Moto Guzzi Museum trip

5 Sep

           

For those who are interested, or wanting to know a bit about Moto Guzzis, I’m planning a visit to the largest collection of the make available. This is a private collection by Teo Lamers in Yea, Victoria.
There are 3 floors of machines from inception to 1990, a total of 215 motorcycles. This visit will be held on the 27th October 2024. Those who would like to register to join us, and gain access, on a group visit. Text Martin 0413 058 600 for more info.

Vale, Charlie Brown

28 Aug

We have received the sad news that Charlie Brown has passed away. Charlie has been a member of the club since 1974, 50 years this year. He was also Treasurer between 2010-2014.

Details and arrangements for the funeral have yet to be announced, watch this space.

He also wrote articles for the Courier back in the day – here’s an example of some of his prose:

My Motorcycling Days Part 9 Charlie Brown

My forte is road riding and touring, although I enjoyed the dirt riding on a suitable bike, so when I came upon an ad for 1968 Velocette Thruxton in original condition for $650, registered I hurriedly visited my bank (I was a bit more affluent by now). Unfortunately, the owner wasn’t home when I called, but his wife said he was disappointed at the two previous callers who thought he wanted too much for an old-fashioned bike!! I said I’d call again to buy at the weekend after having a good look. I noted the big G.P. carb and competition magneto, if those previous callers only knew that a bike similar to this ‘old-fashioned one’ had won the 500cc class of the production TT and placed 2nd overall to a 650 Thruxton Bonneville in 1966, both clocking over 150mph on Sulby Straight!

That cunning brain of mine went to work again. I put $600 in my wallet and the other $50 in my hip pocket before I called again. I learned that he was a ‘swinger’ for one of the sidecar racing boys and they need money to update their old Triumph outfit. he said he bought the Velo new from Burling and Simmonds in order to burn around and thrash his mates. he obviously knew the potential of a Thruxton and said Bonnies and GT Falcons were no match, but he couldn’t take a 750 four. I let him know I couldn’t raise more that- $600 which he reluctantly accepted after he had shown me the starting technique and how well the bike ran.

The ride home was quite exhilarating, it seemed like an incredible speed at so little revs. My wrists when I reached home and on closer inspection, I noticed the clip-ons were in reverse, giving an unnatural upsweep and with the steering stop filled right back they cleared the top of the tank, giving a better turning circle. It was then I also noticed the slight bend in both fork legs, as if the previous owner had hit a brick wall. I soon got the opportunity to right all the faults I has discovered and I kept my promise allowing Stan Edwards a ride.

I expected his ride to take about 10 minutes but when he didn’t return after about half an hour, I went out in the Mini to find him. He wasn’t far from home, all puffed out and pushing the bike. “It just stopped!”. He couldn’t restart it, even the kick-starter wouldn’t turn it over. I couldn’t believe it had seized and started to remove the tank to get at the motor, but when I reached under the seat for the 30 X 12 inch rag I kept there it had gone. Fearing the impossible I lifted the carburettor slide and spied a wisp of rag deep down the inlet tract. Removing the head revealed all the rag packed tightly into the combustion chamber with a leading and trailing end in the inlet and exhaust ports. There was not enough room for the piston to reach top dead centre. The cartoon of the little man being sucked down the carb bell mouth of a Thruxton ‘Fishtail’ now had some bearing.

Luckily, the engine damage was minimal, with only a bent exhaust valve and pushrods. I took this opportunity to have the forks straightened with new seals fitted. Besides replacing the valve and pushrods, I checked the rest of the motor for wear and only fitted new piston rings. The clip-on handle bars were refitted the right way with a new steering stop to prevent the bars hitting the tank. I also discovered it had a non-standard 19 tooth countershaft sprocket fitted, no wonder the previous owner burnt off Bonnevilles, I fitted the standard 21 tooth which made its legs even longer.

With the bike running sweetly again I was the envy of the towns biker bods and was often engaged in conversation with reminiscing old-timers. Imagine me restarting the Velo in the main street after a shopping stint; the distinctive ‘single’ thump attracting all ears and then all heads turn for the first gear only acceleration for the whole 100 yards of the street. The gearing was incredibly high, I could only use first and second gear for legal about town speeds, in fact I only changed into top above 70mph. This feature proved quite amusing when riding home from work with Johnny Guillam. He was on a Tiger 100SS and feeling quite pleased with his machine as he thought we were both in top at 70mph until he heard me change up!

Since acquiring the Velo I made a few very good friends, notably Bernie Spencer, who owned a rarely used Venom. It was in Bernie’s ‘Green Horror’ that I saw the Southern Cross Rally advertised. Johnny Guillam was also interested, so we entered our bikes and started out early one Friday morning to make Melbourne that night. I was disappointed in John’s bike or was it his riding? He wouldn’t cruise higher than 70-75mph and insisted on long and frequent stops to rest his aching bum and torture his lungs with tobacco smoke.

