Bikes other than Greeves

[rarpos7]

More non Greeves

Another shed special. This is a plunger Bantam frame fitted with a Villiers motor, and BSA C11 front forks and wheel.
Still in its "as found" condition.
I am unsure if I should restore it, or leave it in this condition, but running.

[tammyanddaveky]

More Non Greeves of mine...I mean ours

Beauties...all of em!

I am almost embarrased, but mind you, we just started the "motorcycle madness" the last about 3 months with the start of the Greeves MCS restore.

Dave has had a 1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000...a beauty and the year they took the land speed record and held it for approx 11 yrs I believe. HOWEVER, he did not lovingly prepare her for storage, as he did the Greeves. In my spare time I did get the 2 stuck carbs free (lots of carb cleaner and gentle tapping...in fact I think the auto store questions what I do with all that carb and brake parts cleaner...LOL). Carbs and all fuel lines goopy...he left gas in it for about 8 years....mymy...was like paint varnish! I went through and treated the tank and kremed it. Working on paint...was a gorgeous Cranberry Red prior to storage, but he parked her by a window...now its very..hmm, girly purple. Unfortunately rubbing compound had no effect. I also found that the R electrics on the bars were fried..no kill or push start. Honestly, I stopped there...her side covers and her parts are in the spare fridge in the garage.... Haven't gotten back to her as I really should. He has the Limited exhaust on it, 4 into 2..very nice. I stopped there to turn to the Greeves.

I LOVE my RED...2005 Honda CRF150F, did put power tip exhaust and remove the spark arrester and adjust needle clip...she was constantly asking for the next gear, now much better. A truly sweet bike in the tight woods, fabulous low end...and yet mousey when asked in top end. I hate to admitt it, but to keep Dave off of her I put a HUGE emblem on the # plate that says "Hot Chicks Play in DIRT"...has a silohette of a girl on a bike with a ponytail sticking out her helmet...sure keeps him off my bike...LOL.

Our newest rescue...Just this Sunday in fact is a 1997 Honda XR200R, we drove 8 hr round trip (our friends think us nuts, say we are the DIRTBIKE RESCUERS) shes a GEM in the rough..but oh when I am through, she will be sweet! NOW, she is ROUGH! But good bones, straight. Thats the make that the frame was white, and a truly "wicked" looking motor guard, its 3 rails/pipes same thickness and color as the frame. It very much has a Greeves Challenger look on the front fender and the seat...I LOVE THE SEAT...Very cushiony unlike modern bikes. I took of the tank today...mymy, another Dave on the gas...stuff was like paint thinner, air filter housing..uggh, at least 15 spider nests, the filter torn in many places, what else...oh yeah, oil was junk...had a strange silver hugh to it..screen was caked...took alot of work to get that out. I took the carb off, amazed it was not too bad..cleaned her up..made sure carb cleaner came out all jets and ports...put her back together and fired her up...amazing, still too lean, need to adjust the clip on the carb needle but horrid nocking sound gone.....oh yeah, had a horrendous knocking sound..not popping like piston or shot valve...intake and output valves WAY OFF, got those set back right. Ordered...grips, cables, levers, side covers, air filter, oil screen, and seat cover (not into the ole electrical tape over the tears...but better than duct tape..LOL). When we saw her, just looks sooo different and cool...couldn't stand that he was thinking of parting her out...paid $250...A STEAL, she ran, ran rough and with alot of knocking(now gone)....but, Dave and I see and listen past all that....ENVISION WHAT SHE COULD BE...IT SEEMS WE ALL ARE A VANISHING BREED, OR MAYBE JUST SUCKERS...LOL!

Okay, final one...1960 Lambretta 125LD, ran many years ago, all parts original and functioning...but been sitting (properly without fluids) as long as the Greeves did...hoping to restore her and sell her, not alot of use for us and I just know theres another dirt bike out there in need of RESCUE! Or, I may be getting ready to graduate to the asphault...not sure, crash and burning in dirt or on trails bad enough, can't imagine it on the road!

