Isle Of Man TT, 1920's photos

[Ovidio]

I had a 1927 Indian twin, bloody thing, even with the decompression lever down it used to drive my knee into my chin.

I can relate to that very easily...

[GeeRam]

I had a 1927 Indian twin, bloody thing, even with the decompression lever down it used to drive my knee into my chin.

Never got the chance to ride an old Indian, but a guy I know who has one (as well as a Harley WLA) has never mentioned it being bad......but then he also has a BSA Goldstar 500 in Clubmans trim, and THAT is an evil barsteward to start.....I know, I tried it a couple of times, and even though I owned a 1940 BSA WDM20 at the time, I walked away from it swearing and nursing sore body parts

[jon_norstog]

I had a 1927 Indian twin, bloody thing, even with the decompression lever down it used to drive my knee into my chin.

You're supposed to retard the spark before you kick it over. I loved seeing the Isle of Man as a dirt-and-mud race! I bet it was safer that way ... it's a widowmaker now.

jn

[CINDERS]

Be interesting to see Cinders on one of those old 1916 bikes, would likely look like a trained bear on a bicycle...

Hmmm! did not they issue a bag of salt to keep the snails back! Seriously though the olden day riders of the 20's-30's had far bigger kahoona's than I as they had very suspect tyres (Skinnies) deplorable brakes and the race track was a damn near a horse track across some farmers paddock naah! they were far braver than I........
I remember once being a complete idiot and kicking over my Honda CR 250R Elsinore 2 stroke scramble bike with bare feet it backfired and the force from the kickstart rising back up on my right instep had it turn instant blue bruising with me barely able to walk at all afterwards.
I coined that bike "The all or nothing" so narrow was the power band your either going flat out or its bogged down over fueling itself but they were a very quick bike I had many spills on that thing but it was great fun.

[Ovidio]

I remember once being a complete idiot and kicking over my Honda CR 250R Elsinore 2 stroke scramble bike with bare feet it backfired and the force from the kickstart rising back up on my right instep had it turn instant blue bruising with me barely able to walk at all afterwards.
I coined that bike "The all or nothing" so narrow was the power band your either going flat out or its bogged down over fueling itself but they were a very quick bike I had many spills on that thing but it was great fun.

I had a very similar mishap with my Gilera KZ 125.
One of the most intense feeling of pain I can remember...

[CINDERS]

Yes Ovidio you can understand what it feels like and yet I could comfortably kick over my 1976 Z900 Kawasaki.