Another old fart

**sporty03** · 21st July 2004, 16:49

Yeah Hi,

Just joined in so hopefully I do it right.

Finally got a HD (1200 sports) after years of wondering. It isn't the fastest, or the best handling machine I've ever been on,

but it's fun.
There is something about the look and the sound of it all that suits an almost 50 fella.

Got my kids into dirt bikes before they were of licence age so they could develop skills and reflexes that will be required if they venture onto the road. Got myself a DR 350 to keep up with them, almost.
Grew up building a B31 and a T6 so that is probably where I grew to love big old slow revers.
Anyway, love to read about what others are up to so will hopefully get more involved with the forum.
Anybody know where I can get a custom fuel tank made in NZ? I want something around 20 lt.
Regards

**duckman** · 21st July 2004, 17:03

Welcome Sporty, We disperately need more Harley riders on this site to balance the arguments.
Be prepared to take some flak and make sure you give it back in spades!!

**Motu** · 21st July 2004, 17:23

Originally Posted by sporty03

It isn't the fastest, or the best handling machine I've ever been on,

but it's fun.
Regards

Welcome - some people completely miss the point eh? I grew up with B31s in my blood,I just loved those old things.What started out as a plunger B31 ended up as a 54 Goldflash with M20 motor,just a gradual developement of one bike,a part at a time.

**jrandom** · 21st July 2004, 17:24

Two, as I have pointed out before on this forum, is the Right and Proper number of cylinders for a motorcycle engine.

So, sporty03, you could, by a stretch of an overly-enthusiastic and moderately drunk imagination, be said to be on the right path.

Welcome to the site...

**White trash** · 21st July 2004, 17:26

Welcome Sporty03! We may know some of the same people.

Keep at it with the H-D. Best godamn motorcycle ever built

**jrandom** · 21st July 2004, 17:38

Originally Posted by White trash

Keep at it with the H-D. Best godamn motorcycle ever built

Worst goddamn troll ever posted.

**sporty03** · 21st July 2004, 17:57

Hey all,
Thanks for the welcome.
I guess Harleys are still 'of the old school'. Now I have one the fun really begins. High flow cleaner and bigger jet, 2 into 1 pipes and a bigger custom paint tank. Most of this can be done at home, with a little help from ones friends. Something that seems to be missing with some of the newer high tech crotch rockets. But then, each to their own eh?

**jrandom** · 21st July 2004, 18:02

Originally Posted by sporty03

with a little help from ones friends.

Doooooo you neeeeeed anyboooody...

**sporty03** · 21st July 2004, 19:17

Hey Motu,

A plunger B31 was my first bike. Swapped a surfboard and $25 for it. Found the local bikers to be a nicer bunch than the local seaweeds. Came home in boxes of bits and I had to push the frame. Local guy in Tauranga, Deans cycles was a mine of information and help. One of the sons, Robbie, scambled (pre moto x) a B32. Went well too. Got 2nd in the open hill climb 1970 on a 43 MAC Vello. Real hard case bunch of guys. Robbie now runs Deans cycles Suzuki in Tauranga.
Sold the B31 and got a 61 Thunderbird. Total rebuild, new manifold and twin carbs later, hehe, king of the road man. Life in the simple times.
Cop-ya

**riffer** · 21st July 2004, 20:05

Aargh.

Jesus, what is it with these bloody B31's?

It's bad enough I have to listen to my father go on about his old beeza, now I have to get it here....

Sod it, I'm having another scotch.

Nah seriously, welcome aboard sporty.

Hope you enjoy the ride!

**Firefight** · 21st July 2004, 20:07

Hey Sporty, welcome mate, hope you enjoy the site.

F/F

LB · 22nd July 2004, 05:47

Welcome to the site Sporty03. All bikes are good bikes, though I definitely agree with jrandom re the two cylinder thing!!

Hope it ain't too cold for you down there at the moment - it's bloody freezing here!

I know Robbie (and his brother Peter) from the old days - they used to work on my Norton many years ago. Robbie raced up till a year or so ago. He had a couple of pretty bad accidents, one at Wanganui and one at Taupo. His son was killed in that tragic railway line accident in London - James was a top kid, a real good road racer and a really nice young man.

What's the story with Uptown and McIver and Veitch? I understand the Suzuki dealership's been moved from Uptown to M&V? What franchises has Jules got left? BMW only?

**Motu** · 22nd July 2004, 10:01

Originally Posted by celticno6

Aargh.

Jesus, what is it with these bloody B31's?

They were just magic,that's all.The B31 & B33 were 350 & 500 cast iron workhorses,but their B32 & B34 cousins were all alloy glamerous superstars.Like Triumph twins there was interchangability of parts - I had a couple of sets of Goldstar cams,pistons,we used to grind out the ports to fit bigger carbs,exhausts were changed to suit different cams,pistons and use (scrambles or road race) there were parts lying around in old racers sheds I used to pick up and put on my bikes - I had a room in my house full of BSA single parts,at least a dozen motors.In the 70s while others were buying and riding new bikes I was finding out what chopping 2in off an exhaust would do,finding a carb in a box,fitting it,no...let's see how this one goes then.I enjoyed getting that involved in my bike.

I remember seeing my B31 for the first time - I was 16 and in John Hemplemans workshop,just an out building behind his Onehunga shop,getting the mechanic to pull the flywheel off my Bantam motor,there was this old bike in there and I asked what it was...'that's a B31,do you want to hear it run?' sure! oh,what a thrill that was,the sounds and smells - turn the gas on and tickle to carb till gas splashed out,pull in the clutch and stroke the kickstater through to clear the plates,whir,clack,clack,clack...set the choke to 3/4,set the advance lever to half retrard,turn the motor over to compression,pull in the valve lifter and take the piston over and down,open the throttle 1/8 and then a huge lunge on the kickstart....you could hear the chains,bearings and gears take the strain as this lump of a motor turned over....poof,pop!! a flame and a puff of smoke out the carb,reset some levers,try again and after a few attempts he got it running,adusting those mysterious levers to smooth it out.Oh,what a noise,I was in total awe and knew I just had to have it so I could master the complicated staring proceedure and set this wonderful machine in motion.It took me a long time and a lot of pushing around the neighbourhood till I could master starting a big British single - but in the end I could start my high comp Goldy cammed single with just my hand,when most people couldn't even kick it over.

The poor neglected offspring of the B series were the M20 and M21 500 and 600cc sidevalves,to be able to run one of these was the highlight of my BSA years.