In 1955 I was sixteen, and like many other sixteen year old lads, I was old enough to ride a motorbike..Just about then my Brother in law was just about to upgrade his steed to a Matchless 350 and he offered me his old bike for the sum of five pounds..in my Post Office account I had just the right amount to buy it....So I became the proud owner of a 1932 Francis Barnett Cruiser (my first motorbike)..I've owned many other superior bikes since then but none of them had the Magic of my Fanny Barnett...
Question....what was the first motorcycle that you owned?.

My first road bike (not counting stuff used on fields) was a Suzuki 120 back in the late 70's. I'm still riding 25 years later, but maybe not as much. Work, family and having a car changes all that.

Never had a 'bike myself, but my dad used to let me travel on the pillion of his Royal Enfield in the late 50s.

Happy days, and I can still smell the engine getting hot.:(

i had a bultcaco in the late 70s and also a kawasaki 550.

I had a yamaha FS1E (fizzy) in the late seventies. 60 mph on a 50 cc moped with pedals attached. Pure madness.

My first motorbike was a 150cc Francis Barnett Plover that I had just before my 16th birthday in 1962. I used to love riding round the Parson Cross/Ecclesfield/ Grenoside areas thinking I had the best bike in the world. I managed to put up with the bike for about a week before buying a 197cc Villiers engined DOT Mancunian. What a difference to the Plover.
My next bike was a 350 Velocette ( this was bought about 3 month after the DOT) and then in 1964 I bought the bike I had for nearly 25 years a beautiful 500cc Norton 88. How I wish I still had that old Norton.

I had a Matchless 250, I bought it with me winnings on the draw at Spear and Jackson. I used to use it for work. I didn't go very far on it. There was a lot less traffic on the roads at that time. I don't know whether I'd want to risk it anymore, there are so many silly buggers on the road these days. I used to go to Castleton on it. When I met me wife I couldn't get her near it. She used to say "You'll not get me on one of those things!"
I suppose she had a point. I never passed me test on a motorbike, but I enjoyed the wind in my face even though it was short lived. Speaking about Spear and Jacksons, does anybody remember Workers Playtime. They put a big marquee up. I think that was in the bicentenary year 1960. We all got a big box of chocolates on a Sanen wood tray.

When I was a little girl, my father had a James. (amongst about half- a-dozen he owned through my childhood)

I also remember that he had an Indian (I think it was called)

I also remember the wonderful bike-and-side-car ensemble he had when I was about four.. we used to have wonderful trips into the countryside and to the coast. we used to use it to go and stop in our uncle's caravan at Hubbert's Bridge, near Boston, lincs.

The side car was like an old fashioned stage coach. It was high topped and round of body. My sister and I loved travelling in the side car.

My first bike was a new, v-reg MZ 250/ts-2, red, it was.
Boy oh boy! did it ever have some torque. it would try to pull wheelies as you pulled away. The only thing I did not like about it, was that, as it was a two-stroke, the engine sounded like a hairdryer. It belied the power it actually had.

PT

First bike ridden was an old Honda SS50 in 1978. First bike owned was a Honda CG125, then an RD250B, then Suzuki T125 Stinger, then a GP100C, then a GT250X7, then a Montessa Cota 348, then a GS1000C, then an XR250 (had 2), then a KH250 (had 3), then another X7, then an RD400F, then a Moto Guzzi 1000, and several more. Still ride - had a Harley forthe last 6 years :)

Originally posted by rupert
First bike ridden was an old Honda SS50 in 1978. First bike owned was a Honda CG125, then an RD250B, then Suzuki T125 Stinger, then a GP100C, then a GT250X7, then a Montessa Cota 348, then a GS1000C, then an XR250 (had 2), then a KH250 (had 3), then another X7, then an RD400F, then a Moto Guzzi 1000, and several more. Still ride - had a Harley forthe last 6 years :)
my first bike was an ok supream jap engine
petrol 2shillings and three pence a gallon
had a few bikes after
brough superior
bsa m20
goldflash
yamaha 250 rdx

Originally posted by Alanbro
I had a Matchless 250, I bought it with me winnings on the draw at Spear and Jackson. I used to use it for work. I didn't go very far on it. There was a lot less traffic on the roads at that time. I don't know whether I'd want to risk it anymore, there are so many silly buggers on the road these days. I used to go to Castleton on it. When I met me wife I couldn't get her near it. She used to say "You'll not get me on one of those things!"
I suppose she had a point. I never passed me test on a motorbike, but I enjoyed the wind in my face even though it was short lived. Speaking about Spear and Jacksons, does anybody remember Workers Playtime. They put a big marquee up. I think that was in the bicentenary year 1960. We all got a big box of chocolates on a Sanen wood tray.
my wife work there got one of those trays dark colour
with a spear in the middle through it out about two month ago
all the best

It was in 1958 and the bike was a BSA Bantam. I went to work on it during the week and camping in Derbyshire at weekends. It was slow and noisy, but it got me around for a year or so. I remember having to get off and help it up the hill from Matlock to Riber Castle one time

Tony

First bike I owned was a Honda NSR125R 1990 (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mcpoolen.se/images/mc-honda-89-nsr125r-blarodvit.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.mcpoolen.se/mc/nya-h-89-nsr125r.html&h=200&w=338&sz=37&tbnid=yizFzsHVPeYJ:&tbnh=68&tbnw=114&start=3&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnsr%2B125%2Br%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26cli ent%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DG) and took me 6 months to kill.

O to be young and stupid!

Favourite bike must have been a Honda VFR 400 NC23 "pocket rocket" (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.postmamotoren.nl/images/motoren/vfr400r_klein.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.postmamotoren.nl/motoren.htm&h=150&w=200&sz=18&tbnid=ABZbRd_J3DMJ:&tbnh=74&tbnw=98&start=27&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvfr%2B400%2Br%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den% 26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN) which I dare not try any faster than 140 mph.

I fancy a CCM R30 (http://www.ccm-motorcycles.com/) next so I do not die quite so quickly.

God so many bikes so long ago I think my first legal road bike was a Honda AP50 managed to blow two engines before I got rid of it.:clap::clap:

way back in 1961 my cousin married eric,he had an ajs 500,they got a cottage out near dunham bridge and on school holidays eric would come over and pick me up to spend a week with them, at my moms funeral 7 years ago we were chatting about the old days and he told me he still has the bike, runs it round the village every sunday,.its got to be over 50 years old as it was second hand when he bought it, thats when bikes were bikes

My first bike , back in 1989 was a Yamaha DT100. I bought it from a friend of a friend for £150, it used to stop in the rain because the non standard front mudguard didn't stop the front wheel spraying water on the spark plug.!
After I had a Honda CG125, Honda CB250N, Suzuki GSX250, Gpz600R.

Due to some reminiscences a year or 2 ago you can see pics of them on this little web site ->
http://www.rocknroll.f9.co.uk/motor/motorcy5.htm

thinking of getting a 600 fazer or cagiva 650 next year

I don't really like the modern bikes they seem to be mostly 'nice and plastic', the older bikes were so much better looking. Loved the Norton commando but not when the kick start kicked back and hit the back of your calf. My favorite though would be a panther, no ground clearance but such a nice noise and it didn't matter whether you were going up hill down hill or on the flat it had the same noise, distinctive I think you'd call it.

Remember when you could tell what kind of bike was going to come into view just by the sound it made? I doubt that's possible with most of today's bikes

Tony

After graduating from Lambrettas and Vespas, swopped sides and got a Moto Morini 3 1/2 sport..... beautiful looking bike, but slow and unreliable!!

I just sold my 1960 Vespa GS150 last year.

Wonderful machine it was.

Originally posted by WALLBUILDER
I don't really like the modern bikes they seem to be mostly 'nice and plastic', the older bikes were so much better looking.

Many modern bikers agree Wallbuilder. They do sell lots of so called "Retro" style bikes and many bikes come in 3 different forms of undress so that you can see the naked engine.

Most bike showrooms are filled with whizzy looking race replicas. And there are many bike magazines, reflecting popular sentiment, the complaint that there's not enough choice.

my first bike was a puch 50 moped canary yellow with chrome tank passed me test on that then a suzki 250 ram air system good for 100 mph my 3rd bike was a suzki 750 water cooled had a nasty accident on it and finished up in hallamshire hosi for 5 weeks 1 of em in a coma broken leg collar bone head injuries e.t.c went tro a farmers 5 bar gate near fox house at about 60 mph so that was the end of my wild days as a biker loved it tho in summer still got the bug to this day for bikes but i will stay in my tin box on wheels for now all the best steve

my first bike was a pink moped with lilac mudguards even the mods used to laugh at me so i drove it over a cliff ,and got a vincent black lightning 1000 cc .sheffield to manchester 15 min,plus i ,d stop for a fry up and two pots of tea on my vincent black lightning 1953...

My first bike was Triumph Tiger Cub, it didnt, have an engine. We would push it to the top of the hill on the fields at Hackenthorpe, all jump on it (3 to 4 of us) and freeweel to the bottom trying to avoid the large oak tree and crossing the narrow bridge and up the pavement till it stopped. Not always successful, still have scars on head to prove it. Loss of brain cells had obviuosly occured prior to this stunt.

Also had a BSA Bantam, never got it going so gave it away to some bloke.

Next came MOD phase so I got a Vespa with sidecar painted it Luminous pink and green (dont ask). Used to meet up with other Mods at the Post Office on Fitzallan Sqaure on a Sunday Morning and all shoot off to Castleton where we would get into scraps with the Rockers usualy led by Butlap and Eskimo.

Around the early 70's I bought a lambretta 150 from Armando (what a character) I spent many hours chatting with him around a little pot stove in his tiny workshop off London Road) last scooter was a GP200.

Some years later got a Honda CM200 motorbike, and currently ride a Virago. That,s thirty five years of biking still fall off on the odd occasion. But I would never be without one. pleasure riding only now though. dont want to tarnish the Chrome!!!

My early memories of motorcycling are sitting on the pillion of my father's CX 500 on the centrestand. He used to put red powerpaint into the exhausts so that when it fired up it blew red smoke everywhere. Very impressive if you're 6.

He then sold the CX and didn't ride anything for years until he bought one of those Indian Enfield things. A two wheeled endorsement to chiropractitioners. My word, it was unpleasant to be on the back of.

I still own my first road bike, a VFR 400R. It's amazing to think that these things are considered by a lot of people to be beginners bikes yet I can give most cars short of a Ferrari a run for its money away from the lights.

Originally posted by Timbuck



Question....what was the first motorcycle that you owned?.

Royal Enfield 250cc

James with Villiers 197cc engine

Triumph Tiger Cub 200cc

Velocette MSS 500cc

mine was a bsa bantam,but spent most of my time on the back of my mates bonny,the other lads had bsa rocket,enfield crusader sport,a matchless and norton domi,when we went to stavely where they lived the local lads had 650,s with tin baths attached to be legal while still displaying l plates.

we used to do matlock,castleton,skeggy most weekends but then girls started to appear and we drifted apart,havent seen some of them in almost 35 years

We used to laugh at those ''Jap Crap'' popcorn machines such as Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki when they first came over here.


They set out to destroy the British Bike industry.


They did - and we laugh no more.

Originally posted by Unregistered
We used to laugh at those ''Jap Crap'' popcorn machines such as Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki when they first came over here.

They set out to destroy the British Bike industry.

They did - and we laugh no more.
Not sure they "set out to destroy the British Bike industry", I think they set out to be successful businesses.

