Having a go on an old 'un

[Ditchfinder]

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/202 ... an-scheme/

Can't find any other details but might well join to have a look see.

What would you want to have a go on ?

What have you got to give others a go on ?

I don't think I could pay people to ride my Sprint and not sure the Griso would qualify

Oh and I'd love a go on a HRD and a TR6 I think

[Skub]

Sounds cool,though I rode plenty of old bikes when they and I were younger.

[weeksy]

Great idea, sometimes I fancy trying something old, but mostly I think it'd be horrific

[ChrisW]

That's a really heartwarming initiative, I've just read up on it a little.

Here's the current list of bikes available to be loaned in case you're interested. There's even a transit & bike trailer:

Club Van 2011 Ford Transit SWB PE11 SVP
Bike Trailer
New Rider Jawa Mustang 50cc moped
New Rider Roberts Mobylette
New Rider Roberts Yamaha Passeo
New Rider COSTA-SA BRITAX DI BLASI 50cc MOPED 1979
New Rider Southam Honda CG125 1999 Kick Start
New Rider Club Honda CG125 1992 Electric Start
New Rider Costa-Sa Kawaskai KLX125 2011
New Rider Suzuki Van Van RV125 2004
Kris Tay KAWASAKI ER6 2007 A2 restricted
Mick Long 1995 Honda NTV 650
Mick Long 1980 Honda CB250RS
Mick Long 1987 Honda Revere 650
Mick Long Moto Guzzi V50 1979
Yamaha FJ1200 1987
BSA A50 1963
COSTA-SA HONDA XR350 TRAIL BIKE 1981
Costa-Sa GasGas TXT 125 (X) trials bike 2001
Raffle Royal Enfield Interceptor (Chrome) 2021
AJS H4 1926 (S)
Golland Matchless Blackburn 350cc SV Model L Sport 1923 (S)
AJS H6 1926 (S)
Phelon & Moore 1922 OUTFIT (S)
TRIUMPH SD (S)
REED SCOTT (S)
BLANCHARD BROUGH SUPERIOR SS80 MK1 1922 (S)
KARSLAKE DREADNOUGHT 1902 (S)
BRIERLEY VINCENT METHAMON (R)
VELOCETTE KSS (R)
BAILEY RUDGE (R)
New Rider MONK HONDA CB100N 1980 (X) awaiting Front Brakes
New Rider CZ125 1980 Undergoing recomissioning
HEINKEL PERLE 50CC MOPED RESTORATION PROJECT (X)
CARLTON BSA BANTAM 1972 RESTORATION PROJECT (X)

[Mr. Dazzle]

Great idea, sometimes I fancy trying something old, but mostly I think it'd be horrific

The biggest thing I've learned about riding an old bike - and it sounds really fucking obvious when I say it out loud - is that they work way better on old roads! When they were built we didn't have motorways, long straight dual carriageways, massive roundabouts etc. The Bonnie works really really well on ~50mph single carriageway A and B roads, it's just the right sweat spot for almost everything. She can do Motorways but it's a bit unpleasant.

[Cousin Jack]

For me it would have to be the 63 BDA A50 from my youth, and the Velo KSS that my Dad used to ride (like a hooligan) in the 1930s

[Skub]

Great idea, sometimes I fancy trying something old, but mostly I think it'd be horrific

Anything Jawa or CZ certainly would be.

[Rockburner]

Great idea, sometimes I fancy trying something old, but mostly I think it'd be horrific

The biggest thing I've learned about riding an old bike - and it sounds really fucking obvious when I say it out loud - is that they work way better on old roads! When they were built we didn't have motorways, long straight dual carriageways, massive roundabouts etc. The Bonnie works really really well on ~50mph single carriageway A and B roads, it's just the right sweat spot for almost everything. She can do Motorways but it's a bit unpleasant.

Agreed.

I remember a run out on the 125 Bantam (a D1 Deluxe complete with L-plates!) that was all b-roads or 'unclassified', and given it topped out at about 45mph (flat stick), it was perfectly suited to the small, narrow roads.

[Yorick]

None of them. They deserve to stay in the past like black & white tellies.

[MrLongbeard]

What would you want to have a go on ?

None.
I've only been riding 21 years, so have no sentimental attachment to old iron of youth.

[Ditchfinder]

Supercharged 1500cc Vincent sidecar ? https://thevintagent.com/2018/07/02/mot ... -methamon/

Hell yes - who wants a go in the chair?

