I'd like to personally call for anyone building a custom bike from a vintage machine, to stop referring to it as something that it's not. Stop saying that it's an "ode to", a "nod to", "inspired by" type build. It's goofy, cheesy and historically incorrect. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you should.
Stop building Japanese bikes that are painted and styled to look like a Manx Norton. Stop putting 1960's Honda and BMW gas tanks on bikes that they don't belong on. I completely understand that certain vintage motorcycles are iconic and desirable, and often unaffordable, but that doesn't mean you should build a Virago to look like a Vincent. It reminds me of the guys that used to style the Pontiac Fiero to look like a Ferrari.
So if you've got a Honda CB, and want to make it look like an old race bike, then style it after the iconic Honda RC166. If you've got an old Yamaha, then style it after the iconic Yamaha TZ. Hopefully you get the picture here. If you're building a replica, then make it a faithful replica of the original. Or if you're just building a custom, then make it an era specific or period correct special. Don't put a Honda tank on a Yamaha, and leave the Honda badges on it. And please stop running around taking fake lifestyle photos of it.
Here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. It's pretty ironic that this popped up on Bike Exif today, as I started this post a few days ago, and got pissed off even writing it. So I shelved the thing entirely, until this popped up, and then I felt compelled to finish writing my opinion.
Yamaha SR250
The thing is, the bike in this post is actually pretty nice. I've even seen it in person, and someone really put a lot of time and work into it. And then, as the finishing touch, the Honda tank badges? On a Yamaha! Hell, if the tank looks good, and the style is right, go ahead and use it, but rebadge it to what the bike actually is.
It doesn't surprise me, as Bike Exif is well known for their daily posts of these things. And they're heavy on writing the types of descriptions that I talked about in the first paragraph. Have a look at their site and see for yourself.
I hate being this guy that talks trash on this stuff, but somebody has to say something. There's this common problem where everyone will stroke the owner / builder, simply because they don't want to be honest if their opinion is a negative one. I suppose it's a social problem more than it is a motorcycle problem. But it perpetuates itself into a complete mockery.
I guess anyone can do whatever they want with their motorcycle, but we're all watching, and we all notice. And if you ask me what I think of your custom motorcycle, rest assured you're going to get a real answer.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
John Tickle
Back in the mid - late 1960's there was an emergence of tuners and specialty parts makers starting to produce and sell bolt on cafe racer parts and accessories. Prior to this, a cafe racer was really a home built machine that mostly resembled a stock bike, and generally with some hop up engine parts, lightened fenders and the occasional discarded race part. But as with all things, and with the popularity of a movement, an industry of it's own is born. And lucky for us, because these cool bolt on specialty parts allow for period cafe racers to be built with the proper parts. And when I say proper parts, I'm referring to items that were manufactured and available for sale during that period. Some of these items have spawned a million knock offs, replicas and reproduction parts. Even allowing companies such as Emgo to operate a lucrative business by making cheap copies.
Well, for me, and for my Nortons, the knock off crap just won't do. So I spend (waste) my life scouring the globe for the good shit. In this instance I'm talking about some John Tickle parts. About 2 years ago, I had seen a set of John Tickle fender brackets, or Y brackets as they're commonly known. These aluminum brackets had been used on racing machines such as the Manx Norton for at least a decade and half prior to someone like John Tickle making them, so really, they were commercially available cafe racer parts that you could buy to emulate your favorite race machine of the day. Prior to seeing these John Tickle brackets, I had only known of the original factory made / standard brackets, as well as the readily available versions sold by Unity Equipe under the brand name Converta. These Converta brackets are stamped and work quite well, and definitely look the part. But here were these John Tickle stamped brackets, in the flesh, mounted to an alloy fender and collecting dust, grime and general shop wear in a friends garage. I of course instantly asked if the set up was for sale, and offered to pay whatever price he demanded. And I was met with a solid "No" of an answer. Well, that set in motion my search to find another set, a set of my own, for my own Norton.
To say these brackets are rare, is an understatement. Which is odd because on any given month, I can find John Tickle head light ears, clip ons and sometimes even a John Tickle front brake. But all my years messing about with vintage motorbikes, I had never seen a set. Much less a set for sale. It took about a year of constant searching, but I finally found a set. On eBay UK of course. And I set out to purchase them, and was the successful high bidder. Mission accomplished, right? Of course not. The brackets are of course amazing. Or at least as amazing as any bent and shaped piece of 1/8" thick aluminum can be. They're virtually identical to the Converta brackets, but with that all important John Tickle stampings.
