Project bike recommendations...

[Ixion]

Hmm Eds design had shaft driven over head cam parrallel twin engines, well I never. You do learn something new every day......................
Now the 5T Speed Twin was produced about 1937 wasn't it?
Val Page designed the 1933 model 6/1- 25bhp, four-speed 650 vertical twin. Ed was at Arial in 1933.

Eet ees true. Turner came to Triumph when the car and bike divisions split up. He was from Ariel where he designed the Squariel.

Page's 650 was a more advanced design - helical drive primary (oh, the irony) and so that the traditional Briddish direct drive gearbox could be used, the motor ran backwards.

But they put it in a hugely heavy frame for lugging sidecars, so performance was pitiful.

The speed twin was nothing special technically, but the factory claimed 90mph. Which was a lie, but close enogh that buyers were impressed . And bought.

[Bonez]

The speed twin was nothing special technically, but the factory claimed 90mph. Which was a lie, but close enogh that buyers were impressed . And bought.

Of interesting note, Mr Turner made it known that 650cc was the hightest practical capacity for a parrallel twin. With 750s twins only being produced after his death to try and stem the jap invation.

[Ixion]

Well, as far as his design was concerned, I agree with him. The 750 was not as nice as the 650. But the designers at Renfield might have disagreed. And whilst the Norton Atlas was not as nice an engine as the 600, it was no worse than the 650 , IMHO

[Clivoris]

Hey all..

As of late i've been itching to get into the guts of my bike and tinker around etc... (its currently in shop... snapped a bolt... ) anyway this has lead me to decide I want a project bike, as it's not the best idea with my only mode of transport. No timeframe to finish, just alot of learning and tinkering, hopefully with something cool at the end.

I've been wondering what sort of bike to do, i'd like a sports road bike but more specific then that i'm not sure..

Ideally it'd be semi plentiful parts wise (which puts out a cbr250,zxr250 etc i suppose as these are snapped up enough)... I was also thinking RGV250, which could be a bit of fun.. but once again parts i'm not sure.

Seeing as this isn't going to be my road bike for a while I don't really have any need for it to be a 250, but 600 bits seem rather expensive, so I was thinking 400s...

So i'm looking for some opinions on bikes that might fit the bill (i'd like something really quite sporty) so I can start hunting for a frame/rolling chassis/wreck and start getting my hands dirty.

Help appreciated..

I've always been keen on something like a Yamaha SR500 or SRX650. Don't know whether they can be picked up cheep tho. Might just be a matter of keeping an eye on Turners or tardme until something stimulating comes up.