The British bike industry committed suicide by failing to either innovate, or meet customers developing requirements.

Originally posted by foo_fighter


Not sure they "set out to destroy the British Bike industry", I think they set out to be successful businesses.




There was a big controversy at the time, about unofficial Japanese subsidies, and many people bought them solely on price in the early days - certainly not on quality.

However, their quality did improve rapidly during the late sixties.

Not sure they "set out to destroy the British Bike industry", I think they set out to be successful businesses.

The British bike industry committed suicide by failing to either innovate, or meet customers developing requirements.

I agree, I don't think total market dominance was quite on their minds. Especially since Mr Honda's (I can say his first name, just not spell it :)) dream was to go racing, rather than build a means of transport which was more a method of funding for the former. The British bike industry sealed its own fate by ignoring the new competitor.

It's also interesting to note that there is no distinction between the Japanese term for 'learn' and their term for 'copy', hence the first Japanese cars were almost identical to the British cars, or so I've been told.

Originally posted by Unregistered
There was a big controversy at the time, about unofficial Japanese subsidies, and many people bought them solely on price in the early days - certainly not on quality.

However, their quality did improve rapidly during the late sixties.
Agreed, the early build quality was...

...questionable (as is the Chinese stuff now).

I had a Kawasaki z650C3 (obviously later on) and the quality of both design, and build, was unparalleled in the British bike industry (by then).

That's the real point, the Japanese learned (as ADC_28 says) much quicker how to build the bikes that WE wanted.

IMHO the Chinese bike industry will have their CB750/z1/z650 in the not too distant future, and that will mean serious competition world-wide for the "Big 4".

In the mean time, I'll stick to my Italian bikes.

Hey, let's be honest, I probably will anyway. ;)

Is not half of the fun avoiding death by a small margin at 90 MPH?

Originally posted by venger
Is not half of the fun avoiding death by a small margin at 90 MPH?

Yeah, the old adage about one not feeling truly alive until it's possible to read the reaper's laundry tag is certainly true.

However, I was referring more to my friends who have taken Direct Access and bought 500s and 600s and prior to this weren't so much as able to ride the bus in safety, let alone a 100bhp missile.

Mind you, I always find that I have much less trust in the ability of people I've known for a long time. When I heard that an old school friend is now making a successful career as an airline pilot my first thoughts were remember when we were at school and he could barely tie his own shoelaces unaided.

Having said that, this is probably why my father still imparts his motoring 'wisdom' to me when I'm driving him around...

Biking is too dangerous these days, and cold, and wet.


I prefer a tin can with a wheel on each corner. I can always open a window and dream.

Originally posted by Unregistered
I can always open a window and dream.

Not much use when you're stuck in traffic though, eh? :)

Originally posted by ADC_28
Not much use when you're stuck in traffic though, eh? :)


Patience is a virtue.


I no longer need to bob and weave or duck and dive.


I always allow extra time for a car journey to enjoy the experience and the frustration of others.

I've lost too many biking friends and witnessed too many of their permanent injuries to go back on two wheels.

To witness the aftermath of a diesel spill on a fast left hand bend was the final straw for me. There was no escape.

Originally posted by Unregistered
I've lost too many biking friends and witnessed too many of their permanent injuries to go back on two wheels.

To witness the aftermath of a diesel spill on a fast left hand bend was the final straw for me. There was no escape.
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

I am now too old to use the 'bike as my primary transport, and am unwilling to use it all winter through.

I do however us it if the conditions are acceptable, at any time of year.

If you find yourself a little worried by the consequences of crashing, good, it keeps you alive, if you are frightened by them, you really should pack in.

For me, lets just say, I'm aware of the consequences, and ride accordingly.

Does anyone know owt of any classic bike shops in the Sheffield area since Leather and Simpson shut down?
I have acquired a Norvin, in boxes through a deal, and don't know what to do with it.... But I dont want to sell it, not yet anyway...

Originally posted by foo_fighter


If you find yourself a little worried by the consequences of crashing, good, it keeps you alive, if you are frightened by them, you really should pack in.

For me, lets just say, I'm aware of the consequences, and ride accordingly.


I'm more concerned about others crashing into me, by coming out of junctions etc., and the sheer volume of traffic.

Originally posted by SHarper
Does anyone know owt of any classic bike shops in the Sheffield area since Leather and Simpson shut down?
I have acquired a Norvin, in boxes through a deal, and don't know what to do with it.... But I dont want to sell it, not yet anyway...

I don't think there are any.
Have you tried looking in the backpages of the motorcycling press. There are some specialised places up and down the country.

Originally posted by SHarper
Does anyone know owt of any classic bike shops in the Sheffield area since Leather and Simpson shut down?
I have acquired a Norvin, in boxes through a deal, and don't know what to do with it.... But I dont want to sell it, not yet anyway...

You may be interested in clicking this (http://www.thenorvincentre.com/)

Have spoken to this gentleman, he's in Dartford, didn't want to help, just tried to get me to sell it, he was very eager...

bikes eh! what about the scooter boys? I purchased my first scooter at the tender age of 16 in 1968 paid 12 quid for an Li 150 from a guy called Roger Lockwood covered it in stolen car mirrors and other junk it was my pride n joy got me to skeggy (and back) at least twice. After the Li I went up market bought a Lambretta SX 200 "real sexy!" but some one nicked it from Pond St car park got the £125 insurance and bought a mini.
Any sheffield scooter boys from the 60s out there?

PS did I mention that for the last 15 years I have been riding bikes! current bike.. Kawasaki EN 500

I had a brand new SX200 back in '65 and joined a scooter club (met at the Big Tree as I recall). We went all over the country on them - great times! Before this I had bikes, so I did the swap-over from "greaser" to "mod" - if you like

I enjoyed the improved weather protection of the scooter, but missed the power bikes had. I still like both kinds of two-wheelers even today (and any other numbers of wheels - just so long as it has any number of wheels I suppose)

Tony
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/whiteleyweb/Bikes.htm

my first motorbike was a handmedown royal enfield 150cc bit of a ****heap but soon restored it but never got chance to ride it (was too young) my first road bike was a francis barnet 2T 250cc twin two stroke would never kick start on cold mornings always had to warm spark plugs on gas then bump start it, then upgraded to triuph bonneville 650cc with a few other bikes in between such as triumph tiger cub,bsa bantom, ariel leader (such fun to ride with all the paniers on.

Originally posted by gillmarx
always had to warm spark plugs on gas then bump start it,

A trick I got off my dad when I had flooded the engine, was to remove the plug, pour lighter fuel in the cylinder and light it with a match. After a bloody great bang, get the plug in quick before it cooled down and hey presto it would start like a Jap bike. Just had to make sure you were not looking down the barrel when you lit it or you ended up with singed eyebrows.

:)

A trick I got off my dad when I had flooded the engine, was to remove the plug, pour lighter fuel in the cylinder and light it with a match. After a bloody great bang, get the plug in quick before it cooled down and hey presto it would start like a Jap bike.

Surely this would remove the layer of oil which should coat the barrel?

Having said that, the flooding of the engine would cause the petrol to remove the oil anyway....

What do the old hands on the forum reckon?

Originally posted by ADC_28
Surely this would remove the layer of oil which should coat the barrel?

Having said that, the flooding of the engine would cause the petrol to remove the oil anyway....

What do the old hands on the forum reckon?

Well, when you are trying to get to work in the dark on a cold winters morning, the last thing you would be intereted in was whether there was any oil on the side of the barrels :)

but seriously, we are only talking about drying the barrels, as soon as the engine fires , if it was a two stroke the barrels would be re-oiled. If a four stroke, its only the crank side of the barrles that are oiled anyway. The scraper ring keeps the oil out of the combustiion chamber. Unless the engines worn of course, thats when you get a smoky exhaust.

You also need to dry the plugs too, I just held a match under them to burn the fuel/oil off.

The starting problems were mainly with the 2 strokes like the bantam where oil is mixed with the fuel. In winter time the oil in the fuel makes it "heavier" and harder to ignite. Four strokes suffered less.

HI
my first road bike was a single pot side valve panther great side car bikes would pull a train sideways but when kick starting god help you if tried without using the valve lifter

I've had a full motorcycle licence for nearly half my life but some of this jargon you older boys are using is a complete mystery to me. It's like my uncle getting me back for the blank looks he gives me when I am showing him how to use and fix his computer.
Side valve?
panther? Norvin?

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I've had a full motorcycle licence for nearly half my life but some of this jargon you older boys are using is a complete mystery to me. It's like my uncle getting me back for the blank looks he gives me when I am showing him how to use and fix his computer.
Side valve?
panther? Norvin?
I'm not that old, but 'tis true, Panthers (made in Cleck-udders-fax somewhere) were/are a real pig to kick over, get it wrong and you *will* fly over the garden shed with one broken leg...

...and get another when you land.

:) Great fun :)

Originally posted by Alanbro
I had a Matchless 250, I bought it with me winnings on the draw at Spear and Jackson. I used to use it for work. I didn't go very far on it. There was a lot less traffic on the roads at that time. I don't know whether I'd want to risk it anymore, there are so many silly buggers on the road these days. I used to go to Castleton on it. When I met me wife I couldn't get her near it. She used to say "You'll not get me on one of those things!"
I suppose she had a point. I never passed me test on a motorbike, but I enjoyed the wind in my face even though it was short lived. Speaking about Spear and Jacksons, does anybody remember Workers Playtime. They put a big marquee up. I think that was in the bicentenary year 1960. We all got a big box of chocolates on a Sanen wood tray.
my wife got a tray like dark polished wood its still knocking about in house somewhere maiden name betty clark

I got my first bike at the ripe old age of 3 (i know this cos it had a massive no 3 on the front) I think it was a 18cc yamaha. then I got a suzuki GT50, then a mtx 125. I passed my test and got a GS500, onto a GSXF 750 and here I am with a 120bhp streetfighter 1200 Bandit.

Any one remember sony weston his place was just off broad st, his brother had a car scrap yard in the same block, what happened to him, (obviously in that bike scrap yard in the sky) but what happened to all the bikes and bits and of
coarse his "dogend" tin

Suzuki AP50
Suzuki TS100
Suzuki GT250
Kawasaki KH250
Honda XL250
Jawa 350 combo
BSA C15
Kawasaki 200
Honda CD175
Honda VF400

Current bike is an old (1984) Kawasaki GPz750. Oh it's for sale if you want to PM me - spent too much on it, but bikes are like that aren't they.

The first bike I ever owned was in 1956. It was a 1934 New Imperial with a 90-some cc two stroke engine in it. Because it was first registered before speedometers were required (I kid you not) it didn't have one. No fear of going too much over the limit on that thing though unless you were going downhill with a following wind. It also had a stickshift rather than a toe pedal for changing gears. There was no battery on it either so the lights only worked whilst the engine was running, they got dimmer or brighter as the engine speed changed. The horn was one of those bulb types that you had to squeeze. Good fun and I can smell the oil/petrol mix as I type.

