Classic rigid framed bikes

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

I'm thinking of buying a classic bike. This will come as no surprise to many of you.

So I need help identify what to go for.

I started off wanting something long and low, so a 40s harley WLA or an indian scout would be ideal, unfortunately they cost significantly more than enough cocaine to keep most of BCF gurning, so that's out.

Next thing I look at was pre unit triumphs, and 30s and 40s rigid BSAs. BSA B31 looks right, but are they any good? C10 and C11 look quite cool too, if somewhat weedy, but I feel a 250cc single from the 40s will be just too slow.

I like slow revving single, I like the noise and feel of one. I want a rigid frame with a single tractor style seat, and girder forks are preferable though not necessary.

A late 30s Velocette MAC is unbelievably desirable, but out of budget.

Budget of around £2k, and this bike will be ridden, so buying a car load of parts and making a bike out of it is fine, as long as all the parts are there or available for reasonable money.

What do you recommend?

Will87 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Karma :

Very early Norton ES2, or Model 18 or 16H, all around the 500cc mark apart from the 16H which is a side valve 600cc machine.

I own a 1945 Norton ES2, it's rigid rear with girder forks at the front (i'll dig out a picture if you want?) now the handling is very good considering the age of the bike however the turning circle is worse than a superbike! The engine is simply put a slugger, slow to rev and doesn't produce an amazing amount of power, however this makes it extremely frugal (70ish mpg?) and provided the comp ratio is low enough you could run it off many fuels! It cruises nicely at 50mph with a little adjusment to the sprockets and well it's generally a lovely bike to just cruise about on. Picked it up at a bargin price couple of years ago too, if you want to look for adverts try something like Old Bike Mart, many company and personal ads!

Cheers, Will

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Most British bikes have loads of spare parts availiable and there are plenty of companies about still making bikes for them, my favs are the 50s/60s Triumphs. Buy a classic bike magazine, plenty of ads for spares and ads for bikes.

Silly question have you ridden something that old before? There not easy to ride and the brakes are next to non existant as is the clutch. Not what I would like to ride everyday, they are fun mind.
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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Norton ES2 looks like the right sort of thing, I'll go get an appropriate magazine at lunch.

No, I haven't ridden anything this old. It's going to be a toy, my car is my main transport. I like something a little different, and riding with minimal brakes won't be all that unusual to me. The front brakes never worked properly on my moped or my old CB250, so I tended to just use the rear.