Greeves in Stondon Museum

[John Wakefield]

Whilst Greeves bikes in museums are rare, particulary road models there are two roadsters in the Stondon Transport Museum near Henlow, Beds.
These are a 25DB Sports twin frame No 60/2858 & Bert Greeves Special Replica frame No 60/1125 built by the late Rob Slade. Both bikes carry the registration number XRD 274 although the correct number for the special is FSV 549. Strangely the twin appears to have a DC frame, so looks like Rob did a mix & match of parts & fitted the later DC rear subframe to a 25DB beam. The bike also has 325 badges on the tool box but is registered with a 250 (2T engine)
The museum remain coy about who now owns the bikes and indeed they do not appear on the museum stock list on their web site. So they may still be owned by Rob's family & are on loan.
Stondon Transport Museun is a virtual 'aladdins cave' of cars, motorbikes, commercials & a couple of buses. Its well worth a visit if you are in the area


Update added March 2017
The Stondon Museum has now closed & the two Greeves have gone back to the Slade family who apparently still own them.

[Brian Thompson]

Interesting post John. I actually have a magazine article on the OBG Special 'replica' (FSV 549) that was built by Rod Slade.

It was published in the June 1990 issue of 'British Bike Magazine' (try www.pigfarmerbikemagazines.co.uk for back issues of anything-he does the lot!) It describes a really nicely put together bike, very much in the style of OBG's 'experiment' with putting an alloy barrelled 37A engine into a roadster chassis. Rod used a MCS (square barrell) engine with a standard Villiers gearbox from a 24DC, with the tester suggesting that "the ratios work well enough with the power output as it stands, but the gap between second and third could be usefully lessened." Final drive sprockets were 15/46 pairing but Rod apparently found the overall gearing a little high and upped the gearbox sprocket to a 16.

Interestingly, the original carb Rod employed flooded badly and kept filling the crankcase so he 'pinched' the Concentric off his Griffon as a stopgap! It worked well so it remained in place, but there were some drawbacks reported, such as it "not being an easy starter" and "needing a lot of flooding"! Once going, the motor was reported as being "reliably tractable", but that some "serious fettling on the carburation would pay dividends."

Rod made the bike very much to his own liking, beautifully finished in Moorland Blue with Gold tank panels for the alloy badges. He did a lot of work on the riding position to suit his long distance trips (many to his favourite Belgian Rallies), and the overall handling and ride where highly praised (as always-it's a GREEVES!!!) Surely the best accolade of all for Rod came from OBG himself, who was very interested and taken with the machine when he saw it at the Southend Show and gave it his blessing! Can't say fairer than that!

I never had the pleasure of meeting Rod, but have heard his name from many Greeves enthusiasts, especially in praise of his involvment and help with the GRA, not least of which was of course the first reliable (and correct!) supplies of Moorland Blue paint to members. He sold gallons of it apparently! His untimely death was certainly a great loss to the club, and it's nice to know that his special 'one-off' bike is still out there giving enjoyment. Nice one John.

Brian.

[Buzzer]

If you happen to be in the IOM for the TT or MGP, it is well worth visiting Tony East's collection at Kirkmichael (next to the garage heading North out of the village) He has a superb display of bikes, including several Greeves roadsters.

[John Wakefield]

Yes he has the original OBG Special 901 JOO

[Buzzer]

Photo of some of the Greeves bikes in the Tony East collection at Kirkmichael.

[Brian Thompson]

Nice one Buzzer, great pic and thanks.

901 JOO on the left I see-amazing machine that. I really enjoyed the recent write up on it in The Classic Motorcycle magazine. Shame Greeves never persued it really, yet another great idea from OBG amongst the many.

Brian.

[John Wakefield]

Tony East also has an East Coaster BRK 68D (25DC 464B) which I understand is awaiting restoration