My first was a BSA Bantam an ex GPO Telegram lads bike.
It was a 2 stroke and there was a brass tube on the inside of the petrol cap. You filled up with petrol and then a measure of 2stroke oil using the brass tube was put into the same tank. You then had to shake the bike from side to side to mix it. happy days.:D :loopy:
My current is a 1995 Harley Davidson 1340 Softail Custom.:clap:

BSA Bantam

my first bike about 1965/66 A Kerry Capitano 47.7cc or there abouts an italian bike not moped it had 3 gears operated by a twist grip on the handle bars

then a francis barnet
then a bsa bantam

yep brings back memories weekend runs to the coast etc

First bike I owned was a 250cc BSA Starfire it was a nice bike until I siezed it up. Then the rest-
Honda CD 175cc
MZ 150cc
Honda Superdream 250cc
Honda 125cc Supersport (bought while the Superdream was off road)
Honda CX 500cc
Honda 900cc
Last bike was the trusty CX 500.
You can see more of my bikes here-http://sueal.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

My first bike I inherited from my Brother, Francis Barnet 197cc 9E Villiers that was back in 1966.
Then I went on to acquire:
98cc Sun
LE Velocette (old coppers bike)
A peddle bike with the engine in the back wheel, don’t know the make.
Excelsior 197cc Villiers 8E .
Tiger cub
Cotton 250cc (that one cost me 10 bob)
Monkey Bike (I think they used them in WW2)
This Royal Enfield Interceptor which I swapped for a Meteor Minor 500 cc.
250cc C15
These bikes and some others got run into the ground on Nunnery pit “as was”
Then I got my first road bike.
250 Enfield Crusader (which I ran into a brick wall) but I enjoyed the bike so much I bought another one.
250 Enfield Crusader.
Then I went on to Trials
250 Bultaco Sherpa of which over the years I must have had about 3 or 4.
And finally ending with and which I still have to this day,
125 fantic trials
175 TY Yamaha trials
250 Bultaco Sherpa trials
All good fun:thumbsup:

First bike was a 1956 Panther 250cc. I used it to get backwards and forwards to work for a couple of years. This was the regular four stroke, not the two stroke with the Earls Forks.

I brought it home from the dealer on a Saturday and on Monday night, France and Britain invaded Egypt to try and retake the Suez Canal. By Wednesday; the canal was block; petrol had almost doubled in price, if you could find any. Two days after that, it went on ration. Welcome to the wonderful world of motorcycling.

On the regular (and only grade of petrol, that was about at the time) it had the acceleration of a super oil tanker but then Fina brought out a grade called 95. Then the performance improved a lot. Second bike was a Douglas Dragonfly. Remember them - the poor man's BMW. That didn't last long before my attention moved to a Vincent 500cc., but I bought a car instead.

Would I buy another bike now: Not on this continent I wouldn't. It would be suicide. Here we are plagued with little old ladies, and ladies not so old, and stupid old men, etc. who do not see 18 wheel-articulated transport trucks on the highway so they are not going to see some poor smuck on a bike, even with their headlight on.

If I could clear these cretins off the road, then I might be interested in a Gold Wing. Failing that, something from BMW.

Regards

Hi my first bike was a BSA C12 250cc but prior to that i had a peugoet scooter that my parents thought was safer it was far from safe. But it was the BSA that nearly killed me.

Hello. My first bike was a Triumph Tiger Cub bought in 61 after a few years of dreaming (and getting to be old enough). I only had it for about a week when I skidded across the wet tramlines at Page Hall and although unhurt, twisted the forks. I managed to ride the bike to work with the handlebars pointing in a different direction to the wheel and almost in tears. At work, one of the bigger boys put the front wheel between his knees, gave the bars a few twists and put it all back to normal. That night, I slept the sleep of the saved.

First Bike I had was a Kawasaki AR50, its was brilliant, we used to be all scrunched up behind the tiny fairing to see if we could make it go faster. Used to have tons of fun my mates with their quack AE50 trialy, fs1e and me on the kawa - fantastic.

Went through cd200, cb250, gpz305 and have a CBR600 now, what a bike. Turn the throttle and just try and stay on :) BRILLIANT!! :D

One of the first Honda CB72s in this country. I was smashed into by a prat driving an Inspector Morse type Jag, on Broomhill.

'79 Scooters, 1st bike '81 Suzuki gt250....leaked oil when leant over!, followed by: moto morini 3 1/2 sport, guzzi le mans, 20 year break!!, bandit 600, presently zz-r1100

i also slept the sleep of the saved, unconscious for two weeks and three months in traction

My first bike was a James 125cc
Dot scrambles bike
Vespa125 cc & then a BSA A65 with a busmar Astral sidecar.
Since coming to Oz I have had about 6 bikes, all Honda's, my favourite was a CX 500 water cooled.
Did anyone go to Cadwallenders Motorcycles years ago, they had 2 shops down the moor, London Rd area, Stan & Joyce Cadwallender live near me, I met them down the beach about 10 years ago, what a small world.

Hey SHarper, the Norvin sounds fascinating. Is it a featherbed frame with a Vinnie motor? If it is a Vinnie motor, which motor is it ? Decent Vinnies are like rocking horse manure, so look after it.
My first bike was a BSA Bantam D7, 175 cc, direct lighting, (no battery). I traded it in to Wilf Green who used to be on Abbeydale Rd here in Sheffield for a Triumph T20 Tiger Cub, 200 cc. I had the Cub long enough to pass my test and went back to Wilf Green for another Triumph, a 350 cc Tiger 90. My future wife and I did all our courting on that bike, and only sold it when she was expecting our first son. Happy memories of my biking days.

Probable not the place to post but you guys seem to have some knowledge. Does anyone know how much a 20 year old pristine condition, well maintenance honda motorcycle would sell for? It has 10 000 miles on the clock and has been well looked after.
It is somewhere between 90cc and 125cc I can get more details. It needs a good home. Oh and another question is how long does you average 1990s - 2000s 125cc honda live for ...mileage wise?
Thanks a lot

Hello. Easiest way to get an idea of a bikes value is to go on Ebay and see what they are selling for. Search for the make, model and year.

In 1955 I was sixteen, and like many other sixteen year old lads, I was old enough to ride a motorbike..Just about then my Brother in law was just about to upgrade his steed to a Matchless 350 and he offered me his old bike for the sum of five pounds..in my Post Office account I had just the right amount to buy it....So I became the proud owner of a 1932 Francis Barnett Cruiser (my first motorbike)..I've owned many other superior bikes since then but none of them had the Magic of my Fanny Barnett...
Question....what was the first motorcycle that you owned?.
Ihad aSunbeam350 in 1940 at 16 yrs old, we were on petrol coupons then, Iwent round the block a few times then OFF like a rocket and am still a speed merchant at 82 but here in rural France its not so bad on the roads , Cheers Arthur. [ im on my 37th vehicle and never had a test!]

Good on yer Arthur, tell us some of the bikes you had.

Hi,
My first bike was a BSA Bantam 125CC for the Post office I was a Telegram Boy Started in 1952,couldn't afford one of my own But working all day on one was
Great,i later bought a 1932 Sunbeam 500cc Hand gear change for£10.00 from a farm at grenoside,Happy days eh?

Welcome to the forum TELEGRAMBOY :thumbsup:

My first bike was a BSA Bantam 175cc. Bought it in Mansfield, and toured Belguim and France on it in 1968. I was so proud of it. I can even remember the number plate registration AOL 778F.

Welcome to the forum TELEGRAMBOY :thumbsup:

My first bike was a BSA Bantam 175cc. Bought it in Mansfield, and toured Belguim and France on it in 1968. I was so proud of it. I can even remember the number plate registration AOL 778F.

I can still remember mine! my MZ 250 ts/1 was DET *** V !

Yes indeed, the first one was a 1953 track Bantam, three speed, plunger frame. First road bike 250 Villiers in a Panther frame, expansion boxes, alloy tank, sounded great, but not the sort of thing to take a test on, so 1967 saw me take out £100.00 HP for a 1966 Bantam D7 from Charlie Freemans at Eckington, got £10.00 trade in for the Panther. Passed my test on it, as did my brother and three of my mates before I traded that in for a 1962 Norton 99SS (905 UPK, is it still around?) that was standard, but was treated to respray in metallic blue, 12v electrics, clip-ons, swept back pipes, rear sets and goldie silencers. Sold it in 1970 when I decided to get married. Rode a few jap bikes, GSX 750R, Ducati 749, BSA Gold Star, Rocket Gold Star, Norton Commando, and a few more probably that belonged to mates. Only bikes I ride now are Matchless G50, AJS 7R standard, and Seely framed derivatives with G50 & 7R motors on fun days and track days, that belong to a good friend of mine. Happy Days!!

I can still remember mine! my MZ 250 ts/1 was DET *** V !It's funny how you remember some numbers..My 1st bike reg was WJ6363..That was 50 years ago....I know several ex Army vets who remember their Army numbers from the 2nd world war.

It's funny how you remember some numbers..My 1st bike reg was WJ6363..That was 50 years ago....I know several ex Army vets who remember their Army numbers from the 2nd world war.

my father can reel off , very easily, my granma's "divi" number from the co-op, after nearly seventy years. He can also reel off his army number.

I can also remember the registration numbers of the two Comma caravettes that my father had, thirty-odd years ago:- PAK 477H and HNU 733C how's about that?

I had a shiny new Suzuki DR 125 back in 1983. Got it from Smiths on Spital Hill. That was back in the day before the CBT. They dropped it off on the back of a pick up, gave me a few rudimentary instructions and I was free to cause mayhem on the roads.
Spent the rest of the day screaming round and coming off twice before introducing it to the front of a Fletchers van on Prince of Wales Road.

Those were the days. :hihi:

I bought a 1948 Ariel 350 in 1954. I paid 65 quid for it. It only had a seat for one, and my girl friend didn't like riding on the rear mudguard, mardy girl, so I had to buy a pillion seat as well. I didn't have it lomg and traded up to a 500cc BSA twin which the girl friend liked so much she married me!

I had an italjet 50cc automatic in red and black when I was little :thumbsup:

Remember when you could tell what kind of bike was going to come into view just by the sound it made? I doubt that's possible with most of today's bikes

Tony
You are right. I was in my friend's house and heard a bike.I said "that just sounds like my dad's old BSA Gold Flash. She replied that her fella had just bought one to restore and was road testing it!! I loved riding my dad's old bikes - BSA, Bonneville, and my cousin's Honda 250 Superdream. I always wanted a Gold Wing but never got one!:(

Lambretta LI 150 ... last one, Honda 400CBN.

I never owned a motorbike, but my Dad had a 600 Panther & sidecar, I was about 8 at the time, My vocabulary was increased by some " naughty" words when the kick start jumped back & trapped his foot !

In '54 when I was 13 my dad had a 1000cc V twin BSA with a chair. As his garage was several hundred yards from the house I used to "borrow" it when he was at work! I did I have some fun whilst wearing his big ex Army greatcoat, goggles and a flat cap. I drove it all around Derbyshire and beyond. Luckily I had a small job in a grocer's shop to help put petrol in, at (I think) 5/- a gallon, but my dad did grumble about the mpg!
Looking back I was lucky to get away with it but there was so little traffic in those days.
At 16 I bought an Enfield 50cc Flying Flea with a hand change on the tank but quickly went on to a BSA B31 and then an Enfield 500cc Bullet I bought from Charlie Freeman's in Eckington. I always coveted a Velocette Venom or Norton 99 but never had the money.
Even in the 90's I had a little Honda 50 and then a Suzuki 125.
Now I just have a Chelsea Tractor, wife and Labrador! They are all I can afford.