Even though they're rare, if you find them, this is the version you'll generally come across. These are stamped in the manner that nearly all of his parts were stamped "John Tickle (R.E.)"
And another version of the same bracket. This is the only set I've ever seen with this stamping, Perhaps an earlier version? This is where the mission "not accomplished" comes into play. Having found the set pictured above, I was content. After all, I have no need to hoard parts that don't have a bike to go on in my garage. I'd rather let others purchase those parts so they can find their way on to machines being used. But then I come across this set, and I had to have them.
J.T. (Racing Eqmpt.)
So what of John Tickle? Who was he, and what did he do? Well, he was an Englishman that loved motorcycles and raced Manx Nortons of his own. He even raced a side car outfit, and is pictured here in 1962 at Mallory Park.
The object of my post, started as a highlight of some John Tickle parts. The infamous John Tickle brake plate was a piece that I purchased and restored for a Norton Dominator project that I'm building up as a "special", using all period parts. Over the years I've come across lots of the bits that he manufactured. They were aftermarket bolt on parts designed mainly for the guy converting a standard road bike to a cafe racer. Some of the small bits he manufactured and sold:
And a later magazine advertisement showing some of his parts:
But the John Tickle story is deeper than that, and although I won't go in to an extensive history lesson, he served as the owner for the rights to the Manx Norton spares. Having purchased these rights from Colin Seeley, he sold spares to those needing to keep their Manx Nortons competitive in racing circuits around the world, long after the Norton Works Bracebridge Street Factory had ceased producing the Manx and were consolidated into the AMC conglomeration.
Selling those spares, and having the mind of a racer as well as the entrepreneurial spirit, John Developed the T5 Manx. Which from the looks of it, was a standard Norton Manx motor, gearbox and wheels. All housed within his own frame design. Although I can't claim to have the exact details, I've never met or heard from anyone else that does either. It looks, from photos, to be a standard Norton swingarm, but the front end seems to be a modified piece of kit with one of his alloy top yokes, and then of course the petrol tank, seat and oil tank are designed to work on the frame. Very few examples were ever built, but I reacall seeing a recent photo of 1 surviving bike that was brought to the Wheels & Waves event, hosted by Vincent Pratt, of Southsiders fame, about 2 years ago. I'd love to see some recent photos and get some detailed information from anyone out there that may own one of these amazing pieces of history.
Tickle T5 Manx on the left, and featherbed framed Manx on the right. Both posing for a beautiful photo in front of the Tickle headquarters.
Probably the most well known photo of the man himself. Astride a T5 Manx.
Even the delivery van was pretty damn cool.
After some time, John's business fell on financial hardship, and he sold the rights to Manx Norton spares and other specialty bits of his business to Unity Equipe. To this day, Unity carries on the legacy and sells countless replacement and specialty parts for Nortons and other British bikes.
The T5 Manx is of course a high dollar collectible motorcycle, and surely any surviving example, would be in the hands of a museum or wealthy collector. For the most part, bikes like that don't get brought out very often, if ever. It's a shame really because so little seems to be known of John Tickle, and even less about the T5. I wish that some of the people that own these bikes, and other exotic motorcycles, would bring them to events, or post comprehensive photos and details about them online. It would be nice if the rest of us common folk could enjoy seeing them and learning about them. And that's what I like about these specialty bolt on parts. They're rare, but they can be found. They aren't cheap, but they're also not ridiculously expensive. So any normal guy that's working on an old British bike, and has a bit of patience and a decent standard level, can find some of these bits, and enjoy them on their own machine. It's worth the effort...
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Riding Gear
Every once in a while, I'll give all my riding gear a once over and a wipe down. It's a good chance to inspect everything to ensure it's all still up to par. So I figured this would be a good chance to highlight a few things and just have a general discussion about it.
First off, let me start by saying that this isn't some sort of product review. Everything that I'll show in photos, and talk about, is riding gear that I've purchased for myself. When I first started riding, I lived in California, so a DOT helmet was required by law. Since it was required, I never thought much about it, in regards to wearing it, or not wearing it. I now live in a state that doesn't require a helmet, but I continue to wear one anyhow. Partially out of habitat, but mostly because I place a pretty high value on my brain.
