New Bike.

[Debs]

It's just a bog standard Royal Enfield Constellation 1958. 700cc, only 50bhp but that was a lot back then. The guy I bought from had done a "nut and bolt" restoration. The only thing he hadn't done was the wheel rims but I've bought a pair and will be rebuilding the wheels soon.

The horse power of classic British bikes can appear low but at least the tuning gave the engine decent torque outputs which IMHO is far more useful in real life riding experience ride feel than horses.
Japanese bikes typically have more HP, but at the expense of lower torque, higher revs and more wear and tear.

All my motorbike experience is on Japanese bikes, with the exception of a 'Hinckley' Triumph.. which understandably to many, doesn't really count as a true British bike.

But generally i by far prefer motorbikes that have an engineered low revving power characteristic such a singles or V twins,
and preferably a gear lever for the left foot

Congrats on your bike purchase, Pete

[pete75]

It's just a bog standard Royal Enfield Constellation 1958. 700cc, only 50bhp but that was a lot back then. The guy I bought from had done a "nut and bolt" restoration. The only thing he hadn't done was the wheel rims but I've bought a pair and will be rebuilding the wheels soon.

The horse power of classic British bikes can appear low but at least the tuning gave the engine decent torque outputs which IMHO is far more useful in real life riding experience ride feel than horses.
Japanese bikes typically have more HP, but at the expense of lower torque, higher revs and more wear and tear.

All my motorbike experience is on Japanese bikes, with the exception of a 'Hinckley' Triumph.. which understandably to many, doesn't really count as a true British bike.

But generally i by far prefer motorbikes that have an engineered low revving power characteristic such a singles or V twins,
and preferably a gear lever for the left foot

Congrats on your bike purchase, Pete

Thanks! Enfield 700cc twin is particularly good on low down torque. The basic design is two long stroke 350 bullet engines - 70 x 90mm.

Hinckley Triumph - engine design heavily based on Kawasaki I believe.

[rjb]

I have a photo of my grandad on an AA motorbike and sidecar. He was a patrolman based in Pembroke. I popped the reg no into the DVLA website and it came up as a Triumph S6. A 600cc side valve first registered in 1938. Production of these machines only lasted from 1937 to 1939 when the war effort stopped production for other priorities. Does anyone know how to check if it is still on the road and who the current owner may be, or if it has been scrapped.

[kwackers]

50bhp was a lot for cars back then, let alone motorbikes.

My first car was a 848cc Mini with 30 odd bhp and my second car, 1966 Triumph Herald was a 1150(?) engine with 40 odd bhp. It was an uprated engine from the standard Herald, and it had disc brakes!

Longer stroke though so more torque.

Remember the HP tax? For a while engines in even large vehicles made just 3 or 4 hp but had 5000 tons / foot of torque thanks to a piston 1/4" across with a 10 foot stroke.
(Might be an exaggeration but you get the picture)

[cyclemad]

I have a photo of my grandad on an AA motorbike and sidecar. He was a patrolman based in Pembroke. I popped the reg no into the DVLA website and it came up as a Triumph S6. A 600cc side valve first registered in 1938. Production of these machines only lasted from 1937 to 1939 when the war effort stopped production for other priorities. Does anyone know how to check if it is still on the road and who the current owner may be, or if it has been scrapped.

If its still on the dvla register then its still ALIVE

There is no way for anyone to obtain the current keepers name / address...( no way legally ) . I would suggest registering with the Owners Club and put a post on their forum..You may get a response

[Cyril Haearn]

N+x?

How many motor-bikes do you have, pete75?

[pete75]

N+x?

How many motor-bikes do you have, pete75?

Only 4. Had two a BMW R1200GS and the MZ pictured but bought a couple more after I got made redundant. I don't know why people dread redundancy - got an almost six figure settlement and they started paying my pension straightaway because I was over 55. Best thing that's happened to me work wise.

[Whippet]

I sold it 8 years ago, but old British bikes look as motorcycles should in my opinion.

[Cyril Haearn]

I have done a lot of cycling and driven cars a lot but never ridden a motor-Cycle

Can anyone describe what motor-Cycling is like?

[Bonefishblues]

N+x?

How many motor-bikes do you have, pete75?

Only 4. Had two a BMW R1200GS and the MZ pictured but bought a couple more after I got made redundant. I don't know why people dread redundancy - got an almost six figure settlement and they started paying my pension straightaway because I was over 55. Best thing that's happened to me work wise.

... because most people get Statutory only Pete.

[Whippet]

I have done a lot of cycling and driven cars a lot but never ridden a motor-Cycle

Can anyone describe what motor-Cycling is like?

Totally immersive, but in a different way to cycling. Less about being immersed in your surroundings, and more to do with being immersed in the riding of the bike. Taking a corner in a smooth and fast manner is very satisfying.

[pete75]

N+x?

How many motor-bikes do you have, pete75?

Only 4. Had two a BMW R1200GS and the MZ pictured but bought a couple more after I got made redundant. I don't know why people dread redundancy - got an almost six figure settlement and they started paying my pension straightaway because I was over 55. Best thing that's happened to me work wise.

... because most people get Statutory only Pete.

Most people get what is in their contract of employment.

[Bonefishblues]

Only 4. Had two a BMW R1200GS and the MZ pictured but bought a couple more after I got made redundant. I don't know why people dread redundancy - got an almost six figure settlement and they started paying my pension straightaway because I was over 55. Best thing that's happened to me work wise.

... because most people get Statutory only Pete.

Most people get what is in their contract of employment.

And in most cases the two are synonymous.

[pete75]

... because most people get Statutory only Pete.

Most people get what is in their contract of employment.

And in most cases the two are synonymous.

It can be more or less than I got - a friend got £485,000 as her termination payout. Our former Chief Exec got £9 million. I know quite a few people who've been made redundant and all got more than statutory. I thought paying statutory was quite rare.

[pete75]

I sold it 8 years ago, but old British bikes look as motorcycles should in my opinion.

My Commando got stolen in Leeds in 1979 Looks like you fitted that Norvil front disc. Was it much better than standard?