[Mr. Dazzle]

i'd love a go on the pre-war stuff, just 'cause it'd be so different. Other than the gear lever being on the other side the Bonneville is like a modern bike, to a certain extent it's just a shit modern bike I'd love a go on something much weirder.

[cheb]

Supercharged 1500cc Vincent sidecar ? https://thevintagent.com/2018/07/02/mot ... -methamon/

Hell yes - who wants a go in the chair?

Yep, I enjoyed be a grasstrack chair monkey back in the late 1980s.

It'd be interesting to ride a very old bike, hand change, manual advance/retard etc. I'd also like to try standard dress diving, brass helmetn lead boots and all that.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I've got a 33 year old FZ750 sat in the garage, it rides like a low spec modern bike, the thing you really notice is that the engine is slow to rev and isn't anywhere near as smooth as a modern bike, but it has done 65000 miles and not been used much for the last 20 years, so the carbs could be a bit gummed up.

Handling wise, it's long and stable, the brakes stop it but lack the feel of modern bikes.

If you want something that rides a lot different to a modern bike you need to go older than mid 80s, my 1982 Z1170 is very different to a modern bike, but it's a mildly modernised early 70s design, the engine is slower to rev than the FZ, and much slower than a modern bike, it's red line is 9000 rpm and it's all mid range power, it's handling is a weird combination of slow steering and tipping in to corners, it doesn't weave (stronger swingarm and braced frame solves this), it's a lot more involving riding experience than a modern bike, you know there's a lot of mechanical stuff going on.

[Ditchfinder]

The only 'old' bike I've ridden is a '77 cb400f. Despite those tiny cylinders it didn't pick up revs like my '92 gpz 305 did but felt stronger in the midrange despite it being a 4 vs a twin.

The handling on the other hand was much more predictable although it had less travel, the clutch and the brake levers required a lot more effort to pull, you could feel everything it was doing or happening to it whereas the 305 felt remote and vague

[iansoady]

Great idea, sometimes I fancy trying something old, but mostly I think it'd be horrific

The biggest thing I've learned about riding an old bike - and it sounds really fucking obvious when I say it out loud - is that they work way better on old roads! When they were built we didn't have motorways, long straight dual carriageways, massive roundabouts etc. The Bonnie works really really well on ~50mph single carriageway A and B roads, it's just the right sweat spot for almost everything. She can do Motorways but it's a bit unpleasant.

Something wrong with the Bonnie? I've just been out on the 1952 ES2 and it happily cruises at 60 (plus a bit more if tweaked) on reasonable A roads. Any slower and it's fighting to speed up. I hate motorways on any bike though.

Good scheme from the VMCC however - I was a member for many years till the shenanigans a few years back over conflicts of interest etc. TBH you don't find out much about old bikes unless you own them for some time.

[Taipan]

I often think about owning an old bike from my yoof, rd250/400 being the prime candidate, but the reality is modern bikes are just so much better that I think i'd end up spoiling the memories. Based on that I don't think I would even want to ride an old bike?

Potter was saying in another thread about the 2t vs 4t rivalry of the 80s, which I remember well, and he added for him bikes are so bland today by comparison. Each to their own obvs, but I couldn't disagree with that more. Everything from tyres to power is just so much better and bikes just so much more rideable in just about every way! So, I think, for me, some things are best left in the past...

[mangocrazy]

I'd be mildly interested to ride the CB250RS, as an ex of mine used to own one and it was quite a fun little thing back in the day, but nothing else has any attraction for me. Old British iron is a closed book as far as I'm concerned, and will stay that way..

[Mr. Dazzle]

Something wrong with the Bonnie? I've just been out on the 1952 ES2 and it happily cruises at 60 (plus a bit more if tweaked) on reasonable A roads. Any slower and it's fighting to speed up. I hate motorways on any bike though.

Performance wise it's fine, it'll cruise at 70 all day and 80 is generally OK. It'll get past the tonne fairly easily. It just vibrates like a nuclear powered sex aid and steers like it's had a pint or two.

[JackyJoll]

Something wrong with the Bonnie? I've just been out on the 1952 ES2 and it happily cruises at 60 (plus a bit more if tweaked) on reasonable A roads. Any slower and it's fighting to speed up. I hate motorways on any bike though.

Performance wise it's fine, it'll cruise at 70 all day and 80 is generally OK. It'll get past the tonne fairly easily. It just vibrates like a nuclear powered sex aid and steers like it's had a pint or two.

Triumphs were supposed to have stopped weaving by time yours was made, with the swing arm pivot braced to the gearbox.