My three mates had a bike but motorbikes never appealed to me much. i was doing National service in Gibraltar in 1948 and was on Four Corners guard duty. On the Airfield there were hundreds of Nortons all waiting to be shipped back to Blighty. I jumped on one and my mate jumped on another and we managed to get the bloody thing started and moving but no idea how to change gear or stop. We both shot off the wall at the end of the frontier road onto eastern beach, none the worse for wear except I had damaged my ankle. We got three days jankers for that little feat of stupidity.

I had a Lambretta Vega and several Lambrettas after that. I still love them to death but have an old BMW GS now.

Any one remember sony weston his place was just off broad st, his brother had a car scrap yard in the same block, what happened to him, (obviously in that bike scrap yard in the sky) but what happened to all the bikes and bits and of
coarse his "dogend" tin

Remember this guy quite well he sold me an Enfield Crusader about 1971 delivered it to my home in an old Morris Commercial van. Should have twigged all was not right in 6 months it never made it past the end of the street. But he was such a charactor you just lived with it. He made all the right noises just a shame the bike didn't. Dont you miss these sort of blokes it was a diffrent life.

My three mates had a bike but motorbikes never appealed to me much. i was doing National service in Gibraltar in 1948 and was on Four Corners guard duty. On the Airfield there were hundreds of Nortons all waiting to be shipped back to Blighty. I jumped on one and my mate jumped on another and we managed to get the bloody thing started and moving but no idea how to change gear or stop. We both shot off the wall at the end of the frontier road onto eastern beach, none the worse for wear except I had damaged my ankle. We got three days jankers for that little feat of stupidity.
cruised around half of north africa trying to ruin my 350 matchbox (iwas gunning for a telli fork) when i finaly got one it lasted 2days some-one went a joy riding and totaled it, iwas back to girder forks for the rest of my 3yr stay, those bikes went on for ever &were indistructable

Yes 1963 Lambretta TV175, bought from Armando's. Added full Mod gear lights mirrors crash bars and had the sidepanals copper plated.

In 1979 I got my first road bike it was an EMZ Simpson 50cc from a shop at Handsworth. Since then I've had a CZ 175 trail, Yamaha RS200, Yamaha XS400, Suzuki SB200, Honda CB750, another Yamaha XS400, HondaVF1000F, Kawasaki KLR 650 and now I'm riding a Honda CBR1000F. The last five I've owned since living in Australia, where I can ride all year around without getting too cold and no chance of black ice or snow, (apart from the one year I spent living in the Victorian Alpine region). I've also owned three bush bashers.

Got to go, cause I'm going for a ride now, think I'll take the long way home.

my first road legal bike was a crapy dt50mx you could have run faster lol.

In the early seventies I became the proud ownwer of a BSA Bantam bike.

It didn't last long as my young son at that time couldn't resist sitting on it and starting her up which didn't please my wife one bit.

She accused me of encouraging him to ride bikes and she wasn't having it'

The bike had to go after several arguments.

The bike was bought and transformed by the new owner into a real showpiece.

My son grew up and now rides a 919 Ducatti road bike and races two racing machines on the racetracks all over the UK and France.

Happy Days!

My first baby was a honda mtx 125.

I passed my test on it and found it hard work to get my arse off the seat.
I loved riding that little bike.
One morning I awoke to find it had been pinched. Turns out the little git that took it was found with 3 other stolen bikes and had taken a hammer to mine to try to make it look old.
He got a warning from the coppers. Just to proove that the fuzz are a waste of space and a sound beating to compliment his freshly broken legs would have been far better justice.

The bike was rebuilt, stolen from the bike shop, recovered, finished, sold and finally stolen again from the new owner.
Fair chance it's rusting in a ditch somewhere now.

My first motorbike was a BSA C12 250cc must have been about 58 or 59 my dad bought it for me and I went allover on it and it's a long way to Torquay overnight with no motorways I can tell you. Then he bought me a brand new BSA 500 Shooting Star from Wrags on Wellington Street in town, that was exactly where the car park entrance to the Grovenor hotel is now.I felt like a king. Happy days eh. Still remember the Reg No's.

I had a yamaha FS1E (fizzy) in the late seventies. 60 mph on a 50 cc moped with pedals attached. Pure madness.

Yeah, FS1E = Fried sausage and one egg lol

A couple of my old mates had foreign stock mopeds which could do 70mph+

Crazy days.

Mine was a BSA Bantam 175cc, Model D14/4 (I think). bought for £30 off a guy on Wincobank and sold it for £65 to pay for an holiday in Spain. This was 33 years ago by the way.

B.S.A. Bantam 125. reg NHE 438 Maroon in colour, bought from Wraggs Shalesmoor in 1960/61.

1959-60 Honda C110 in 1969 419FWU had many many others since currently bombing around Wales on one of my three GT550 Kawasaki's.
Been motorcycling off and on for 37 yrs, I guess what started me off was listening to the noise of a "megaphoned" Lambretta climbing Stockingate every night when I was a kid.
Sad intit :)

Suzuki AP50, Reg No: RAK838R, bought from Bentleys on Abbeydale Road in 1978.

The first bike I ever owned was in 1956. It was a 1934 New Imperial with a 90-some cc two stroke engine in it. Because it was first registered before speedometers were required (I kid you not) it didn't have one. No fear of going too much over the limit on that thing though unless you were going downhill with a following wind. It also had a stickshift rather than a toe pedal for changing gears. There was no battery on it either so the lights only worked whilst the engine was running, they got dimmer or brighter as the engine speed changed. The horn was one of those bulb types that you had to squeeze. Good fun and I can smell the oil/petrol mix as I type.

Well well, or chuffinel as thay say. My first bike, in 1955 was a 1927 edition of that ilk. Equated to about 200cc. Gears on the tank and pump the oil round by hand, went nowhere in a hurry! Attracted lots of comment though - most of it derisory. You never did know how fast (or slow) you were going but most other traffic managed to edge past you.

BSA B25SS
Suzuki TS250ER
Kawasaki KH250
Suzuki GS550EN
Kawasaki Z750EL
Kawasaki GPZ900R...........

........then deposit for a house. :sad:

Suzuki AP50, Reg No: RAK838R, bought from Bentleys on Abbeydale Road in 1978.

I also had a suzuki AP50. reg no; MHL909P{RED}also from bentleys. top moped. five gears 1 up 4 down. far better than the yammy FS1E.:thumbsup:

my first bike was an ok supream jap engine
petrol 2shillings and three pence a gallon
had a few bikes after
brough superior
bsa m20
goldflash
yamaha 250 rdx

can remember the motor bike and side car you had ? what happened to the yamaha it was a tidy thing >>>. Toms lad >>Gary

My first bike was a Douglas T48 350cc twin.
I went all over the place on it as I was in the army at the time. I remember one night when it was snowing hard. It was on New Year's Eve or rather early New Year's Day 1953.
I had left home just after midnight after letting the New Year in and had set off back to camp in Wiltshire.
I went via the A1 for a time but first I had to go on the A57 over the toll bridge at Dunham. In those days the toll was tuppence for a car and a penny for a motor bike. It was snowing like the devil but as I crossed the bridge, I was stopped by a gnarled old individual demanding a penny! I asked how many had crossed that night since 6pm and he said I was the third. He had collected fivepence in tolls and he would be on until six am in the morning.
I later learned that there was a toll collector on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!!!!!
I arrived back at camp around seven am; cold, wet and bloody tired!

It's funny how you remember some numbers..My 1st bike reg was WJ6363..That was 50 years ago....I know several ex Army vets who remember their Army numbers from the 2nd world war.

I am an example of this... My first bike number was SMK 729 and my army number was 22627842!

Good on yer Arthur, tell us some of the bikes you had.Hi Cat after the sunbeam,norton 500,ariel4sq, bsa 250 sold this to get spliced, 1928 raliegh which I have quoted in the other thread on bike shops, 1938bsa 1000 twin with sidebox for work then cars,vans lorriesin the 40ties all scrappers thats all one could get in those days, as Ive said on my 37th vehicle a Laguna, probably my last, just had a medical here in France they have given me 2yrs, Cheers Arthur.

Good on yer Arthur, tell us some of the bikes you had.see answer end or thread

first road bike was a Suzuki TS100, then a GSX250 onto a GS500 a Kawasaki KH750 GS1000 GPZ750 and a GSXR750. loads of off road bikes in between including a few speedway bikes. but right now a Royal Enfield Bullet 500

First bike was a BSA C15 bought from the scrap yard side of darnall dog track grand sum of £5

As i have only recently passed my test,this IS my first bike,lol...GSX600F and i absolutly love it!:love:

2005 honda fireblade 5 days after i passe my bike test in may 2005
Dropped it so many times the dealer still has it unable to get anyone to buy it

My brother and I bought our first motor bike for 9 shillings and sixpence The bloke wanted 10 bob for it, It was a flat tank Royal Enfield, Belt drive,with the gear change like a starting handle on the tank side We had some fun with that bike Did'nt know what tax and Insurance was I was ten years old,my big brother was about 14 years Happy days After that we had them all Rudge whitworth, Rudge Rapid,and Rudge Ulster, New Hudson,AJS Porcupine Triumph Tiger 80, and Tiger 90 and so on As I said,happy days

1927 New Imperial 200cc with tank mounted gear change and hand pumped oil, in 1955. Actually, my true first bike was a sit up and beg ralleigh fitted with a minimotor. it was 50cc and did 180 miles per gallon although the tank capacity was only a half gallon. it cost me £5 and the tax was 17/6 and insurance was 12/6. I went to school on it for the best part of a year before moving up to the New Imperial.

Mike

Have just noticed that I have already posted on this. Put it down to old age!! :loopy:

Hi All

A Garelli Concord Bimatic, 50cc two stroke with a 2 speed auto box. Interesting to say the least!

Regards

DD

My brother and I bought our first motor bike for 9 shillings and sixpence The bloke wanted 10 bob for it, It was a flat tank Royal Enfield, Belt drive,with the gear change like a starting handle on the tank side We had some fun with that bike Did'nt know what tax and Insurance was I was ten years old,my big brother was about 14 years Happy days After that we had them all Rudge whitworth, Rudge Rapid,and Rudge Ulster, New Hudson,AJS Porcupine Triumph Tiger 80, and Tiger 90 and so on As I said,happy days

How did you manage to aquire an AJS porcupine? Was the head cast in silver?

It was an LE Velocette, 1952 Mark 2 ex-police, YWB 604 bought for £10 in 1967. Flat twin, hand start, hand change, water-cooled, shaft drive - somewhat unconventional. Not very fast but reliable enough for about 4,000 miles until one night when a big end went on West Bar. It got me home on the other cylinder, though...

can remember the motor bike and side car you had ? what happened to the yamaha it was a tidy thing >>>. Toms lad >>Gary
sold the yammy ask your dad if he remembers helping me to push the gold flash up hindhouse lane it had a two seater sidecar fitted

I agree, I don't think total market dominance was quite on their minds. Especially since Mr Honda's (I can say his first name, just not spell it :)) dream was to go racing, rather than build a means of transport which was more a method of funding for the former. The British bike industry sealed its own fate by ignoring the new competitor.

It's also interesting to note that there is no distinction between the Japanese term for 'learn' and their term for 'copy', hence the first Japanese cars were almost identical to the British cars, or so I've been told.The early Jap cars Toyota and Datsun, now Nissan weren't very good. The Toyota looked like a Vauxhall Viva. The first Honda Civic was about the size of a Morris Mini, and was called a civic because it was intended to be a round the town car. My Father in law traded his Mini for one and was very glad he did.

