Archive stuff

[Andy J]

I was mechanic for ‘89 TT, production class D ( that one!) and Supersport 400 . I thought they we quick then- I can’t get my head round the speed they go now, haven’t been since ‘93.

Perhaps I had a lucky escape in 89 as I blew my SFC1000 up in practice so avoided the carnage of the race; and 93 was my last year following my free helicopter ride off the mountain during the Senior Race (riding an ex-Dave Jeffries/BrIan Morrison OW01).

 

[rocketonarail]

. Rocket, was that the only year model in Red and White, did look the business/gorgeous to my eye, other R1 colours never had the same impact j

Yes John ....... My example below ........ Bluish White Cocktail is the Yamaha description , Red / White to everyone else ...... This one has 33,000 miles up , engine rebuilt at 28 k , before my ownership , not sure for what reason , possibly 2nd gear letting go ..... a known possible failing .......

A couple of stripped threads bear testimony to this rebuild ( Cheers , CMC Chesterfield ) ...... Also oil dripping from oil / coolant pump drain pipe , which was down to ( guess who ) not using correct O rings when replacing it ........ Oil / coolant pump lives inside sump , so while that was out I replaced bearings and seals in that as well just to be on safe side ......... ( one bearing was iffy , the other slightly less so ) .......

Tony

Sorry everyone else , just pretend this isn`t here ...... won`t do it again ..........

 

[rocketonarail]

Does anyone still have these ( in the UK obvs. ) ....... Petrol ration books issued in 1973 in response to the OPEC Fuel Crisis , but not actually needed in the end ........ Left over from those printed for the 1957 Suez Crisis ........ Those were issued via local authorities / councils , and were related to your particular vehicle ...... In `73 they were sent out blank ........

Had a CB250 at the time ....... but presumably could have been used for any bike ( up to 250cc in my case ) ...... the CB returned about 60 mpg ....... a better bet would have been a C90 ................ Had a C90E ( E for Economy , NOT England , or even Exhaust ) a few years later , which would have an even better bet ( 140 mpg without even trying ) ...... Bought that from Rob Taylors in Shirehampton , Bristol .... manager Mike told me a couple of blokes who worked at Avonmouth docks each bought a C90E , and then saw who could get most mileage out of their respective bikes ..... one managed 201 mpg , the other 203 mpg ........ this would involve crawling along at 20 mph being overtaken by cyclists , and old ladies running for the bus , but it could be done .........

 

[rocketonarail]

In a similar vein ....... Tried to do something about the appalling fuel consumption of the Mirage ( that useless leaking fuel cap every Italian manufacturer seemed compelled to use at the time didn`t help either ) ....

It was usually 32 - 34 mpg , increasing to around 28 mpg when cruising at 6000 rpm .....

Took a look inside the carbs ..... Found 145 mains , and K1 needles ( OK - Mirage spec ) ....... but pilots were 65 ( standard 1200 ) ....... should have been 55`s .............. either fitted in error ( or rather , just left in place in error ) , or maybe just left in place to improve low speed running in case Massimo suddenly appeared and decided to take it for a run around the test track ....

Thought I would try to improve things by fitting 55`s ..... as pilots are running all the time ( I think ? ) , smaller ones should help ........
I was also thinking about slide cutaways , but that was starting to get too complicated , and I couldn`t be bothered with all that .......

Richard didn`t have any 55`s , but he did have 58`s .... so those went in ......

Didn`t seem to make much difference ...... I asked Richard about K14 needles ( standard 1200 ) , as these have slightly larger diameter , and shorter length taper than K1`s , but Richard reckoned if I fitted those " I wouldn`t get to the end of the road " ....... maybe a slight over statement , but I guessed he would know better than me ......

Eventually got 55`s from Richard , fitted those , and turned the accelerator pumps down to almost off , which resulted in an improvement of about 5 mpg overall ........ Also ended up with 118 mains in place of the 145`s , not that that would make any difference most of the time ......

