Can you fix it or are you helpless?

[Ixion]

Noone carries tool kit any more. I usually have a small tool kit with me, but I cannot be expected to provide for the perverted bolt sizes of yank bikes.

And nowadays there are so many Eytalian bikes on the roads. And noone but a masochist could be expectd to sort out their electrical problems.

It was much simpler when everybody rode sensible bikes with proper nuts and bolts and electrics that were easy to understand (they may not have *worked* but they were easy to understand) . And most parts from anything fitted anything else.

Moreover, back in the day, helping a stranded fellow biker usually required no more than keeping ones eyes open while riding. Then when you pulled up behind the stranded fellow and he lamented "My rear wheel has fallen off somewhere", you could reply "Oh yes, I spotted it five miles back down the road and picked it up. Here it is". And someone else, of course, would return the favour when your frame fell off two miles further on. And since all maintenance and repairs on Briddish bikes could be done using nothing but the BLOODY BIG HAMMER, one could usually improvise by the roadside with the BLOODY BIG LUMP OF ROCK.

[Conquiztador]

Noone carries tool kit any more. I usually have a small tool kit with me, but I cannot be expected to provide for the perverted bolt sizes of yank bikes.

And nowadays there are so many Eytalian bikes on the roads. And noone but a masochist could be expectd to sort out their electrical problems.

It was much simpler when everybody rode sensible bikes with proper nuts and bolts and electrics that were easy to understand (they may not have *worked* but they were easy to understand) . And most parts from anything fitted anything else.

Moreover, back in the day, helping a stranded fellow biker usually required no more than keeping ones eyes open while riding. Then when you pulled up behind the stranded fellow and he lamented "My rear wheel has fallen off somewhere", you could reply "Oh yes, I spotted it five miles back down the road and picked it up. Here it is". And someone else, of course, would return the favour when your frame fell off two miles further on. And since all maintenance and repairs on Briddish bikes could be done using nothing but the BLOODY BIG HAMMER, one could usually improvise by the roadside with the BLOODY BIG LUMP OF ROCK.

So I take that you recon things have changed too...

[ducatilover]

when your frame fell off.

was it really like that?

[Ixion]

was it really like that?

Of course. Back then a group ride had no need of pointers at the corners. One simply follwed the oil trail and the trail of fallen off bits.

At the next stop, the collected parts were pooled and sorted. "I've got what looks like a B series BSA silencer? " " Oh, that'll be mine I thought the last few miles were a bit loud. Anyone seen the header pipe?" "Good oh. Anyone got a spare crankshaft, mine seems to have broken. " "Oh yes, I always carry a spare, it's not actually for your model, or make for that matter, but if we grind a bit off on this convenient rock, it'll be just like a new one. Should only take a few hors, lets get the engine out now".

A successful ride was defined as getting home with more than 50% of the bike that you started out with.

[hmmmnz]

i think i was kind of lucky growing up, my old man was a bit of an odd ball and when we'd go and stay with him during the school holidays, he'd make me pull apart something and rebuild it if i could, i wasn't allowed to go and play with my mates until i had done 2 hours of tinkering, that said i stripped down a lawn mower down to individual bolts and rebuilt it when i was 9,
didnt like it at the time, i would have much rather have been smashing bottles with my mates, but now, fixing things is a real source of enjoyment, and it means i can head to the garage instead to speaking to the girlfriend
always a bonus

[ducatilover]

Of course. Back then a group ride had no need of pointers at the corners. One simply follwed the oil trail and the trail of fallen off bits.

At the next stop, the collected parts were pooled and sorted. "I've got what looks like a B series BSA silencer? " " Oh, that'll be mine I thought the last few miles were a bit loud. Anyone seen the header pipe?" "Good oh. Anyone got a spare crankshaft, mine seems to have broken. " "Oh yes, I always carry a spare, it's not actually for your model, or make for that matter, but if we grind a bit off on this convenient rock, it'll be just like a new one. Should only take a few hors, lets get the engine out now".

A successful ride was defined as getting home with more than 50% of the bike that you started out with.

that sounds like a good time to me! let me guess xs750s never got home? everything vbrated loose and the rider went numb and died?

[Ixion]

that sounds like a good time to me! let me guess xs750s never got home? everything vbrated loose and the rider went numb and died?

The XS750 had not been invented. In fact Japan had not been invented. When the XS750 did come out, one of its principal selling points was its smoothness and reliability. I am not kidding. If you think an XS750 vibrates you have never ridden an early Norton twin. The rider did not so much go numb and die as be vibrated apart into a vaguely biker shaped mist.

Somewhat smoother machines did not actually shake the rider apart, they would shake him DOWN , like a vibrating compacter. Which is why all old bikers are short. Mr Motu, f'instance used to be 6 foot 2 inch until he made the mistake of going for a hard ride on a Norton.

[sondela]

I always give it a go at fixing stuff, not too bad at it either!! I know basically which bits go where..

