I had a B44 Shooting Star, it was made in 1969/70 so it is my belief that the B44 did stay in production a little longer than 67, the Shooting Star, with half chrome tank, looked so much nicer than the Victor in my view, all be it the same bike. I rebuilt the engine in 1977 new small end, which was a phosphor bronze plain bearing and neede reaming, balanced crank/ new mains and big end bearings. It ran very quiet which amazed many and was a joy to ride and own. Happy days during my RN engineering apprenticeship, a great workshop and on camp motorcycle club, happy days.
Remember one of my mates had a Villiers 250cc D O T late 60s , very low geared but he used it as a road bike , I believe D O T stood for devoid of Trouble. Correct me if I'm wrong 😮
It's a real shame none of these companies survived to keep the Japanese honest. They were the ones that invented the markets! I have seen most of these but only in museums, public and private
Nice collection of bikes. A couple that were new to me. I miss those days of simple bikes that didn't have an on-board computer and sensors everywhere. Thanks for sharing. Ride safe. Cheers
I'd the Montesa VR-250 powered Rickman. 1974 I think. Great power line blaster and trail bike but, definitely not a competition bike. Suspension was awful.
Greeves and DOT are short Leading link forks! Ernie Earles made a long link with the pivot point behind the wheel creating a very rigid unit for use on outfits! 😉
Sorry mate, but wrong on so many levels, you need to do some research, the basics are OK, but the detail is in need of attention. Just one example, Greeves Trailing link Forks. The works B50s were two stroke slayers, Banks, Nochol, Smith and Higgins, 1970/71 AMA Trans Am, 1 2 3 4 against the world's best 2 strokers and top riders. So many mistakes, please be more accurate.
What's this crap about a big World outside Australia Dood? Which, by the way, is spelled Dude. It looks like you'd better get a Convict to teach you some manners, and motorcycle history because your reflections are so far out it's embarrassing. Gordon Blair was employed by Bert in the late '60s to improve the 380 twin-port, not in the early 60s on a 250 as you suggest. You also said they have trailing link forks? Wrong. The engine sits in a bolted-up cradle and is not suspended as you imply. You also said the Hawkeston was replaced by the Griffon, no, that would be the Challenger. You then said the QUB 380 was raced successfully into the '80s, it was a failure, they didn't sell and the company went out of business in 1976. Smith and Horne's Titanium works bikes sent the factory broke. Therefore, the fabulous works bikes of the early '70s were underfunded. It says in my "History of BSA Racing" book that the B50 was a genuine 105 kgs and produced 50 BHP at the crank, more than capable of a world championship win, but they went broke instead. John Banks came within 3 points of a World Title on his CCM, because the Honda team mechanic, a Yank cheated and won instead. All the details are in "Rolling Thunder". So, with factory backup, like the tens of millions of dollars the Japs and Europeans put into their efforts, the Works BSA 500 was a match for any two-stroke on the track. The CCM you filmed was actually a bloody Cheney. The Red Metisse you featured was actually a BSA A10 frame, a Tribsa, modified by the Rickmans, but not a true Metisse, that was the Matchless you showed. The AJS Stormer came out in 1972, not 74. They were also the first production MX bike in the World to have forward-mounted shocks, beating Maico by two years. So, Dude, rather than knock the Aussies, why not visit one day, you just might learn a thing or two, especially manners. But, I suppose jealousy is a curse, I'd hate to live in a shithole. Take that Pom… LOL.
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I had a B44 Shooting Star, it was made in 1969/70 so it is my belief that the B44 did stay in production a little longer than 67, the Shooting Star, with half chrome tank, looked so much nicer than the Victor in my view, all be it the same bike. I rebuilt the engine in 1977 new small end, which was a phosphor bronze plain bearing and neede reaming, balanced crank/ new mains and big end bearings. It ran very quiet which amazed many and was a joy to ride and own. Happy days during my RN engineering apprenticeship, a great workshop and on camp motorcycle club, happy days.
1960’s trials would be interesting and early 70’s
Very interesting. Was Scrambling a mix of modern day MX and Enduro racing? That's how I remember it, probably more Enduro.