Thanks for sharing guys, and very nice topic!!

Tammy in KY

[Brian Thompson]

My old Honda XL185S.

Great post Tammy! Sounds like you guys have really 'got the bug' now, big time!!! It'd be so great if you could post some pics though....!

Wow, an XR200! What a fantastic bike to have, and many congratulations! At one time in the UK, these were one of the most sought after bikes for trailriders and clubman enduro racers. Just about the perfect combination of power and weight for the class, and that legendary Honda build quality-I can see why. I'm surprised we haven't seen more restored versions on the UK 'show circuit', (especially with the growing popularity of classic Japanese bikes over here) as they were so pretty (in my opinion), with that 'orangy-red' colour of the plastics and matching frame etc. I'm talking about the very early model here, although the later white framed versions are great too by all accounts. Of course, in many ways your CRF 150 is the 'modern equivalent' of these bikes.

Back in the early eighties I had the 'road' biased 'trail' version, the XL185S. I loved that bike! It was probably one of the best trailbikes I ever owned and was so useable, both on and off road. Obviously it was both heavier than the 'pukka' XR and perhaps a little less 'robust' for dirt use, but as an all round fun bike it was the business! It had some really nice off road touches like the 'inboard' mounted front indicators fitted under the 'bars, and 'bendy' rubber ones at the rear. Also, the neat front numberboard/front light and serrated footpegs with removeable rubber covers for road use. I rebulit the top end of the engine and cleaned up the ports a little, as well as renewing the camchain and tensioner blades etc.

Yes, it went really well, until one day it got stolen by some lowlife scum.....When I got it back the police told me it had been used in a robbery...! It had minor crash damage (from the chase with the cops), and the tread blocks on my lovely new Pirelli trials tires had been 'triangulated' on the front from super heavy breaking (caused by fork judder!)...it was pretty well thrashed all in all. So, with that heavy feeling in my heart I set to and put everything right, including replacing the damaged and useless throttle assembly with a Tommaselli 'quick action' type. This turned out to be a great mod, and really seemed to 'pep' up the throttle response a treat. So all was well again for a while....until it was stolen yet again....That was by then two expensive 'security' chains trashed as well by the way, but this time it had gone for good, sadly, never to be seen again.....

Still, I have very fond memories of that little Honda. I've attached a couple of pics after the first rebuild. Sorry they're not great quality, but they are all I have to remember the bike by now (sniff!)

Brian.

[Buzzer]

More XL 185S

I too had an XL185S. It was "V" reg and 9 years old when I bought it. Incredibly, it had less than 1400 miles on the clock and was absolutely immaculate. Both tyres were as new, but the sidewalls were badly perished, so they had to be replaced, along with the battery, before it could be used. A lovely bike, and I rapidly regretted selling it!

[tammyanddaveky]

Beauties guys!!!!

A GEM Brian...and I hope there is a very special place in h e double l for bike bandits!! I am sooo sorry for your loss!

I LOVE THE HONDAS...what is soo amazing on this XR200R is how very similar (as you mentioned) it is to my 05 Honda CRF150F and dads 2007 CRF230F...I guess when ya have a good thing...you stick to it. The frame intriques me most, I love the look...but next to the CRF230F its as tall, but when I sit on the XR200 it compresses down to the ht of my 150 (of course the rear end on the XR200 is soft and the shock lowered)..but seems to have more travel than the newer 2 Hondas....I LOVE THE NICE SOFT SEAT!! Not sure why Honda got rid of that or how nice the bolt on the tank and the bracket on the seat..so the seat slides up off the tank...easy to remove both..

UPDATE ON OUR RESCUED XR200R...I am having a blast..this is my learning bike as far 4 stroke engine. We really thought the carb clean, new spark, and tank flush would clear up the issues...the adjustment on the valves got rid of the knocking (they were beyond loose). The above mentioned fixed the start issue right away...however she ran super lean. I rechecked the carb..bowls full and floats working, cleaned it in ma's ultra sonic cleaner for her hearing aids (with her permission of course..). Still...idled ROUGH and no throttle response...

