valve layout.
The 'semi-radial' aluminium bronze cylinder head appeared on a road machine in 1934 and development in this engine area continued resulting in full enclosure of the valve gear from 1937 onwards.
In the final year of manufacture in 1939, the cylinder head was cast from RR50 light alloy with iron valve seat inserts. Although production ceased in December 1939.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

The MK1 Norton Commando

The Norton Commando was the last twin piston-engined motorcycle produced by the Norton Motorcycle company.
During the 10 years it was in production it was popular all over the world. In the UK it won the MCN "Machine of the Year" competition for five successive years from 1968-1972
Some regard it as the British Motorcycle Industry's swansong, selling well from its introduction in 1967 through the end of the British bike industry as a commercial concern in the mid 1970s
The origins of the Norton Commando can be traced back from the late 1940s 497cc Norton Model 7 Twin,which was designed by Bert Hopwood.The twin cylinder design evolved into the 650 cc Norton Dominator and 750 cc Norton Atlas before being launched as the 750 cc Commando in 1967.
Mk1 750cc
The Norton Commando was introduced in 1967 at the Earls Court Show. The first production machines completed in April 1968 had bending frame problems, removed with the introduction of a new frame in January 1969. The original model, called the 'Fastback' was joined by the production racer 'S Type' which had a high level left-side exhaust and a 2.5 gallon petrol tank.
The machine was produced with parts from all over England,with the engines from Wolverhampton, frames from Manchester, while the components and final assembly was at Burrage Grove, Plumstead. In late 1968 Plumstead works was subject to a Greater London Council compulsory purchase order, and closed in July 1969. With assistance of a Government subsidy, the assembly line was moved to North Way, Andover; with the Test Department in an aircraft hangar on Thruxton Airfield. Frame manufacturing was transferred to Wolverhampton, where a second production line produced about 80 complete machines each week.
The production racer, featuring an OHV tuned engine, front disk brake and was finished in bright yellow - known as the 'Yellow Peril'. In March to June 1970 the updated S called the 'Roadster' had the 750cc OHV engine, low-level exhaust, upward angled silencers with reverse cones. September 1970 saw the introduction of the classic 'Fastback Mk2', which had alloy levers with modified stands and chain guards. The ‘Street Scrambler’ and the ‘Hi Rider’ were launched in May 1971, with the ‘Fastback Long Range’ with increased petrol tank capacity from July 1971.
The ‘Combat’ engine was introduced in January 1972 saw the appearance of the ‘Mk4 Fastback’, updated ‘Roadster’ and the ‘750 Interstate’. The ‘Combat’ delivered 65b.h.p. at 6500r.p.m. with a 10 to 1 compression ratio, but the stressed 750cc twin proved extremely unreliable, with main bearing failures and broken pistons common.
The 'Combat' engine combined with quality control problems gave the company a bad reputation, which was highly covered in the press. By the middle of 1972 BSA Triumph group were in serious financial trouble. The UK Government decided to bail the company out with a financial rescue package, providing it would agree to merge with Norton Villiers. Norton Villiers Triumph was duly formed and the new company got off to a shaky start.
Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com