IKBA.co.uk Messages

IKBA Messages | Contact IKBA | Bikes on RealClassic.co.uk | Classic Bike Stuff on Amazon.co.uk
Back to the Message Board

Click here to search eBay using an item number or text description...

Then and now

Posted by JERRY <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=JERRY' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 10:30 am

One of the best bikers cafes in the 60's after the Ace was Johnsons on the A20 just past Brands Hatch. The road running past it was renamed Death Hill due to the many crashes due to burn ups or beat the juke box record. We often took a ride out to it from London and always had a great time there. The original building is still there but the cafe shut many years ago. Happy Daze

The oldest rocker in town!

Re: Then and now

Posted by JERRY <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=JERRY' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 11:57 am, in reply to "Then and now"

One of the early cartoons from the Johnson days. The guy is saying, I only came in for a coffee.

The oldest rocker in town!

Re: Then and now

Posted by nek <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=nek' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

run bys, guaranteed to empty the cafe, everone lining the road to watch some nutter going past at over the Ton.
Remember a purple and yellow Triumph he called Voodoo?
That was quick.

Re: Then and now

Posted by laverdabru <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=laverdabru' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 1:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

Someone on my airgun site recently sent me a pic of the Slater Works near Bromyard, home of Laverda for many years. Mr Slater retired a couple of years back, & the site is now up for sale/development. Used to go over there for spares/a chinwag often, as it was local to me. Sad to see.

Re: Then and now

Posted by Will <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Will' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 3:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

It was Slater Brothers. Roger retired and went to live in USA. He still occasionally writes articles for various classic bike publications. His brother (Richard???) carried on doing Laverda spares & some restoration & sales for a few years. The premises then became a MV Agusta dealer but that only lasted until the next traditional financial crisis at the MV factory, or change of ownership and/or UK importer. Next someone had a brief attempt at selling "premium pre-loved motorcycles" from the site. Then it was empty and turning derelict for a few years & for sale for development. I'm not sure if it has sold but last time I passed there was no sign of anydemolition or building work.

Re: Then and now

Probably a Mosque now Will

The oldest rocker in town!

Re: Then and now

Posted by ChazzyB <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=ChazzyB' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 3:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

No need in darkest Herefordshire.

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Then and now

Things are certainly changing round here.
Just went out on the bike and dropped by the local biker venue.
Daren't call it a cafe = On the menu todays special was "pan seared sea bass".
What will they think of next......"gender fluid bikers nights" ????

Re: Then and now

Bikers are getting more sophisticated tastes.

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Then and now

Bikers are getting more sophisticated tastes

Possibly. I recently bought a BMW. I'm not entirely sure if that proves you right or wrong

Re: Then and now

Posted by MadMike <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=MadMike' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 7:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

I was perusing the maintenance schedule for my Triumph 400.

At 600 miles an oil change and new oil filters. After that it is serviced at 10000 miles, or one year intervals. Just like my new cars. Like our old bikes it has to have the fork oil changed f rom time to time, in this case every 60000 miles. The fork legs incidentally do not have any drain holes to remove the old oil! The schedule again reads just like a modern car schedule. I spoke to my Triumph dealer about getting a workshop manual. He laughed and asked why I wanted one. He laughed again and carefully explained that the vast majority of riders of new modern bikes simply wheel them into the dealers for all that sort of thing..."just like they do with their cars." I must be getting old.

Other opinions may be available but this one is always correct.

Re: Then and now

Posted by Lannis <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Lannis' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 8:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

If I were charging $150 per hour shop rate, I'd be
laughing and saying "Just bring it in!" too ...

Lannis

I don't take health advice from people who think the world is overpopulated.

Re: Then and now

Posted by Stuart <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Stuart' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 31, 2025, 7:37 am, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

Re: Then and now

MM,
AFAIK you can get Triumph current workshop manuals online but you have to pay a subscription which I believe is on a sliding scale depending on how long you want access to it (= day/week/month/year).Theoretically it is "read only" so you can't copy or print it, although I believe you can circumvent this if you have the computer skills and/or suitable software. As a computer numpty the best I managed was screen shots of particular bits I wanted which was very tedious & time consuming

Re: Then and now

Was that a true workshop manual or the maintenance manual? I have a copy of the maintenance manual and it is nowhere a true workshop manual..

While our generation was brought up needing mechanical skills to keep,our old bikes running etc, the current designs and manufacturing techniques mean modern bikes are more akin to two wheel cars. Current generations of owners are not interested in all that oily mechanic stuff and the vast majority take their bikes to the dealer for all their needs.

Look at the massive drop off of people willing to buy our old clunkers and the resultant fall in values. Then go to any motorcycle club and look at their membership numbers which are falling in the main.

Other opinions may be available but this one is always correct.

Re: Then and now

Posted by Will <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Will' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 31, 2025, 9:46 am, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

It was a proper workshop manual and its contents were comparable to the workshop manual I had bought in 1974 for my T140 and certainly as comprehensive as I required.
But admittedly I didn't have to rebuild my 2016 engine

AFAIK the online subscriber manual is the same as provided for Triumph dealerships' "factory trained technicians"

From memory it didn't cover repairs to every individual component, especially electronic circuitry, but did have how to test them. As a competent home mechanic it was all I needed.