Helmets, jackets, boots, gloves and goggles are all readily available for anyone to purchase. You've got choices of buying vintage gear, modern gear and even modern gear that's made to look vintage. At the end of the day, it's all personal preference when you select something. Hopefully based on comfort, riding style and simple preference for the way it looks and feels. The biggest issue with this is that it's often difficult to try on a wide range of options before you buy anything. These days, most of this stuff is purchased online, and sometimes it's an instant disappointment as soon as it arrives. It doesn't take long to realize that the helmet or jacket you thought would be perfect, simply isn't comfortable or fit correctly. Rest assured that I've bought my fair share of riding gear, only to turn around and have to resell it, generally at a loss. So anytime I have a buddy that buys something new, or meet someone, I always check out their gear. After all, the best way to get a feel for something, is to see it yourself and get some feedback as to what the owner thinks. I try and do the same when I run across people that are thinking of buying some new gear. Offering to have them check out and try on what I have for purposes of comparison.
So this post is really to show what I've found to be comfortable and appropriate for me. Keep in mind that I ride a vintage motorcycle, so I choose things that lend themselves to that. Over the years, I've had all sorts of stuff. Full face helmets, helmets with bubble visors, flip down visors, modern jackets / gloves and vintage jackets / gloves.
Helmet - by far the most important part of any riding gear, in my opinion. This is the Davida Classic Jet helmet, which is DOT approved. I've owned 2 of these exact same helmets over the years, and hopefully that's some indication of what I think of them. For some reason, it looks like Davida no longer offers this particular model, but the Jet and Speedster styles are very similar. They offer these helmets in just about any color you can imagine and for a cost, will even design and paint a helmet to your specifications. I like Davida for a lot of reasons; first and foremost because it fits my head and is very comfortable, classic styling and because they're hand made in the UK. Certainly not the cheapest helmet choice out there, but I've never squawked at the price. Another reason these are the perfect choice is because they offer a set of goggles that were designed specifically to work with it. To check out all the helmets: Davida
Jacket - things get pretty difficult when it comes to finding a jacket. Vintage jackets in my opinion are the best bet. Old leather just seems to be of higher quality in most cases, and the leather is nicely broken in at this point. I've gone through my fair amount of jackets, and I've liked a few, and disliked a lot of them. Usually it just comes down to fit and overall quality. Anytime you buy a jacket online, it's basically impossible to know what you're getting until it actually arrives. Sizing on vintage jackets is all over the board as well. A 42 in one make, might be a 40 in another. If you get the chance to get into a shop that carries a variety, it's best to try on as many as you can. Noting what you like, and what size in certain makes will fit the best.
This is a vintage jacket that I found years ago in LA at a great shop called Glory. As soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to have it. It was hanging high up on the rack, so I couldn't tell what size it was, and assumed that there was no chance it'd fit me. I'm a Norton guy, so for obvious reasons, it was the perfect find. After asking the clerk to pull it down, I tried it on, and it was a perfect fit. What are the chances? It's a custom jacket, with no indication of a maker. Certainly looks that someone long ago had commissioned it to be made for him. The leather is amazing, being thick, yet having a soft hand. It's well broken in, but not worn. It's got a nice plaid liner, custom paneling, padded shoulders and elbows, Norton lettering, plenty of zip closure pockets and even an internal pocket where I keep a small screw driver handy for quick carburetor adjustments. If you ever get the chance, stop in at Glory. They've got an excellent selection of vintage jackets as well as their own brand of jeans and other motorcycle related items. The owner Justin Kell has been active in all things vintage motorcycle related for a long time, and is an all around great guy. Glory Sales
Goggles - Aviator T2 Goggles by Leon Jeantet. I originally got these goggles because they were made specifically to go with the Davida Classic Jet helmet. Turns out that they look and feel just right as well. Peripheral vision is great, and they've got a soft leather lining. Fully adjustable, and they work perfectly with the helmet. I had gone through a few sets of goggles that just didn't sit right. Mainly they'd "float" over my eyes since the width wouldn't allow them to sit inside the helmet. I've recommended these goggles to a lot of people, and like the helmet, this is the second set I've owned. They're available with tinted and different color lenses, and you can swap the lenses in and out if you need to. They're also built so that you can wear your standard seeing glasses underneath them. You can get these direct from Davida and other dealers online as well.