We left Melbourne next day in pouring rain which came bucketing down near Ballarat, so we stopped under a shop awing to gain respite (and for John to have a fag). Through the waterfall we could see a little figure on a motorbike approaching, at the sight of us the rider pulled in and dismounted- only just, as her feet barely touched the ground. We soon introduced ourselves and got chatting. Her name was Barbara and we have always referred to her a ‘Ballarat Barbara’, so I have forgotten her surname. We were then joined by another rider on his way to the Southern Cross on a 750 Four K1. Barbara, however was on her way back to Ballarat on her 350 Honda she called ‘Honny’ after attending lectures in Melbourne. When we mentioned our intentions of looking for a hotel in Ballarat to avoid the incessant rain, she quickly offered the use of her flat as she was working at the Ballarat Hospital that night.

We set off together for the 10 miles to Barbie’s flat. In conversing we learnt that the boys from the Ballarat Rovers MCC were very good to her when she was hospitalized as a result of being knocked off her bike by a motorist. They even looked after and paid for her flat. Consequently she had a lot of time for motorcyclists.

The next day was thankfully dry and after hot shower, a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast we were more than ready to reach the rally site that day. After our goodbyes and thankyous when Barbara returned from work, we set off at a pretty pace, as the Honda rider did not hang about. At our first stop at Horsham we had to wait a fair while for John to catch up. When we set off after lunch it wasn’t long before John disappeared from rear vision mirrors, but we two pressed on regardless maintaining 85-90mph. At the next fuel stop the Melbourne lad suggested we carry on and wait for John at the rally site. This time we wound it up, holding 95-100mph I was amazed how well the Thruxton handled at speed, at 95 the rearview mirrors were stock steady and the exhaust sounded like a very fast Triumph twin tick over. The Honda rider was even more shattered by the Velo performance saying it was far better than his previous bike a Bonneville. We reached the rally about three or four hours later. John rolled into the camp and I suffered some abuse, John reckoned he couldn’t even stop for a smoke while trying to catch up.

This was my first Australian Rally and I wasn’t disappointed. Not as large as the Dragon but the same type of fellas and some interesting machines. That was when I saw the ‘Another Triumph for Harley Davidson’ special, a Harley in a Triumph frame. I also saw a Velo in a Norton frame. The Thruxton came in for its fair share of ogling, especially as it was very standard and the unbelievable but true ravings of the Honda rider about the Velo’s performance.

John and I returned to Nowra via the Sturt Highway through Mildura, Wagg Wagga, and Gouldburn. We spent the night at the side of the road with a piece of canvas tied from the bushes to our bikes. I stayed at John’s pace as I felt guilty at not waiting for him the last time. The only excitement came when I tired of waiting while one semi trying to overtake another. As they were taking so long and had left such a big gap between them, I changed down and blasted past them down the middle of the road. I was only disappointed that John couldn’t follow.

VELOCETTE THRUXTON PERFORMANCE DATA

 

 

 

Weekend Ride 28th July 2024

29 Jul

On a cold but mostly clear Sunday with Tony Mitchell, the leader and nine followers rode up Greenhill Rd, to Balhanah, turning right and then left onto Mappinga Rd, then winding our way avoiding Woodside and Oakbank, to the Nairne Rd, turning onto Military Rd, through Brukunga, to Nairne, for our morning stop at the Little Birdy Bakery. We sat outside absorbing the sunshine and sorted many  of the worlds problems, with particular attention to the short comings of electric vehicles and the pros and cons of various makes of helmets.

After the break Tony, lead us up the Old Princes Hwy, left at the roundabout onto Bald Hills Rd, under the Freeway, through the suburbs of Mt Barker, through Flaxley, Macclesfield and Strathalbyn, onto the Goolwa Rd, which we followed till the Finniss turnoff, riding straight through Finniss and Clayton to Milang, where we stopped for lunch at the Railway Museum Cafe. Some of the riders had not been to the Museum Cafe before and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and friendly, but perhaps not professional service, it was none the less a very pleasant experience, our group had a carriage to themselves so conversation was easy and relaxed. We spent nearly an hour there before mounting our bikes again.

We took the shortest way home going through Strathalbyn and Meadows, where we stopped briefly before going our separate ways home. It was a particularly enjoyable ride with roads to suite all tastes, some twisty and some straight and fast enough to be interesting. Thanks to Tony for leading and sharing his amazing knowledge of our roads, thanks also to Martin Blindell, for riding tail end for the entire ride.

Next Ride: Wednesday 7th August weekday ride meeting at Hawthorn Crescent.
More information on rides are posted on the COMCC website.


