budget bikes?

[firko]

Alison...with due respect, as porky as I am, I reckon I could run a lap of a motocross track faster than that old C10 BSA.
It'd want to come in under 3k. The only thing slower would be the Bantam.
The Greeves is a great old period engine swap bike but it'd take a 6-71 supercharger and Bubba Stewart on board to make it competitive.

[VMX247]

Oh ye of little faith.     
I'm sure you could put something in it with a bit of go and still come in under 4K.
cheers
ps just givin them a piece of string   
To tell the truth I went through the whole list of pre60 bikes on page three of this topic and looked in ebay for them and came up with the above listings in Aust.In other words Sweet F All. 
Sure was wrestling with Rhinos   

[firko]

I'm sure you could put something in it with a bit of go and still come in under 4K.
cheers

Yeah I suppose I could put a 750 Triumph engine in it but I'd hate to be riding it with that plunger rear "suspension".

[BJJ]

The Greeves looks nice  .  See my fathers Greeves  many years back  http://cid-e94d76226545983d.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/VMX/360Greeves%7C_02.jpg

[LWC82PE]

yes bantams and C10's are horribly slow. I once rebuilt a 125 bantam motor a couple years ago for a guy who was way overweight, he was huge, well over 120KG's im sure. I just couldnt believe it when he brought the bike in. And he actually rides it even though he almost swallows it up He actually called the other week about putting a electronic ignition on it so hes still been getting around on it.

[Marc.com]

Marc and Mark, you two read my mind. I was going through my small stash of VMX mag last night looking for this sort of stuff, and found the two Tribsa's in issue no.8. I was going to ask tonight why the Triumph thing hadn't been touted all that much and open the thread to find you two had beaten me to it.

The Triumph thing is that BSA had the best frame and Triumph the best engine..... building a Tribsa is a really good way of entering pre 65 as they are just as iconic of that era as Rickman. Engine plates to make the conversion are available through Unity Equip UK which means it is a basic bolt up (as opposed to welder job)....but of course basic build has differing meanings.

Regarding RM tanks etc, realistically you are sinking (sorry investing) 5-6K into you your Tribsa so it is worth using decent components. I picked up Lyta tank the other day for $200 so period bits are still out there. Other tank choices are B50MX, B50SS which gives you kind of correct looking pop up filler cap.

[jimg1au]

anyone seen a bike called grump.its a greeves mx roller with a all alloy 500cc unit triumph in it.i see them for sale in the states now and then.
cheers
jim

[JC]

Yeh, Ive got an article on one in an old Classic Bike, only they called it a "Grumpy". Must did out the article.

[firko]

Regarding RM tanks etc, realistically you are sinking (sorry investing) 5-6K into you your Tribsa so it is worth using decent components. I picked up Lyta tank the other day for $200 so period bits are still out there. Other tank choices are B50MX, B50SS which gives you kind of correct looking pop up filler cap.

Marc I included the RM tank as a cheap way of getting an alloy tank that "sort of" looks period but I get your point. Those Lyta and BSA tanks you describe are getting up around the $500 mark, especially the BSA GP tanks like on the above Tribsa in my earlier post. I recently picked up an American made fibreglass BSA GP replica tank for $20. The guy was selling it as a Carabela tank but luckily I spotted the mistake and saved myself $100. With alloy tanks it pays to surf eBay. They turn up from time to time for a couple of hundred for one with a few dents right up to 500 and more for pristine examples.

Here are a couple of tanks that recently sold and one (bottom) to keep an eye on. Looking at the prices, the RM option still looks more budget.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220417453300&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:GB:1123
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290318360252&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:MOTORS:1123
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Triumph-1973-TR5T-Alloy-Gas-Fuel-Tank-PROPAY_W0QQitemZ120425933389QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item1c09f1ea4d&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[mainline]

well I'm suffering a little from information overload but it is sinking in. I suppose one of the hurdles in assembling bits and pieces for bikes of this era is prying them out of the hands of restorers who only want them to go other restorers. I've had similar probems getting parts for cars that aren't going to be returned to original condition.

I like the idea of the Tribsa a lot, and after I've done a bit more research I'm going to start looking. Are there any real dogs to avoid in terms of engines or other major parts?

[jimg1au]

dont forget to look on ebay 2 weeks ago a road race tribsa sold for 3950.00 complete.i should have bought it but assumed it would go for way more.there is one for sale in qld for 12000.00 now.its not he same one.

[LWC82PE]

you can get brand new alloy tanks in various styles to suit pre 65 bikes from Speed and Sport in USA or Sammy Miller in UK

http://www.speedandsport.com/flyer.html#tank

http://www.sammymillerproducts.co.uk/iqs/sid.0378695004512712506535/tanks.html


i would NOT stick a jap tank on a british bike

[Marc.com]

Yeah I just picked up pre unit T100 motor and gearbox for the Rickman....given that the frame is original I may as well build the bike to the correct specification. 

Forget the cost you can save money in other less reqarding areas....like your kids education.

[Marc.com]

Marc I included the RM tank as a cheap way of getting an alloy tank that "sort of" looks period but I get your point. Those Lyta and BSA tanks you describe are getting up around the $500 mark, especially the BSA GP tanks like on the above Tribsa in my earlier post.

I guess the point I was making is you can get the real deal if you keep your eyes open, what do they say, don't spoil the ship for ha pennys worth of tar.

I scored Lyta for $200, a couple of good original bits keeps the value of these bikes up.

[Bamford#69]

Hi Alison ,
Is 'The Grand Poohbah of Firkoland " saying a Bantam and C10  would be a Woftam, he is just so negative . I'm suprised he didn't recommend a Royal Enfield, or perhaps a Ural ,  what about a early Jawa two stroke  twin, they are cheap , no no maybe a postie bike they look like pre 65 model,

Ive ridden a Grump, 500 unit Triumph , early leading link Greeves,a really small bike, but a real  rocket.
ps , a unit construcion 750 triumph engine (T140) is not a pre 65 motor ,

If you are pre60 or pre65 inclined, get hold of this book,"British Srambles Motorcycles", the men and their machines, published by Bruce Main Smith, it has copies of actual photos that were used in Magazines and books before 1965 all these photos have the actual date and  track they were taken at , mostly English bikes but the  occasional Euro CZ and Husqa,
cheers