Oh no!

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33vk8yrz1eo.amp

[iansoady]

It's been happening for a while and is reflected in the plummeting prices of older bikes. I think people like bikes they (or their dad) had in their youth and most are geting too old to ride them. I have myself recently sold my ES2 as I was not confident that I'd be able to start it if it stalled at the head of a traffic queue and only have electric start - and smaller capacity - bikes now.

[xbally]

Yes I think this has been happening in the car world too. Might be a good time to make that bid for a Vincent or Brough Superior  .
Although my Royal Enfield Crusader is easy enough to kick over, like you Ian S I worry my bike won't start if I stall it . I haven't yet been to the petrol station for this reason. There's one round the corner fortunately so I could push the bike back home if I needed to. The paint finish is not lacquered either so if any fuel is spilt it damages the finish so I've been draining fuel from my (kickstart only - but it always starts - CB 250 RS) and carefully decanting it into the Crusader with a protective layer of old cloths over the fragile paint.

[Itsme]

I am really not surprised about this turn of events, not only are those of us old enough to remember bikes of the 50s and 60s being used as daily transport getting older and looking for more convenient bikes, but old bikes are totally alien to most bike riders today.

I had a conversation with a bloke at the bike shop recently who was probably in his 40s and because he had come to riding bikes later in life he had never ridden a bike without an electric starter or disc brakes. How would he cope with a magneto with an advance/retard lever, an air lever or decompressor, a right foot change or even a hand change etc. Or why would he want to?

In the same way that wind up gramophones gave way to hi-fi then to CDs and now to Alexa etc it was inevitable that other than a few enthusiasts who will always love odd things the bikes we might love will soon be a thing of the past.

Ian

[iansoady]

There are the odd happenings that buck the trend - I sold the ES2 earlier this year to a bloke in his 40s who was fascinated by the very things you mention Ian. I watched hime ride off on it and apart from the odd wobble he seemed fine, and emailed me later to tell me how much he'd enjoyed the short ride home. I haven't heard from him since however...

And several years ago I sold the 1931 Sunbeam - hand change and all - to a student at Brum University who can't have been older than early 20s. I suspect he thought he was making an investment. His mum, who happened to be visiting him when I delivered the bike, was very disapproving and I got the impression she thought I shouldn't be taking advantage of such a callow youth. But it was his money...

[xbally]

Well I'm exercising my brain by re-learning skills I last used when I was 18 - 21 right foot gearchange left foot brake down for up - up for down gear changes, brakes that have to be used together to get much retardation -even though my Crusader has an Indian Bullet 2 LS ( twin leading shoe for the under 45s) , regular use of the air lever to richen up the mixture dependent on prevailing conditions, regular cleaning off of oil from the machine (but my RS250 does that to an extent also), regular oil and plug checks etc etc. Much more practical than Sudoku or Tal Chi IMHO.

[CrazyFrog]

Whilst the market for prestige bikes like Brough and Vincent's will probably always be boyant, I think other more normal bikes will sink to a much lower level. Let's be honest, anybody under 65 years old will almost certainly have never ridden or owned a classic British bike. I certainly haven't, but if I won the lottery, the I'd certainly find room for a Panther in thd Farage, but otherwise it'd be bikes I owned when younger, or bikes I felt I missed out on at the time. I'd have another Morini 3 1/2 at the drop of a hat, would love an SR00, GN400, XT600, Guzzi V50, BMW Air Head, Suzuki GT500 etc etc, etc. To run a British bike I'd also have to invest in new sockets and spanners 😱

[xbally]

Whilst the market for prestige bikes like Brough and Vincent's will probably always be boyant, I think other more normal bikes will sink to a much lower level. Let's be honest, anybody under 65 years old will almost certainly have never ridden or owned a classic British bike. I certainly haven't, but if I won the lottery, the I'd certainly find room for a Panther in thd Farage, but otherwise it'd be bikes I owned when younger, or bikes I felt I missed out on at the time. I'd have another Morini 3 1/2 at the drop of a hat, would love an SR00, GN400, XT600, Guzzi V50, BMW Air Head, Suzuki GT500 etc etc, etc. To run a British bike I'd also have to invest in new sockets and spanners 😱

Yes I'm having to buy imperial tools now I have the Crusader.
I've still got a few but fear I lost some in a house move / through using metric over the last 40+ years. I never did get my head around imperial back in the day. 15/16 King Dick anyone?

[iansoady]

Just a quick note to the wise - you need BSF/BSW not A/F which is imperial but relates to UNF/UNC threads (American). These came into use on a lot of British vehicles in the late 60s, and were introduced gradually so bikes like Commandos had an unholy mixture.

But you probably knew this.....

[xbally]

Thanks IanS.

I didn't know that no!

I've always found imp sizes very confusing.

When I had my few Brit bikes late 70's early 80's and Brit cars I was forever swapping tools to try to get them to fit the fasteners.

Incidentally I've just come off the phone from Hitchcock's with my latest order. Trying to " cure" a weep from the fuel cap - messing with the cork type gasket - unsuccessfully so petrol has now marked the presumably  unlacquered paint finish  and I've had to order a Monoblock gasket set as I suspect there's a partially blocked jet so I'll need to strip and inspect as no amount of "tuning" of the pilot adjustment screw will get the correct mixture at the bottom of the fuelling system. (Still running in the rebuit engine- 500 miles now with an oil and filter change just carried out.)

[iansoady]

Monoblocs are very simple carbs and only have 3 jets - main, needle and idle. The latter is under a screwed cap on the RHS of the carb body. It does need to be properly screwed home before fitting the cap - they're often loose.

[xbally]

Thanks Ian. That's helpful to know. It's a new carb so I'm hoping the low speed fuelling problem is just down to some sort of minor blockage and not wear. The bike hadn't been used post rebuild until I acquired it. My mate has an ultrasonic kit should more drastic action be required.

[xbally]

I accessed the pilot jet today. Had to search my tools high and low for a 9mm size but could only find a 1/4 inch drive socket. I removed the jet cover and some discoloured fuel flowed out. I didn't whip out the jet as access was a bit tricky with the carb in situ.
The carb gasket kit and fuel tank cap gasket arrived from Hitchcock's.
As I appear to be highjacking this thread I'll start a new one....sorry.