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Whats the crappest bike you've ever owned and why?
cooleronthecoast:
I think I came into road biking just as the British factories were having their last gasp. As a 17 year old in 1975, there wasn't any Brand new British bikes to be had under 250cc (I'm happy to be corrected on that point if anyone knows better). So to ride on L plates, it was either a used British C15 or a Bantam or similar or something of Japanese origin. There was the Ducati Desmo 250 single and AMC Harley had a 250 single too, but they were out of my budget new.
I ended up getting a brand new Yamaha RD200 as they were quite a bit cheaper than the 250's at the time, £408 as I recall, against about £525 for the RD250 - Happy days Lol. The only new British bikes left by then were Triumphs Bonnevilles, the Trident and Nortons Commando 850. I think even the BSA version of the Trident, the Rocket 3 had gone by early '76. Didn't Triumph and BSA have a last gasp at a 350 twin, the Bandit? but I don't think it got into showrooms before they folded.
So really there wasn't much choice for a 17 year old learner rider outside the Jap 4 companies at that time.
Allington (Steve):
--- Quote from: royhall on April 21, 2020, 08:47:09 AM ---I remember a lot of jap hating in the 60s and 70s came from still recent memories of what the Japs did in WW2 passed down from the older guys. Strangely I don't recall those guys having it in for BMW. Plus a sense that the Orient was going to take our jobs as the bikes and cars from Japan were clearly superior. Fair shout really.
In defence of the British it was pretty hard to work to fine tolerances on old clapped out machine tools that spent their best days churning out bombs etc. Thanks to the Marshall plan the Japs had the brand new latest machinery.
In 1980 I owned a Norton Commando 850 roadster that was good except for stripping the exhaust rings out of the head. A local guy machined them out and made phosphor bronze rings for it, they never went again. Even the electric start worked reliably though it did kill batteries.
--- End quote ---
My friend Mick had a much modified 850 Interstate (he was an engineer) and it was a much better bike but he enjoyed the fixing as much as he did the riding which is possibly why. Fixed the constant exhaust problem in the end by drilling a fin either side and then the finned exhaust screw and wiring them.
Allington (Steve):
--- Quote from: cooleronthecoast on April 21, 2020, 01:08:18 PM ---I think I came into road biking just as the British factories were having their last gasp. As a 17 year old in 1975, there wasn't any Brand new British bikes to be had under 250cc (I'm happy to be corrected on that point if anyone knows better). So to ride on L plates, it was either a used British C15 or a Bantam or similar or something of Japanese origin. There was the Ducati Desmo 250 single and AMC Harley had a 250 single too, but they were out of my budget new.
I ended up getting a brand new Yamaha RD200 as they were quite a bit cheaper than the 250's at the time, £408 as I recall, against about £525 for the RD250 - Happy days Lol. The only new British bikes left by then were Triumphs Bonnevilles, the Trident and Nortons Commando 850. I think even the BSA version of the Trident, the Rocket 3 had gone by early '76. Didn't Triumph and BSA have a last gasp at a 350 twin, the Bandit? but I don't think it got into showrooms before they folded.
So really there wasn't much choice for a 17 year old learner rider outside the Jap 4 companies at that time.
--- End quote ---
I had both a C15 and a Bantam but really as having a bike was your only form of transport and easily accessible HP by then it just meant you could get to work and have biking fun with the reliability. The 70's saw a new breed of biker with L plate usable bikes that were great fun.
bobv7:
A mate of mine still has his Interstate Commando bought new in 1972. Not entirely original now or without it's problems, but even with the Combat engine he has still singularly failed to blow it up. Here it is with my old CB175 and another friends Suzuki 500 as usual outside a pub in the rain. :(
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Laverda Dave:
This is worth a watch (well, there's nothing else to do is there!). It tells the story of the demise of the british bike industry due mainly to the poor management, lack of investment in new tooling and models.
https://youtu.be/uvmIq6walP8
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