Workshop exotica, non Laverda
- Thread starter sfcpiet
- Start date
lawrence
Hero member
- Location
- Idaho, USA
Interesting isn't the half of it!
I've often dreamed of having an old Horex in the garage. Back in the 1950-60 era there were some lovely examples of that marque. Seems as though you're well positioned to see one of those appear on the door step some day.
I've often dreamed of having an old Horex in the garage. Back in the 1950-60 era there were some lovely examples of that marque. Seems as though you're well positioned to see one of those appear on the door step some day.
It's a 1950 750 Nimbus Vince.
Bike had apparently stood un-used in a collection for a time, new owner couldn't get it running properly. I managed to get it going OK-ish, but wasn't really happy, even with no prior experience of these contraptions. Luckily he had recieved a load of parts with the bike and a later-type carb was amoungst that. This had a low-speed or idle circuit, the fitted one didn't... transformed the bikes' manners, owner had an ear-to-ear grin for a week! Nimbus made their own brass carbs, the design hardly changed from the early 20's until they shut shop in 1958(?).
The Vindian also had carb issues that the owner couldn't solve. A Laverda client of ours suggested he bring the bike to us due to our experience with Dellortos. Once everything was balanced and valves and ignition were set up properly it was a matter of installing an exhaust gas tester and doing test runs. Bike now starts, runs and idles nicely and is an absolute hoot to ride! One of 3 generally known replicas worldwide of the Vindian prototype from the early 50's. It's nicely built with a lot of attention to small details to make it look quite authentic, but with a splash of "modern" equipement to make life a bit easier. Engine is brand new!
OCT is located in a small semi-rural village and occupies a 19th. century farm house. What you see in the background is the workshop, formerly the livestock stable. The stables, barns and house are arranged so a square courtyard is formed, the farmer would generally grow his crops on fields on the outskirts of the village, livestock was mostly to ensure their own self-sufficiency. There are about another 15 of these former farms in the village, farming is now on a far greater scale and has moved to the outskirts.
piet
Last edited:
breganzane
Hero member
- Location
- NSW Australia
Had to look twice when you twice wrote Vindian. Didn't actually notice it wasn't an Indian donk on the first pass! 
Much the same thing I guess.... (ducks for cover).
Much the same thing I guess.... (ducks for cover).That one from Jack Macormack, not sure of the name but he distributed lots of different bikes in the USA including American Eagle maybe?
batorinternational.com
American Eagle 750 - Bator International Inc
Jack McCormack, set up the American Eagle motorcycle brand in the late 1960s after previously helping establish both Honda and Suzuki motorcycles in the USA.
batorinternational.com
lawrence
Hero member
- Location
- Idaho, USA
Wasn't it Floyd Clymer that tried to sell Indians with Vincent power? He sold a few such hybrids with Velocette engines. I recall an example of the latter in a local showroom in the mid-1960s. Lovely machine to admire, but living with a Velo was intimidating so I passed on that.
Steve,Had to look twice when you twice wrote Vindian. Didn't actually notice it wasn't an Indian donk on the first pass!
Indian Chiefs can pack a decent punch torque-wise but are very old-fashioned. The Vincent unit is really nice, actually astounding for a 50's engine. If you ever get the chance to try one, grab it!
This engine was newly-made in Germany to original plans with only very minor changes to ease manufacture. Thankfully it uses a Kawasaki clutch, doing away with what is probably the Vincents major achilles heel. Gearbox needs a bit of revision, down-changes are very iffy.
piet
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
A couple of curious motorbikes, the things that OCT attract?
Remember the courtyard farmlet well.
Remember the courtyard farmlet well.
The Vindian came about in 1948, before Clymer got his sticky fingers in the plot. He later got hold of the name and had Italjet build the bikes that sold under the Indian banner. Perhaps the best Velos of them all? Italjets with Royal Enfield engines were also marketed as Indian.
Fell in love with Velos when I regularly walked past a Thruxton Clubman (must have been one of the last built, afaIk there was a special run of them for Oz) on my way to primary school...
piet
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
I think Reunitedchris is an old Velo man, or am I mistaken?