My first bike in 1954 was a 1946 Ariel 350 which had no pillion so the fiancee had to sit on the baggage rack over the rear wheel, the rear suspension was rigid. I traded it much to her relief with a 1950 BSA twin which had rear dampers. My last bike was a 1962 Royal Enfield 700 which got replaced by a 1949 Ford Anglia, which had no heating but who cared after the bikes. I visit a biker bar nearby and often get a ride on a Trumph Tbird or a BMW. There are two kinds of bikers in America, the ones who drive Harleys and the ones who don't. Rice burner riders avoid biker bars like the plague. They can usually be seen for a second or two as they pass you on the Interstate at about 120 MPH wearing the kind of helmets formula 1 drivers wear. They frequently die. Harley drivers can usually be identified by their bald heads or pigtails , bandannas, beer bellies, black leather, and certainly no helmets. They seldom travel alone and tie up all three lanes at 60 MPH holding up traffic, and nobody dares honk at them. However, should it rain they will be nowhere to be found. Harley riders don't like the rain, probably because Harley tend to fall over in the wet. If you happen to be a Harley driver who frequents the Shamrock pub in Suffield, Connecticut I'm not talking about you, Honest!

my first bike was a Suzuki TS 250, 2 stroke, single carb, that engine sounded brilliant.

250cc james comador at sixteen and know helmet, mate derick add a francis Barnett

first bike a triumph tiger 110 1954 vintage in 1965,past my test on yonger brothers honda c50 step through still riding present bike 2002 yamaha r1 bit different to my first one more reliable but not quite the adventure the triumph was.

all my 1st bunch of bikes were army fm ww2 350 old matchless to even older B.S.A I think they were 600s but i seem to think they geared them down for the sand I had a full corp' fm the R.E.M.E repairing my bikes but even with 7 on my signature he could hardly keep up I could smash as fast as he could repair (not my fault of course) I nearly got the new telly forks but not quite

my husband andi used to go all over on his bsa starfire , we were only teenagers fantastic days

We used to laugh at those ''Jap Crap'' popcorn machines such as Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki when they first came over here.


They set out to destroy the British Bike industry.


They did - and we laugh no more. I thought the same when I saw the first Japanese cars appear in the late 60s; Toyota Corrola and Honda NS500. They've no chance we said, how can they be superior to cars such as Austin 1800s and Ford Cortinas?

my husband also had a mark 1 cortina and a capri,it looked like a starsky and hutch mean machine

my husband andi used to go all over on his bsa starfire ...

I guess it would have looked like mine - http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/Family/Starfire.jpg

Superb machine - unlike BSA's larger single (the 441cc Shooting Star) you had to give it plenty of revs. to get much power, but the race-bred engine could certainly produce the torque when needed. I bought mine (FWJ 18J) on 1 August 1970 - the first day of the 'J' registration - I was waiting outside Leather & Simpsons for the shop to open!

hI FIRST BIKE BOUGHT IN 1952 AT DAWSONS IN NOTTINGHAM A NORTON 16 H SIDE VALVE EX M.O.D. £39- 10 SHILLINGS BRAND NEW BUILT IN 1942 IN ARMY PAINT WORK NEVER BEEN USED 2 MILE ON CLOCK I RODE THIS TILL 1957 SOLO AND WITH SIDECAR DID 42000 ON IT NEVER LET BE DOWN THIS INCLUDED 3 YEARS IN FORCES NEVER LATE BACK IN CAMP I WAS HOME AT XMAS 55 AND BEEN OUT ON BOXING DAY FOUND A ARIAL SQUARE FOUR COMBINATIN WITH YOUNG FAMILY AT FIRTH PARK IN FREESING CONDITIONS COULD NOT GET UP SICEY AVE DUE TO ICE I BUT THE WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN MY SIDECAR AND TOOK THEM HOME ON SHIREGREEN COLLECTED A ROPE AND WENT BACK AND TOWED THE ARIAL UP THE HILL THE OLD 500 NORTON WOULD KEEP GOING AND CLIME ANY THING THIS IS WHY IT WAS A FIRM FAVORITE WITH THE ARMY DISPATCH RIDERS
I THEN B OUGHT A NORTON E S 2 FROM GRAYS IN BRIDE ST AN HE ALLOWED ME £40 00 ON THE 16 H SO I MADE 10 SHILLINGS PROFIT ON THE SALE BEAT THAT FOR A DEAL
THREE YEARS LATER I P/EX THIS FOR A B.S.A. GOLD STAR SMASHING MACHINE BUT HAD TO GO IN THE END DUE TO FAMILY ARRIVING AND WENT ON TO FOUR WEELS
BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET MY 16 H WISH I STILL HAD IT

I had a yamaha FS1E (fizzy) in the late seventies. 60 mph on a 50 cc moped with pedals attached. Pure madness.

yeh right it did...:cool:

what was the Ariel big 4 i had I mean why big 4 it had a single 600 and pulled my sidecar like an old tank still better than than my gutless s8 sunbeam that just looked good

It was an Ariel Arrow 250cc 2 stroke twin in 1964, handled so well you could take an S bend (theoretically!) with hands off the bars. Its sister, the "Leader" with the screen and legshields was used by the police.

what was the Ariel big 4 i had I mean why big 4 it had a single 600 and pulled my sidecar like an old tank still better than than my gutless s8 sunbeam that just looked good

There was a Norton Big 4 that was a 600 cc side valve that pulled my sidecar.It was slow but it would go through town in the 1960,s in top gear.It was called a Big 4 to relate to how power was referred to in the early days (1920,s ?)

thanks Biker now I remember Norton Big 4

P.S did a lot of touring with the Norton, my wife would change the baby;s nappy from the back seat while on the move, we land up with 3 kids in that side car plus all the camping gear for two weeks, pots & pans tied all over if you didn't see us you sure heard us,but what a lot of fun

my first bike was a 1953 fanny-barnett bought from Grays in Bridge St.Bought in pounds sold in guinneas.I then built a Triumph a cross between a trophy and a bonneville aptley called a trobon.Shiniest bike in sheffield in the sixties,we used to hang around at the disc jockey on London Rd opposite the Lacarno anyone out there who remembers them both?still riding bikes and knocking on deaths door but he cant face me yet!

Yes indeed, the first one was a 1953 track Bantam, three speed, plunger frame. First road bike 250 Villiers in a Panther frame, expansion boxes, alloy tank, sounded great, but not the sort of thing to take a test on, so 1967 saw me take out £100.00 HP for a 1966 Bantam D7 from Charlie Freemans at Eckington, got £10.00 trade in for the Panther. Passed my test on it, as did my brother and three of my mates before I traded that in for a 1962 Norton 99SS (905 UPK, is it still around?) that was standard, but was treated to respray in metallic blue, 12v electrics, clip-ons, swept back pipes, rear sets and goldie silencers. Sold it in 1970 when I decided to get married. Rode a few jap bikes, GSX 750R, Ducati 749, BSA Gold Star, Rocket Gold Star, Norton Commando, and a few more probably that belonged to mates. Only bikes I ride now are Matchless G50, AJS 7R standard, and Seely framed derivatives with G50 & 7R motors on fun days and track days, that belong to a good friend of mine. Happy Days!!

You dont half choose your rides these days dont you, most of us can only dream about G50 Matchless and AJS 7R's and Seeley's. My mate and me are 'gettin on a bit' and love the classic scene. The new MotoGP does nothing for me. I went to NEC last year to the classic show and had a conversation with Ferry Brewer, engineer and spannerman for Phil Read, Rod Gould and the works Yamaha teams. Chas Mortimers name came up as well,
along with Jarno Saarinen. We both agreed the oldies had a certain class about them. Mr Brewer predicted a great future for classic racing as there are thousands of us old'uns who remember the smell of Castrol 'R'
Classic or vintage, me and my mate prefer it to the new stuff and would love to see the kind of tackle you and your mate are fortunate enough to ride.

Me and my late father had a few bikes, Norton ES2's and Dominators, Triumph Thunderbirds and a Sports/trials cub. A 700 'Enfield Constellation, 350 Matchless with girders and rigid back end. Vincent BlackShadows[two of] one with a steib sidecar attached. Vincent Rapide and Comet and a few 'foreigners' Honda 900, Honda 400, Suzuki 350 two stroke twin, Suzuki GT500 and a lowly 150 MZ. WE even had a Rudge for a while, but it was too far gone and was swopped.
Dad died 5 years ago and I got sodding cancer so biking is over forever, but the memories live on.:)

Diana SP 50

We all remember out first one for ever

dickie dale the racer bought me my first bike 1949 bsa c11 the year was 1959 ayear befor he died, great guy used to be called the deputy because he rode for geff dukes stable, happy times george

my first bike was a 1948 Bsa side valve, when i was 16 in 1951.

yes nimrod my husband remembers those bikes that you and your dad had, he has been really interested in this thread , he is currently looking for an old basket case british bike to restore. Boys never grow up!!

Red Honda CB175,DDH 580L.From Jeff Hall at his old shop on Langset Rd.£325 I think.

A 1952 James Captain in 1959 with a 197cc Villiers engine.

b.s.a c15 250cc from leather and simpsons 1957 no helmet or experiance requirde kick it up jump on ride it home to a b c streets never ridden one in my life still here 71yrs old happy days

Yamaha fs1e.
Actually the one the year before it which was identical.

I went in a mens Clothes store in Denver last month and they had a pristine Triton Dresda on a pedestal in the middle of the store.

Tried to buy it from them but no luck

I went in a mens Clothes store in Denver last month and they had a pristine Triton Dresda on a pedestal in the middle of the store.

you just trying to show me up what on earth is a Triton dresda ,must be way after my time:confused::confused:

Lovely thread this. I got my first 'bike at the relatavely late age of 40. I'd never ridden one in my life and needed transport to get to my job in the middle of nowhere from where I lived, also in the middle of nowhere. It was a Honda 125. No big deal but it scared the crap out of me at first. When I found out the rudiments of getting it to go I let the clutch in, grabbed a big handfull of throttle and wheelied for about 50 yards but managed to stay on. Over the next few years I went from a Honda 250 and a Honda CX 500, I sold the CX for a £100 in 1985, a bargain, serviced up to the hilt. The guy I sold it to just ran it into the ground. I guess I got scared in case I had a bad one, so now I'm in a car like all the rest. Never will I forget 'bikes though, the only way to fly.

It's a Dresda tuned Triumph engine in a Norton "featherbed" frame.

Nothing could touch it in it's day

I was bitten by the Bike bug around 1960 ( when i was 7 ) I used to spend lots of time looking in Smiths at Ecclesfield ,and Grays in Bridge St, Sheffield. Mi' uncle used to tell mi' what he rode when he were a lad and mi' mind was made up. I was gonna be a Biker. :hihi: I had the chance to buy a Franny Barnett for £8 ..mi' mum said No ( i was 11 at the time :suspect: ) then when i was 15 i could have bought a B.S.A.250 for £30 ..same answer wi' " thall kill thissen " (thrown in for good measure :rant: )...So when i was 19 i went about it reight rooad and bought a Suzuki GT 125 from Bentleys on Abbeydale Rd . I'd got a full Bike licence within a couple o' months and part ex'd t' Suzi for a Ducati 450 single , then came a Triumph T140 , Norton Commando , HondaCX500, Suzi GT380 , Honda CD175 ,Yam RD200 , Yam RD 350 , Kawa Z250, Yam SR 500 , Suzi GSX 400 , Guzzi V65, Kawa VN750 , Kawa GT550 , Guzzi EV California and Guzzi California Sport Special. ...I still have both Guzzi Cali's ( love 'em to bits :hihi:) In almost 38 years of Biking , i've owned 17 machines ,covered over 400,000 miles and have NEVER had a car licence...:hihi: I still ride between 160 -200 miles a week and have no intention of hanging up mi' Bike Gear yet !!

