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Keefy
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 09:17 pm |
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im new here so thought i'd through a few questions to see a)what kinda forum this is and b)if anyone has any influence for me ....
So - do you guys like your bikes modified or left as stock.
Ive just acquired a BSA Bantam, however spend my days working on old VW's (beetles, buses etc). I love modified examples, however sometimes theres a car that should be just left as it is from factory?
Do people think/find the same with classic bikes?
Im wondering what to do with my bantam. Do i keep it stock, its all seems very original, or do i add my personal touch. Ive thought of going down the cafe racer route - but is it the right kinda bike to do that too? It seems like a very basic bike, so im half tempted to go down the 'cleaned' route and make it a very 'smooth' bike with a few subtle mods.
also - perfomance mods for a 175 2 smoke - anything available?
if anyones got any pics of anything to swing my thought would be great!
Thanks
Keefy! 
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iand
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 09:23 pm |
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ahh a VW man, i used to have 2 beetles, i wrote the first (std one) off when i was 17 only 6 months after passing my test, the 2nd (modified one) disolved over 4 years until it cost too much to fix!! i'd love a karmann ghia but have neither the money or the time, bikes a cheaper smaller and easier to sneak past the missus!!!
bike wise, i like my Bantam D10 stock, but then i figure these not much to do to a bantam, my Z500 is modified, started off as a bit of a cafe racer but is slowly moving to more of a street fighter style,
my Aprilia is stock cos no one makes any bits for it that i either want or can afford!!!
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1960 Lambretta LI125 - SOLD,
2001 Honda CG125 - SOLD,
2005 Yamaha FZ6 - SOLD,
1980 Kawasaki Z500,
1967 BSA Bantam D10 - Rideable again(ish)
2008 Aprilia Shiver
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trumpetsandjampots
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 09:59 pm |
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Depends what your thinking really.
Novelty is always good to draw attention, you could caf racer the Bantam, that'll get the puritans yakking on.
No honestly being different is good.
good luck with the small heath special.
Rob
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ScotDuke
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 10:39 pm |
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trumpetsandjampots wrote: Depends what your thinking really.
Novelty is always good to draw attention, you could caf racer the Bantam, that'll get the puritans yakking on.
No honestly being different is good.
good luck with the small heath special.
Rob
I used to see a guy with a cafe racer Bantam regularly in West London. I think it was a D14. He was a courier and even used to use it sometimes for work and he was a 59 Club member. I saw the bike in Motorcycle International once too.
Modified bikes are good. Original bikes are good too.
There is a 'big' bore 200cc cylinder for the Bantam. Maybe our resident Bantam expert MCnut would know where to get one and the piston to go with it. People do race Bantams so I'm sure there are expansion pipes and stuff you can get too.
Last edited on Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 10:41 pm by ScotDuke
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starfirebird
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 11:45 pm |
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If it is all original, I'd be inclined to keep it that way and just get it running well. Then ride it.
If you want to modify things (which I usually do) then get something that has already been bu**ered around with a bit so you don't need to feel bad about trashing the originality.
To make it more complicated, I would hate to restore or drastically change a bike that has evolved over time in a way that has left it no longer standard (as opposed to something that has been ripped apart and made into something different). But then, even 70s choppers are part of biking history so you can't knock any of it really 
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ClassicMCnut
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 12:30 am |
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If you want a 200 cc engine then the best option is to go for a Tiger Cub engine in the Bantam D10 or B175 frame but then you'd have a Bantig or a Cubam
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Luckydave
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 05:49 am |
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Don't think we have any rivet counters on THIS board
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Keefy
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 06:50 am |
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Interesting replies, thanks guys.
As a starting point it will definitely be to just get it running right as use the beast. I'd hatch some plans for about 12 months, and probably do any work this time next year.
It will certainly get stripped down, cleaned, repainted and rebuilt ... and its at that time that i'd make any 'adjustments'
does anyone have any cool pics of modified classics? or are there any good websites full of photos for me to drool over?
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Frankfurt-Beesa
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 07:20 am |
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Go any piccies of the bike, as others have said, it's really up to you what you do with it, By Beesa (before it had asplode) was extremely not original. Unrestored original with nice patina, is right for some, total concours restore is what others want to see. I prefer modified to personal taste. I've never owned a bike that stayed original and probably never will, unless someone gives me a nice Original Vincent.
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starfirebird
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 07:58 am |
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ClassicMCnut wrote: If you want a 200 cc engine then the best option is to go for a Tiger Cub engine in the Bantam D10 or B175 frame but then you'd have a Bantig or a Cubam
Oh, you don't want to do that! What a daft idea!!
Ssh, McNutty, I want a Tiger Cub engine for my spare Bantam chassis - I can do without one more person looking for the same engine!!!! I thought perhaps it might be a Bantam Cub?!