 

[Paul Marx]

View attachment 81962View attachment 81961

In a similar vein ....... Tried to do something about the appalling fuel consumption of the Mirage ( that useless leaking fuel cap every Italian manufacturer seemed compelled to use at the time didn`t help either ) ....

It was usually 32 - 34 mpg , increasing to around 28 mpg when cruising at 6000 rpm .....

Took a look inside the carbs ..... Found 145 mains , and K1 needles ( OK - Mirage spec ) ....... but pilots were 65 ( standard 1200 ) ....... should have been 55`s .............. either fitted in error ( or rather , just left in place in error ) , or maybe just left in place to improve low speed running in case Massimo suddenly appeared and decided to take it for a run around the test track ....

Thought I would try to improve things by fitting 55`s ..... as pilots are running all the time ( I think ? ) , smaller ones should help ........
I was also thinking about slide cutaways , but that was starting to get too complicated , and I couldn`t be bothered with all that .......

Richard didn`t have any 55`s , but he did have 58`s .... so those went in ......

Didn`t seem to make much difference ...... I asked Richard about K14 needles ( standard 1200 ) , as these have slightly larger diameter , and shorter length taper than K1`s , but Richard reckoned if I fitted those " I wouldn`t get to the end of the road " ....... maybe a slight over statement , but I guessed he would know better than me ......

Eventually got 55`s from Richard , fitted those , and turned the accelerator pumps down to almost off , which resulted in an improvement of about 5 mpg overall ........ Also ended up with 118 mains in place of the 145`s , not that that would make any difference most of the time ......

Those leaking italian petrol caps make for a nice bonfire when the bike falls over with a full tank.

Pilot jets pass fuel from engine start to full revs. Their influence is certain until you're coming off the needle, which is rarely.

Paul

 

[Andy J]

View attachment 81955View attachment 81956View attachment 81960


Does anyone still have these ( in the UK obvs. ) ....... Petrol ration books issued in 1973 in response to the OPEC Fuel Crisis , but not actually needed in the end ........ Left over from those printed for the 1957 Suez Crisis ........ Those were issued via local authorities / councils , and were related to your particular vehicle ...... In `73 they were sent out blank ........

Had a CB250 at the time ....... but presumably could have been used for any bike ( up to 250cc in my case ) ...... the CB returned about 60 mpg ....... a better bet would have been a C90 ................ Had a C90E ( E for Economy , NOT England , or even Exhaust ) a few years later , which would have an even better bet ( 140 mpg without even trying ) ...... Bought that from Rob Taylors in Shirehampton , Bristol .... manager Mike told me a couple of blokes who worked at Avonmouth docks each bought a C90E , and then saw who could get most mileage out of their respective bikes ..... one managed 201 mpg , the other 203 mpg ........ this would involve crawling along at 20 mph being overtaken by cyclists , and old ladies running for the bus , but it could be done .........

I’ve got a few of my late father’s, or possibly they may have been his father’s.

 

[Andy J]

Wasn’t sure whether to post this in archive stuff or joke of the week.
Just come across it whilst clearing out my parent’s house. I knew my father had visited the MGP after the war with his parents, and I found a copy of the 1950 programme, a couple of copies of the TT Special and this Giles cartoon from 13 September 1950.

 

[Andy J]

Front pages from said TT Specials and IOM Times.

 

[Andy J]

Cover of programme and schedule for the week along with some of the stunning entertainment on offer.

 

[Andy J]

And also found news of Percy Tait & incidentally Niki Lauda in the Express August 1976.

 

[rocketonarail]

Wasn’t sure whether to post this in archive stuff or joke of the week.
Just come across it whilst clearing out my parent’s house. I knew my father had visited the MGP after the war with his parents, and I found a copy of the 1950 programme, a couple of copies of the TT Special and this Giles cartoon from 13 September 1950.

Had a few Giles albums of the years cartoons softbound ........ from the `fifties through to the early `seventies ........ probably an insult to call them cartoons ...... more like works of art the detail that went into them ......... They seemed to centre around a particular family , though not always , and incorporate whatever was in the news at the time into everyday lives ........ My favourite family member was Grannie ....... always loads and loads of kids as well ...... maybe some sort of comment on the post war baby boom .......

