old motor bikes

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 22 Apr, 2010 8:14 pm

[quotenick="Hats OffBlakey, there is a bit of info here about the Scootacar :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScootacarRegards. Absolutely fascinating Hats Off, and a bit of really enjoyable nostalgia for me - thank you very much.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Thu 22 Apr, 2010 9:23 pm

My best mates dad had a Royal Enfield V Twin 1938 / 1148cc foot clutch gear change on the side of the tank and a kick like a mule.He also had a bike that not many people will have seen it was a Brough Superior it had twin wheels at the back shaft driven and an Austin Ruby car engine in the frame.I was told this is the original engine for this bike it was fitted with a bullet sidecar.

kango · Post by **kango** » Thu 22 Apr, 2010 11:01 pm

BLAKEY wrote: kango wrote: BLAKEY wrote: Admittedly not a motorbike, but the unhappy "Scootercar" was made in, I believe, Hunslet in the 1960s, and one main agent was Frank Leach in Headingley Lane (premises now Alba Tyres). The Scootercar sooned earned the unfortunate nickname of "the bobbing sentry box" as a result of its appearance and riding characteristics. Steady on there sir!!! I had one of these little beggers (there were two types I had the mark 1) best fun I ever had, built as far as I can remember by Rodley's(an Hunslet offshoot company)at Rodley; they also made invalid carriages. Rumour had it that it was designed for the chairmans wife because she found the bentley too big to park!!!(honestly) Oh heck, I've unintentionally done it again kango and no offence meant, but honestly that WAS a nickname bandied around Headingley at the time. I would have loved to have had one and, as I said in my reply to Hats Off, his video clip is most enjoyable and is as near as I'm likely to get now. Incidentally I wonder how many were produced - have you any idea ?? If the Chairman's good lady is still around I should be ready for some flack if she reads your theory I had a lunatic fearless friend, bless him, who owned either a Heinkel or an Isetta left hand drive bubble car in which I was often forcibly hurtled around the district, rigid with terror, in the vulnerable offside seat while being told to "stop flapping like an old woman brother !!" Oh what happy days they were and I wish we could return to them and I do mean that. HEINKEL ISETTA!! You have rich friends sir (where do They live!?)Anyway My transport loving Buddy no offence taken, the banter on this forum brightens my day no end. Whilst it was an happier time the truth is Your right. Looking back without the rose tints on, the thing was an absolute pig to drive, full left lock would cause the steering mech' to foul the foot brake ( I did a lot of right turns!!) there was always a stink of petrol, in fact the only clever thing was the starter, on turning the key it somehow energised the dynamo and turned it into a starter motor. Handlebars and bike type seat for the driver and a dinkey little seat in rear for the passenger. But having said all that it really was fun, not as much fun as My Tiger Cub which blew it's big end every five hundred miles or My NSU Quickly which doubled up as a hairdryer but thats a tale for another day!! As for the Chairmans Wife. I have done the maths if she is still alive I think I could outrun Her JUST!!!

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 22 Apr, 2010 11:32 pm

kango wrote: [HEINKEL ISETTA!! You have rich friends sir (where do They live!?)Anyway My transport loving Buddy no offence taken, the banter on this forum brightens my day no end. Whilst it was an happier time the truth is Your right. Looking back without the rose tints on, the thing was an absolute pig to drive, full left lock would cause the steering mech' to foul the foot brake ( I did a lot of right turns!!) there was always a stink of petrol, in fact the only clever thing was the starter, on turning the key it somehow energised the dynamo and turned it into a starter motor. Handlebars and bike type seat for the driver and a dinkey little seat in rear for the passenger. But having said all that it really was fun, not as much fun as My Tiger Cub which blew it's big end every five hundred miles or My NSU Quickly which doubled up as a hairdryer but thats a tale for another day!! As for the Chairmans Wife. I have done the maths if she is still alive I think I could outrun Her JUST!!! .......................................................................................................... I agree with you kango entirely. the banter and the serious discussions between them make this a wonderful forum for us - there are many forums on "The Net" but this is one of my real favourites, and I've learnt some stuff and had some real laughs since joining.My "rich" Isetta owning friend lived at the time in Argie Terrace,, Burley - the Home Guard were called out, and a siren sounded on top of Timothy Whites, when we took off in the machine. He now lives in style in Garforth and has for many years - has he matured in the intervening years ?? - not a bit of it !!