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
Wash ya mouth out Vince, my 79 Jota was black with gold pinstripes
My brother restored Indians, in the early 70's. His was a Chief outfit, non returning foot clutch, right side stick gear shift on tank, ( 3 forward gears and one reverse ) carby throttle on the left handle bar ( so right handed cops can shoot while riding ), right handle bar "throttle" mechanical advance retard on the distributor, rifle pouch on right side of bike. Ornamental front brake, floor board back brake, rebuildable spark plugs, multiplate fuel filter ( dropped into grass lawn... hours later finding all the disks ). Sprung seat, 6V dynamo, on and on, used to hear him coming down our long street, in top gear, firing every third telegraph/power pole.... kabang... long pause... kabang... he said to me "take it for a ride" your kidding... prior the Clint phrase .. "man has to know his limitations" and i did...never rode it... none but the brave. The parts box crates he brought in were ex WW 2 surplus, wooden crates, machined parts packed in wax paper part enclosed in solid grease, like they came off the lathe that day. Nice photographs Piet, tah. j
Last edited:
Wow Vince, me too batman... Ryans, had a deposit on a series 1 or 2 Rocket Three ( used ) needed reliable apprentice transport... would not give me back my deposit so i chose a new Suzuki GT750K. Which i still have. At North Auburn was Burling and Simmons show room, some 1 mile from me on Paramatta road. Orange Ducati 750 sports they coul not sell, even offering a second dual seat in the deal. Many Brit bikes on the well showy floor, alias was "Burgler and Summons" for the business.... and some merit to that, 17+ year old lads were walking targets... we learned the hard way... Ryans little better... j
breganzane
Hero member
- Location
- NSW Australia
A couple of years ago I had the pleasure (terror) of a ride on a mate's Indian, I think it was an early 1920's Scout. An immaculate, beautifully restored bike with the same control layout as mentioned above. The offer was made and I thought to myself "I really can't knock that back, gotta give it a go". It was about half way down my street at maybe 30kmh when I reached the conclusion that I had absolutely no control of the vehicle other than direction, and I was going downhill gaining speed towards a t-junction. I envisaged the worlds slowest bike crash as I had a mental block as to what to push or pull to retard progress. Fortunately fear of scratching such a lovely bike overcame all else and I brought it to a very wobbly stop. I got it in motion again and headed off down the other road near my place, and managed a couple of hand gearchanges, negotiated the cul-de-sac and headed for home. With white knuckles and clenched teeth I got it back to my driveway intact after the scariest <50kmh 2km ride of my life. Laughs all round, good times, can recommend it!
GregT
Hero member
- Location
- Christchurch NZ
The old man used to earn a bit of extra cash relining and setting up Vincemt clutches for the local agents. Surprisingly, in Christchurch NZ Bob Burns was not the agent. His shop would do the job but at the top end of the price scale....
Anyway, they had to be test ridden once done. Not by me - I was only a kid at the time. Dad or older brother would do the ride tests. I once went along as pillion and watched over the shoulder as the big chronometric speedo ticked it's way toward and past 100mph. Impressive - and effortless.
Rode a mate's WLA around a big car park once, it was like patting your head while rubbing your stomach, difficult but fun. It had a suicide clutch, that was fully spring-loaded left foot just like a manual car, apparently, the non-suiside type is safer and easier. Wouldnt like to try it in traffic though. Indian left-hand throttle would be a huge step too far for me though.
1200ts
Hero member
- Location
- USA - Riverside CA
Since Velocette has been mentioned, here is mine, a 1962 Venom 500cc. It will do a little over 100 mph on a good day. This one had been destroyed in a fire back in the 1960's. All I got was an engine, gearbox, frame and forks. No wheels, fuel tank, seat or any sheet metal parts at all. And yes the front brake is off a Norton. They handle very well and the engine has much less vibration than any other brand of British single I have ever ridden. It has never broken down and I rode 640 miles in a day on it once. They are also famous for leaking oil. The only oil seals on the bike are the forks, rear shocks and magneto. The engine, gearbox and primary have none.
Last edited: