As always an interesting selection. Guess you omitted the Manx and the 7R because they are more common knowledge. Just to be mean, how did the Manxman typing error at 0:37 happen?
I assume you are saving the Matchless Silver Hawk and the "Cammy" Square Four for later. I think it was Phil Irving that pointed out that with the technology of the period OHC had little if any advantage over well designed pushrods. The engine speed was limited by the vibration of the big single and the onset of float in the available valve springs. Vincents in particular have an extremely light, positive and compact valve gear. Postwar fuel was poor, there was a demand for easy maintenance and cheapness in the UK and the Empire, and the important US export market had barely graduated from sidevalve to OHV, so a move to pushrod was obvious. The way engines went technically backward after WW2 is rather obvious.
Oooh yeah! Those golden clad single cylinder Matchless M50 bikes are glorious! All that a bike needs and nothing more combined with a truly classic design. Imagine making one of those road legal. One could then run it to the nearest cafe and spend the rest of the day staring at it. 🤤🤤🤤
I had both a G50 and a Manx…not simultaneously, mind you. And both were sort of street-legal (the laws were a bit lax back in the day). I loved them both, but cannot imagine riding either one today (of course, I'm now 86 and starting one of these brutes would not be my idea of entertainment). What is surprising is how long these bikes stayed affordable (if not exactly CHEAP). Now, mind you, the bikes are all museum pieces and priced accordingly and a Manx cylinder head is worth more than my working bike and it's parts brother, combined, were in the day (and the "day" I'm talking about is the 1980s, not something silly)…and that's a BARE cylinder head, with no cam or valves, etc!
Great Video! I Enjoy Learning About Motorcycle History & Did Not Know That About Naming The Velocette. Have You Done One On Dispatch Motorcycles From The War? Thank You. (Like #258)
8 Comments
Good selection again! How about reviewing designers? I would suggest starting with Val Page, if you think it's worth the effort.
As always an interesting selection. Guess you omitted the Manx and the 7R because they are more common knowledge.
Just to be mean, how did the Manxman typing error at 0:37 happen?
I assume you are saving the Matchless Silver Hawk and the "Cammy" Square Four for later.
I think it was Phil Irving that pointed out that with the technology of the period OHC had little if any advantage over well designed pushrods. The engine speed was limited by the vibration of the big single and the onset of float in the available valve springs. Vincents in particular have an extremely light, positive and compact valve gear. Postwar fuel was poor, there was a demand for easy maintenance and cheapness in the UK and the Empire, and the important US export market had barely graduated from sidevalve to OHV, so a move to pushrod was obvious. The way engines went technically backward after WW2 is rather obvious.
Well an English bike fitted with an Albion gearbox is rather fitting, isn’t it? Ahahhahhaha! 🥁😁
Oooh yeah! Those golden clad single cylinder Matchless M50 bikes are glorious! All that a bike needs and nothing more combined with a truly classic design. Imagine making one of those road legal. One could then run it to the nearest cafe and spend the rest of the day staring at it. 🤤🤤🤤
I had both a G50 and a Manx…not simultaneously, mind you. And both were sort of street-legal (the laws were a bit lax back in the day). I loved them both, but cannot imagine riding either one today (of course, I'm now 86 and starting one of these brutes would not be my idea of entertainment). What is surprising is how long these bikes stayed affordable (if not exactly CHEAP). Now, mind you, the bikes are all museum pieces and priced accordingly and a Manx cylinder head is worth more than my working bike and it's parts brother, combined, were in the day (and the "day" I'm talking about is the 1980s, not something silly)…and that's a BARE cylinder head, with no cam or valves, etc!
For my money, the Matchless G50 is one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made.
Great Video! I Enjoy Learning About Motorcycle History & Did Not Know That About Naming The Velocette. Have You Done One On Dispatch Motorcycles From The War? Thank You. (Like #258)