Working on the Royal Enfield J2

Been spending time and bonding with the J2 a little of late. Everything seems to be set up right but cruising speed is lower than it should be, the bike has plenty of low down power but becomes harsh when revved. I've heard from other owners that the J2 is a low revving motor and vibey at higher revs. I'm wondering if mine is simply too low geared. I'm thinking it could be geared up by around 25%, that would take cruising speed up to a comfortable 55mph with plenty in hand and I'm pretty sure it would still have the power for hills without dropping a gear. It could just be that it is currently on sidecar gearing.

The charging system still needs sorting but the annoying front end wobble has been cured by fitting a new tyre. I went for a Mitas, a good cheap price, looks right for the bike and so far no complaints handling-wise.

The other major improvement to useability has been to fit a sidestand. The J2 is a very weighty bike and heaving it on to that rear stand is hard work. You can't always rely on a tree or wall being at hand when you want to park up and as I had an Esway prop stand on the shelf I decided to adapt that to fit. The Esway is a brilliant idea, a telescopic stand on a ratchet, you can adjust the angle of lean and it is easy to operate from the saddle.

This J2 is always going to be a bit scruffy (at least for as long as I own it!) but it is slowly developing in to being a really likable riders machine.

BSA C11

Chap appears to be the proud owner of a shiny new BSA C11. Back in early post war Britain not many new machines reached the home market so he had every right to be proud of his purchase.

Brand spanking new BSA C11.

Early post war BSA C11 with backdrop
of early post war housing.

Beggars' Roost Hill

An old postcard of Beggars' Roost Hill near Lynton in Devon. 1 in 2.5 steep and a motor sport location since way back when. The hill featured (and still does) in the Lands End and Exeter trials amongst many others over the years. Looks like back in the twenties the gradient was the challenge as the surface seems pretty good, it's a lot rougher nowadays.

Flat tank combination about to take
on Beggars' Roost.

BSA Gold Star brochure 1963

Interesting to juxtapose yesterday's '52 Gold Star brochure against this '63 one. Most prominence is still given to off-road sport though the Clubmans now features. The end of the line for a proud model.

1963 BSA Gold Star brochure front cover.

1963 BSA Gold Star brochure inner page 1.

1963 BSA Gold Star brochure inner page 2.

1963 BSA Gold Star brochure rear cover.

BSA Gold Star brochure 1952

1952 and first of the swinging arm frame BSA Gold Stars. Though it's the Clubmans models that are best remembered these days BSA sold the Gold Star primarily on the strength of its off-road successes. The bike pictured is the now rare touring spec model.

1952 BSA Gold Star brochure front cover.

1952 BSA Gold Star brochure inner page1.

1952 BSA Gold Star brochure inner page 2.

1952 BSA Gold Star brochure rear cover.

Coventry Eagle craziness

Just no idea what is going on here, could be that they are a music hall double act or could just be a couple of ladies having a laugh. Eitherways the bike is a studio prop as was popular at the time and is a rather nice late twenties Coventry Eagle.

Coventry Eagle studio prop.

Poole Quay April 2015

Nothing more than a few pics from a sunny Poole Quay Bike Night a couple of weeks back.

Someone spent a huge amount of time, effort and, presumably,
money in making this Shovelhead look like a WWII WL.
Why? Well why not.

Not totally my bag but you've got to admire the handiwork.

Not often you see a chop this extreme out on the road.

Woah! Customised Honda Silver Wing super scoot. I really
wanted the owner of this creation to be a Pearly King or Queen
but when they turned up they actually looked pretty normal.

Say what you want but you are guaranteed to never see another
one like this. 

Cammy Norton. Pure class.

Love it! Green metal flake Lambretta cut down
with crazy green high back banana seat.

The two oldest machines there that night.

Honda Spacey. Don't know why but somehow I like it.