Projects accelerated by COVID-19 restrictions

[Paulrv2]

Sitting around in self imposed isolation has in my case (and probably many others as well) allowed long held aspirations to be fulfilled....

I’ve a collection of old (mainly 50’s) british bikes including two Ariel Colts and have always planned to build a copy of the Trials Colt created by Ariel competition department for Geoff Duke in 1957. Thought has finally turned into action and the build is now well on the way with conversion of the plunger rear suspension to swinging arm almost behind us. That’s probably the biggest single challenge to completion of the project almost done. Attached pics seem to have got out of order but include one of Geoff Duke on the trials Colt plus before and after pics of the Colt frame including alloy rim wheels built for the project.

 

[philw696]

Wow nice little project to be having.
I'm of the generation that went into Japanese bikes starting riding in the mid seventies but the older I get I fancy a play with a British Bike.
Don't know why I haven't done it as I have had old Jaguars and many Minis.
Keep the posts coming.

 

[lozcb]

Superb project Paul , love a bit of brazing, My early teens ,was all about , Bantams, Villiers Greaves , never managed to have an Ariel although our local beat cop plodded round on a Ariel leader , and before that an old velocette , managed once to stick a Matchless 250 in a home made box cart , that was fun
Didn't Ariel do a big bike like a square 4

 

[lifes2short]

nice project and a good way of staying sane in the current situation

 

[Alexpie]

Great project, keep updating would be great to see the finished result ! Wish I had the skills and the kit to do something to that extent. Always interested in bike projects even though I don't ride, as I grew up watching my dad working on bikes and occasionally helping. I rebuilt my first 50cc bike/scooter engine when I was about 11, doubt I could do it now though !!

Everything else with COVID aside, it's been a great time to have a project on the go. I bought a project car back in October and have managed to get things done a lot quicker because of the restrictions and WFH. My lockdown project has been making a hard top for said car ( '85 Porsche 911 Targa) as I wanted something a bit different to the normal targa top and the top that was on the car when I bought it was in an awful state. It's not finished yet, I've just about got it all flat and ready for paint. Hoping to at least get the primer done this weekend. These are some pics from a couple of weeks ago:

 

[2b1ask1]

Yes Loz, my dad bought an Ariel Square 4 new in the 50’s and stuck a sidecar on it! They did it in 600 & 1,000cc dad’s was the latter.

 

[davy83]

you could not have planned this better really. I am jealous, I should have bought some ruined old vehicle and stored it for just such an eventuality. I passed up an old Lea Francis Coventry, some time ago which in hind sight would have been perfect for this lock down. ho hum.

 

[Paulrv2]

Superb project Paul , love a bit of brazing, My early teens ,was all about , Bantams, Villiers Greaves , never managed to have an Ariel although our local beat cop plodded round on a Ariel leader , and before that an old velocette , managed once to stick a Matchless 250 in a home made box cart , that was fun
Didn't Ariel do a big bike like a square 4

Yes, they did and also have some pretty impressive creations in the more recent resurrection with vehicles such as Ariel Atom. The Colt was very much the riddler in the family and is very much a BSA part bin creation - largely made up from BSA C11G, C10L and Bantam bits. Burman gearbox was used as with other Ariel bikes and cylinder barrel piston and head are different to reduce capacity to 200cc from 250cc of the C11G engine it used.

 

[Paulrv2]

you could not have planned this better really. I am jealous, I should have bought some ruined old vehicle and stored it for just such an eventuality. I passed up an old Lea Francis Coventry, some time ago which in hind sight would have been perfect for this lock down. ho hum.

I remember Lea Francis well - I was born and brought up in Coventry and had family members working in the car industry, mostly at Standard Triumph as it was then. There was a connection with Lea Francis as well.

 

[Paulrv2]

Here’s a couple more of my bikes - both have Motorsport history and have been recommissioned to good running order over last three years. Trevor Pound who is referred to in one of the display posters was a good friend who I met through my Motorsport involvement - he unfortunately died recently but had a great life.