Brilliant exposition of these machines as always BD. Worryingly this just seems like yesterday to me 🙄
Remember one of my mates had a Villiers 250cc D O T late 60s , very low geared but he used it as a road bike , I believe D O T stood for devoid of Trouble. Correct me if I'm wrong 😮
Very beautiful British
machines, many of which I didn't know yet!😎👍
Nice video and many thanks!🙂
It's a real shame none of these companies survived to keep the Japanese honest. They were the ones that invented the markets! I have seen most of these but only in museums, public and private
Geoff Smith, Dave Bickers and was it Alan Lampkin? a blast from the past,used to love watching them on Saturday afternoons.
Thanks again bikerdood, I had a Cotton cavalier, 175 minerelli engine . Great wee bike
Early Spanish trials bikes would be interesting, Montesa, Ossa, and of course Sammy Miller developed Bultaco.
the rickman metisse mk5 cafe racer on their website is one of those if only i had the money bikes i would love to buy
i had a rickman zudapp
zundapp
Nice collection of bikes. A couple that were new to me. I miss those days of simple bikes that didn't have an on-board computer and sensors everywhere. Thanks for sharing. Ride safe. Cheers
Trailing link front fork??? Greeves Hawkston????
Never heard of these bikes, no doubt the Japanese bikes came along had a large influence, most of these are old design.
I'd the Montesa VR-250 powered Rickman. 1974 I think. Great power line blaster and trail bike but, definitely not a competition bike. Suspension was awful.
Greeves and DOT are short Leading link forks! Ernie Earles made a long link with the pivot point behind the wheel creating a very rigid unit for use on outfits! 😉
Sorry mate, but wrong on so many levels, you need to do some research, the basics are OK, but the detail is in need of attention. Just one example, Greeves Trailing link Forks. The works B50s were two stroke slayers, Banks, Nochol, Smith and Higgins, 1970/71 AMA Trans Am, 1 2 3 4 against the world's best 2 strokers and top riders. So many mistakes, please be more accurate.
Was that a leading question?
Did Greeves not use rubber in torsion as suspension, and units inside forks just dampers? Could be wrong.
What's this crap about a big World outside Australia Dood? Which, by the way, is spelled Dude. It looks like you'd better get a Convict to teach you some manners, and motorcycle history because your reflections are so far out it's embarrassing. Gordon Blair was employed by Bert in the late '60s to improve the 380 twin-port, not in the early 60s on a 250 as you suggest. You also said they have trailing link forks? Wrong. The engine sits in a bolted-up cradle and is not suspended as you imply. You also said the Hawkeston was replaced by the Griffon, no, that would be the Challenger. You then said the QUB 380 was raced successfully into the '80s, it was a failure, they didn't sell and the company went out of business in 1976. Smith and Horne's Titanium works bikes sent the factory broke. Therefore, the fabulous works bikes of the early '70s were underfunded. It says in my "History of BSA Racing" book that the B50 was a genuine 105 kgs and produced 50 BHP at the crank, more than capable of a world championship win, but they went broke instead. John Banks came within 3 points of a World Title on his CCM, because the Honda team mechanic, a Yank cheated and won instead. All the details are in "Rolling Thunder". So, with factory backup, like the tens of millions of dollars the Japs and Europeans put into their efforts, the Works BSA 500 was a match for any two-stroke on the track. The CCM you filmed was actually a bloody Cheney. The Red Metisse you featured was actually a BSA A10 frame, a Tribsa, modified by the Rickmans, but not a true Metisse, that was the Matchless you showed. The AJS Stormer came out in 1972, not 74. They were also the first production MX bike in the World to have forward-mounted shocks, beating Maico by two years. So, Dude, rather than knock the Aussies, why not visit one day, you just might learn a thing or two, especially manners. But, I suppose jealousy is a curse, I'd hate to live in a shithole. Take that Pom… LOL.
https://125stradali.com/en/malanca-125-stradali/
just come across these bikes, malanca, italian 50cc and up, couldnt believe they made a 2 cylinder 2 stroke 125cc with triple discs!
Another banger buddy! I watched a documentary on Steve McQueen and his desert riding days and the Rickman Metisse was featured quite a lot.