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[w3526602]

Hi Both,

My Sunbeam was built in 1936 (cost me £2 in mid-1950s) I wish I had it now.

600cc (which THEN I was allowed to ride on L-plates and a provisional licence, and no helmet), brass hand gear-lever on the tank, fore and aft cylinders, outside flywheel. I could "kick-start" it by hand, on a frosty morning, and count the revs of the fly-wheel by eye, then spin the back wheel away from the kerb ... or creep along at a walking speed in top-gear. Girder forks, and solid rear suspension. Very long, very low, very heavy.

Mine was a side-valve, but looked similar to the OHV Blue Chief.

602

[samuria]

Hi Both,

My Sunbeam was built in 1936 (cost me £2 in mid-1950s) I wish I had it now.

600cc (which THEN I was allowed to ride on L-plates and a provisional licence, and no helmet), brass hand gear-lever on the tank, fore and aft cylinders, outside flywheel. I could "kick-start" it by hand, on a frosty morning, and count the revs of the fly-wheel by eye, then spin the back wheel away from the kerb ... or creep along at a walking speed in top-gear. Girder forks, and solid rear suspension. Very long, very low, very heavy.

Mine was a side-valve, but looked similar to the OHV Blue Chief.

602

sounds a great bike wish i had one 

[Calum]

Ah yes, another model that suffered from the great wisdom of management in the failing years of the British motorcycle industry. When BSA acquired Sunbeam, they decided to make a gentleman's motorcycle under the brand. The designer realised that for something of that nature, a BMW was as good as it got and proposed something very similar. The management, thinking it looked too German set about making it look less so and changed it from a flat to a parallel twin and removed many of the other features that would have made it a well engineered motorcycle. A bit ironic really as BMW originally took their inspiration from the Douglas flat twin.

Indeed. A 1950 Douglas should be adding itself to our stable in the next few months. Interesting machines!

[samuria]

Indeed. A 1950 Douglas should be adding itself to our stable in the next few months. Interesting machines!
[/quote] you lucky sod 

[w3526602]

Hi,

Doesn't a 1950s Douglas have cylinder's stuck out each side?

My 1936 version had the cylinders laid out fore'n-aft, making a very long bike.

But if you are desperate, and insistent, I will come and take your white elephant away, if you cover my petrol.

602

[Genem]

^^^^ Thats the great thing about being in a Club, people are so helpful. 

[samuria]

calum... is it the mk 4 350cc flat twin 
you will have to post a photo or 2 

[w3526602]

Hi,

When I lived in South Croydon (pre-National Service) a neighbour bought a 1923 Bentley 3-litre Red Label with Gurney Nutting boat-tail 2 seater body. The

Old Biddy next door said "I see we have another old car parked in the road!"

The Bentley owner's brother parked his Brough Superior V-twin, with sidecar, next to the Bentley.

602

[Calum]

calum... is it the mk 4 350cc flat twin 
you will have to post a photo or 2 

Yes indeed a mkIV 350 flat twin, as John correctly says earlier Douglas models were fore and aft twins but this one is transverse (as were the 350, mkV and Dragonfly models). It's my girlfriend who is after it, it was her grandfather's. I've got to build a shed before we get it though. Her Ariel already lives in the living room so there's no room until a new shed is built

[samuria]

sounds good to me..... which model ariel ? square 4 ?

[Calum]

sounds good to me..... which model ariel ? square 4 ?

I wish! It's a 1955 NH350, but it's very nice. I was on the look out for a Square Four project for myself (always wanted one, I'll get one eventually!) but I've recently spent some of the money I had put aside on an 86" Series 1 project so no more project buying for a while for me

[samuria]

I wish! It's a 1955 NH350, but it's very nice. I was on the look out for a Square Four project for myself (always wanted one, I'll get one eventually!) but I've recently spent some of the money I had put aside on an 86" Series 1 project so no more project buying for a while for me

     well we all say that until you see something 

[samuria]

found a photo of my old bike

[w3526602]

found a photo of my old bike

Hi Samurai,

I see that you have those new-fangled heated footrests.

602

[samuria]

found a photo of my old bike

Hi Samurai,

I see that you have those new-fangled heated footrests.

602

nice one 602... i like that