Gloves - Harold's Gear gripping glove. No pun intended here, but these are hands down the best gloves ever made. Excellent leather quality, double layer palm construction and superb fit. The glove is sewn in a way that it keeps it's shape and won't allow the bunching of leather over time in the palm area. I bought these years ago and they look nearly new. Harold's Gear is a Japanese company, and unfortunately, old man Harold passed away a while back, so they not longer make these. But the good people at Deus Ex Machina have carried on the legacy. When I purchased these, the only place to get them were from Deus in Australia. And they obviously think as much of the gloves as I do, since they've acquired the original patterns and are making the glove again under their own brand name. Not to get side tracked here, but in my opinion, Deus is one of the only motorcycle brands that's doing it right. They've got excellent product offering and they build really great motorcycles. They've managed to capture that vintage feel without copying anything. Truly original, and well worth spending my hard earned money. Have a look at they're website. Deus Ex Machina
First off, let me start by saying that this isn't some sort of product review. Everything that I'll show in photos, and talk about, is riding gear that I've purchased for myself. When I first started riding, I lived in California, so a DOT helmet was required by law. Since it was required, I never thought much about it, in regards to wearing it, or not wearing it. I now live in a state that doesn't require a helmet, but I continue to wear one anyhow. Partially out of habitat, but mostly because I place a pretty high value on my brain.
Helmets, jackets, boots, gloves and goggles are all readily available for anyone to purchase. You've got choices of buying vintage gear, modern gear and even modern gear that's made to look vintage. At the end of the day, it's all personal preference when you select something. Hopefully based on comfort, riding style and simple preference for the way it looks and feels. The biggest issue with this is that it's often difficult to try on a wide range of options before you buy anything. These days, most of this stuff is purchased online, and sometimes it's an instant disappointment as soon as it arrives. It doesn't take long to realize that the helmet or jacket you thought would be perfect, simply isn't comfortable or fit correctly. Rest assured that I've bought my fair share of riding gear, only to turn around and have to resell it, generally at a loss. So anytime I have a buddy that buys something new, or meet someone, I always check out their gear. After all, the best way to get a feel for something, is to see it yourself and get some feedback as to what the owner thinks. I try and do the same when I run across people that are thinking of buying some new gear. Offering to have them check out and try on what I have for purposes of comparison.
So this post is really to show what I've found to be comfortable and appropriate for me. Keep in mind that I ride a vintage motorcycle, so I choose things that lend themselves to that. Over the years, I've had all sorts of stuff. Full face helmets, helmets with bubble visors, flip down visors, modern jackets / gloves and vintage jackets / gloves.
Helmet - by far the most important part of any riding gear, in my opinion. This is the Davida Classic Jet helmet, which is DOT approved. I've owned 2 of these exact same helmets over the years, and hopefully that's some indication of what I think of them. For some reason, it looks like Davida no longer offers this particular model, but the Jet and Speedster styles are very similar. They offer these helmets in just about any color you can imagine and for a cost, will even design and paint a helmet to your specifications. I like Davida for a lot of reasons; first and foremost because it fits my head and is very comfortable, classic styling and because they're hand made in the UK. Certainly not the cheapest helmet choice out there, but I've never squawked at the price. Another reason these are the perfect choice is because they offer a set of goggles that were designed specifically to work with it. To check out all the helmets: Davida
Jacket - things get pretty difficult when it comes to finding a jacket. Vintage jackets in my opinion are the best bet. Old leather just seems to be of higher quality in most cases, and the leather is nicely broken in at this point. I've gone through my fair amount of jackets, and I've liked a few, and disliked a lot of them. Usually it just comes down to fit and overall quality. Anytime you buy a jacket online, it's basically impossible to know what you're getting until it actually arrives. Sizing on vintage jackets is all over the board as well. A 42 in one make, might be a 40 in another. If you get the chance to get into a shop that carries a variety, it's best to try on as many as you can. Noting what you like, and what size in certain makes will fit the best.