Still got a clean licence too !!

I was bitten by the Bike bug around 1960 ( when i was 7 ) I used to spend lots of time looking in Smiths at Ecclesfield ,and Grays in Bridge St, Sheffield. Mi' uncle used to tell mi' what he rode when he were a lad and mi' mind was made up. I was gonna be a Biker. :hihi: I had the chance to buy a Franny Barnett for £8 ..mi' mum said No ( i was 11 at the time :suspect: ) then when i was 15 i could have bought a B.S.A.250 for £30 ..same answer wi' " thall kill thissen " (thrown in for good measure :rant: )...So when i was 19 i went about it reight rooad and bought a Suzuki gt 125 from Bentleys on Abbeydale Rd . I'd got a full Bike licence within a couple o' months and part ex'd t' Suzi for a Ducati 450 single , then came a Triumph T140 , Norton Commando , HondaCX500, Suzi GT380 , Honda CD175 ,Yam RD200 , Yam RD 350 , Kawa Z250, Yam SR 500 , Suzi GSX 400 , Guzzi V65, Kawa VN750 , Kawa GT550 , Guzzi EV California and Guzzi California Sport Special. ...I still have both Guzzi Cali's ( love 'em to bits :hihi:) and in almost 38 years of Biking , i've owned 17 machines ,covered over 400,000 miles and have NEVER had a car licence...:hihi: I still ride between 160 -200 miles a week and have no intention of hanging up mi' Bike Gear yet !!

Did you never have a Guzzi Le Mans? That was my dream bike of the late 70's. Was never lucky (or rich)enough to have one. I've thought about tryig to get one recentley but I don't want to be disappointed.Modern bikes are so much better and I fear it would just feel old fashioned and my dream would be shattered!

Eighup mate , i fancied a 'Lemon' but was quite happy wi' mi' Commando ( until some git nicked it ) There are some nice Guzzis on Ebay ..i got both of mine from Ebay , EV from Northampton in 05 , and the Sport Special from Newcastle last Nov . Guzzis are pretty reliable , give good M.P.G ( 65 on a motorway run ) and can shift if required to . (Sport Special in top gear at 60 mph is doing only 3,000 rpm ,yet redlines at 8,500 so theres plenty of poke left !! ) i've known of some Guzzis that have been round the clock....twice !! ( if you need any help / info , pm me !! )

I had a Norton Electra in the 70's, Anyone remember them ?

It's a Dresda tuned Triumph engine in a Norton "featherbed" frame.
my last bike was s8 Sunbeam early 50s ? so u can see how far back i have to go 60 yrs ouch:(:(

my last bike was s8 Sunbeam early 50s ? so u can see how far back i have to go 60 yrs ouch:(:(

Did that one have the shaft drive ?

Did that one have the shaft drive ?

Yes it did.
Bit of subject but anyone know were theres a Villiers 4T Twin 250 engine kicking about condition not important even if its siezed or Enfield 250 again condition not important.

Did that one have the shaft drive ?

yes ran so quiet hardly hear it (like the B.M.W shaft drive) BUT didn't have the guts i land up with a single side car which i ran for yrs ,the engineer's tried had but was a pig to work on with lots of flaws:(:(:(

yeh it woz a O.E.C. 500cc my grandad's army bike...

My first bike was a monkey bike.....then i had a Puch Maxi....pmsl..then a Honda Placcy..............then went mad and went for the Honde CD175............:P

Long story but never took a test untill i came to Canada although on leaving the army had dozens of driving jobs,never a good soldier always looking for a change of trade (the army liar to me) so in return i lie to them told them i had a bike in civ st but never sat on a bike in my life two weeks later i was on Signals Dispatch and what is more amazing still alive 4 years later,on returning to U.K just handed in my army licence for civilian one and i was away

I had a yamaha FS1E (fizzy) in the late seventies. 60 mph on a 50 cc moped with pedals attached. Pure madness.

Yeh yeh!! I know different!
There are Fs1es about that do 60 but even with todays technology very few and i could probably name them ALL.

Have a look at this,Bolney to Brighton only a few weeks ago,we had over 125 bikes mostly mopeds,although i was on the xt500 at about 30 secs.I provide the support van and need to get around a little quicker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC0OztVulpg

And

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auUTawLGy9Y&NR=1


www.fs1e.co.uk

unbelievable those mopeds come a long way baby

Yeh yeh!! I know different!
There are Fs1es about that do 60 but even with todays technology very few and i could probably name them ALL.

Have a look at this,Bolney to Brighton only a few weeks ago,we had over 125 bikes mostly mopeds,although i was on the xt500 at about 30 secs.I provide the support van and need to get around a little quicker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC0OztVulpg


www.fs1e.co.uk

I once got nicked going down station road woodhouse at over 60 on a fs1e.
Granted it was downhill but you could get 60 out of them.
I saw the equivellent suzuki of the time at a show last weekend, mint condition and the owner said he just gets 50 out of it.
It is on ebay now for £2500 or bids.

hmmm my first bike was a yellow honda melody 2 express 3 honda c90 then the list gets endless just about every bike you could name lol 2 wheels if you havnt used em you never lived doing 100+ mph on a {secluded ? private rd } at 3 am with no traffic that feeling stays with you for ever better than sex {but dont tell me wife that }

I once got nicked going down station road woodhouse at over 60 on a fs1e.
Granted it was downhill but you could get 60 out of them.
I saw the equivellent suzuki of the time at a show last weekend, mint condition and the owner said he just gets 50 out of it.
It is on ebay now for £2500 or bids.



fs1e awsome little bikes much like the c90 engine so light you could pick it up under ur arm not had one for years but the yamaha yb100 old one was much the same and 60+ was easy but unstable and wobbly lol

I once got nicked going down station road woodhouse at over 60 on a fs1e.
Granted it was downhill but you could get 60 out of them.
I saw the equivellent suzuki of the time at a show last weekend, mint condition and the owner said he just gets 50 out of it.
It is on ebay now for £2500 or bids.

The Suzuki ap50 was/is a touch faster than the Fs1e due to having the fifth gear they will show a speed of 50 on the clock in the right conditions as standard but as with all speedos,they are fast and the true speed on the flat is probably around 45/46.

Ap50's as with all sportsmoped have seen a big increase in value over the last few years an original one needing a restore will do £800-£1500,the rest is down to how good they are finished,ive seen fs1es being priced up at £5000 not bad for a bike that cost around £300 new.

The Suzuki ap50 was/is a touch faster than the Fs1e due to having the fifth gear they will show a speed of 50 on the clock in the right conditions as standard but as with all speedos,they are fast and the true speed on the flat is probably around 45/46.

Ap50's as with all sportsmoped have seen a big increase in value over the last few years an original one needing a restore will do £800-£1500,the rest is down to how good they are finished,ive seen fs1es being priced up at £5000 not bad for a bike that cost around £300 new.

£295 from smiths on spital hill.
Can you remember the exact same bike but a year before fs1e came out?
I think it was about L reg and had an orange/rust coloured tank.

£295 from smiths on spital hill.
Can you remember the exact same bike but a year before fs1e came out?
I think it was about L reg and had an orange/rust coloured tank.

I had one a dec 72 Yamaha SS 50 (RXF 28L) as they were called.They came in only one colour candy gold.

Yamaha had to rebadge the fs1e in 1973 they badged it the fs1 the 'e' was for europe several diferent endings were used depeding on where they were sold.
The reason for the rebadging was that Honda had called their 50 the SS and kicked off at Yamaha who then rebadged.

The first fs1e's were all popsicle purple.

Yes,i know a little ............

I had one a dec 72 Yamaha SS 50 (RXF 28L) as they were called.They came in only one colour candy gold.

Yamaha had to rebadge the fs1e in 1973 they badged it the fs1 the 'e' was for europe several diferent endings were used depeding on where they were sold.
The reason for the rebadging was that Honda had called their 50 the SS and kicked off at Yamaha who then rebadged.

The first fs1e's were all popsicle purple.

Yes,i know a little ............

I had the SS50 first then.

Thanks for the info and the website link it brings back memories.
I have considered getting one for old times sake but I think my weight would tear it's guts out. LOL.

I WAS WONDERING IF A HONDA SHADOW 125 WOULD BE OK FOR ME?.

My first bike was an Ariel 350, then a BSA 500 twin, then a BSA 650 twin, then a Norton ES2, finally a Royal Enfield 750 twin.Then at my wife's insistance a Ford Popular,

I had the SS50 first then.

Thanks for the info and the website link it brings back memories.
I have considered getting one for old times sake but I think my weight would tear it's guts out. LOL.

I WAS WONDERING IF A HONDA SHADOW 125 WOULD BE OK FOR ME?.


the shadow is a big robust bike should cope with the bigger fella :hihi: the v twin engines in them arnt the fastest thou but with a little tuneing ect you should get 75 out of it

honda placcy field bike on norton airdroam then yam ty 50,fizz,gp100,s.dream,,,,now 07 z750!

My first bike was an Ariel 350, then a BSA 500 twin, then a BSA 650 twin, then a Norton ES2, finally a Royal Enfield 750 twin.Then at my wife's insistance a Ford Popular,

Prob' like me its hard to fit three kids on back of a Royal enfield and changing the nappie's at anything above 60 can be quite a chore,mind you my wife as done from the back seat with the babys in the single side car:hihi::hihi::hihi:

In 1955 I was sixteen, and like many other sixteen year old lads, I was old enough to ride a motorbike..Just about then my Brother in law was just about to upgrade his steed to a Matchless 350 and he offered me his old bike for the sum of five pounds..in my Post Office account I had just the right amount to buy it....So I became the proud owner of a 1932 Francis Barnett Cruiser (my first motorbike)..I've owned many other superior bikes since then but none of them had the Magic of my Fanny Barnett...
Question....what was the first motorcycle that you owned?.

I was born 1938..My first bike was a BSA 500cc. B33? cant remember model. Spring heel and telescopic forks..Big banger engine with lots of torque..Remember the manual advance and retard and the almighty kickback when starting..Learnt from experience how to start it without breaking my leg..First run out to the Peacock at Owlerbar..Up at 6 am and out on the road. Ran it out on the grass coming up the hill to Holmesfield..But managed to stay on..Those were the days. Many bikes since..My last one in 1990 ...Honda 1000cc six cylinder supersport..What a superb touring bike,,heavy as hell though..Regards Pjkay

SUZUKI GT 185 ...MHL786R THRASHED TO DEATH RIDE A HONDA FIREBLADE THESE DAYS:hihi:

I'm only 23 but the first bike I had was an old Honda CF70 Dirt Monkey when I was 13, wish I still had it now they're worth a fortune, and I sold it for £30 :(

In 1955 I was sixteen, and like many other sixteen year old lads, I was old enough to ride a motorbike..Just about then my Brother in law was just about to upgrade his steed to a Matchless 350 and he offered me his old bike for the sum of five pounds..in my Post Office account I had just the right amount to buy it....So I became the proud owner of a 1932 Francis Barnett Cruiser (my first motorbike)..I've owned many other superior bikes since then but none of them had the Magic of my Fanny Barnett...
Question....what was the first motorcycle that you owned?.
Mine in 1965 was a 98cc Excelsior Consort with a villiers engine, it had 2 positive stop gears (no spring return to center for the gearchange pedal) up was 1st all the way down was second gear, and middle was neutral, it was supposed to be £12.50 but as it wouldn`t start I knocked him down to £9.50 pushed it home and my dad got it going, at the time I thought it was great but looking back I know it was not, but it holds great memories. My best bike by far was a 1966 Vellocette Venom Clubman 500cc, just fantastic !! I sold it about 1969 for £250 a good price then, they go for £10,000 in good order now !!!! I have recently got a 1962 AJS 650cc model 31 in really nice nick.

