SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550
Finally after too many years I'm working on my 500/4
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
--- Quote from: matthewmosse on July 15, 2021, 08:00:08 AM ---The springs were something I'm trying out as a more sophisticated way to compensate for the extra weight than 6" pre load spacers used previously. I honestly cannt remember if that means I actually used a different set of forks though - I think I did. Certainly didn't dare strip the 6" preload spacer forks. Does seem to handle a bit better. Sadly means I loose the gators.
An Arial square 4? At one stage that was my dream bike. These days this old bikes my ultimate bike.
--- End quote ---
Ariel Square Four - my brief ownership - I purchased it at around lunchtime on a Wednesday morning for £50 (My Dad attended monthly board meetings on a Weds afternoon - I was learning to drive so it was a nice run (driving lesson) from Derby to Chesterfield on L plates in his company Vauxhall Victor 101 circa June 1965).
Sorted out the Insurance cover and rode off back home to Derby - the steering damper was tightened right down but above 50 mph the steering wobbled so violently I could not control it. Reached Derby and realised there was drasically something wrong with the handling so returned to Chesterfield - traded it back in at the purchase price with the deal being I had to spend more money for the full refund!
Saw this yellow & black A reg Maico Letta 250 cc Scooter with full screen, badge bar & electric start for £80. Thus ended my Aerial Square Four ownership and I began my love affair with the Maico it was a great scooter sold in 1967 for a profit !!
matthewmosse:
The handling is part of the joy of side cars, I found mine really hard to stop shaking its head at some speeds but eventually learned techniques to deal with it though riding style. I find if you try to hold the steering tight and steer by muscle power it will probably literally throw you off and into a hedge. However let it shake a bit and give it a bit of leeway and it becomes quite fun. When my steering damper let go I actually didn't bother replacing it. I did at one point have a sidecar combo with leading link forks and a host of other improvements that fixed the quirky handling, I actually found it a lot less fun as a result.
So far post rebuild I've put 22 miles on the clock, carbs flood a fair bit, and the fuel tap bowl sprung a leak, pitted from the inside, replaced that with one off another project. Have taken the kids for a spin, from fairly indifferent they both seem to quite like it after a quick trip each - the elder demanded a second circuit of the village. I might have to refit the rear seat and passenger window. Plenty of jobs to do on it still, but I'm chuffed to bits getting to take it for a spin again after all these years. The engines sweet, pulls well.
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
--- Quote from: matthewmosse on July 15, 2021, 10:09:37 PM ---The handling is part of the joy of side cars, I found mine really hard to stop shaking its head at some speeds but eventually learned techniques to deal with it though riding style. I find if you try to hold the steering tight and steer by muscle power it will probably literally throw you off and into a hedge. However let it shake a bit and give it a bit of leeway and it becomes quite fun. When my steering damper let go I actually didn't bother replacing it. I did at one point have a sidecar combo with leading link forks and a host of other improvements that fixed the quirky handling, I actually found it a lot less fun as a result.
So far post rebuild I've put 22 miles on the clock, carbs flood a fair bit, and the fuel tap bowl sprung a leak, pitted from the inside, replaced that with one off another project. Have taken the kids for a spin, from fairly indifferent they both seem to quite like it after a quick trip each - the elder demanded a second circuit of the village. I might have to refit the rear seat and passenger window. Plenty of jobs to do on it still, but I'm chuffed to bits getting to take it for a spin again after all these years. The engines sweet, pulls well.
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As a raw 'know it all' 17 year old pumped with hormones I knew nothing about bikes with a sidecar attached and how they behave in the real world.
I'd seen a racing version I think they were called "kneelers" in Eckington ridden by the then local Honda Dealership owner Charlie Freeman so thought they were easy to master !
Isn't the internet wonderful for reviving a memory.
https://www.google.com/search?q=charlie+freeman+motorcycle+racer&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB934GB935&sxsrf=ALeKk00RO9_vQipNIYIslw4Kw42q1ZtsbA:1626415947677&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=85NAELJCHhAe0M%252CHO6eHuJMGhF7rM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRE_29-nyeWtjhlFS5ovmZDb0LDEA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihucXG9-bxAhU3QEEAHbedAUcQ9QF6BAgSEAE
smoothoperator:
That brings back memories, bought 2 bikes from Charlie, he was always good fun and his place in Eckington was always one of our regular ride outs.
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McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
--- Quote from: smoothoperator on July 16, 2021, 08:28:04 AM ---That brings back memories, bought 2 bikes from Charlie, he was always good fun and his place in Eckington was always one of our regular ride outs.
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Yes Charlie certainly was a character - I think my Dad visited him as his firm would buy cars from him when they took them in part exchange for a bike.
Even after his spell in clink for handling stolen bikes I think it was (well before my spell in the Fuzz) the business still thrived & his customers did not desert him.
Tbh as he was quite a bit older than me I just knew him as a mate of my Dad's who seemed very outgoing. Many years later I found out the firm were still trading - I think his son may have taken over - not sure of that now the son may have retired as well by now.
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