Andymann Posted March 29, 2019 Share I do believe though that it has the correct Manx Norton close ratio gearbox so that's at least something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grebel Posted March 29, 2019 Share Seeing as it's so quiet let me let everyone in onto my latest project. A bit of (sad) history - I can't take credit for this bike - it was built by a guy who wanted a Manx Norton, but obviously couldn't afford a genuine one so he collected parts over 20 or so years and when he felt he had enough to begin, started putting the bike together. As you see it now was where he was when he was called in for lunch by his wife, and after lunch took a little nap, from which he never woke up again. He was busy bleeding the oil lines making sure oil flowed through before he started it up. The bikes and all his tools went into his Estate and I bid on the Hydraulic Bench that the bike was standing on. When I went to collect the bench, the Norton was still there - no-one wanted it and they were pretty desperate to get rid of it. In the end I made what I thought was a fair offer and bought it. It's not worth what I paid, it's totally impractical, has no collectable value because it isn't original, but I just could not see it being stripped down and sold for parts which was the next option they were considering. I feel I need to finish what the old man had started. So this weekend I'm going to fire it up. Hold thumbs! Shorten the fenders, change the seat. throw some lights on it and stick it on Gumtree with "Vintage Norton Cafe Racer" in the title and somebody with a curly mustache and an immaculately trimmed beard wearing skinny jeans, a knitted scarf and North Stars will take it off your hands before the ad expires. He'll probably even pay cash that he'll carry in a little leather satchel Edit: That is a very cool story though. An opportunity to complete a story that would otherwise never have been told. Edited March 29, 2019 by Grebel Captain Fastbastard Mayhem, BSG, Chris_ and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymann Posted March 29, 2019 Share Shorten the fenders, change the seat. throw some lights on it and stick it on Gumtree with "Vintage Norton Cafe Racer" in the title and somebody with a curly mustache and an immaculately trimmed beard wearing skinny jeans, a knitted scarf and North Stars will take it off your hands before the ad expires. He'll probably even pay cash that he'll carry in a little leather satchel Edit: That is a very cool story though. An opportunity to complete a story that would otherwise never have been told. Or better yet - throw some sawdust, rat droppings and chicken feathers all over it, and sell it as a barn-find. Will be worth a fortune..... Grebel, BenReaper, Wannabe and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymann Posted March 29, 2019 Share I resonated with the situation, because I foresee my father being in exactly the same one. When he was at university he had a BSA Gold Star 500 - the Ducati 916 of the 50's. He always wanted another one and in 1980 found one in the UK and imported it. I remember the year, because I was the unlucky **** who had to clean off all the bright green grease the shipping agents covered it in. He stripped that bike 6 months later and never put it back together again. Last year he started with the rebuild and has got to about 80% - only for it to stall again. Have no idea why he won't finish it, but I am genuinely concerned he never will.... BenReaper, Hairy and Captain Fastbastard Mayhem 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymann Posted March 29, 2019 Share That's a BSA Gold Star btw Tromp, sawystertrance, Hairy and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbeard Posted March 29, 2019 Share I am thinking of getting this for the wife as a commuter. In NZ you dont need a bike license to drive this, a car license will do. All other scoots require a bike license.One million Parisians can't be wrong. -Az- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranswurm Posted March 29, 2019 Share thats what he saidLOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted March 29, 2019 Share what a story, looking forward to seeing this bike coming to life! Seeing as it's so quiet let me let everyone in onto my latest project. A bit of (sad) history - I can't take credit for this bike - it was built by a guy who wanted a Manx Norton, but obviously couldn't afford a genuine one so he collected parts over 20 or so years and when he felt he had enough to begin, started putting the bike together. As you see it now was where he was when he was called in for lunch by his wife, and after lunch took a little nap, from which he never woke up again. He was busy bleeding the oil lines making sure oil flowed through before he started it up. The bikes and all his tools went into his Estate and I bid on the Hydraulic Bench that the bike was standing on. When I went to collect the bench, the Norton was still there - no-one wanted it and they were pretty desperate to get rid of it. In the end I made what I thought was a fair offer and bought it. It's not worth what I paid, it's totally impractical, has no collectable value because it isn't original, but I just could not see it being stripped down and sold for parts which was the next option they were considering. I feel I need to finish what the old man had started. So this weekend I'm going to fire it up. Hold thumbs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted March 29, 2019 Share A real beaut and great project. I'm sure it would sell to someone if you wanted to sell it. Even Hairy might be tempted.. LOL ...... I was thinking along those lines I doubt it - no papers, it has the 500cc Twin Norton engine which someone told me would battle to pull itself out of bed, has a Suzuki GT750 brake which is probably worth more to a Suzuki collector than the bike(!) and Honda forks off I think a CB750 - you can see the mounts for the disk brakes. But it looks cool.......She sounds perfect BenReaper and sawystertrance 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V12man Posted March 30, 2019 Share thats not very nice.What did you want him to say? "To be honest that's buttugly? ???? Butt its worse than that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V12man Posted March 30, 2019 Share They're not around any more.I have one in my garage... not for sale... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grebel Posted March 31, 2019 Share I have one in my garage... not for sale...Probably because nobody wants to buy it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V12man Posted March 31, 2019 Share Probably because nobody wants to buy it....They have a following - got a list of people waiting in line. What I really want is the electric c1.. but none came in to SA as far as I have been able to find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted March 31, 2019 Share Probably because nobody wants to buy it.... They have a following - got a list of people waiting in line. What I really want is the electric c1.. but none came in to SA as far as I have been able to find out.you talking about the C1 ..... those have always intrigued me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenReaper Posted March 31, 2019 Share Had to go see a client early this morning and planned on riding there with the bicycle, woke up early and didn't feel up to the 60km there and back so made morning of it with my boy. Spokey, Wannabe, Andymann and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Knoetze (sk27) Posted April 1, 2019 Share They're not around any more. Thankfully..........Still puzzles me how you don't need a helmet to ride them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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