Talking of cartoons , or cartoon strips , also have a couple of Pip and Squeak Annuals from the 1930`s ........ If you`re into between the wars weirdness , that`s the place to go ........ Basically a family of talking penguins who appear to have adopted an excitable hare ( Wilfred ) , with the backdrop of a couple of Russian anarchists trying to plant bombs and blow up buildings ....... published in the Daily Express , I think ......... sorry , Mirror .......

 

[Andy J]

I haven’t got Pip n Squeak but I do have the Rainbow Annuals from 1934 to 1940.

 

[Exmoor beast]

Had a few Giles albums of the years cartoons softbound ........ from the `fifties through to the early `seventies ........ probably an insult to call them cartoons ...... more like works of art the detail that went into them ......... They seemed to centre around a particular family , though not always , and incorporate whatever was in the news at the time into everyday lives ........ My favourite family member was Grannie ....... always loads and loads of kids as well ...... maybe some sort of comment on the post war baby boom .......

Talking of cartoons , or cartoon strips , also have a couple of Pip and Squeak Annuals from the 1930`s ........ If you`re into between the wars weirdness , that`s the place to go ........ Basically a family of talking penguins who appear to have adopted an excitable hare ( Wilfred ) , with the backdrop of a couple of Russian anarchists trying to plant bombs and blow up buildings ....... published in the Daily Express , I think ......... sorry , Mirror .......

Small motorcycles were called “Wilfred’s” after this cartoon- crazy but true!

 

[rocketonarail]

1935 ....... No motorcycle content I`m afraid ( Apart from the clueless Naylor ) ........ Just a Pip and Squeak and Wilfred view of the world 88 years ago .........

 

[piranha-bro2]

Drug-induced fine art right there!

 

[rocketonarail]

Drug-induced fine art right there!

You should read the stories that went with them ........ That tearaway , reckless driving , lobster was the " bad lad" of the family , apparently ........ The laughing giant in the box was conceived by another giant to cheer up a valley full of little people who had all fallen foul of a mystery virus ...... Another story was about a boy out on his bicycle who discovered a town full of razor thin people , only visible in profile , who lived in paper thin houses , again only visible in profile .......... If they were spotted out and about by a normal person , they would disappear as if by magic , by gaining entrance to their walled town through one inch wide slits in the wall ..................... This was given to me as bedtime reading when I was 5 -6 years old .......

Then progressed onto comics : Jack and Jill ; Dandy ; Beano ; Topper ; Beezer ; Hotspur ; Eagle ; ......... later on Wham ; Smash ; Fantastic ; Terrific ; ........ then Motor ; Autocar ; Motoring Weekly ; Cars and Car Conversions ; Motor Sport ; ........ then Aeromodeller ; ....... then Beat Instrumental ; New Musical Express ; Melody Maker ; Sounds ; Black Music and Jazz Review ; ...... then Motor Cycle ; Motor Cyclist Illustrated ; Motorcycle Mechanics ; Motor Cycle Sport ; Motor Cycle News ; Bike ; Practical Sportsbike ; ...... Now catching up on old copies of Performance Bikes , which I wish I`d got at the time ......

( All on paper , not hidden behind a plastic screen ......... apparently there are no printed motorcycle magazines in the USA anymore .... ) ......

Anyone remember any of these ... ? .....

 

[iis_iis]

Yes John ....... My example below ........ Bluish White Cocktail is the Yamaha description , Red / White to everyone else ...... This one has 33,000 miles up , engine rebuilt at 28 k , before my ownership , not sure for what reason , possibly 2nd gear letting go ..... a known possible failing .......

A couple of stripped threads bear testimony to this rebuild ( Cheers , CMC Chesterfield ) ...... Also oil dripping from oil / coolant pump drain pipe , which was down to ( guess who ) not using correct O rings when replacing it ........ Oil / coolant pump lives inside sump , so while that was out I replaced bearings and seals in that as well just to be on safe side ......... ( one bearing was iffy , the other slightly less so ) .......

