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Can anyone help to identify the rifle, I just know it as a 'Long Lee'. I'd also appreciate any info on the bike though I do realise that it's a long shot on this forum. The gentleman on the bike is my late Grandfather who I know was in the Northumberland Fusiliers then later in the Royal Engineers before he joined the RFC to fly DH9 bombers.Attachment 55714
Robert: The bike is a Norton- maybe around 1911, sidevalve, of course. The rifle is a Charger Loading Lee Enfield, conversions that I believe were actually used on the front line, at least early on. The rear sight looks like the windage adjustable version that might distinguish this a CLLE Mk I*. Great photo. I suspect there's lot's of bike enthusiasts on the forum.
Ridolpho
Looks a lot like a Charger Loading conversion; i.e. CLLE
As for the bike: I have flicked the pic to the family oracle on vintage motorcycles.
Re the vintage bike:
Got this reply from my brother the bike buff:
"Your pic shows features consistent with 3.5HP (500cc) Rover (Coventry UK), circa 1911-12 Flickr: The Rover Imperial motorcycles Pool
Can't be earlier than 1910 because they stopped making MCs 1905-late1910, to concentrate on pushbike market.
Their new for 1910-11 single cyl model had no gearbox, but instead used Sturmey-Archer 3speed "Hub Gears" in rear wheel
(bigger version of pushbike hub gears, there may have also been single speed poverty models)
Small horizontal rod from in front of pedal chain wheel to rear hub area makes me think pic is a 3 speed rear hub type with rod for actuation.
There are actually a few around, I'd love one!
By 1913-14 at least "flash" versions had conventional gearboxes,
Also sold a heap of presumably 1914 models to Russians during first disagreement.
Rover also made a V-twin, but stopped making MCs in mid 1920s."
Link has lots of nice colour pics of ancient motorcycles.
That is one nice ride... And rifle.
I stand corrected on the bike! I have a photo of a 1911 Norton and was fooled by the general appearance of girder fork, etc. Engine is embarrasingly different. I'll stick to guns, henceforth.
Ridolpho
You would have to watch the peddles though going around corners having forgotten the side stand on my Z900 a few times sorta hard to lean left? :madsmile: