ANYONE who remembers what happened when I spent £100 on a set of wheels might want to look away now, because I've just doubled the stakes.
Regular readers might recall the Renault 5 I managed to blag for the price of a train ticket earlier this year, and I got lucky because - aside from a broken heater which makes West Lancashire permenantly feel like the West Indies - the ancient hatchback's become one of the most reliable things I've ever owned.
But even I couldn't believe myself when I spent twice what it cost on an old sports car that's spent the last ten years of its life stuck inside a garage in Cumbria. Yep, I've just bought an MGB that doesn't work.
Like the original Mini that's always at the top of this column, it's from an era when strikes at British Leyland dotted the TV news bulletins every day and as a result anything that came out of MG's Abingdon factory around that time is going to be crushingly unreliable.
In normal circumstances I wouldn't even bother with the MGB because I've never particularly liked it, but this one's different.
Eagle-eyed readers are going to spot that it's the far more stylish MGB GT, and swaps the soft top for a swoopy bit of steel roofline, the gorgeous Rostyle steel wheels and something called a Webasto sunroof, which is basically a clever bit of folding canvas which looks like it cost about 30p as an optional extra. Other features unique to this particular version are doors way overdue a replacement, decade-old engine oil and brakes which are seized solid. Not quite the £200 bargain buy I was expecting, then?
Of course it is - it's a classic sports car for the price of a long weekend on the continent, and it's got a solid shell and stashes of paperwork thrown in. As a commuter car it's failed already because it's broken, but as something I can imagine swanning around Southport in next year it's packed with potential.
The MGB roadster, the open-top one you always see at classic car shows, has been hogged by CAMRA members desperate to drive them to quaint village pubs you only ever see on Heartbeat, but the B GT is better because its somehow more subtle in its style.
It's The Shadows rather than Cliff Richard.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Honda CBR 125 2008 Picture Design
Reader Ride! An H2 SAVE!
Joe Byrd sends in this fantastic :save: of a classic Kawasaki! Having been down this road a few times with Kawasaki Triples myself I can attest to what a fantastic job this is.
Joe Writes:
Steve
After you posted pix of my H1A and my CR500R, you said to let you know about the next one.
My H2 750 Triple
You can see the before and after;
I purchased the "bike-in-a-box" early last fall with the intent of rebuilding it over the winter. The build got off to a late start but by June I had it running.
I call it a rebuild and not a restoration because I just wanted a nice looking, nice running H2 to ride, I did not want a bike too nice to ride. I think it has worked out as planned.
Every part needed something. I did all the work myself with the exception of the powder coating, some machine work (requiring special machines) and applying the paint base coat and clear coat. The painter wanted nothing to do with the decals.
I only bought new parts when I did not have the part or when I could not rebuild the existing part in a satisfactory manner.
I made a lot parts I did not have or could not get, having access to a machine shop is a great thing.
I seemed like everything that should have taken a minute, took an hour and everything that should have taken an hour, took a week.
I replaced every bearing and seal. I installed a rebuilt crank and new pistons in new bores. It got a new clutch and I had enough transmission parts to build one with minimal wear. And as always, H2 transmissions require careful shimming.
I have ridden it about 600 miles so far, I have fixed a few nits and niggles. It took a while but now I have the jetting spot on. And it is running like a strong H2 with no issues.
The first week I had it running, I rode it to a large cruiser extravaganza and entered the 750 in the bike show. Though there were quite a number of metric customs, the H2 won first place in the Asian category!
Joe Writes:
Steve
After you posted pix of my H1A and my CR500R, you said to let you know about the next one.
My H2 750 Triple
You can see the before and after;
I purchased the "bike-in-a-box" early last fall with the intent of rebuilding it over the winter. The build got off to a late start but by June I had it running.
I call it a rebuild and not a restoration because I just wanted a nice looking, nice running H2 to ride, I did not want a bike too nice to ride. I think it has worked out as planned.
Every part needed something. I did all the work myself with the exception of the powder coating, some machine work (requiring special machines) and applying the paint base coat and clear coat. The painter wanted nothing to do with the decals.
I only bought new parts when I did not have the part or when I could not rebuild the existing part in a satisfactory manner.
I made a lot parts I did not have or could not get, having access to a machine shop is a great thing.
I seemed like everything that should have taken a minute, took an hour and everything that should have taken an hour, took a week.
I replaced every bearing and seal. I installed a rebuilt crank and new pistons in new bores. It got a new clutch and I had enough transmission parts to build one with minimal wear. And as always, H2 transmissions require careful shimming.
I have ridden it about 600 miles so far, I have fixed a few nits and niggles. It took a while but now I have the jetting spot on. And it is running like a strong H2 with no issues.
The first week I had it running, I rode it to a large cruiser extravaganza and entered the 750 in the bike show. Though there were quite a number of metric customs, the H2 won first place in the Asian category!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Honda Blade Modifications
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
Harley Davidson Super Glide Picture
It originated Harley's FX series of motorcycles.The Harley-Davidson Super Glide is a motorcycle made by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. It is reputed to be the first factory custom motorcycle.
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Yamaha M1 Gallery Design
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)