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MG TD TF 1500 - OT need Brit bike project

My 15 year old announced he wants a motorcycle. I countered that there's no way he's going to get a rice rocket but if he wants to restore a Norton, Triumph, or BSA, I'll help. Surprisingly, he's excited by the idea; he likes my Norton.

So Brit fans, anyone got a line on a project in New England?

Thanks,

Jim
J E Carroll

Jim, I'd just keep my eye on ebay, they pop up on there from time to time. My favorite is an Ariel square 4!


Paul sr

Jim, I bought my Whitworth spanners through Ebay from SCBritishcycle in Greenville, SC. His small shop had quite a collection of older British bikes. SC is a long way from New England but he may know of something in your area. His Ebay address is mailto:scbrit_jywb4256ri@members.ebay.com

I think his name is Bradley and his phone number is 440-554-3480.

Good luck.

Jud
J K Chapin

Nice Squariel Paul.
Mine bike is a 55 BSA Shooting Star that I have had since 1961,not show quality but still a good runner,
Ray TF 2884

Ray Lee

Jim - I do have a Matchless G12CSR I would sell. 1966 650, Ex-Canadian police bike, all there, sitting for a number of years, engine free, was running when parked. Good compression, needs cables, tires and rubber, and can probably be ridden as-is, or restored.

Let me know if you are interested.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

G12CSR? Isn't that the notorious 3 main bearing AMC engine? If so, probably not the best choice for a first bike, let alone first old British bike.

Plenty of late Triumph, Beezers and Nortons around with good parts availability and reliable alternator electrics rather than horrible old dynamos. leave the oddballs like the G12 for us old guys who know what to expect.
kylemorley

You're right Kyle,

He's got a line on a LH shift Bonneville. As I remember they're a fairly strong street motor and there's no parts shortage.

Jim
J E Carroll

While the Norton is a grand highway eating machine. for normal every day duty I'd stick with a Triumph 650. Starting is much much easier, and a perfectly capable mount. Unit bikes are cheaper than the Nortons. Go for a Tiger or Trophy with the single carb to greatly simplify maintenance and service. The OIF (Oil in Frame) models are the cheapest, 71 and later, and can be had pretty reasonable. The Triumphs don't wet sump and the Nort will.

The Commando is the sexiest beast around though, followed by the pre-oif Triumphs. There are guys though that have 'converted' the side cover arrangement on the OIF models to the pre-OIF style and they look damned good.

BSA's have that dreaded main bushing issue. I'd steer clear of those IMO.

I have a 70 and 71 Triumph, and a 73 Norton so I'm fairly verse in brit bikes.
L Rutt

L Rutt
the main bushing problem is easily fixed with a needle roller conversion and centre oil feed.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

I regularly ride my Norton Atlas, and have a 66 Triumph T100C (500cc), and a 67 Trophy (650), as well as the Matchless (and a BMW R60/5, a Honda GB500 and a Vespa)!

Superblend bearings strengthen the main bush.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Fastest ride I ever had on the back of any bike was a Tiger T110! Of course we were crazy kids back then. LOL. Lucky to still be here.PJ
Paul sr

Mt fastest was on Norton Commando Mk III, doing the ton at 2AM on a lonely stretch of CA freeway. Never again!

Tom Lange
t lange

My Commando is a Mk III E-Start, or should I say E-Assist.

The 2 pole starter motor coupled with the troublesome sprag are the weak spots. There's a starter conversion made with a PM motor but I don't know if anyone has solved the sprag problem.

I changed the sprag several times. The last one had the habit of locking up. Kick starting and revving the engine would usually free it, until it didn't. I was far from home and it was late, cold, and dark. I revved it 'til it finally broke loose so that I could ride it home. I had to rev it so high the armature on the poor little prestolite motor came apart. It's an easy kick start anyway when in good tune.

My boy found a '79 T140E, the first with Amal Mk II carbs, I thought it was electric start but the E stands for emissions.

The Commando is light and quick but my 750 Suzuki will beat it. My 1150 Suzuki was a scary beast; I sold it when I decided I was mortal, it's a young man's bike. I sold it to a guy who was buying rice rockets and HDs and exporting them to Iceland. That was when their economy was booming some years ago.
J E Carroll

This thread was discussed between 26/11/2013 and 27/11/2013

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