Tony

Sorry everyone else , just pretend this isn`t here ...... won`t do it again ..........View attachment 81697

Only just caught this one today, am off the pace as once was, and worse, i dont even know am off the pace... smartin' up jonny... great piccy, yes Laverda is king around here, to be king you need subjects, the above is but one...., love your style Tony. j

 

[Exmoor beast]

You should read the stories that went with them ........ That tearaway , reckless driving , lobster was the " bad lad" of the family , apparently ........ The laughing giant in the box was conceived by another giant to cheer up a valley full of little people who had all fallen foul of a mystery virus ...... Another story was about a boy out on his bicycle who discovered a town full of razor thin people , only visible in profile , who lived in paper thin houses , again only visible in profile .......... If they were spotted out and about by a normal person , they would disappear as if by magic , by gaining entrance to their walled town through one inch wide slits in the wall ..................... This was given to me as bedtime reading when I was 5 -6 years old .......

Then progressed onto comics : Jack and Jill ; Dandy ; Beano ; Topper ; Beezer ; Hotspur ; Eagle ; ......... later on Wham ; Smash ; Fantastic ; Terrific ; ........ then Motor ; Autocar ; Motoring Weekly ; Cars and Car Conversions ; Motor Sport ; ........ then Aeromodeller ; ....... then Beat Instrumental ; New Musical Express ; Melody Maker ; Sounds ; Black Music and Jazz Review ; ...... then Motor Cycle ; Motor Cyclist Illustrated ; Motorcycle Mechanics ; Motor Cycle Sport ; Motor Cycle News ; Bike ; Practical Sportsbike ; ...... Now catching up on old copies of Performance Bikes , which I wish I`d got at the time ......

( All on paper , not hidden behind a plastic screen ......... apparently there are no printed motorcycle magazines in the USA anymore .... ) ......

Anyone remember any of these ... ? .....

I got into Superbike by reading my neighbours before I delivered it as the paperboy. Mate at school gave me his Dads Cycle World from the states but I cut out all the pictures of Triumphs. I can remember reading Exchange & Mart- there was a place in Wandsworth that sold ” new” American surplus jeeps- I can also remember new army surplus Matchless engines for sale. My school used to have an upper sixth library that got motor cycle weekly - I would Nick that for the Heskeths articles.

 

[rocketonarail]

I got into Superbike by reading my neighbours before I delivered it as the paperboy. Mate at school gave me his Dads Cycle World from the states but I cut out all the pictures of Triumphs. I can remember reading Exchange & Mart- there was a place in Wandsworth that sold ” new” American surplus jeeps- I can also remember new army surplus Matchless engines for sale. My school used to have an upper sixth library that got motor cycle weekly - I would Nick that for the Heskeths articles.

Hesketh ........ Wasn`t there a ill tempered spat that developed between Hesketh and the motorcycle press when jounnalists called out the clank clank wallop thump transmission / gearchange at the press launch for the bike ... ? ...... I seem to remember there was also some sort of cam / engine cover which the Hesketh team referred to as " The Sock " , due to it`s shape ........ apparently this had a tendency to leak .......... ................

 

[Exmoor beast]

Hesketh ........ Wasn`t there an ill tempered spat that developed between Hesketh and the motorcycle press when jounnalists called out the clank clank wallop thump transmission / gearchange at the press launch for the bike ... ? ...... I seem to remember there was also some sort of cam / engine cover which the Hesketh team referred to as " The Sock " , due to it`s shape ........ apparently this had a tendency to leak .......... ................

At the first press launch at Brands, Heskeths employed an ex Norton racer/ test rider to give it its first official blast..
when asked what he thought “ Engine sounds like two skeletons wanking in a dustbin..”
The motor was originally drawn by Ron Valentine of Weslake, then the Heskeths F1 blokes mucked about with it, it was a bit of a mess. The sock was an oval section cam chain tunnel that floated, mostly in oil, between head and cases.
The design was then sold to Excelsior/ Victory then Indian- I imagine they started again.