Triumphrat

1stgarry · 09-07-2007

I've got a "Post Icons" box under the box I type messages in, but I don't think that's the one.
Nothing to the side of the message box :-(

doodledog · 09-07-2007

Nick I would love an old bike, I even enjoy spannering stuff, truth is though for me, the bikes of my youth where Japanese and are expensive to buy and put back in order, I know very little about vintage Brit stuff, my first bike was an old Norton, but I was nine at the time and just rode it for hours round the fields hoping like hell I did not drop it as it was almost impossible to pick it up again, How much does it cost to join the VMMC and what bike should I be looking at to start with, bearing in mind I have very little of both cash and time, I really dont want to look at Bantams and stuff, its got to be big enough for me not to look a tit ON!

TRIUMF3 · 09-07-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stgarry

How do I add emoticons to my message?

If you have this box :-

Click on "More"

If you don't have it, Then you need to go to :-

"User Control Panel" (Second from the Top of the Main Menu)

Then click on "Edit Options"

Then Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, and you will find
"Miscellaneous Options"
In the Miscellaneous Options box, you will find a Drop Down List, the options in this list are:-

Basic Editor
Standard Editor
Enhanced Interface - Full WYSIWYG Editing (What You See Is What You Get)

The WYSIWYG is the one you want to select
that will give you full editing powers including ALL the emoticons

Nickwiz · 09-07-2007

Ok Doodle
The VMCC is about £30 to join for the year. Any bike over 25 years is eligable for most runs so the Jap stuff we both learnt on would do if thats what you know. Or you can go the MZ or JAWA route. Used to be crap but now actualy quite good for Vintage runs. Lots of eastern europeans turn up on em at the International rally we go to.

If you want a Brit bike And its nice to go british though I'm biased, Triumphs, Velocettes and Nortons and the like tend to fetch higher prices. BSAs tend to be cheaper unless your looking at a Goldstar or Rocket Goldie. AJS oe Matchelss are cheaper and the smaller 250 models can be had for less than £1000.

Oddball old commuter bikes like Francis Barnett, James, Velocette LEs can be had for not very much. Tatty runners under £1000. The Francis Barnet 150cc my wife rides was bought for £650 in pretty much the condition you see in the pics. My BSA starfire cost £600 but the main bearing was gone. Tidy running starfires can be had for just over £1000. BSA unit singles make a good starting point. A B30 or B44 might be good and around £1200. If you must have a Triumph go for a later unit 350 they tend to be around the £2000 mark. The T100 I ride is worth £2500-£3000

No British bike is physicaly very big until you get to Norton Commandos, Rocket3s or Tridents and they fetch big money. Even 650 bonnies and Dominators aren't huge. So don't worry too much. Sometimes riding the tiddlers can be fun. In October its the Classic motorcycle mechanics show at Stafford. The October show is mainly japanese and european classics from the 70s and 80s, all VMCC eligable, but the autojumblers will also be there with a few old Brit machines. I bought my Starfire there.

You don't have to have a vintage machine to join the VMCC and their magazine is full of bikes for sale. If you want to get one start looking tell me what you find and I'll try to advise. If you want something British and aren't worried about something flash then an old 2 stroke or BSA single is a good starting point. There isn't much snobbery in the VMCC and to be honest the smaller less desirable machines sometimes attract more interest cos thats what everyone realy rode while they were dreaming of goldies and bonnies. Also less of them survived because they got dumped when they wore out. So for historic interest they are actualy more important than a row of gleaming Triumph Twins.

Hope that helps.

doodledog · 09-08-2007

Thanks Nick, my interest has always been there, and the thought of something to fiddle with in the garage, (other than Mrs DD), has always been there, I think I will take a ride over to the show in Oct and see whats about, and also will maybe start looking on Ebay too, I like the idea of maybe a cub, or some other simple medium capacity.

EnglishWombat · 09-09-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by doodledog

I like the idea of maybe a cub, or some other simple medium capacity.

I was gonna buy a cub....they are cute little bikes...

I ended up with a 3HW, but that's another story.

Nickwiz · 09-09-2007

Cubs are OK but tiddly small! Thats why I went for the BSA.Well that and the fact that generaly BSAs are cheaper. Interestingly it has the same bottom end as the cub actualy. BSA took the cub and bored it out and put the cylinder upright but both bikes share the same heritage. Thing is the Beeza is physicaly a bit bigger than the cub. Important if you are a six footer. Let me know which day you are going.

The 3HW is a lovely bike. Theres a pic of one in my album from this years West Kent run. I think its labled rescued from India.

EnglishWombat · 09-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickwiz

The 3HW is a lovely bike. Theres a pic of one in my album from this years West Kent run. I think its labled rescued from India.

Looks smart that 3HW in your album.... Too smart though IMHO. Dad's is about to get a coat of khaki to get it back to the orginal state. It's going on the VMCC stand at Stafford at the end of October. It was the original paint untill 18 months ago - original to 1944... but it needed the rust killing and so it's in Smoothrite black at the mo. It won't be exactly as 1944, but we are aiming to get it as close as possible.

And that's the 4th one I've seen....
My dad's the one that was at the Triumph Big Day Out, that one.......and mine. Still in boxes, but after the green it's next. My main priority was the 03 America. She's my love and that was that.