Jonesy does it again.

[firko]

I know that I refer to Alan Jones quite a bit on this forum and that's because 1: he's one of my best mates and a good bloke 2: he has a bike and memorabilia collection second to none. He posess a sense of VMX enthusiasm that that anybody who comes into contact with him can't help but be swept up in. He's just as enthusiastic about our proposed dunger 100cc class as he is about his impending works Monark GP bike.

Alan has a soft spot for Rickman Metisse and Weslake products. He has two Metisses, Black Betty and Ugly Betty and a shitload of Weslake products ranging from a number of Wessy speedway bikes, a Weslake Nourish 850 flat tracker, a similar engined Rickman road racer, a Weslake 1000 v twin engined road racer, a Gurney Weslake 302 Ford engine destined for his '69 Mustang and lots more. The holy grail to him has long been the combination of both Weslake and Rickman motocrossers, the 490cc BSA/Weslake Mk IV Metisse. The search ended this morning when he bought one on eBay and he's as excited as a kid getting his first bike. He hasn't a clue what he's going to do with it but at least it's gone to a good home. I wonder where he's going to put it, the shed's pretty full already.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D330243216332%26fvi%3D1&item=330243216332

[husky61]

Nicccccccccce Jonesy

[Hoony]

G'day Firko,  any chance of more info on that Weslake engine? are they the siimilar to MK4 Speedway engine (except crankshaft drive is on the RHS where a speedway engine is LHS) ?

[jimg1au]

hoony
what it is a b50mx bsa bottom end with a weslake head and barrel made to suit the bsa motor.i have seen a few for sale while looking world wide for speedway parts.they are not the same as my weslake motors.
ps
anyone got upright speedway engine plates you want to sell.
cheers
jim

[firko]

Jims pretty close. The engine is actually based on the B44 but is fitted with a Weslake designed stroker crank which pumps it out to 490cc. The head is a 2 valve design that differs quite a bit from the Weslake speedway head. It wasn't the most succesful of Harry Weslakes designs but he later made up for it with the 4 valve speedway engine and the 8 valve Triumph head. Because they weren't that good, they only made a few of the B44 conversions. By 1968 the 2 stroke was the king of the hill and the MK4 4 strokes were gradually phased out in favour of the new Rickman Montesa 250 and 125 Zundapp Micro Metisse model. 

Here's a Cheney Weslake for sale for 12k here in OZ at http://www.classicstyle.com.au/

[Hoony]

ok now that makes sense, what year are we looking at here mid - late 60's ?

[firko]

1967 Alan. I don't know how true it is but I read somewhere that the combustion chamber and straight up valve angle and all of the specs are based on the head Weslake designed for the Ford Zephyr in the early sixties. Apparently that head is the holy grail for six cylinder Ford Zephyr freaks but the design didn't translate over to a single cylinder motorcycle engine.

[wayne]

Hi Mark, please congratulate your pal Jonesy on his purchase of the Weslake Metisse.  He just pipped me by $55.00.  I guess his nerve stayed stronger than mine waiting for the last second bid.  Please tell him well done.  I'm borrowing a Weslake Metisse from a pal at the moment but he won't sell it to me so when I saw that one come up I thought I had a good chance.  I'm ok 'cos I've still got the borrowed one.  It just means I won't be in a hurry to give it back.  All the best.  Wayne Clarke. Perth.

[Freakshow]

There are still a few metisse around the country.  I know of at least 4 in SA and tony c and a few other had some at tassie, i guess your after a certain donk in it or can you  just change out the engine to plates ?   

I Saw a YAm DT1 Rickman Metisse not long ago and it was original  kit so they definately got into the JAp 2 stroke stuff in 69' as well.  actually the Dt1 made the thing look a bit more normal ,shape wise i thought.

The Classic style bike looks a better bike anyway , give that a go.   

[mx250]

Hi Mark, please congratulate your pal Jonesy on his purchase of the Weslake Metisse.  He just pipped me by $55.00.  I guess his nerve stayed stronger than mine waiting for the last second bid.  Please tell him well done.  I'm borrowing a Weslake Metisse from a pal at the moment but he won't sell it to me so when I saw that one come up I thought I had a good chance.  I'm ok 'cos I've still got the borrowed one.  It just means I won't be in a hurry to give it back.  All the best.  Wayne Clarke. Perth.

Don't cry too much Wayne, ya got a better looking bike right there at Classic Style. And at $12,000 it about the same money as one from the States landed - and thats before ya start the haggling .

[bazza]

Theres no doubt about Jonesy a true kevlar as i told Al "its all about style"
Baz

[firko]

Jonesy's on a bit of a roll. Here it is only Monday and he's just picked up the below Sprite/American Eagle/Alron/BVM frame on eBay FOR $97. The crook thing is that I was bidding against him without knowing it. This may just end up as an Alron project between the two of us.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230261134297&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013

[mx250]

Jonesy's on a bit of a roll. Here it is only Monday and he's just picked up the below Sprite/American Eagle/Alron/BVM frame on eBay FOR $97. The crook thing is that I was bidding against him without knowing it. This may just end up as an Alron project between the two of us.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230261134297&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013

You are getting involved in some interesting and unique projects Firko . The KKK Kompond will be bursting at the seams

[firko]

Graeme...We're grabbing this stuff while it's cheap. Aftermarket kit frames are my (and Alans) particulat field of interest these days so when a good'un comes up we often find we're both going for them. This one will get a 250 Kawasaki engine.

[firko]

Alans latest toy, a $300 405 American Eagle has landed. This is his first 2 stroke in twenty years and he just bought a spare engine on eBay today for around  $30. These bikes have a very close DNA to the Alron and can often be bought for the price of a carton of piss. Sometimes it's fun to look outside the circle.