In 1955 I was sixteen, and like many other sixteen year old lads, I was old enough to ride a motorbike..Just about then my Brother in law was just about to upgrade his steed to a Matchless 350 and he offered me his old bike for the sum of five pounds..in my Post Office account I had just the right amount to buy it....So I became the proud owner of a 1932 Francis Barnett Cruiser (my first motorbike)..I've owned many other superior bikes since then but none of them had the Magic of my Fanny Barnett...
Question....what was the first motorcycle that you owned?.

Yes Mine was a BSA 500cc B something or other..Too big really bit I managed it. Could hardly start it as I was not so big.. Went out into Derbyshire at sparrow fart..Couldn't wait.. Just a few laps in a field before that on a Triumph 350 twin..
Left the road once, but on the grass luckily and did not fall off..Great days..

my first bike was a Francis-Barnett falcon53 from Grays on Bridge St,they delivered it on a friday night and I kicked the starting pedal whilst Sunday dinner and couldnt get it started,we had tears and tantrums till my mate came and said it needs petrol to get it running,I felt such a dope,had 30-40 since including a tiger 100 off pjkay,yes Pete it was a good bike,never stopped riding since 1958 and got a Harley now,people ask me when Im gonna grow up so I say What and look like you,no chance,biking keeps you young if you ride sensibly.

Never even having ridden a pushbike I went straight onto a Yammy FZ100 at the ripe old age of 35. Had a fling with a shiny new DNEPR and sidecar and then passed my test and got a Kawasaki 600 and now have a 500cc custom which hasn't been out of the garage for 2yrs poor thing. Its just too easy to climb into a skirt and then into the car of a morning ........

im just restoring a honda dax bit smaller than a normal bike but i cant wait till its done,theres 6 of us that have them so come summer next year it will be good fun riding around

im just restoring a honda dax bit smaller than a normal bike but i cant wait till its done,theres 6 of us that have them so come summer next year it will be good fun riding aroundWaht is it 70/125 god remember those lol.
come on peeps http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=538061

My first one in 1965 was a Triumph tiger cub 200cc for 99 guinea's from Grays,sold to me by jeff hall,i now have a 750 honda shadow cruiser,fuel injected,shaft drive,water coooled,no oil leaks etc(and to think we used to call them "jap crap"),but i wish i still had the tiger cub too, as it would probably be worth more

... i wish i still had the tiger cub too, as it would probably be worth more You never know, it might be. This one's (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1966-Triumph-Tiger-Cub-Sport-200-cc-Excellent-/180536774838?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item2a08d490b6) a snip at a mere £3000...:)

My first bike would, I suppose, be a pricey classic now, even though it was a rather unconventional machine which required lots of specialised tools to strip down. See my post #120 on Page 6 - it looked like this (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://classic-motorbikes.net/images/gallery/velocette_le.jpg&imgrefurl=http://classic-motorbikes.net/gallery~velocette-le-gallery&usg=__iMGPW5VaKSFJHgWrBmGbVRlTGfE=&h=300&w=400&sz=32&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=u9aNrS6Iur2jTM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=197&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522le%2Bvelocette%2522%26um%3D1%26h l%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1249%26bih%3D764%26tbs%3Di sch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=297&ei=z5a4TILlMJX-4Ab-rc3ZDQ&oei=z5a4TILlMJX-4Ab-rc3ZDQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=131&ty=77)..;)

Does a Puch Maxi N count? oh no wait it's only a moped...

My first one in 1965 was a Triumph tiger cub 200cc for 99 guinea's from Grays,sold to me by jeff hall,i now have a 750 honda shadow cruiser,fuel injected,shaft drive,water coooled,no oil leaks etc(and to think we used to call them "jap crap"),but i wish i still had the tiger cub too, as it would probably be worth more
Grays in Bridge sreet..The only people who had the audacity to price their bikes in guineas....What a *&^%%^&* liberty...Katherine Tate says

My first one in 1965 was a Triumph tiger cub 200cc for 99 guinea's from Grays,sold to me by jeff hall,i now have a 750 honda shadow cruiser,fuel injected,shaft drive,water coooled,no oil leaks etc(and to think we used to call them "jap crap"),but i wish i still had the tiger cub too, as it would probably be worth more

My dad was the assistant manager at Grays in Bridge St at the same time as Jeff Hall. He was then promoted to manager - first in Leeds and then when they opened a shop in Derby he was tranfered there.
I worked for Grays in both Leeds and Derby from my teens to my early twenties and still live just north of Derby.

Never even having ridden a pushbike I went straight onto a Yammy FZ100 at the ripe old age of 35. Had a fling with a shiny new DNEPR and sidecar and then passed my test and got a Kawasaki 600 and now have a 500cc custom which hasn't been out of the garage for 2yrs poor thing. Its just too easy to climb into a skirt and then into the car of a morning ........
what 500 custom is it :suspect::D

Does a Puch Maxi N count? oh no wait it's only a moped...

It's near enough. Third class riding is better than first class walking!

Suzuki GT 250 ram Air.................

It's near enough. Third class riding is better than first class walking!That's exactly what I thought in 1966 when I bought a secondhand N.S.U. Quickly (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/NSU_Quickly_Blau_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NSU_Quickly_Blau_01.jpg&usg=__kh7TcwnTZ0BU7YJu64lmkMVbixo=&h=2373&w=2618&sz=3814&hl=en&start=24&zoom=1&tbnid=EgQZhvSMR5q5lM:&tbnh=139&tbnw=147&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522nsu%2Bquickly%2522%26um%3D1%26hl %3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1249%26bih%3D764%26tbs%3Dis ch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=531&ei=zyO7TK6TNtfPjAe7huXEDg&oei=wSO7TISkLY7_4Aat5bDMDg&esq=2&page=2&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:24&tx=89&ty=71) for £12. It had two gears (top and bottom) and could just about manage 30 mph downhill with a following wind..:hihi:.:hihi:.:hihi:

My first bike was (don't laugh!!!) a little Honda Melody, OK so it wasn't really a bike....then I moved on to a Suzuki GP125, then I discovered trail bikes, always liked the high riding position and got a Yamaha DT125 in black, red and gold, unfortunately some little S*** nicked it and it got wrote off. I also rode a Kawasaki KMX200 finally my last bike was a Yamaha RD350. I also tried my partners Kawasaki GPZ600R but it was way too heavy for a girlie.

Happy days, I think once you have rode a bike, the adrenalin rush of speed never leaves you, it's in your blood. These days I only drive - my husband hates bikes. I don't mind as now I have a family and I would be scared of being in an accident.

I do miss it on a summer day though, especially when a biker pulls along side me and I look longingly at the bike....hubby doesn't like that though....as he knows I wished I was on it!

And...finally I feel I am a better driver for having rode for 10 years, I always look out for the bikers, that respect has stayed with me, I still think I'm in that biker's 'club'........

My first bike was a DKW in the early sixties never heard of them before never heard of them since.

My first bike was a DKW in the sixties never heard of them before never heard of them since.

My first bike was a DKW in the sixties never heard of them before never heard of them since.your the only person upto now ive known had one of these lol used to hate mine start up in morning F ing thing went backwards :hihi: until you stoped and restarted it. Dampf Kraft Wagen

your the only person upto now ive known had one of these lol used to hate mine start up in morning F ing thing went backwards :hihi: until you stoped and restarted it. Dampf Kraft Wagen

das kleine wunder,the little wonder was the popular meaning of the initials but day kaa vee is the german pronunciation and the company also built cars which were very popular on the continent and eventually joined other companies to form Audi,latin for quiet.so there you are.

das kleine wunder,the little wonder was the popular meaning of the initials but day kaa vee is the german pronunciation and the company also built cars which were very popular on the continent and eventually joined other companies to form Audi,latin for quiet.so there you are.Yeah but it still went backwards :hihi:

I bought a BSA 250cc in 1960 for 25 GBP it was 10m years old but like new, single seat and a bun seat on the back mudguard. I turned it into a Super looking machine drop bars dual seat alloy guards, the works. I had the bike 2 years and was involved in a nasty accident while riding to work down the Moor a car pulled straight out of a side road into me i hit his front wheel and cartwheeled over his bonnet. I had offside his wing mirror in my hand when i landed. He gave me 25 GBP and took me to work. In the afternoon i bought a 500cc Triumph foor 15 GBP this was advertised in the Star.

I bought a BSA 250cc in 1960 for 25 GBP it was 10m years old but like new, single seat and a bun seat on the back mudguard. I turned it into a Super looking machine drop bars dual seat alloy guards, the works. I had the bike 2 years and was involved in a nasty accident while riding to work down the Moor a car pulled straight out of a side road into me i hit his front wheel and cartwheeled over his bonnet. I had offside his wing mirror in my hand when i landed. He gave me 25 GBP and took me to work. In the afternoon i bought a 500cc Triumph foor 15 GBP this was advertised in the Star.

I knew BSA's were old fashioned,but 10 million years!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

I knew BSA's were old fashioned,but 10 million years!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

It proves how long lasting and well built the C15 was. Must have gone through a few tyres though.

I bought a BSA 250cc in 1960 for 25 GBP it was 10m years old but like new, single seat and a bun seat on the back mudguard. I turned it into a Super looking machine drop bars dual seat alloy guards, the works. I had the bike 2 years and was involved in a nasty accident while riding to work down the Moor a car pulled straight out of a side road into me i hit his front wheel and cartwheeled over his bonnet. I had offside his wing mirror in my hand when i landed. He gave me 25 GBP and took me to work. In the afternoon i bought a 500cc Triumph foor 15 GBP this was advertised in the Star.

My first bike was a BSA 250 C11G, plunger suspension and bolt-up frame, Dad brought it home in a tea chest all in bits, said "there you go son, just put it back together" I re-assembled the whole thing from the ground up and took it to a garage in Beighton to get it tested. The bloke rode it round the block and came back a bit shaken up, said "I've never had one whip like that before" Then he laid it down on its side, took hold of the back wheel and lifted. The frame pivoted in the middle and the back wheel moved a good inch from side to side. Seems I put the wrong size bolt in the frame! Gotta learn somehow.

