Something for the weekend

[Flying10uk]

My father owned a number of motorbikes between the late 1940s and the mid 1960s although I believe the only ex military examples were the Harley and a Royal Enfield. I will try and dig out a few pictures of some of the other bikes in due course. In the period of the late 1940s to the late 1950s he took part in some off road motorcycling and for this he sometimes wore an ex WW2 British Army tank crew overall/coverall. Although I haven't seen it recently, somewhere, I still have it. This coverall is a light brown colour and the material is, if memory serves me correctly, fairly thick. British tank crews have been using black coveralls for years but I don't know the reason for changing from brown or when but suspect it could have been shortly after the war???

[Flying10uk]

Here is a selection of photographs of some but not all of the other bikes which my Father owned. His first, a BSA Bantam was purchased in 1949, new I believe. There then follows pictures of: a 1946 A.J.S., a Sunbeam, a 1958 Royal Enfield Bullet and finally his first vintage bike a 1927 BSA 500cc side valve single. I'm afraid that the order of the text doesn't match the pictures which is due to my very limited I.T. skills. The pictures are the Royal Enfield, the 1927 BSA, the Sunbeam, the AJS and the BSA.

[CINDERS]

Tell me, is Kwaka common Aussie speak for Kawasaki?

Sure is Sentry just like Spewzukis, H D's Hardly dependable, rice burners, sin bins and a few roo's short in the top paddock.................among other things colonial as PL refers to us outcasts as when I am taking the p*ss outa some one from the old country who has just landed and they complain it being hot in winter time here I just say Geez ya wouldn't want to be here in summer then even the flys wear sunscreen and sunnies.........REALLY

[Peter Laidler]

Just those two-letter number plates VW, KD and GV would be worth a kings ransom now

[bigduke6]

Post #32 Fourth pic along, the AJS is basically the same as the Matchless G3L (in post one)......... notice the painted rims, I,m told not long after the war chrome plating was limited to small parts etc, so painting the rims was the norm also a process later was used to coat the steel rim, can't remember the name but it gave the appearance of Aluminium.

Regarding post one I mention a WD G3L....... looking for some spares etc I spotted an advert for one, the price was right so a deposit was paid ASAP, hope to pick it up at the weekend, so the 1947 will have to go sooner than later, will tidy up the bits that need it and get it in perfect running order...... they seem to be like buses at the moment you wait and wait then they all arrive at once.

Must admit offloading some of the collection to fund it is easier than I thought and going to a good home......

[Flying10uk]

The second picture along, the 1927 BSA, is in pretty much as purchased condition before my Father had carried out any restoration work on the bike. I believe that I am correct in stating that the BSA Bantam was based on a pre-war German design and perhaps other members may be able to explain more about this if correct, please? For a number of years my Father was employed by the Automobile Association riding a motorcycle and sidecar known in the trade as a road service outfit (BSA bike). This was at a time when he was living in Essex and he often had to patrol the busy A12 road when it was a single carriage way. At this time in the Automobile Association's history their patrol's were still expected and obliged to salute their customers displaying the AA badge on the front of their vehicles unless there was a Police speed trap in the area. It was while performing this task of saluting an AA customer and while also riding his motorbike and sidecar on the busy A12 that my Father had a slightly unfortunate little mishap- he rode into the car in front. It was lucky that he wasn't riding very fast and no-one was hurt; the only real damage was a bent rear bumper to the car in front. The accident did shake my Father up quite badly and after some thought decided to leave the AA; a short time later the practice of saluting AA members by AA patrols was discontinued.

[bigduke6]

Long and sad day yesterday, bike in post #1 has gone, but got a good offer and couldn't refuse...... although not wanting to sell but had no choice really and have the WD G3L to continue with, https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=57224

Killed two birds with one stone as I dropped off the two small lathes I had sold to a buyer near Birmingham, then continued to London....... eyes on the end of stalks by the time I got back.

Have to give credit to my Van (Citroen Berlingo) , its only topped up with Diesel and oil had a coil spring replaced and needs other side but has never missed a beat, what our friends from down under call a " ute " take the front seat out and a Matchless fits in perfect.....

Had to do a repair before I left as one of the securing legs for the battery holding down bracket had snapped, replaced with a piece of stud bar etc. Its when I noticed the indication window that show the battery condition was gone !! not sure whats caused this as it was temporally lashed with a bungee cord, anyone ever had this window pop out before?

[smithnframe]

Very nice!

[CINDERS]

Love the bungey cord fix sounds like something we Aussies would do and call it a permanent fix!!!

[Bruce_in_Oz]

You can also fix a lot of things with cable (zip) ties, Velcro straps, gaffer ("duct") tape, fencing wire, baling twine and / or Blue-Tac, in various combinations and permutations.

Epoxy putty is handy stuff as well.