This is a vintage jacket that I found years ago in LA at a great shop called Glory. As soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to have it. It was hanging high up on the rack, so I couldn't tell what size it was, and assumed that there was no chance it'd fit me. I'm a Norton guy, so for obvious reasons, it was the perfect find. After asking the clerk to pull it down, I tried it on, and it was a perfect fit. What are the chances? It's a custom jacket, with no indication of a maker. Certainly looks that someone long ago had commissioned it to be made for him. The leather is amazing, being thick, yet having a soft hand. It's well broken in, but not worn. It's got a nice plaid liner, custom paneling, padded shoulders and elbows, Norton lettering, plenty of zip closure pockets and even an internal pocket where I keep a small screw driver handy for quick carburetor adjustments. If you ever get the chance, stop in at Glory. They've got an excellent selection of vintage jackets as well as their own brand of jeans and other motorcycle related items. The owner Justin Kell has been active in all things vintage motorcycle related for a long time, and is an all around great guy. Glory Sales
Goggles - Aviator T2 Goggles by Leon Jeantet. I originally got these goggles because they were made specifically to go with the Davida Classic Jet helmet. Turns out that they look and feel just right as well. Peripheral vision is great, and they've got a soft leather lining. Fully adjustable, and they work perfectly with the helmet. I had gone through a few sets of goggles that just didn't sit right. Mainly they'd "float" over my eyes since the width wouldn't allow them to sit inside the helmet. I've recommended these goggles to a lot of people, and like the helmet, this is the second set I've owned. They're available with tinted and different color lenses, and you can swap the lenses in and out if you need to. They're also built so that you can wear your standard seeing glasses underneath them. You can get these direct from Davida and other dealers online as well.
Gloves - Harold's Gear gripping glove. No pun intended here, but these are hands down the best gloves ever made. Excellent leather quality, double layer palm construction and superb fit. The glove is sewn in a way that it keeps it's shape and won't allow the bunching of leather over time in the palm area. I bought these years ago and they look nearly new. Harold's Gear is a Japanese company, and unfortunately, old man Harold passed away a while back, so they not longer make these. But the good people at Deus Ex Machina have carried on the legacy. When I purchased these, the only place to get them were from Deus in Australia. And they obviously think as much of the gloves as I do, since they've acquired the original patterns and are making the glove again under their own brand name. Not to get side tracked here, but in my opinion, Deus is one of the only motorcycle brands that's doing it right. They've got excellent product offering and they build really great motorcycles. They've managed to capture that vintage feel without copying anything. Truly original, and well worth spending my hard earned money. Have a look at they're website. Deus Ex Machina
Boots - I've been wearing these Thorogood work boots for several years now, and they're about as comfortable a work boot as I've ever worn. Made in the USA, and unfortunately they tend to live in the shadow of Red Wing. The leather is great and the Vibram soles are comfortable. My only real complaint, and it's got nothing to do with the boot, is that the soles are a bit thick. I run rear sets on the Norton, and it's got a roll over gear change, so I can't adjust the relationship between the foot peg and toe shifter. So I'd really like a lower profile sole. But these boots definitely do the job, and I like that they're a boot that you can actually just wear. Most motorcycle boots are pretty specific to simply riding, meaning that you can't really walk around in them away from the bike, without looking like a clown. I've resoled these boots 3 times as the foamy Vibram sole just really isn't made for riding, and tends to wear fairly heavily. Some of this is my fault based on my riding style and how I put my feet down when coming to a stop. I've also got a habit of delaying my left foot as I pull away from a stop, therefore causing some wear. I feel like a different sole material altogether would be a better solution for me, but have yet to find anything suitable. Thorogood Boots
So there you have it, a snapshot of riding gear, or at least the gear that I've chosen after having gone through countless different options. Never under estimate the importance of riding gear. You'd be surprised at the difference in fit and comfort and the affect that it could have on your riding experience. These things tend to add up in regards to cost, but in reality, most of this stuff you can have nearly forever. You'll also thank yourself when the time comes that you suffer a crash. Even at low speed, the results can be tragic. I've gone down before at a speed of about 35-40 mph, and ended up with just some road rash on my hip and knee. Certainly the outcome would have been far worse had I not had all this stuff on. Especially after bonking my helmeted head off the ground.
