mike wilson

So.... Aircooled but no fan, apparently, so meant as motive power rather than some form of stationary engine. Anachronistic, badly plumbed, bolt-on oil(?) pump, apparently linked to an integral gearbox. No apparent gear selection mechanism, although there is a rod whose function is not clear. Mounting points for underslung mounting. Kickstarter. If it wasn't for the lack of fan, I might think this was a well-engineered lawnmower engine.

That's the noise.

Now that explains the bolt-on pump, which looks completely anachronistic for what is otherwise an apparently 60s/70s engine, and which I thought was there purely for the sake of misdirection. Looks like the right track. m

LJK Setright http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...9/17/db1702.xml

That's marines, who are really sailor boys in disguise.

Moto Guzzi, Carcano, first post war 350cc racing single guess>

You asked for it 8-)))) Starting fron the front: Tyre, wheel rim, brakes, forks (and therefore probably hub) are all either modern (let's say 1970's or newer for this) or 1930's. Engine has (apparently) alloy heads, so probably modern remake - Indian had four-valve head machines from before WWI but aluminium technology was probably not good enough for heads back then. The crankcase seems too beefy for the era, as do the cylinders. Carb is modern. (engine serial numbers here http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/resources/serials.htm ) Modern saddle, rear rim and tyre. Overall, it gives the impression of a mid 1930's machine. I can't find anything that looks even remotely like it here: http://www.photos.indianmotorbikes.com/ Much of the above is forced on the owner, if they want to use the machine, by the regulations that are there for the good of everyone who is attending a race meeting. Does anyone want to race on beaded edge tyres and use external contracting brakes? Not if they have any brain cells. BUT.... there is the possibility that this machine was some factory special development hack. Stranger things have happened than 1924, alloy headed, four valve v-twins appearing out of the woodwork. In that case, my personal preference would have been to make it look as close as I could to what they did at the factory and demonstrate it. But it's not my bike. Whatever, allowing for the possible exception above, for me it is a bit disingenuous to call this a 1924 machine. That's going by your own definition, which I agree with. As I said, in UK _vintage_ racing, appearances are kept closer to authentic. Classic racing is a different bag of bones. What it comes down to is that there is a whole world of motorcycling history out there. It behoves us to be as accurate as we can and not (unintentionally or other wise) mislead others. In 2035, when some geezer pulls in on a genuine 1997 V11, with "active stick" tyres and the original, low mileage nuclear motor and infinite ratio box see what you think.... horse>

Are you sure it was his head you could see? His genitalia must be HUGE..... Deep breath, head for the car park.

Hmmmmm. That Indian wouldn't be allowed anywhere near a Vintage Club race in this country. I think the only 1924 part on it is (possibly) the tank. Not that I would throw it out of _my_ garage..... Didn't the owner of the Indian trademark make a world speed record attempt recently? mike

Was just sleety this morning but is starting to stick. Might get sent home early as everything is bound to come to a standstill in the next few hours. Time to head for the cycleways to avoid the ballet dancing hippos. mike

Long nights getting to you already?

Micturate or annoying thing? http://www.turboforce3d.com/annoying/ http://www.annoyingthing.net/

Did he just censor himself for "fondler"? 8-))))))))

Not only. Once you get you to about a straight 6 (and, technically, even before) the twisting forces in the long spindly things like cam and crank shafts start to do weird things to timing and long term reliability. You have to go in for split cams, quill construction and all sorts of other stuff to keep them working well for any length of time, or put up with quite severe limitations in power output. That's why many engines have the cam driven from the middle - it reduces twisting in the free parts because they are shorter. The V configuration has so much more going for it than a nice exhaust sound. Bugatti made a straight twelve once. Once.

After reading the replies in this topic, I am no longer suprised about the number of grenaded UJs. m

They are great fun. Rather like a low powered two wheeler, you can get great excitement at less than death defying speeds, if you want it. I've recently seen a pic of a Breva with a sidecar [on the wrong side 8-)] and I'd rather trust the Ural than a bike with a cast alloy swinging arm........... mike

Might be "Intelligent Design" but definitely not "Intelligent Use" 8-)))))))

"Gear lever" or "Gear stick". Above behaviour? Darwinism for motor vehicles. 8-)

That was my understanding. Allegedly, it was not "big enough" to use for the new models. Don't see how that could be if it was used for the Spada, as advertised in the 1970s. mike more of an air brake .....a lot more

The only thing I've known that wore a synchro box early was a friend who had a habit of shoving it into first (keeping clutch depressed) at about 20mph when approaching junctions, ready to move off. By around 60,000miles (owned from new) there was a noticeable whine from first. But it still worked perfectly. m

Totally and utterly bamboozled. Looks like it could be a Guzzi engine but that's as far as I can take it. Any clues? m

There's no answer to that. 8-)

Now I'm really curious. What, specifically, makes it ugly to you? For me, it has a clean-lined crankcase, well proportioned finning and does not have an excessively oversized camchain tunnel. I could live without the heel and toe gear lever and the cambox is a little gawky but otherwise I find it quite distinctive. It makes me think of a (hypothetical) four stroke MZ. You? mike

Hmmm. "extensively tested in Guzzi's new wind tunnel" Well, MG has has plenty of time to test but when did it buy a new tunnel? m

It was the polite thing to shout as you slid along the road on your derriere, watching your brand new Thunderbird pirouetting, sparking, catching the footrest in tramlines and generally doing about 4/6d worth of damage to itself. Not sure if you are being a little facetious here. For me, developments in M/C tyres in the last decade or so seem to have been limited to making sure that cosmetics are changed so that you can give it a new name and charge a bit more. I am not a person who uses all of the handling potential of my machine on the public road. Too crowded. From what I see, most other motorcyclists are the same. The ones who are not are destined for a short life. I've seen three of those in the last four years, too. I don't need a tyre that allows me to ride as if I was on a race track. I do need one that will last as long as my car tyres. For that, I would be willing to pay what others will pay for race equivalent tyres. But there is no option for me. If I could find a car tyre that fitted, I would certainly give it a try. mike