It did require you to have the correct diagnostic equipment.

Re: Then and now

I have a full WM for my Thruxton which was at my request delivered with the bike.

However for the new Speed 400 it is not so easy. There is a servicing manual, which is now available on line, but not a full Workshop Manual. The market place has vhanged dramatically in respect of people's expectations to do,their own repairs etc.

Other opinions may be available but this one is always correct.

Re: Then and now

I guess things have changed. Like your Thruxton I bought a proper manual for my 2013 Tiger 1200, but 3 years later I could only get the online subscriber one for my 2016 Tiger. I haven't had a new Triumph since then but have booked test ride when the new 800 Tiger Sport arrives. It will be interesting to see if the salesman even knows what a workshop manual is!

Re: Then and now

Posted by Brickboy <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Brickboy' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 31, 2025, 1:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

It's fairly difficult to find a truly comprehensive workshop manual for a 1955 AJS18S so things may not have changed quite so much...

Re: Then and now

Hi Simon,

Are you sure they even called it a "workshop manual" in 1955? Reason I ask is, prior to a then girlfiend getting a '60 Triumph, I only knew of the separate Workshop Manuals and Owner's Handbooks Triumph produced. Turned out they'd only done that since about 1963, the earlier Triumph had an "Instruction Manual" - about the size of an Owner's Handbook but much thicker, containing much more-detailed information about the bike's innards.

Also, iirc we only think of owning a Workshop Manual for an old clunker because they became readily-available when previously "old" bikes became "classic" but franchised dealers with mechanics and "workshops" weren't around to undertake major work? Other old bike forums have regular questions from newbies asking why such-and-such component or procedure isn't mentioned in their shiny new workshop manual; they have to be reminded that, if they were a newbie in a dealer workshop, found a component or procedure not mentioned in the manual, they'd simply ask a more-experienced colleague.

Perhaps Hinckley'll realise there's money to be made selling "workshop manuals" to owners of old models unwilling to pay dealer hourly rates to dealer mechanics not really wanting to work on bikes that old?

Regards,

Re: Then and now

Cheers Stuart,

I'm a proud owner of said Instruction Manual but it lacks handy info - like the wear tolerances for clutch plates that I was after the other week.

Luckily, the club and Facebook have a wealth of knowledge between them and I suppose they take the place of the old hands in the workshop.

I must have absorbed quite a bit with all the bodgery I've inflicted on clunkers over the years. I'm pretty sure I once had a proper manual for it - I think it was from the club but I can't find it now!

Re: Then and now

Wear tolerances for clutch plates? You're having a larf! If the corks are flush with the plate, then they need replacing.

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Then and now

Some, but not all of the clutch plates in my 18S are cork plates.

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Then and now

Same here, Chazzy - they are all, both plain and friction, the same size as the 5th pair I added to make it work properly. Now it has an excellent clutch!

Re: Then and now

Mine has only 4 friction plates as the basket appears to be from a 350 and also the earlier CP gearbox (CP clutch but B52 box). Dontcha just love old bikes. It doesn't slip. I have 3 cork plates and one with with modern friction material. The latter is MUCH thicker than the cork plates.

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Then and now

Yes, mine started with 4 friction plates but slipped with the mighty torque of the 500cc beast. Now it seems very much better - the 5 pairs of plates just fit in.

Re: Then and now

@Will If only the 800 Sport had a slightly bigger engine. ;-)

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Then and now

Yes, ideally the Speed Triple engine with the Tiger 1200's shaft drive but not its horrid T-plane crank firing sequence.

But if the new 800 doesn't light my fire I might revert to a Street Triple 765. I still have SW Motech luggage from my last 765 & its just enough to turn it into a very sporting sports tourer

Re: Then and now

MM -

It may be that you and I just don't hang around with the right crowd. When my son owned his Subaru WRX Turbo, I touched the edge of a new group of people of whom I was previously unaware.

People who will take a new high performance car and make it a hyperperformance car. They swap out fuel injector rails and camshafts and chips and slipper clutches and reprogram ECUSs and add turbochargers like we used to swap carburetors and spark plugs. And do it in their garages. Pick up one of their magazines on a newsstand - they actually have paper magazines. Or visit their websites.

Every time I think "We're the last ones. Nobody is interested in mechanicking, or old bikes, anymore", I find that it's because my horizon is narrowing as I get older, not because it's really happening ...

Lannis

I don't take health advice from people who think the world is overpopulated.

Re: Then and now

Posted by Bikershark <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Bikershark' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 5:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

Is it gender fluid that you put in your transmission?

Re: Then and now

No, that's transgender...

Re: Then and now

Posted by Andy C <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Andy+C' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 30, 2025, 8:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Then and now"

Ah you mean Tranny fluid !

Who needs a signature anyway......

« Back to index

[ IKBA.co.uk Messages ]