[Conquiztador]

Of course. Back then a group ride had no need of pointers at the corners. One simply follwed the oil trail and the trail of fallen off bits.

At the next stop, the collected parts were pooled and sorted. "I've got what looks like a B series BSA silencer? " " Oh, that'll be mine I thought the last few miles were a bit loud. Anyone seen the header pipe?" "Good oh. Anyone got a spare crankshaft, mine seems to have broken. " "Oh yes, I always carry a spare, it's not actually for your model, or make for that matter, but if we grind a bit off on this convenient rock, it'll be just like a new one. Should only take a few hors, lets get the engine out now".

A successful ride was defined as getting home with more than 50% of the bike that you started out with.

Yes, I do remember those days. We always carried a box of spare engines. Just in case...

[SARGE]

It was much simpler when everybody rode sensible bikes with proper nuts and bolts ....

yea.. those Whitworth thingy's were the SHIT!!

i remember a time when you could fix any vehicle on the road with a pair of vise Grips, 2 screwdrivers and a ball peen hammer..


im the only one who touches the Stable

[ducatilover]

The XS750 had not been invented. In fact Japan had not been invented. When the XS750 did come out, one of its principal selling points was its smoothness and reliability. I am not kidding. If you think an XS750 vibrates you have never ridden an early Norton twin. The rider did not so much go numb and die as be vibrated apart into a vaguely biker shaped mist.

Somewhat smoother machines did not actually shake the rider apart, they would shake him DOWN , like a vibrating compacter. Which is why all old bikers are short. Mr Motu, f'instance used to be 6 foot 2 inch until he made the mistake of going for a hard ride on a Norton.

theres alot of logic behind that.
my old man says his xs750 was horrible im assuming he never rode a real brit bike

[Mystic13]

yep, I'm always the give it a go ripping it to pieces person. But it's not limited to bikes. I have a go at anything.... except adjusting garage doors. I had one of those springs on a roller door go once and I realised somethings shouldn't be touched.

My son is 9 and rides. We've just bought / found him another bike that is barely going. His mission is to strip it down and rebuild it. He's keen to give it a go.

Luckily he's like me and my dad. We just like pulling things apart to see how they work. Pulling apart is becoming a lost art.

I was just at a warehouse where returned trolley jacks under warranty are just thrown in the bin and collected for recycling. A full bin of trolley jacks. I just wanted to pay them the scrap price for them and take them home.

Needles to say I'm also a hoarder.

Kids today don't get the opportunity to pull things apart. But when i was a kid we didn't have much in the way of entertainment.

Video games and computers (and TV's) really steal a lot of time in our lives.

[Ixion]

yea.. those Whitworth thingy's were the SHIT!!

i remember a time when you could fix any vehicle on the road with a pair of vise Grips, 2 screwdrivers and a ball peen hammer..


im the only one who touches the Stable

Whitworth ? Sheer luxury. Whitworth nuts and bolts could be had at any roadside garage. Real bikers had to grapple with CEI.

Speaking of which, you were going to see if Sulco did CEI taps and dies? I have found almost almy Whitworth spanners, but I need CEI taps and dies.
Why did you need a second screwdriver?

[mnkyboy]

It's called "progress"

We have progressed from being a society of general tinkers to being specialised snooty wankers. If it ain't............................(insert inane career) I have NFI.

I'm not that old but remember with delight being able to fix my cub 90 and austin allegro (even if it wasn't broke) with some common sense. No need for specialised tools - just a socket/spanner set, flat tip screwdriver and hammer (and of course vise grips)

I'm not saying that advancement is bad. I certainly wouldn't want a Manx as my commuter. But usually if it isn't our field of expertise most become shortland st actors and melodrama ensues.

[Conquiztador]

The XS750 had not been invented. In fact Japan had not been invented. When the XS750 did come out, one of its principal selling points was its smoothness and reliability. I am not kidding. If you think an XS750 vibrates you have never ridden an early Norton twin. The rider did not so much go numb and die as be vibrated apart into a vaguely biker shaped mist.

Somewhat smoother machines did not actually shake the rider apart, they would shake him DOWN , like a vibrating compacter. Which is why all old bikers are short. Mr Motu, f'instance used to be 6 foot 2 inch until he made the mistake of going for a hard ride on a Norton.

I start by saying I respect you highly.

But this opinion of yours is crap.

I have had RE's (the real ones from the 60's), Triumphs, Nortons and BSA's. To state that "The rider did not so much go numb and die as be vibrated apart into a vaguely biker shaped mist" is a crime.

Yes, todays bikes are different, all are scooterlike and make no noise or pollute. Yeah fuckin ha.

I rode around Europe on a Trumphy. I rode for 3 years on my RE and I rode motocross on a BSA. Not once did I loose the feeling in my hands and my cock still gets hard w/o Viagra.

I do realise that you are trying to be funny (and often I do laugh at you comments, as you do have talent) but to grab points from the younger brigade by slagging the bikes of the past is like pissing on your granbdfathers grave.

I was there. Todays bikes are better. But those old girls were not that bad.