Hi all! I've just been handed a rather sorry looking Greeves 25DD (i belive her frame number is 225DD114) and I thought I'd better make myself known as I can see myself frequenting these forums a LOT!
But first, I think I'd better make the recent history of my bike plain as some of the keener-witted forum members may jump to the wrong conclusions!
My grandfather has owned this lovely machine since 1995, and although he never really put any miles on It he always intended to return it to the road. He was a keen motorcyclist in his youth, and later built and raced 'specials' with the 750MC to reasonable succsess and later as an engineer at lotus cars. so I always trusted his opinion when he said his Greeves was one of the best british bikes! the bike was left to it's own devices while shooting fishing and canal-boating took most of his time. Until around a year ago, when local thieves broke in and helped themselves to one of his most prized possesions (see the stolen bikes section) luckily it was recovered a short time later, but not before it had been well and truly savaged. the rear mudguard and handlebars were crudely hacksawed off (I assume to hide it's identity) and it was partially stripped. Once recovered the bike came to reside with me, as we did not feel it prudent to return it to the scene of the crime. After some conversation with my grandfather (now sadly suffering the ravages of dementia) he made it known he would like me to restore his beloved Greeves and return it to it's rightful place, On the queen's highway.
Although I'm a freelance mechanic/engineer and I'm no stranger to restoration work (mainly vintage trucks, tractors, and stationary engines etc). This is my first real bike! I don't even currently hold a bike license, although this seems like a great excuse to finally get my act together and get one!
I hope to do this bike (and my Grandfather) the justice it deserves, The poor thing has had a tough time of it lately and I'd like to treat her right. and hopefully, before too long, she'll be buzzing down the byways of norfolk, and being enjoyed and cherished for a long time to come.
-Floydism (Leon)
But first, I think I'd better make the recent history of my bike plain as some of the keener-witted forum members may jump to the wrong conclusions!
My grandfather has owned this lovely machine since 1995, and although he never really put any miles on It he always intended to return it to the road. He was a keen motorcyclist in his youth, and later built and raced 'specials' with the 750MC to reasonable succsess and later as an engineer at lotus cars. so I always trusted his opinion when he said his Greeves was one of the best british bikes! the bike was left to it's own devices while shooting fishing and canal-boating took most of his time. Until around a year ago, when local thieves broke in and helped themselves to one of his most prized possesions (see the stolen bikes section) luckily it was recovered a short time later, but not before it had been well and truly savaged. the rear mudguard and handlebars were crudely hacksawed off (I assume to hide it's identity) and it was partially stripped. Once recovered the bike came to reside with me, as we did not feel it prudent to return it to the scene of the crime. After some conversation with my grandfather (now sadly suffering the ravages of dementia) he made it known he would like me to restore his beloved Greeves and return it to it's rightful place, On the queen's highway.
Although I'm a freelance mechanic/engineer and I'm no stranger to restoration work (mainly vintage trucks, tractors, and stationary engines etc). This is my first real bike! I don't even currently hold a bike license, although this seems like a great excuse to finally get my act together and get one!
I hope to do this bike (and my Grandfather) the justice it deserves, The poor thing has had a tough time of it lately and I'd like to treat her right. and hopefully, before too long, she'll be buzzing down the byways of norfolk, and being enjoyed and cherished for a long time to come.
-Floydism (Leon)
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