SOO, I spent 2 hours with heavy duty degreaser (thing hadn't seen a bath in a coons age) and Dawn dishoap. Once dry and crust free....I SAW IT!! AN OIL LEAK FROM THE CDI BOX which, as you know, on that make is a seperate unit at top above the L case....I took it apart...MYMY...the oil seal shot, 1 of 2 springs on the advancer/retarder for the timing shot...I mean came loose and was wrapped up on the spring on the other side...this all caused everything to rub..so the pulse generator (black box of the coil housing) had been worn down...also for this make that air gap between it and the magnetic spinning part preset and not adjustable, end result the CDI base where oil seal goes not smooth and round, ragged and oval...also ALL GASKETS MISSING and o ring shot...I just don't understand folks, POOR GIRL...no maintence really ever done to her.

I also think the mysterious silver stuff in the oil...she was pumped full of NEVER SIEZE...what a CRIME.

THE SADDEST PART...clutch felt like it was slipping..so since down for new CDI unit, I pulled the case.....BRAND NEW CLUTCH! PROBLEM..the brute that replaced it..didn't properly line up the cable pulley on the outside of the case, so as clutch slipped (not sure how it worked!!) the tension pulled the (word??) the x shaped plate over the basket...I think retainer plate, anyway cracked one of the tips right off....a simple $8 part!

Between no timing advance, oil in the CDI and the clutch issues....not sure how she started, ran, and went through all 6 gears when we test rode her....!!

I am taken in by this restoring of older bikes....no feeling like it, I am out in the shop for hours..rain/snow/heat....and LOVE IT...even using the drill with a wire wheel knocking rust off a header pipe, or frame part....I HAVE THE GREEVES TO THANK FOR THAT!!! My hubby is amazed at my drive and how quickly I am learning....MORE SUPPORTIVE OF ME ENROLLING IN A MOTORCYCLE TECH INSTITUTE...I'M GOING TO DO IT!

I can't wait to have the XR200R reborn...love her look and sound...We have decided it is my next bike...nothing like sitting aboard a machine you went through and rebuilt most, if not all, of yourself...or looking at the before and after and knowing you did it!! I still have my "brain farts!" I know when I was testing the spark and recalling what we did during the Greeves restore..I panicked when I only got a spark every other turn...then instantly felt like a fool...of course, its a 4 stroke....

I AM JOINING THE ASSOCIATION ASAP!
I will soon upload more pictures to myspace...I am embarrased, got the XR200 torn apart and on the lift before I took any pictures....but I am going to get some today....I took the bars and exhaust off, figured I could get those painted while awaiting the other parts...then ride her the rest of the season and do the frame and rest of the engine over the winter...come next summer...SHE WILL BE REBORN!!

Dave and I talk often of the XL185..a gem, would love to find one! My heart goes out to you on your loss!

SOOO GOOD to get great feedback here! Most people think Dave and I INSANE!! There has been a great rucous with my dad and our friends over the XR200R..sometimes hostile...people just don't understand the love of the older bikes...they would rather get them somewhat running and just ride them in the ground! Shaking me head!

Have a great one guys, and thanks again!
Tammy

[rarpos7]

My latest acquisition

I have managed to obtain this DB32 Gold Star scrambler.
It does need some tidying up, but will end up a very nice machine.

[John-Boy]

A 'Classic' and very expensive these days. Are you going to keep it on the road or use it for scrambles?
The DB32 was a 350cc and a bit underpowered as it weighed about the same as the 500, I wonder whether it has been converted to a 500?

[druid]

That might be what the US call a scrambler, the UK version is somewhat different.

There's very little difference in power (and weight) between the 350 and the 500. In fact, the 350 engine had more development.

