Boffin Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 As I finish work at lunch time on Fridays, I do the weekly grocery shopping on the way home. This afternoon, on leaving the store I saw what at first glance looked like a vintage bike. A slightly less cursory look revealed ot to be a home-build special. I only had my camera-phone with me so the pictures aren't great but here they are: The engine has a fabricated crankcase with old side-valve cylinders. The gearbox looks like an old AMC unit or possibly Norton. The forks look like Norton and the frame is a hard-tail something-or-other. I waited for the chap to come out and asked him what it was made from - his answer was "anything that I can fit in to make it work". The bike is officially a 1985 vintage! He did not seem interested in talking about it and flicked a switch on the headlight, gave a lazy prod on the starter and the engine sprang into life with a soft, even note. He rode off accompanied by an occasional spit and splutter. He seemed really content with life. Andy Link to comment
RTP'er Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Wow, looks great. Dang hard to find a dealer on a Sunday though... Link to comment
Paul Mihalka Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Wow, looks great. Dang hard to find a dealer on a Sunday though... I guess this guy does NOT need a dealer.... Link to comment
keithb Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 This home built bike is great. It has EDGE to it! Thanks for sharing and your cameral phone takes great pics. Link to comment
tallman Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Wow, looks great. Dang hard to find a dealer on a Sunday though... I guess this guy does NOT need a dealer.... He is the dealer. Get to see one every now and then running the gamut from very nice to what was he thinking. Link to comment
leikam Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Nice bike. Thanks for sharing the pictures, Andy. Link to comment
Bullett Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 That is totally cool! Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I didn't know Tony_K moved to England. Link to comment
John Bentall Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 It gives a totally new meaning to the word "diehard" or should that be "Die Hard"? Link to comment
10ovr Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I didn't know Tony_K moved to England. Now thats funny Link to comment
John Ranalletta Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Several years ago, a web or magazine article featured an English fellow who would take a hacksaw to a couple of bike motors, weld them together to make working hybrids. As I recall, he worked out of his less than well equipped garage, not a fully equipped machine shop. Link to comment
Tony_K Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I didn't know Tony_K moved to England. Oh I am humbled by that craftsman in the UK! That thing is truely awesome!!! Link to comment
pbbeck Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Andy, Hate to rain on your parade, but I think you just spied a 2010 Harley-Davidson prototype. Link to comment
simon999 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 how did that pass an MOT ----- CHAIN GUARDS, DRIVE BELTS ETC...NAUGHTY !! Link to comment
Boffin Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 I know of at least one MOT station that would turn a blind eye to the belt guards etc. Where do you think the local 'bike clubs' get theirs from. FWIW, it had a valid VEL. Andy Link to comment
baggerchris Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Kudos to someone like that. He is the type of mechanic I can only wish I could be. I'll bet he can make almost anything out of nothing if he had to. Link to comment
Albert Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Pretty cool Andy. I had an Ossa Pioneer many years ago that was almost as good as a home built. Link to comment
Huzband Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Here's one for ya. Linky Link to comment
Kitsap Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 He works in Ford's Engineering Dept.. Link to comment
simon999 Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 tried ''linky'' but wont work ideas????? Link to comment
Sp8er8er Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Now THAT'S a purpose built vehicle. Not sure what the purpose is tho.. Link to comment
simon999 Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 i have seen the pic of the 5 wheel drive bike...............WHY??? ( lol ) Link to comment
BULLman Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 i have seen the pic of the 5 wheel drive bike...............WHY??? ( lol ) It seemed like a good idea at the time. Link to comment
mfmalizia Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 It, being the UK, I wonder how hard it was to register. A friend of mine built one in Denmark, but never registered it as he said that a lab of sorts would be needed to run tests to see if it was road worthy. Link to comment
Boffin Posted November 28, 2008 Author Share Posted November 28, 2008 It, being the UK, I wonder how hard it was to register. A friend of mine built one in Denmark, but never registered it as he said that a lab of sorts would be needed to run tests to see if it was road worthy. It is quite easy to register one-off builds here. You need what is called a "Single Vehicle type-approval". The department of transport has a doccument that details the safety and build requirements for the builer to follow, They then take the vehicle to an approved vehicle inspectorate site where it is checked for compliance (for a fee of course) - if all is OK you get your type approval and can then register the vehicle in the normal way. Andy Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.