I bought a BSA 250cc in 1960 for 25 GBP it was 10m years old but like new, single seat and a bun seat on the back mudguard. I turned it into a Super looking machine drop bars dual seat alloy guards, the works. I had the bike 2 years and was involved in a nasty accident while riding to work down the Moor a car pulled straight out of a side road into me i hit his front wheel and cartwheeled over his bonnet. I had offside his wing mirror in my hand when i landed. He gave me 25 GBP and took me to work. In the afternoon i bought a 500cc Triumph foor 15 GBP this was advertised in the Star.One of many of first bikes 5 GBP LOL http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/bsac15.jpg

One of many of first bikes 5 GBP LOL http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/bsac15.jpg

Thats one ugly bike :D

Thats one ugly bike :DNot for a fiver it was,nt.Anyway didnt take long to sort out.:)

My first bike was an Ariel 350 back in 1953 so that I could get home on week end leave from the Navy. It had no pillion, and the current girl friend had to ride home from the City Hall on a rack over the rigid rear wheel. We split up over it. The next girl friend enjoyed the luxury of a BSA 500 twin with a pillion. I married her. WE had a Norton ES2 with a sidecar, then a Norton Dominator 750. Finally, we bought a Royal Enfield 750 CC twin, which for some unexplained reason brought on a pregnancy, and by necessity a Ford Anglia. I visit a biker bar here with scads of Harleys , no two of them identical, parked outside. Occasionally, a British bike will show up,, and I'll be offered a ride. Not the new ones, since they look like all the rice burners That are the curse of the Interstates. Harley riders like old British bikes, and hate rice burners probably because they're a lot faster, a lot quieter, and things don't vibrate off them. Sorry, Harleyman.

This wasnt my first bike, but my second back in 1966, bought from Wraggs, West Bar. Wish I still had it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1967BSASpitfire.jpg

Mine was the Mk1 with the Amal GP carbs and high comp. pistons.

Carosio
Surely it was a mark II that you had...
There wasnt a mark I spitfire with a A65 engine
The mark I was a A10 engine and really only for export
I had a Mark II spitfire much seconhand in 1978-82

You are probably correct, I was emphasising that it was the original version of 1966. I sold it around 1968/9 to Charlie Freemans, Eckington for £140.

Wonder if it was mine was it GVT ***D?

Wonder if it was mine was it GVT ***D?

I can't remember the reg, but that one doesn't ring any bells. I think the original owner (I bought it used) was Tommy Sayles who lived at a grocers shop on Grammar St. Walkley. As I said, it had the Amal GP carbs without air cleaners, wouldn't run properly on less than 5 star petrol.

Just found me spare cylinder head for BSA Bantam if anyone is needing one.
Slightly skimmed with larger dome.

first bike was a BSA C15 250 single

I bought a ex telegram boys bike, the red ones, when telegrams were scrapped. A BSA Bantam, I think, soon wrote it off (and me, nearly), though. Young and daft at 17.

I bought a ex telegram boys bike, the red ones, when telegrams were scrapped. A BSA Bantam, I think, soon wrote it off (and me, nearly), though. Young and daft at 17.Sounds about right GPO used loads of them

Cost me £5, back of the GPO. First step into adulthood, felt like a million bucks.

Mine was a '62 (?) 250 Royal Enfield Crusader bought from Gray's for 119 guineas. I think in '64 or '65.

Best remember my dad's bikes though. He started off by buying a motorised rear wheel for his push bike. Then graduated to a new 'Cyclemaster'. After that 250 BSA and a Fanny Barnett.

Best remember my dad's bikes though. He started off by buying a motorised rear wheel for his push bike...Must have been one of these (http://www.historyworld.co.uk/content/cyclemaster2.jpg). My dad had one as well. Maybe I should have kept it - there's one on sale via eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1950s-32cc-cyclemaster-delivery-bike-Original-paint-/290552375160?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43a6456778) for £750..:)

Must have been one of these (http://www.historyworld.co.uk/content/cyclemaster2.jpg). My dad had one as well. Maybe I should have kept it - there's one on sale via eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1950s-32cc-cyclemaster-delivery-bike-Original-paint-/290552375160?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43a6456778) for £750..:)

Yes the old bicycle motors..Remember them as well..BSA winged wheel and the Raleigh moped.Some drive on the front and some on the back wheel..Of course up Meadowhead Hill and Rutland Road...You had to assost with some complimentary vigorous Pedalling.....Lovely..Luckily I only road one for fun..

One of the first bikes I bought was a Norton big four ,it was in the yard that VS Bentleys used as a workshop at the bottom of chippinghouse road, I think I paid £25 for it, massive thing with a v twin Jap engine,rigid back end girder forks,I made it into a chopper, sacroiliage I know but that was all the rage in them days ,it made a fantastic chopper and I would fly up and down Abbeydale road thinking I was Dennis Hopper sold it for a good deal on a Panther 100 a few months latter .

must have been one of these (http://www.historyworld.co.uk/content/cyclemaster2.jpg). My dad had one as well. Maybe i should have kept it - there's one on sale via ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1950s-32cc-cyclemaster-delivery-bike-original-paint-/290552375160?pt=uk_motorcycles&hash=item43a6456778) for £750..:)

that's the one!!!!!!:)

Yes the old bicycle motors..Remember them as well..BSA winged wheel and the Raleigh moped.Some drive on the front and some on the back wheel..Of course up Meadowhead Hill and Rutland Road...You had to assist with some complimentary vigorous Pedalling.....Lovely..Luckily I only road one for fun..
Just remembered another one NSU Quickly. Not very quick, I can assure you

Don't know if this has been mentioned before but I remember my father used to go to work on a Bicycle that had a little engine bolted on under the saddle. The whole thing hinged with a serrated wheel that you lowered onto the back tire with a lever.

Just remembered another one NSU Quickly. Not very quick, I can assure youYep - I had one in the 1960s, a 3-speed job (most were 2-speed). Got me from A to B and was cheap to run. It would do about 40 flat out and looked like this (http://www.icenicam.ukfsn.org/events6/100718_392.jpg)..:)

Don't know if this has been mentioned before but I remember my father used to go to work on a Bicycle that had a little engine bolted on under the saddle. The whole thing hinged with a serrated wheel that you lowered onto the back tire with a lever.



OMG, I just googled this and see you can still buy the engine kits. Honda are making them

Be interesting to know if anyone bought a diana 250 villiers twin engine looked like the one in pic but in British racing green was swaped for a Enfield last owner was on lower manor http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/durkopp-diana.jpg maybe late 70s

Mine was a '62 (?) 250 Royal Enfield Crusader bought from Gray's for 119 guineas. I think in '64 or '65.

Best remember my dad's bikes though. He started off by buying a motorised rear wheel for his push bike. Then graduated to a new 'Cyclemaster'. After that 250 BSA and a Fanny Barnett.like your style lol http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/RE2.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/untitled.jpg

That looks like a Crusader Sports? Tank filler cap craftily designed to give you an immediate
removal of your crown jewels should you hit anything!
Maybe my dad had a villiers 2 stroke(?) seem to remember the flywheel that was exposed, going round very quickly.

That looks like a Crusader Sports? Tank filler cap craftily designed to give you an immediate
removal of your crown jewels should you hit anything!
Maybe my dad had a villiers 2 stroke(?) seem to remember the flywheel that was exposed, going round very quickly.It is crusader sports tank was from super 5. Put some Continental GT bits on here and there stearing head etc it had big yolk on origenaly with head lamp in it didnt like it lol.In two minds if to change rear mudgaurd now though as its home made.
Other pic is Crusader Sports Super Five and Continental GT

like your style lol http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/RE2.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/untitled.jpg

Just lookin at the photo of the bikes..Hard to see...was one a BSA goldstar and was the pub Fox House or Peacock at Owler Bar.... Guess none of these are right? Its to many years ago:help:

Looks like it may be the Strines from the sign

Yep, deffo the Strines in the parking lot. Just looked at it on Google Earth

Just lookin at the photo of the bikes..Hard to see...was one a BSA goldstar and was the pub Fox House or Peacock at Owler Bar.... Guess none of these are right? Its to many years ago:help:Believe it was Strines as stated.No theres no Gold Star .From front was Super 5 Crusader sports in midle and rear Continental GT none of those was mine but brother and mates.

1st bike 1964 was old postoffice BSA Bantam, then 125 honda sport,then triumph speed twin 500 with the skirts round it ..then 650 triumph bonnie... arhhhhhh happy days.

Believe it was Strines as stated.No theres no Gold Star .From front was Super 5 Crusader sports in midle and rear Continental GT none of those was mine but brother and mates.
Thanks for the info guys...My eyesight is not what it used to be..Remember my old Goldstar used to vibrate so much the headlamp fell to pieces above 75.MPH,,, Those drop bars and arse up where most uncomfortable...BUT VERY MACHO AND FASHIONABLE....My nicest most comfortable bike was My Honda 6 cylinder super sport 1000 pro link....But not the most exciting by far...The top list were a Vincent Black Shadow, and a Manx Norton..Like wrestling a Bear,, but adreneline rush always.
So life goes on and now 4 wheels only for me...

Used to love my old Honda.s anyone remember this model very poor pic though only one ive got left soz http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/honda.jpg

1st bike 1964 was old postoffice BSA Bantam, then 125 honda sport,then triumph speed twin 500 with the skirts round it ..then 650 triumph bonnie... arhhhhhh happy days.
Used to live on Norton Lane in my younger days..# 155 Norton Lane..my dad bought the house in 1951..Paid two thousand pounds for it... So what is it worth now...3 bed detatched. Too old for motorbikes now..still love motor GP and Super bikes

Used to live on Norton Lane in my younger days..# 155 Norton Lane..my dad bought the house in 1951..Paid two thousand pounds for it... So what is it worth now...3 bed detatched. Too old for motorbikes now..still love motor GP and Super bikesCome on Pete don't throw the towel in just yet,biking keeps you young and us oldies have to show these young wipper snappers a thing or two.I remember your dad well,a rather large guy,could be a bit imposing and wore a suit,I was keen on a Bown when I first started riding in 1958 but looking back Im glad he had sold it,it was in the corner shop on Henry St.Do you remember Charlies shop on the opposite corner?:D:D

Come on Pete don't throw the towel in just yet,biking keeps you young and us oldies have to show these young wipper snappers a thing or two.I remember your dad well,a rather large guy,could be a bit imposing and wore a suit,I was keen on a Bown when I first started riding in 1958 but looking back Im glad he had sold it,it was in the corner shop on Henry St.Do you remember Charlies shop on the opposite corner?:D:D
My DADS shop was on the corner of Infirmary rd and Watery street,,Pub on the opposite corner and Victor parr cars in between..Dont remember another bike shop...I think Leather ans\d simpsons was nearest..Remember Charlie who did re bores etc Corner of Penistone road and Infrmary rd..73 now and heavy bikes replaced by four wheels...
But what the heck speed still an rush regardless of age...Falling off or getting knocked off is for the wipper snappers...nothing left to prove only long life How you keeping you old dog..:help::help::help:
:cool:

Used to love my old Honda.s anyone remember this model very poor pic though only one ive got left soz http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/terminator_020/honda.jpg

one of my first bikes was a Honda did a bit of digging found old photos of my old one..set me thinking should be somemore pics somewhere brings back memories..

http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w247/sandyd007/?action=view&current=bike2001_crop.jpg

one of my first bikes was a Honda did a bit of digging found old photos of my old one..set me thinking should be somemore pics somewhere brings back memories..

http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w247/sandyd007/?action=view&current=bike2001_crop.jpgOh you had one as well assuming that is the CB72 but not exactly same one i had

My first bike was a Honda 160 and they didn' t make them very well in those days. One day I was riding around and there was a big bang followed by the spark plug whistling past my head. Just blew it out of the cylinder. Also whenever it rained heavily, the engine would die.

Kx80, i sh*t myself the first time i rode it, i was only 8. :D
Damn thing tried to rip my arms off. :hihi: