British Bike ads from the 50's

[deeknow]

Have just been loaned a box full of RAF 'Flying Review' magazines from the 50's by a workmate who used to be in the Air-force. Whilst flicking through them started to notice lots of ads for motorbikes, I guess the marketing folks figure anyone crazy enough to fly a plane is also likely have bike-riding tendencies. Attached is a collection of some of the hard-case ads from the mags. If there's enough interest I'll post more as I get through the stack.

Enjoy...

[Ixion]

Yes please, do post more.

If nothing else it will be amusing to watch the safety gear nazis expiring of apoplexy at the sight of someone riding a litre bike without a single piece of Magic Gear. Not even a helmet!

[terbang]

anyone crazy enough to fly a plane is also likely have bike-riding tendencies.
Enjoy...

Uh yeah, so whats changed..?

[terbang]

Hey thats where scumdog got his helmet from..!

[klingon]

ooh yes, more please!

My Dear Old Dad used to ride motorbikes in the '40s then he got sensible and bought a tiger-moth (biplane) instead. Same effect of wind in your hair I suppose.

He did have safety gear - I think he still has his old goggles and a kind of leather helmet stuffed with kapok. And a leather jacket and some nice soft leather gloves and a scarf. Must see if I can dig out some old pics and post them here.

[Goblin]

Oh I love the last one! Velocette...Built for comfort...and for speed!
These are cool!

[xwhatsit]

What on earth is a James Captain 200? Never heard of it in my life!

Yeah, keep posting them up -- very cool. I've pillioned on a Bantam and I wouldn't've said it had `lively performance on the open road'

[Ixion]

Oh I love the last one! Velocette...Built for comfort...and for speed!
These are cool!

Well, I found mine very comfortable. And it would hold a steady 90 miles per hour (miles, not km) all day long, so it terms of time from A to B it was actually pretty good.

And a James Captain, is, uh a James. The Captain model.Villiers 200cc engine, typical mid 50s Briddish two stroke. The 150 was the Cadet,the 250 (I think) the Commodore. Not a bad machine, typical Villiers .

James was a well respected marque, made some biggish four strokes in the 30s, but after the War (the recent one) they stuck to two strokes.

[Ixion]

Well, I found mine very comfortable. And it would hold a steady 90 miles per hour (miles, not km) all day long, so it terms of time from A to B it was actually pretty good.

And a James Captain, is, uh a James. The Captain model.Villiers 200cc engine, typical mid 50s Briddish two stroke. The 150 was the Cadet,the 250 (I think) the Commodore. Not a bad machine, typical Villiers .

James was a well respected marque, made some biggish four strokes in the 30s, but after the War (the recent one) they stuck to two strokes.

Incidentally Velocette STILL hold the world 24 hour record. 24 hours at an AVERAGE speed of over 100mph (mph, not kph). Non stop. For 24 hours. On a standard Venom Clubmans.

[Jantar]

Hey thats where scumdog got his helmet from..!

Shhh, don't tell evryone. Most people believe its home made.

[riffer]

No they don't. It's held by an RF900. With 143mph average speed. On a standard RF900. That's substantially faster.

Incidentally Velocette STILL hold the world 24 hour record. 24 hours at an AVERAGE speed of over 100mph (mph, not kph). Non stop. For 24 hours. On a standard Venom Clubmans.

[Ixion]

I stand corrected.

[Pwalo]

Ahh Royal Enfield, still my dear old Dad's preferred bike.

[deeknow]

OK, here's some more. The BSA one is there for the safety-conscious folks, check out the way the rider has his helmet hooked over his fore-arm. And while we're on the non-PC line I thought I'd include the Players add, I'm sure a cigarrete is just what you need when you've climbed to the top of an alpine mountain (and discovered there's a hot chick waiting there at the top)

[Motu]

Ah,the Dandy.....I rode one once,before I knew how to ride.It didn't help my co-ordination in that it had a sort of pre-select 2 speed gearbox.The Squaff,second only to Vincent in the Wow! factor....1000cc and 4 cyl,the stuff of legends.

Hey,just as I wrote this two Vincents just rode past my door!