mike wilson

Not a flat four; maybe a sidevalve V-four. The only other manufacturer that I can think of without Gurgling is Zundapp. But I will have to search, I think. m

Sorry Antonio, I am completely lost.

Manifestly a Guzzi but I can't find one with those forks anywhere. Guess at Dondolino 500 (although I think it looks more like a 350) 1956 mike

Was MM involved in all the sparky special effects in Star Wars? MM light sabres. "Hold on, it got a bit damp yesterday - I'll be with you in a second, you just go on. Start, you bastard!" Or did you mean the Prince of Darkness, Joseph Lucas? 8-)))

If you do it by vigorous shaking (as described in "The dieter's guide to weight loss during sex") it could take some time. Not to mention using 238 calories. Per sock. mike

Interesting machine. Looks like a Bohmerland. If that's right, it's Czech and not many were made, never mind exist nowadays. Can't work out what the engine is, though. If it's some sort of prototype, then possibly just the one. Looks big - 1500cc? m

Not occured to me. As I take bits off, they get squirted at with decent quality rattlecan gunk. It will have to do until I get a better system running. My bike is my transport, so, although I like to do things properly, mechanical things take precedence over cosmetics. If I run out of time, guess what doesn't get done? Having said that, painting castings is pretty much mechanical maintenance nowadays, witness my drive box. I wonder if silica would reduce heat dispersion capabilities? Glass is pretty insulating. mike

I would say that's more an indication of its age than its origin. Not correct, I'm afraid. Actually, you didn't answer _any_ of the questions......... 8-)

You hit that nail right on the head. Modern alloys do not last well without protection, ironically because they are _less_ chemically reactive than previous ones. Alloys with a high level of aluminium are so reative that they form a protective coat of oxide within seconds. This oxide (which can be coloured to provide decoration, as in anodising) is very hard and unreactive. Even though it is extremely thin, it does a good job of protecting the metal. If damaged, it immediately reforms. Modern alloys, employed because they are better suited to modern casting methods, react more slowly, allowing the metal to produce salts from reactions with other substances. Painting, or some other protection, is pretty much a necessity, unless you are prepared to be cleaning and polishing (which is a lightweight form of protection) constantly. So older Tontis will remain in quite good order for some time. Newer ones, using modern alloys will need to be protected. My 1988 V65 has a bevelbox housing that is pretty much corroded through due to me not repainting it. Took about 18months. mike

A relatively easy one. For some. 8-))) Engine configuration, date and the reason for the manufacturer's fame please. mike

Not really - I just knew someone who had another racer of the same era and I knew who it came from immediately. After that, it was just a question of looking. Thanks for the bullets. mike

"Scuras! Thousands of 'em!" 8-)))))

Honda CR110 50cc single 1962

Thank you. I always wanted one of these in my spotty youth (the Lilac, that is) and made do with ES series MZs when I couldn't get one. The styling is somewhat similar. mike

Having a huge head (size 8, or about 66cms) I cannot wear (or, at least, have never found) a full face helmet and can only get an open face one on after considerable modification. Any suggestions? Apart from visiting Borneo or going to a shrink, etc, etc, etc. big 'Ed

You might have it as a Marusho. Pretty much the same thing, I believe. The banana box is for tools.

Lilac. Can't see the box. I'll guess at a banana.

Er, it took me so long that this website is now on my employer's banned list........ 8-)))))))))))))))) I was sure it was an AMC engine. Thanks for the point. I'll have to find something to start my own. mike

Nice one. DMW Cortina 1954 Villiers 1H.

Francis-Barnett Falcon 1959 AMC or James Captain 1959 AMC

Frame is possibly right, all the rest is much later. TT models were just cheap versions of the roadsters. Speed was accomplished by leaving things off (adding lightness) so you could get them for less. No mudgaurds, no pedalling gear, etc. The modern thing seems to be a speedway engine (usually run on methanol with a total-loss oil system) and BSA (road rocket/gold star?) cycle parts. Very nice and much more interesting than the "oldie". mike

And _now_ the Breva makes sense. It was never designed as a naked bike originally. Once they took the fairing off, something had to fill all the holes left so all that pseudo-radiator junk was slapped on. mike

Sorry, Jim, my post should have been in quotes. It was a hard article to find 8-) Big J is definitely the winner wrt make, etc. My post was just to confrim details of the exhaust. mike

The 1977 500cc CanAm street bike never made it into production. Only 2 or 3 prototypes were ever built (circa 1975). One was a street version which produced about 60 horsepower, while the other was an 85 horsepower road racing version. The engine was borrowed from a Bombardier snowmobile and modified to accept a 5-speed gearbox. The powerplant was liquid cooled and utilized a single horizontal rotary valve. The exhaust system was unique. The lower pipe on each side was an expansion chamber, and was connected to the top pipe (mufflers) with a small tube. This allowed expansion chamber performance while remaining quiet enough for street use. This machine never went into production because proposed EPA emission standards threatened its marketability in the United States. Tony Murphy wrote a magazine article about this motorcycle in 1976. He recently informed me that the prototypes are still running strong somewhere in Canada.

If you look at the engine carefully, you will see one cylinder is nearer the front than the other. If the pipes are to be the same length for each cylinder, they will need to end at different places relative to the bike. Just for cosmetic purposes, the lengths are equalised by the x-over/silencers. mike