VMCC Dorset Blandford Run

Just a few snaps from last month's Blandford Run. I couldn't ride this year but still ambled down to the start for a chat and a cuppa. A nice turnout of bikes on the first day without rain that we had had for seemingly ages. I feel the need to apologise for the quality of the pictures, I've gotten out of the habit of carrying my camera and have become increasingly reliant on my smartphone and, honestly, the picture quality is not near as good. I will try harder next time!

Line up of bikes at the start of the Blandford Run.

I hadn't seen this Sunbeam before
and it stirred up feelings of great
envy!

Another view of the Sunbeam.
I think it's a Model 90, but I would
have expected a 90 to have a twin
port head?

The Sunbeam's Brooklands Can
somehow reminds me of the
'that's not a knife' scene in the
film Crocodile Dundee.

Vintage sticker bombed MZ TS250.

Norton Model 18.

HRD Series A Meteor.

 

 

Velocette MAC.

And off they go....

 

1932 Sunbeam Road Racer Model B

As any enthusiast for vintage bicycles, motorcycles and cars will tell you, a Wolverhampton made Sunbeam is an extremely finely made machine. The design, manufacture and quality of finish is second to none.

Sunbeam bicycles were top end machines in price and quality and the top sporting model was known as the 'R.R.' aka Road Racer. It featured in the catalogue from early days up until 1934. The second model of the RR was introduced in 1928 when the design became a true lightweight in the more modern sense rather than the previous path racer styled machine.

The RR was well thought of enough to have been used in the 1928 Olympics held in the Netherlands by British team member Jack Middleton.

The example in these photos is thought to date from 1932 and is in wonderful original condition. 

Drive side view of the Sunbeam Road Racer.

A wide range of handlebars were available as options.
A pair of Lauterwasser style may well be more
attractive but these ones are original to the cycle.

The rear wheel is double fixed and the frame angles
quite relaxed.

Sunbeam's quality of finish with their
'Japanning' process is of legend. Testament
to this is the survival rate of Sunbeams
in their original finish.

Thoughtful touches abound. Oiler on the
head bearing and rubber cable protector
on the lamp bracket.

The Road Racer features a number of
braze-ons that are a little unusual. Here
is the lamp bracket on the fork.

Original type woods valve with metal cap.

Original reflector on braze-on bracket.

Sunbeam's chainset. Even the cotter pin is of a finish
a cut above.

Paint has survived very well. Transfers
slightly less so.

And the head transfer.

This is a feature specific to the Road Racer.
Many manufacturers used Resilion 
cantilever brakes but only Sunbeam fitted
them with specific braze-ons rather than
ugly clips.

Swallow and Sunbeam S7 combo

Family transport of the early fifties for the well-healed motorcycle enthusiast. A Sunbeam S7 fitted with a Swallow child-adult sidecar. Note the giant screen fitted to the Sunbeam.

Sunbeam S7 and Swallow sidecar.

Sunbeam Model 80

A great action photo this one, in an unknown race a Sunbeam Model 80 is ahead of a Velocette KTT. Looks like the Sunbeam is a 1929 model. Some nice details, look at the very unusual streamlined nosepiece goggles the Sunbeam pilot is sporting. Several of the spectators are in motorcycling kit and all wear wear hats a la mode of the day.

1929 Sunbeam Model 80.

Sunbeam

Yes, it is a fairly rotten photo but it is of a chap riding a Sunbeam S7 across a muddy field...

Blurry Sunbeam S7 tackles a muddy field two up.

Sunbeam S8

Our chap looks very happy with his Sunbeam S8. An occasionally maligned bike due to early teething troubles but a radical and exciting design for the post war brave new world. The Poppe designed Sunbeams went through a long period of disinterest from the wider classic motorcycling community but have enjoyed a surge in popularity of late. Trying one at some point is certainly on my motorcycling 'bucket list'... 

Add caption

A vintage vintage meet

A couple of pictures from the early days of the vintage movement. Taken at least fifty years ago: the 'modern' vehicles in the background are collectors items in their own right today...

I don't know the location but it could just be an early Banbury Run?

Happy news is that both of these machines still exist and happier still is that the Sunbeam is still out and about being used.

I know this a 1925 Sunbeam 599cc because it is written on
the reverse of the photo and because I checked and it is
still in existence and even better taxed and on the road until
May 1919!

1924 New Imperial. Happily still registered and around
somewhere, less happily it has not been taxed since 1980...

Sunbeam S8 combo

Here's a combo for Zach who recently mailed on the subject of Cleveland motorcycles and said by the by that more sidecar content would be nice. This is the best I can do for now chap but more sidecar stuff will come soon for sure. 

The bike is a Sunbeam S8, not easy to identify (at first I thought it was a BSA) but I often run a quick check on the registration number to see if the bike in the picture featured is still around. In this case the answer is yes it is and it dates from 1951 It was re-registered in 2000 and is not currently taxed for the road... Period legshields and voluminous screen to be noted and the chap is well protected in his riding mac. Any vintage lorry nerds out there who can identify the hgv in the background?

1951 Sunbeam S8 with sidecar.

Sunbeam S7 and S8 1955

A rare brochure this one. The Erling Poppe designed, BMW inspired Sunbeam S7 and S8 inline ohc parallel twins were never great sellers and for a long time were rather under valued. There seems to have been a revival in interest for them of late. Criticised at the time for underwhelming performance and with some reliability concerns on the early models these issues are now no longer really relevant and they are valued as the quirky and stylish gentleman's tourer they were always intended to be.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure front cover.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure page 1.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure page 2.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure page 3.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure page 4.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure page 5.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure page 6.

Sunbeam S7 & S8 brochure rear cover.

Modern British Motorcycles

This little album of collectors cards was published in 1953 by ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). Obviously enough the aim of the album was to impart hints and tips for safe riding; it's a cute little publication though and gives a nice cross-section of the products of the British motorcycle industry at the time.

Click on each page to get a larger, better resolution image.