trick BSA

[firko]

 It just goes to show that the monoshock suspension and monocoque frame innovation was around in 1962 ......before the Rickman Metisse and Yamaha. Trick.                                                         
                                                                     
Special crafted in Pudsey [ - near Leeds ] by John Wilkinson in 1962. The 500cc BSA B33 motor is dramatically tilted forward, and the frame is monocoque and has monoshock suspension. John was a fibre glass specialist and created the one piece seat/fuel tank/oil reservoir unit. When he'd finished building the bike he borrowed wife Dorothy's bathroom scales to discover that it weighed - with steel wheels, hubs and cross-braced front forks - only 290lbs. Remarkable. but a very interesting machine.........Eric Miles

[Michael Moore]

I've got the Off Road Review article on that bike here:

http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/specials/GSMonoORR21.pdf

That was a great magazine, it is too bad that Derek Wylde couldn't keep printing it.  Derek has given me permission to use (reasonable amounts of) material from the magazine.

Imagine the uproar if that showed up at a modern VMX.    A documented period bike that is probably illegal to race in many clubs around the world.

cheers,
Michael

[steve234]

Wow, pretty cool build.

[pancho]

Nothing new under the sun!.
 Monoshock- 1929 Phil Irving.
cheers pancho.

[firko]

Nothing new under the sun!.
 Monoshock- 1929 Phil Irving.

Phil Irving was indeed a genius alright Wal but the Vincent rear end had two shocks ....sort of an early version of what Kramer later used.

[GD66]

True. Still cantilever though.

[Michael Moore]

PCV filed for his rear suspension patent in 1927 and Wikipedia shows Irving not leaving Australia until 1931 so the original rear suspension looks to be Vincent's idea without input from Irving.

You can see some of Vincent's patent documents here:

http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/Vincent/

cheers,
Michael

[bazza]

Would one dear ask what class this could race in Australia?

[OverTheHill]

that is incredible Firko, surprised i don't remember seeing it back in the day. Expanded the article right up & is great to read. Thanks--& thanks to Michael Moore for the link. Just a side note--a local guy here built a copy of the 'mono' bsa road racer using a goldy motor in recent years, i've seen an article somewhere.

[firko]

Would one dear ask what class this could race in Australia? 

Mikey..Seeing that it's got a well documented build date if 1962, I reckon it'd slot right into pre 65 with no problems.

PCV filed for his rear suspension patent in 1927 and Wikipedia shows Irving not leaving Australia until 1931 so the original rear suspension looks to be Vincent's idea without input from Irving.

Good detective work, the wrong Phil got the accolades. Irving has more than enough ticks next to his name without getting the rap on PCV's idea .

[GD66]

Just a side note--a local guy here built a copy of the 'mono' bsa road racer using a goldy motor in recent years

[firko]

That Goldy's as cool as penguin piss. I love the cast leading link front end. Anyone got any 'naked' photos of it?

[bazza]

GD66 looks like an old shot from the old pits at pukekohe

[GD66]

Yep, Pukekohe a couple of years ago at one of their classic festivals. An old wizard called Don Lowe is the BSA builder/rider and that's his NSU Sportmax as well : also looks eerily like a Scott in the neighbouring pit.

[OverTheHill]

Actually i know Don very well but haven't seen him for a couple of years but a couple of heart attacks didn't stop him finishing it [& racing it]--hope he's as well can be expacted nowdays. He built [what he called] the smallest bike in the world [at the time--in the early "70's by memory.] Arrived at work with it [Tim Gibbes Motors--Yamaha] buggered if i could handle it but Don rode it perfect. Was so short you had to have the handlebars behind your knees with footrests, i think, as front axle extensions. o then he built the "biggest bike in the world [at that time!!] using a VW motor & box, built as a sidecar outfit & needed a ladder to climb on. Then to top that off he built a "Mono Wheel" bike [is it a bike]. Used a hay rake rim & tyre & initially borrowed my electric start Pushrod Honda 50 motor to get it going, eventually getting an early suzuki 50 [MA50 motor i think], sitting inside the wheel of course & he could ride it perfect. Bought it here when he returned my Honda motor & sent me down the road--once again i couldn't handle it & poor Don ran beside pretty much holding me up & pointing me straight for most of it. Definitely a legend around here is Don.--must have some pics of all that somewhere. Goldy might have been de-stroked to 250 as well, can't remember now. That'd be his NSU [what'd y call them] manx or max!!.