Honda-SOHC

Re Jock Kerr Motorcycle Developments Limited (JKMDL).... I worked there for a short time during my college holidays in the late 1970's.. by this time Jock Kerr had sold up and I THINK he went to work at Eddy Grimstead's motorcycle / Scooter place in North or North East London. The owner, manager, etc when I was at JKMDL was Mike Sturgeon, as far as my memory goes he was a nice boss, had a business plan BUT did not know of the engineering or physics side of things...., engines, metal, heat, lubrication, balance, etc hence there were so many "Issues".. So to clarify things a bit, rocker and camshaft Stellite welding I think it was called, grinding, etc and ALL precision engineering work was done by a neighbouring company called Joy Engineering. At JKMDL we did engine stripping, assessments, rebuilding so the then rebuilt engines could be sold as reconditioned units, that meant your pressed up Honda CB125 single crank if it felt right it went back in, even if the engine had done 30,000 miles, it was only if the mains & big ends had plain bearings that were actually measured, and often only had new shells the surfaces were not re-ground, small ends were rarely touched, valve guides ditto. The balances of failures, returns, refunds were offset by the ability of JKMDL to weasle out of paying up, 'you did not do this' or "that's wear & tear", often asking for the engine to be sent back for assessment then taking ages to assess, often sending out another just as dodgy unit in replacement... The Mods, big bores, smaller capacities were virtually all crap.. The big bores were nearly always overbored standard bore liners so leaving the liners too thin and they cracked where the liner left the bottom of the cylinder casting, the 400/4 to 250/4 sleeving down was just an extra lining put in the standard liners with i think Honda C50 pistons, making the liners too thick to dissipate the heat, ok at start up, ok for short runs but give it some welly or constant 60mph and the pistons would seize... the 250 Superdream conversion to 125cc was a topless piston in one bore with the rockers removed so making it a VERY vibratory 125 single that if it lasted without falling apart from the vibrations it would blow the crank in 500 miles.... The list goes on and on, I only stayed there as I needed the money and I had access to the workshop, my job was on the Honda singles range C50 to CB125 OHV & OHC.... After JKMDL closed the company went onto making rubbish chromed & non-chromed 4-stroke noisey exhausts that often lessened the bikes power and always got you nicked, sold from a shop in I think Market Place or square, Hatfield.. Shame really, the potential was there just not the brains.

Nice insight, thanks for that. Were you the mechanic who came off it road testing it after the bike went back for its conversion back to 400? It cost JK a new tank and Cibie headlight!

Every Wednesday a lot of the old Jack's Fish & Chip shop crowd (Bagshot on the A30 until it was recently demolished), meet up at the Pathfinder Cafe at Blackbushe airport at lunchtime.  I didn't go myself, perhaps next week, but looking at the Bagshot Bikers FB page, someone had posted pictures of lots of the bikes from yesterday, there was a gorgeous CB500/4. Anyone from here? If I make it next week I'll say hello. (picture nicked from FB, not mine).

I'm with Peter James, I get the VMCC member discount, ten bikes, unlimited mileage, from a 1939 Triumph to my modern bike, an '87 VFR750, £299.

Thanks for the various encouraging comments. In no particular order....

Ash, yes, the chrome tank panels are satin polished at the knee cut-outs where later bikes would have rubber knee grips.

I have been a VJMC member since 1987 - gradually putting the word out via any source I can think of - with patience, most parts turn up eventually.

Exhausts - Later C72 exhausts do turn up every now and again, and can probably be used on the earlier C71, but correct C71 items are another matter.

Julie, I suspect this year for that cuppa (on the C71 Dream) would be quite an achievement; but who knows.....

Tony B. - Interesting 1960 - 1962 Dream (well, pre "A" registration anyway). I have to ask, what are your plans for your C72 project?
Move it on (perhaps PM me?), or do something with it?

Thanks all for your interest - Chris R

Pm replied 

Hi all, I will have my usual stall at this Saturday's (20th) Kempton Park autojumble. I usually have mainly British bits, but this Saturday I hope to take as much of the Honda stuff that we cleared out of a house clearance just before Christmas. Anyone who wants to have a rummage is welcome. I've already sold some side panels, a rear light bracket and a rev counter to several guys on here. I have no idea how much of some of this stuff is worth, so am scouring eBay etc to try and gauge prices. I am trying to be fair, but without doing myself a disservice. Most of it is Honda CB500/4, but with a possible smattering of other bits.
I'm on stall 114, back against the race course, and around the middle of the line. My wife's Tesla that I'm borrowing should stand out against all the vans! 
Just a taster, one of several sets of carbs, complete with manifolds and cables.

A better picture, (ie I'm not in it!).

Hi all, on my avatar, my original 400/4, (on my other thread, was a Jock Kerr 250/4 for a while until I passed my test). I then rode it as a 400 for a year, and sold it after painting it black. Years later, late '90s I think, I saw it at a local pub, now red again, but with Comstar wheels. I've just checked on Direct.Gov and saw the latest logbook was issued in January this year! Though still listed as black. So, she's still out there, anyone on here?
Cheers, Tony.