Motorbike Show ITV restoring a a Phil Read Replica CB750F2

[AshimotoK0]

Quite enjoyed last night's programme. He certainly digs out some old legends (Alf Hagon last night). My mate Rog will have liked the J.A.P engined bike at Alf's as he bought one a few weeks back.

Perhaps he should have bid on something like this for the donor though. Supposedly has good forks & wheels, which is what they needed plus swinging arm.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB750F2-1977-Barn-find-/152190058262?hash=item236f3bff16:g:rewAAOSwmtJXWyAd

[Moorey]

It's TV. What they chop up to get the end result doesn't seem to matter or the cost. At the end of the day the TV company picks up the tab.

[MarkCR750]

Yes it was quite good, almost competent!, he's getting better is old Henry, I suppose it was a shame to strip a reasonably good F2 but there's plenty about and precious few PR's, he seems to lead relatively nice restorations given the time constraints so I think it will end up a good one, cosmetically at least.

[royhall]

When he went to the powder coaters with the frame, the bracket that mounts the rear brake reservoir was rusted off (a common F2 issue) and we all watched whilst they powder coated over the mess without replacing it. On the last show there was a close up of the frame and magically a new perfect bracket had appeared. The power of TV,  wish we had those super powers it would be a big help. Probably had to fit a pre booked slot at the coaters for a half day filming so the frame got done twice.

Liked the Quarter Master drag bike story though. Except for the daft restoration it's a good show.

I have a friend who used to think Top Gear was real. He was really excited about the Veyron beating the light aircraft until I pointed out that they didn't have 200 film crews strategically placed along the route. The film crew follows in a Range Rover so any car they are in is as fast as that. And it took over 2 weeks to film, but due to the quality of the editing it looks genuine. Very entertaining, but not real.

[Yoshi823]

I don't like that pr@t Cole, especially after he said "This....is.....a spanner!!"  Technical 

But taking an overgrown garden heap such as that PRR & thinking you've got a bargain at £2,000 would be a big mistake for many.

But £4,000 for labour to restore the heap into something better to look at is not good spending of anyone's hard earned money. If that's the going rate then i'm in the wrong job.

Shame then that from what I could see, there were quite a few things that wern't correct, like both of the handlebar clamps were round the wrong way & the rear sprocket was bigger than standard.

[royhall]

Must say I've been sceptical about the PRR right through the series, but he was very honest about the costs at the end.

I did think it would cost more to do than it was going to be worth, and it very nearly was as he will be lucky to get the 14K he talked about (although Phil Read signing it may help). But not spending more than its worth is where I draw the line on a rebuild so I can't fault him for that.

How many people on here have got carried away with a build trying to make it the best it can be, only to find there is no way they will ever get the money back. Be honest!

Old Henry and his slightly juvenile style is strangely beginning to grow on me. I think its the honesty about the costs that swayed it.

[AshimotoK0]

Lets face it what else is there on TV about Classic Bikes, so it'a a 'must see' for me.

[Dave1234]

Being watching this show, good or bad I find it enjoyable. I see this is series 6, is there anyway of seeing the old ones. I tried sky box sets but only this series is on there?

[AshimotoK0]

Being watching this show, good or bad I find it enjoyable. I see this is series 6, is there anyway of seeing the old ones. I tried sky box sets but only this series is on there?

Don't watch the one where he restored a 550K3

[Dave1234]

Lol. Why is that, did the brakes not stop him also?

[AshimotoK0]

Lol. Why is that, did the brakes not stop him also?

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php?topic=3682.0

You get a glimpse here and dunno if its the same bike for sale in second link (if it is it doesn't have the grotty front guard his mate Pete fitted in 2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ouykazqpsc

http://motorcycle4sale.com/sale/honda-cb550-k3--550cc-1977-ex-henry-cole-5297/uk

[Dave1234]

Ok, cheers.

[tom400f]

That was rubbish. We didn't see it started up for the first time or even get to hear it....

[whiteylfc]

Henry Cole and his team contacted me for help with the restoration and I lent him the z bars he had copied and my petrol tank for colour matching (both were in the programme)their sprayer,Darren, also painted a Honda Britain alloy tank for me in PRR colours and the film company picked up the tab!!I could pick fault but at least it has restored another Read Replica and several other owners have now come forward.I now know of at least 50 PRR's and 30 honda Britain's.John White

[bytio]

I see it had CB 550 clocks on it, it's a shame he didn't restore the original clocks.