On a final not, let me just say that it's called riding gear for a reason. Meaning it's meant to be used to ride in. Most of this stuff isn't made as a fashion statement and isn't supposed to be used off the bike. So if you're riding to a motorcycle event, obviously it makes sense to wear this stuff, but if you're driving there simply as a spectator, please don't show up with riding gear on. Unless the event you're going to is on Halloween, you'll look like an idiot. I've seen guys get dropped off by their wives at a show, wearing riding boots and jackets. True story.
Ride Safe.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
On The Bench - Norton Dominator timing cover
This is one of two variations of the Norton Dominator timing cover that had a boss cast into it for a tach drive. This version mounts so the tach drive faces straight up and down, and is the rarer of the two. The other type, has the boss leaned forward so the drive mounts at a forward facing 45 degree angle.
There are 3 other Dominator timing covers, all of which have no provision for a tach drive. One is a simple smooth version, the other a smooth version with oval shaped brass Norton badge riveted in the center and the third is cast with a round Norton badge boss, and the badge inlayed into it.
I'll note that while not technically a Dominator, there's a 6th version of the timing cover which came standard on the Atlas. It too has a boss for the tach drive and has it facing straight up and down. The difference being that the boss is a large circular shape.
Being that the bike I'm building is an earlier Dominator, the Atlas cover isn't really appropriate, even though it would fit and function just fine. I simply feel that the earlier cover with the "football" shaped boss is the most appropriate as well as being my favorite. I've had the forward leaning version for some time now, and had restored / polished it. And I've been looking for this version to have as well. I prefer the straight up and down mount, but in the end, which version I use will simply come down to the exact routing of the exhaust pipe. Most likely they'll be swept back pipes, and some versions of pipes will foul the tach cable, so having both options will mean that I can use which ever exhaust / timing cover combo that works without interfering with the cable.
This is the cover I bought at the Davenport swap meet, and the subject of my rant at the end of that post. You can see it's well used condition in the before photos. Obviously a take off part that was well worn, nicked, scratched, gouged and dirty. And while this is the rarest of the timing covers, condition is everything when assessing value of these parts. The seller went on and on about how if he cleaned it up, it would be worth top dollar etc etc. Yet, he hadn't cleaned it up at all. But still wanted top dollar for it. After walking away and then coming back late in the day, just before leaving, I was able to talk him down. I think he realized that nobody else was going to buy it. And while I still paid more than it was worth, at least the final price was somewhat more appropriate for it's condition.
Here's how it looked when I bought it. You'll note the 1 shiny section in this first photo. I always rub a small bit of polish onto anything aluminum before I start, simply to check the finish of it and get an idea of what I'm working with.
After about 20 hours of work, the end result is a far cry from where it started. All the nicks, scratches and gouges have been sanded and polished out. The entire thing has been degreased and wire brushed inside. Everything removed internally and all passageways cleaned. The mating surface has been completely cleaned of any gasket remnants and checked for flatness. And then polished, leaving all it's original casting marks.
I've got NOS banjo fittings for the oil feed, brand new copper crush washers and a restored pressure relief valve / dome nut that I'll fit to the cover. Once I get to the point of sorting out the timing chest internals, this cover will get new bush / seal as well.
Now it's a timing cover thats worth "top dollar". At the end of the day, if you put the time, effort and money into making these parts worth what would be considered top dollar, you could never really sell them for what you've got into them. The cost of the fittings and sheer hours of labor, would far exceed what the thing is worth. I'd guess that in this restored condition, the timing cover is worth about $150. Maybe a bit more to the right guy, on the right day. I do this stuff for a couple of reasons; I set out to build / restore this Norton piece by piece, I enjoy the restoration process and lastly, because I've got more time than I've got money.
To me, it's worth it. These parts and these old bikes have a value that's far greater than any actual monetary value.
There are 3 other Dominator timing covers, all of which have no provision for a tach drive. One is a simple smooth version, the other a smooth version with oval shaped brass Norton badge riveted in the center and the third is cast with a round Norton badge boss, and the badge inlayed into it.
I'll note that while not technically a Dominator, there's a 6th version of the timing cover which came standard on the Atlas. It too has a boss for the tach drive and has it facing straight up and down. The difference being that the boss is a large circular shape.
