|
|
Post by veg on Nov 2, 2023 8:54:43 GMT 1
I recently bought this, it’s a Greeves Scottish 200cc trials bike. Mates of mine do pre 65 trials and I’ve wanted to have a go for ages. Messing about in mid what’s not to like. I set myself a strict budget of £3000. I wanted a stroker as I want something relatively light, tiger cubs and 350 four strokes do nothing for me at all. Originally I wanted a Francis Barnett as I grew up round the corner of their sub factory in Coventry and also because of this picture  This is my dad in 1957 18years old on his 1953 FB falcon trials bike with a 23inch front wheel. I looked at several but they are all 3 speed and quite dated. So my next thought was a Greeves. I’ve always loved them since reading a book given to me by my dad called built for speed it was from the early 60’s and has been a part of my life for years. Both the picture and the book mean a huge amount as I lost my dad a few years ago and he was my biking inspiration. He was a teacher, taught CDT and motor vehicle engineering and rode a bike to school. He taught John (Guiri) on here and got on with all the ‘bad lads’ not bad for a proper working class lad from Wandsworth. So I sought out numerous Greeves none of which did it for me. Eventually I bought this, in hindsight I probably should of walked away but I was desperate and had driven 4 hours just to view it.    It’s a 1958/9 Greeves Scottish 200 powered by a 200cc villiers 9e engine 9 bhp of rip snorting power. Having got it home I realised it wasnt as good as I thought. The front wheel is 20 inches yep 20 you try getting a new tyre impossible for trials riding, it needs new shocks, new cables, stand, brakes doing new rims and spokes, a kill switch, new levers, sump plate etc etc etc coupled with a thorough going over and all the bodges rectifying. In hindsight I should have spent more up front and saved myself some cash. Oh well benefits of hindsight. Already ordered loads of parts. Short term aim is to get it safe and useable long term, yamaha clutch, electronic ignition system, rebuild the motor etc |
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Nov 2, 2023 13:41:17 GMT 1
Love it! Great backstory and it'll be a good project Im sure mate. Excited to see how it goes.  |
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Nov 2, 2023 14:25:44 GMT 1
er.... what's wrong with a 350 British thumper?
|
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Nov 2, 2023 14:28:55 GMT 1
Great story & pics..
I'm a recent convert to pre-65 trials & modern trials too, but the pre65 or pre 70 stuff is a good crack. Modern trials is great fun too btw.
I'm already entered into them Jack Thompson trial in December and the Talmag in Jan 24 (4 stroke event). There are local clubs that focus on pre 65/70 & twinshock with plenty of events.
Got my eye on the Scottish 2 day when I'm slightly less terrible..
|
|
|
|
Post by jessy03 on Nov 2, 2023 15:27:05 GMT 1
Nice little project, I thought it was you in the photo 🙄
|
|
|
|
Post by arrdy350 on Nov 2, 2023 21:12:16 GMT 1
Interesting to see a Francis Barnet as a trials bike not see one before. I agree with JonW and Jessy03 a nice project Veg 👍
|
|
|
|
Post by midlifecrisisrd on Nov 2, 2023 21:43:27 GMT 1
Nah, yer hindsight is shit
No reason not to buy it, looks mostly like service items and a few bits and bobs
At least it will be how you want it, no point paying a premium then wanting to make changes
Oh and thank god you mentioned the 23 inch wheel, made your old man look small otherwise 🤣
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by veg on Nov 2, 2023 22:06:47 GMT 1
That’s why I said it, he wasn’t particularly tall he always claimed to be 5’8 was he bollox. 😁
|
|
|
|
Post by donkeychomp on Nov 2, 2023 22:34:05 GMT 1
I like it. There's a certain charm about the whole bike. Keen to see what you do with it and a gearchange on the wrong side might take a while to get used to. And then remembering that other bikes have a normal gearchange. First job is maybe rectify the fuel line? Looks like a dozen jubilee clips there!
Alex
|
|
|
|
Post by veg on Nov 2, 2023 22:55:23 GMT 1
I’ve owned a few British bikes so not unaware of the right hand change, more difficult is it’s one up and 3 down. 🙄
|
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Nov 2, 2023 23:03:27 GMT 1
At least with trials you're not trying to rush gears very often, more like riding a tractor when over obstacles etc, set and use. reset. use... etc
|
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Nov 3, 2023 9:54:16 GMT 1
At least with trials you're not trying to rush gears very often, more like riding a tractor when over obstacles etc, set and use. reset. use... etc It's the left foot rear brake that can catch you out if there's a panic and you rely on instinct.. Changing gear in a section is rare and is normally where you'll find neural too! |
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Nov 3, 2023 10:07:59 GMT 1
 This is a right side rear brake on a pre-65 Bantam build. The rear hub is a 2 piece affair with a heap of work in it. Like Veg I stuck with the controls as they were originally. |
|
|
|
Post by Tobyjugs on Nov 3, 2023 14:54:41 GMT 1
Tim your bike is lovely. I really like Greeves motorcycles, they made some really funky front ends which I really like.
When it comes too refreshing the mechanicals, it's a trip up to Mr Whattam for a big bore kit and a dry clutch 😉
|
|
|
|
Post by veg on Nov 3, 2023 16:14:18 GMT 1
I did think that Tony it can be taken to 250cc the engines were also used in go kart racing until recently they put out between 35-40bhp. I actually don’t need power but low down torque so it could be a Muttsnutts pipe 😁
|
|
|
|
Post by veg on Nov 5, 2023 15:40:43 GMT 1
Fitted new rear shocks that are 30mm longer, new levers and cables the old ones were shite. Still not got a front brake that works so the front wheel is coming out, going to get it rebuilt with a 21 inch rim and get the hub skimmed and relined.