Druid

[John-Boy]

It could be the US version (Catalina) but later models had a central oil tank and a 19 inch front wheel. It does have the curved scrambles exhaust pipe but looks to have a mag/dynamo and lighting instead of the Lucas wader magneto usually fitted to the scramblers.

I expect there are several modifications that have been made over the years.
It would be interesting to know whether it has the scrambles (SCR) gearbox.

I wouldn't mind having it in my garage.

[rarpos7]

I am considering which way to go with this motorcycle.
I am leaning toward keeping the lights on it so I can use it (occasionally) on the road.
We have a very reasonable "classic" registration in Victoria which allows 45 or 90 days use in a year.

It is still fitted with the scrambles gearbox

[druid]

Keep it just as it is and enjoy riding it. Don't worry about the scrambles box it'll be fine on the road, you may want to up the size of the engine sprocket though.

Druid

[Brian Catt]

This is me on my TLR 200, checking routes for a non-bike event in Mid-Wales.

[Peter Rotherham]

Bikes other than (but in common with) Greeves.

This comment by JW in another thread:

"a Francis Barnett Cruiser 89 with 4T engine, these must be a bit rare."

made me think. When The GRA started, and in order to get things going, I joined the reformed British 2-Stroke Club. Many of their members had Francis Barnetts. Most were the older ones, but there were a few 60's models. I also sought out Spares to put into the GRA Spares system for the 100 or so members there were back then. In the greater West Midlands area you would have imagined that there would be no shortage of Villiers 9E or 31 - 37A engines around. However this proved not to be the case ! What I did find was that there were a lot of the 'Badge Engineered' James/FB Bikes around. FB in particular turned up everywhere as rotting, rusty lumps. The feeling then, (82 -84) was that, even in their day (59 - 65) they were poorly built, pressed steel, 'throwaway' bikes with little or no style.
Aimed at the Learner market, they hadn't got the cachet of the Royal Enfield GT, Crusader or Supa 5, BSA's C.15, the AJS/Matchless Singles or even the Tiger Cub. The engine was seen as pedestrian against the Ariel Arrow or Bantam, and so they never were popular. The 'Commuter' brigade, all on 350s (mostly ex WD), thought them too unreliable, and above all, they were 2-stroke. Years of poor 2-stroke engines had lead these commited riders to favour 4-strokes, (OHV if possible).
Thus every waste pit around here had a Green FB in it!

The task facing those clubs dependant upon the Villiers engine was considerable. One time plentiful parts had gone. Horror tales of tons of NOS bits going into skips abounded. Every nook & cranny was searched and a few bits emerged. Competition bits were really in short supply. However things soon got going, and, despite a few hiccups with suppliers and specialists who promised much but delivered little, Villiers spares started to become available. Likewise Greeves Bikes re-emerged from Fields and Barns to be rebuilt and reused. I'm amazed that, even now, 'Barn Finds' are turning up. It shows that the Greeves marque was held in higher esteem than the Ambassador, Excelsior, or those other types around in the Greeves era, which sadly, didn't survive.

Today with the GRA, Nametab, Villiers Services and the other specialists, Greeves ownership is a lot easier than ever. I suspect that FB ownership, as far as Frame parts goes, is not. So John, I reckon your comment is correct!

[Colin Sparrow]

I sold the Connie recently - and it fetched the right sort of money.

With some of the proceeds I bought a little trail bike. Not a classic (yet) but I can't afford (or find) a Ranger and this must be a modern-day equivalent.

And (even better) this one is a four stroke. With electric start (wimp).

BUT, all you experts, what is it?

[Andy Z]

I sold the Connie recently - and it fetched the right sort of money.

With some of the proceeds I bought a little trail bike. Not a classic (yet) but I can't afford (or find) a Ranger and this must be a modern-day equivalent.

And (even better) this one is a four stroke. With electric start (wimp).

BUT, all you experts, what is it?

Hi Colin,

Would that be a Yamaha ST225 Bronco by any chance?
Not many of these in the UK, I don't think!

Cheers,
Andrew