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ScotDuke
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 08:33 am |
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If you nose around this site, there are some pics of racing Bantams somewhere. I can't remember which threads they were in. Bantams are also converted for trials riding pretty often and that makes sense as they're light and easy to hop around on I suppose.
Unrestored patina can look ok on a Bantam with fading paintwork and a few oil smears.
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trumpetsandjampots
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 10:32 pm |
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hi Keefy
think you have your answer do what you like, just as long as its interesting and the guys get to take a look at the finished article.
Truth is these bikes were being tossed about with by teenagers from new back in the 60's so not many rules to apply.
Lads, the desire for cub engines is rather strong out there!???? looking at flea bay the little luvvies are swaping hands for about £300 for a pile of pooh, sfunny how time moves on. does everyone want a pre 65 trials bike these days?
There you go Keefy put knobblies on it and make some proper cash out of the little chubby fellah.
have fun RB
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Pooh
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 10:55 pm |
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trumpetsandjampots wrote: hi Keefy
think you have your answer do what you like, just as long as its interesting and the guys get to take a look at the finished article.
Truth is these bikes were being tossed about with by teenagers from new back in the 60's so not many rules to apply.
Lads, the desire for cub engines is rather strong out there!???? looking at flea bay the little luvvies are swaping hands for about £300 for a pile of pooh, sfunny how time moves on. does everyone want a pre 65 trials bike these days?
There you go Keefy put knobblies on it and make some proper cash out of the little chubby fellah.
have fun RB
OI....You aint pimping me out......£300 I'll think about it....Bitch. I think you meant poo luvvy
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starfirebird
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 11:48 pm |
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Pooh wrote: trumpetsandjampots wrote: hi Keefy
think you have your answer do what you like, just as long as its interesting and the guys get to take a look at the finished article.
Truth is these bikes were being tossed about with by teenagers from new back in the 60's so not many rules to apply.
Lads, the desire for cub engines is rather strong out there!???? looking at flea bay the little luvvies are swaping hands for about £300 for a pile of pooh, sfunny how time moves on. does everyone want a pre 65 trials bike these days?
There you go Keefy put knobblies on it and make some proper cash out of the little chubby fellah.
have fun RB
OI....You aint pimping me out......£300 I'll think about it....Bitch. I think you meant poo luvvy
Yeah, I'm not interested in pooh's piles....just want a cub engine but they seem very pricey..........I'm not even a Lad!
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SMIFFY R
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Posted: Sun Oct 5th, 2008 07:36 am |
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Just get on with it,and do what ever you're happy with,after all it's your bike.
Over the years I've had seven VW Beetles,best one they made?1967 1500with disc brakes,wonderfull memories.
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Greenbat
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Posted: Sun Oct 5th, 2008 09:26 am |
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Cafe racer bantam? A man after my own heart! Heres mine: http://www.classicbikeforum.com/view_topic.php?id=2945&forum_id=5
I've been working on a TLS conversion too, it isn't forgotten but I've not had time recently.
T&G autos do a bore out to 185cc for 175 bantams. They also do a conrod and bearing kit. Have a look in the CB dossiers, there is one on the bantams. There is quite a big movement to race them too, though nowadays they are often modified beyond all recognition. I've heard some are capable of 100mph too.
http://www.bsabantamracing.co.uk/
BTW I've got loads of spares I could do with getting rid of...
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trumpetsandjampots
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Posted: Sun Oct 5th, 2008 06:33 pm |
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Pooh wrote: trumpetsandjampots wrote: hi Keefy
think you have your answer do what you like, just as long as its interesting and the guys get to take a look at the finished article.
Truth is these bikes were being tossed about with by teenagers from new back in the 60's so not many rules to apply.
Lads, the desire for cub engines is rather strong out there!???? looking at flea bay the little luvvies are swaping hands for about £300 for a pile of pooh, sfunny how time moves on. does everyone want a pre 65 trials bike these days?
There you go Keefy put knobblies on it and make some proper cash out of the little chubby fellah.
have fun RB
OI....You aint pimping me out......£300 I'll think about it....Bitch. I think you meant poo luvvy
Poor pooh he aint ever going to be a honey trap!!!
More into Tigger cubs - with bouncy wouncy tails (plungers)
love Walt Disney
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Pooh
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 08:09 pm |
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Poor pooh he aint ever going to be a honey trap!!!
HA thats what you think....Got my honey
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Hooli
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 10:00 pm |
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Attachment: PoohBear.gif (Downloaded 51 times)
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Pooh
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Posted: Wed Oct 8th, 2008 06:42 pm |
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| Talking crap again....sorry....look on the bright side...It aint Japanese
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