Allan Vaisham, Club Captain
Honda CB500T

Midweek Ride Wednesday 16th July

19 Jul

     Five riders tuned up for the second midweek ride of the month, not entirely surprising it was
cold with a little drizzle and all the roads we travelled on were wet. Your reporter lead the group up Greenhill, for Williamstown, our planed morning stop. We turned left at the top of the hill onto Ridge Rd. A short way along Ridge Rd, a 1975 model Honda 500T, misfired a few times and stopped dead, the other riders pulled over and waited patiently while the owner did some quick trouble shooting and eventually finding the kill switch at fault. The only way to get going again was to hot wire the ignition, this done we set out again, via Marble Hill Rd, Montacute Rd, Corkscrew Rd and Gorge Rd, finding it a bit late for Williamstown, we thought Cudlee Creek a better bet, but the Cafe was closed, so we proceeded to Gumeracha, where we enjoyed a long coffee break reminiscing on how we started riding and our first bikes.


 

     By the time we were ready to brave the cold it was almost lunch time, we discussed remaining where we were for lunch, but decided that was too decedent. One rider set out for home the remaining four set out for Lobethal 10 Km on and had lunch in the Bakery. After a pleasant lunch we decided it was time to go home and warm up. We rode through Woodside and after that riders dropped out when convenient for their ride home.

      The weather was a little unpleasant, but good company made it a pleasant experience.


Next Ride: Sunday 28th July.
Allan Vaisham
Honda CB500T

For Sale : Garage Sale

19 Jul

7 @ GL1000 Very good to wrecks + New and Used spare parts 2 @ GL1000 Good and Wreck Accessories + some new spare parts 2 GL1200 Good and Wreck Accessories + a few spares GL1500  Accessories + new and  … Read More »

For Sale : 1975 BMW R90S

8 Jul

     

 

1975 BMW R90S 54116km, good condition, Krauser Classic Panniers, original toolkit and pump, regular service history, new paint, many parts replaced or reconditioned since 2007.

Engine recondition 10000km ago including Siebenrock power kit (new nikasil barrels, pistons and s/steel push rod tubes), head recon with lead free valves, timing chain, electronic ignition and new BMW brake master cylinder. New ignition coils and recent battery and voltage regulator replacement. Just completed tappet adjustment and carburettor tune by Bike Factory.

TIE943 on club registration. $22,000

Detlev 0437918221

Vale : Wietse Keunig

4 Jun

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Wietse Keunig. Wietse was a regular midweek rider and invariably was the ride leader on his BMW. His wife Margaret was usually on the pillion seat on these midweek rides.

Wietse was also a member of the V&V and the Velocette Club. He had good collection of bikes, judging by the pile of log books which he presented to the registrars annually at Log Book Day. He is survived by his wife Margaret and brother Frans, who are also members of our club.

Our sincere condolences go to Margaret, Frans and the family. The funeral will be held at Alfred James, 272 South Rd Morphett Vale at 10:30 on Thursday 6th June.

(If anyone has a photo of Wietse, please forward it me at secretary@classicowners.org)

Weekend Ride – Sunday 2nd June 2024

4 Jun

Chris Herren, on his bright yellow BMW 1100, lead us up the hill from Hawthorn Cres, turning right at the top and going round Mt Lofty to Crafers, and crossing the Freeway, we wound our way via Upper Sturt Rd, to Clarendon, then down Baker’s Gully Rd, to McLaren Flat Rd, up Wickhams Hill Rd, and Ridge Rd, to the top of Willunga Hill, where we turned left towards Meadows, then onto Proctor Rd, and Enterprise Rd to Mt Compass, for our morning stop at the Community Bakery. There was indoor seating available, but we chose to sit outdoors in the sun which was comfortably warm.

Goolwa, was chosen for our lunch stop. Tony lead the ride back towards Adelaide, and turned left onto Lanacoona Rd, Pages Flat Rd, Pambula Rd and Victor Harbour Rd, a left turn at the roundabout towards Middleton, and Goolwa. One of our troop failed to notice Tony, turning North, and very sensibly turned South towards Victor Harbour and the Goolwa Rd, arriving in Goolwa well before the others. All were united for lunch at the Goolwa Bakery where again we sat in the sunshine and enjoyed lunch.

After lunch we headed home via Bull Creek Rd and Meadows, where we split up and took our chosen road for home. All the rides that set out from Hawthorn Cres stayed for the entire ride! A very enjoyable, if a little cold, ride. Thanks to Chris, for leading the first half and to Tony, for the
rest.


Next Ride Wednesday 5th June, meet at Hawthorn Cres 9.30 for 10 start.
Allan Vaisham
Honda CB450