Being that the bike I'm building is an earlier Dominator, the Atlas cover isn't really appropriate, even though it would fit and function just fine. I simply feel that the earlier cover with the "football" shaped boss is the most appropriate as well as being my favorite. I've had the forward leaning version for some time now, and had restored / polished it. And I've been looking for this version to have as well. I prefer the straight up and down mount, but in the end, which version I use will simply come down to the exact routing of the exhaust pipe. Most likely they'll be swept back pipes, and some versions of pipes will foul the tach cable, so having both options will mean that I can use which ever exhaust / timing cover combo that works without interfering with the cable.
This is the cover I bought at the Davenport swap meet, and the subject of my rant at the end of that post. You can see it's well used condition in the before photos. Obviously a take off part that was well worn, nicked, scratched, gouged and dirty. And while this is the rarest of the timing covers, condition is everything when assessing value of these parts. The seller went on and on about how if he cleaned it up, it would be worth top dollar etc etc. Yet, he hadn't cleaned it up at all. But still wanted top dollar for it. After walking away and then coming back late in the day, just before leaving, I was able to talk him down. I think he realized that nobody else was going to buy it. And while I still paid more than it was worth, at least the final price was somewhat more appropriate for it's condition.
Here's how it looked when I bought it. You'll note the 1 shiny section in this first photo. I always rub a small bit of polish onto anything aluminum before I start, simply to check the finish of it and get an idea of what I'm working with.
After about 20 hours of work, the end result is a far cry from where it started. All the nicks, scratches and gouges have been sanded and polished out. The entire thing has been degreased and wire brushed inside. Everything removed internally and all passageways cleaned. The mating surface has been completely cleaned of any gasket remnants and checked for flatness. And then polished, leaving all it's original casting marks.
I've got NOS banjo fittings for the oil feed, brand new copper crush washers and a restored pressure relief valve / dome nut that I'll fit to the cover. Once I get to the point of sorting out the timing chest internals, this cover will get new bush / seal as well.
Now it's a timing cover thats worth "top dollar". At the end of the day, if you put the time, effort and money into making these parts worth what would be considered top dollar, you could never really sell them for what you've got into them. The cost of the fittings and sheer hours of labor, would far exceed what the thing is worth. I'd guess that in this restored condition, the timing cover is worth about $150. Maybe a bit more to the right guy, on the right day. I do this stuff for a couple of reasons; I set out to build / restore this Norton piece by piece, I enjoy the restoration process and lastly, because I've got more time than I've got money.
To me, it's worth it. These parts and these old bikes have a value that's far greater than any actual monetary value.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Stan Dibben - No Ordinary Passenger
The New York Times posted this interesting video with Stan Dibben, of 1950's Norton side car fame. In 1953 Stan was the "monkey" in the chair, as he and rider Eric Oliver rode the Manx to the World Sidecar Championship. This was no small feat, while the standard Manx racing motorcycle was in it's prime, BMW was dominating side car racing.
The video is full of great vintage racing footage, as well as some narrative from Stan himself. Hearing him talk about certainly takes one back in time. Stan obviously still has his racing helmet, and if only it could talk...
You can watch the video here:
No Ordinary Passenger
Strangely, there's no mention of rider Eric Oliver, which is a shame as he's steeped in Norton racing lore, having set several landspeed records for the Bracebridge Street powerhouse, and is by far one of the sidecar racing legends of the day.
And while it's got nothing to do with the racing outfit mentioned in the video, if you've got a whole bunch of money, you could be the proud owner Eric Oliver's 1957 Manx Norton sidecar. Have a look at the photos one the British Only - Austria website here:
Eric Oliver's 1957 Manx Norton sidecar
The video is full of great vintage racing footage, as well as some narrative from Stan himself. Hearing him talk about certainly takes one back in time. Stan obviously still has his racing helmet, and if only it could talk...
You can watch the video here:
No Ordinary Passenger
Strangely, there's no mention of rider Eric Oliver, which is a shame as he's steeped in Norton racing lore, having set several landspeed records for the Bracebridge Street powerhouse, and is by far one of the sidecar racing legends of the day.
And while it's got nothing to do with the racing outfit mentioned in the video, if you've got a whole bunch of money, you could be the proud owner Eric Oliver's 1957 Manx Norton sidecar. Have a look at the photos one the British Only - Austria website here:
Eric Oliver's 1957 Manx Norton sidecar
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