I’ve ordered some more parts. Unfortunately the more I look the more bodged it appears to be eg incorrect bolts, mix of imperial and metric. My fault for not being more critical in my assessment.
|
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Nov 6, 2023 16:06:56 GMT 1
Unfortunately the more I look the more bodged it appears to be eg incorrect bolts, mix of imperial and metric. My fault for not being more critical in my assessment. I've felt the same before and my wife reminds me that not everyone may have the same engineering standards or ability or may just not really have much of a clue at all. I like threads to be in keeping with the bike although my Drayton B40 has metric frame fasteners and of course imperial everywhere on the B40. Like you, I can work in either and still do when machining and measuring. |
|
|
|
Post by steven on Nov 7, 2023 0:00:36 GMT 1
Fitted new rear shocks that are 30mm longer, new levers and cables the old ones were shite. Still not got a front brake that works so the front wheel is coming out, going to get it rebuilt with a 21 inch rim and get the hub skimmed and relined. I’ve ordered some more parts. Unfortunately the more I look the more bodged it appears to be eg incorrect bolts, mix of imperial and metric. My fault for not being more critical in my assessment. Hi, Various threads on the Villiers engine will be BSC thread form. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Standard_CycleSteven. |
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Nov 7, 2023 1:07:58 GMT 1
I would think since its an old competition bike that its had a lot of parts replaced and every nut n bolt has been twirled over the years. I guess the DPOs decisions and ability has to be seen as part of the charm, not everyone would do/have done things the way we would in 2023 etc.
ie the wheels, maybe it got smaller wheel(s) so the owner was more confident on it, ie they were of smaller stature like were a kid/teen/lady etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Nov 7, 2023 10:14:57 GMT 1
I just received my 3/8" 26TPI BSC nuts/washers for the barrel on my B40..
|
|
|
|
Post by cb250g5 on Nov 7, 2023 10:50:16 GMT 1
My '27 Scott is on 20" wheels, front & rear. Tyres are going to be a problem, luckily I do maybe 1,000 miles a year so going to be a while.
The '28 Flying squirrel is 19" rear and 21" front, so much easier, I have put roadriders on it. Look too modern, but at least they will adhere to the road.
They are a baffling mix of Whit, BSF and Cycle threads, and that's before 90 odd years of abuse by god knows how many owners.
|
|
|
|
Post by steven on Nov 7, 2023 13:28:48 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by steven on Nov 7, 2023 15:19:22 GMT 1
I just received my 3/8" 26TPI BSC nuts/washers for the barrel on my B40.. ...they are all 26 threads per inch, appart from the ones used to bolt wasp,s wings and baw hairs on with ! :-) britishfasteners.com/threads-bsc |
|
|
|
Post by bezzer on Nov 9, 2023 20:31:48 GMT 1
Fabulous story Tim. Great picture of your Dad on his ‘Franny B’, so the fruit didn’t fall far from the tree r.e. bikes then eh? 😁.
Enjoy the Greeves mate, I always liked the idea they were named after famous circuits, Sllverstone, Oulton, Hawkestone etc 😁
|
|
|
|
Post by veg on Dec 26, 2023 18:15:39 GMT 1
More work done and more problems uncovered Removed and replaced the front wheel with a supposedly correct front wheel. The original fitted had an odd idea of correct spacers. They were alloy tube with nuts drifted into them then the nuts reemed out top level bodge. The front suspension bolts all metric not imperial. So ordered all the correct parts, fitted a new tyre and tube and wallah it doesn’t fit centrally  Ffs Then I kicked the motor over and the kick start snapped Really trying my f**king patience now. Previous owner/builder who did this is a class A tonsil. |
|
|
|
Post by andy748 on Dec 26, 2023 19:12:50 GMT 1
You'll get there mate, by the way, that's a proper tool box, well done Sir! Andy.
|
|
|
|
Post by veg on Dec 26, 2023 19:32:42 GMT 1
It’s my old man’s old imperial collection. Must all be 50 plus years old.
|
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Dec 27, 2023 10:00:01 GMT 1
It’s so frustrating isn’t it putting right other people’s bodges. Keep at it though - it’ll be a lovely sorted bike when you’re done.
Looks possible that the lugs are out of position perhaps where the spindle sits? I’d put just the spindle in and reference a few dimensions to check it..
|
|
|
|
Post by veg on Dec 27, 2023 10:56:21 GMT 1
The problem is I bought the wheel as a Greeves wheel which it is, however it could be one of several models although it was advertised as a Scottish wheel then I bought brand new and correct spindle, spacers, bearings, nuts etc etc and it looks like the off set is wrong.
I’ve also had to buy new cables all round as they were all wrong. I have had problems as well with a supplier I bought ‘new’ bits from (side stand and a couple of other bits) all clearly second hand he won’t accept a refund as “they are as close to new as you can get” if you don’t like it sue me. Shows just how good we are served with Lc parts.
Then as I say the kick start fractured as I kicked it over.
I’m due to compete on 31st December that may not happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by lcmarky on Dec 27, 2023 11:09:39 GMT 1
I bought myself a Venhill cable kit along with a solder pot & the correct solder - it's ace making cables.
As for the supplier, then that's just outrageous and I agree with you on the LC comment. If it helps my 6 month old Gas Gas broke it's kickstart mid trial on me, so had to get a new one that has since been re-designed & strengthened..
If you need spacers or similar turning up or milling at short notice, just drop me a PM as I'm @ home so could help if you need to get done by the 31st.
I'm not out on my B40 until Jan 7th but I do have 3 trials in Jan booked!
|
|