 

[BennyD]

Just finished lockdown project number 1; it’s a 1977 Suzuki GS750DB that I’ve owned since 1995. I did a full restoration when I got it but it never ran as well as it should have. I diagnosed low compression and stripped the engine. I sent it to a guy called Ken Brown - son of Skip Brown who used to tune the works Vauxhall’s and Lotus - so he could sort it out in his own time. However, about 10 years later I thought I’ll get it finished and went to see him. The block and head were being used as a door stop and had been for years as he had forgotten who he had got it from! He promised me he would sort it out when he got back from holiday as he was going the next day. He went on one of those adventure holidays where you fly to one airport, ride 1000 miles cross country to another airport and fly home. Unfortunately, he was killed on day 2 in a head-on with a truck on the wrong side of the road. I got my bits back from his estate and put them in the garage where they have been gathering dust since c2012. Now she’s running better than she ever has done; she starts first kick or first push of the button, ticks over evenly at 1000rpm and revs nice and freely. My next project, which I’ve already started, is a 1977 Suzuki GT750A kettle which I’ve owned since 1990 and I’ve got a 1984 Kawasaki GPz 550 Unitrack waiting in the wings.

 

[philw696]

First bike I bought new was a GS 550 E in Saudi Arabia to go with the RM 250 N I had as well.
One for the road and one for the sand.

 

[2b1ask1]

Well done Benny I’ve got Jeanette’s GS650GT C Reg to do at some point.

 

[Geo]

Cracking job Benny, I also love the selection that Paulrv2 has.

 

[zagatoes30]

Excellent, I have a Kawasaki triple to get to one day

 

[Paulrv2]

Cracking job Benny, I also love the selection that Paulrv2 has.

My Colt trials is coming along nicely after a hiccup with the frame modification which resulted in the wheelbase and ground clearance both being approx 2 inches out. That’s sorted now and dry build will be complete in couple of weeks when the new exhaust is fitted. Finished up using the original header pipe but have had a custom silencer made that is same style as original Colt but shorter length. Picture show progress so far other than silencer is now complete with tail pipe. Once that’s done we’ll take the bike apart for powder coating, painting etc and rebuild the front forks which haven’t been touched yet.

 

[BennyD]

Looking good Paul.

 

[Geo]

That’s an excellent project Paul, thanks for the additional photos. I purchased a BSA C15 a couple of weeks ago, it had been restored about seventeen years ago then not used. It won’t take much to get it the way I want, but in the meantime I’m enjoying a bit of life in the slow lane. It’s a great bit of nostalgia, as I passed my test on one back in 1967.

 

[Phil H]

'Projects accelerated by Covid-19 restrictions'

Hmm, how about banks increasing their stranglehold on Joe Public?
Hundreds more cashpoints being closed despite promises to the contrary.
Yet more bank branches being closed despite promises to the contrary.
Further bank redundancies on the horizon.
Banks promoting card payments over cash.
An increasing number of shops refusing cash and demanding card payments.
All in the name of Covid-19 of course.

Coincidentally banks are now gearing up for an end to free banking so every transaction will attract a fee, and with cash being phased out guess who's going to win? And don't forget that when your card gets skimmed or your online account is compromised it will inevitably be your fault!

I'm not fussed though; I've decided to invest the proceeds of my Nigerian lottery win in some fantastic gemstones I've been offered, so I'll be rich enough not to care

PH

 

[BennyD]

That’s an excellent project Paul, thanks for the additional photos. I purchased a BSA C15 a couple of weeks ago, it had been restored about seventeen years ago then not used. It won’t take much to get it the way I want, but in the meantime I’m enjoying a bit of life in the slow lane. It’s a great bit of nostalgia, as I passed my test on one back in 1967.

View attachment 76787

I have one in bits that’s exactly the same as that! It’s THE one I passed my test on in 1978. I made a start on it a couple of years ago and got waylaid with house improvements. Small world!