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I totally agree. I=E2=80=99m just finishing the frame off restoration of my 6=
7.5 Datsun SPL311 roadster.=20
Peace,
Pat=20
Pat Horne=20
We support Habitat for Humanity
On Apr 21, 2022, at 10:05 AM, Jeff Scarbrough <fishplate@gmail.com> wrote:
=EF=BB=BF
In the same vein..for what I have in my old British car, I could buy somethi=
ng much more modern, more powerful, and safer too. But I'm no longer in a h=
urry to "get there" and I'd rather listen to the music a 2500cc Triumph I-6 m=
akes anyway...
On Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 09:05 old dirtbeard <dirtbeard@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Mark,
>=20
> Thank you, a poignant and well written piece for those of us who are getti=
ng older...
>=20
> Times pass, but with our shops, our tools, and our knowledge, we can keep t=
hese old British bikes, or old Harleys running as well if not better than th=
ey did 50 or 60 years ago. I have my 50 year old BSA Thumper that I posted t=
he photos and video of, but I also have a 2013 Aprillia 1000cc V4 with all o=
f the modern electronic components. I still ride both of them. They both are=
very good at what they do, but I have been imprinted on the BSA.
>=20
> In the spirit of shop talk, over the last 50 years that I have owned the B=
SA, I have used my tools, knowledge and workshops to increase the displaceme=
nt to 600cc, ported the head, installed larger diameter exhaust, larger valv=
es, a larger 1000 series Amal carburetor, a Weber racing cam, electronic ign=
ition, modified the dry sump oil-in-frame supply to dual feed to better circ=
ulate and cool the oil, fabricated and a routed pressure-fed oil line to the=
rockers to better oil and cool the valve gear, installed a full-flow oil fi=
lter on the oil return circuit, higher voltage ignition coil, solid state el=
ectrical rectification and regulation, improved clutch plates and stronger c=
lutch springs to withstand the increased power, modern brake linings arced t=
o the drums to be able to stop the bike at high speed (not quite as good as d=
ual front disc brakes, but I can lock the front wheel if I try), modern Avon=
tires that grip the road and handle extremely well (deep lean angles), rewi=
red the entire electrical harness with vibration-proof connectors and larger=
gauge wire with abrasion-resistant vinyl insulation, running Motul 10w60 do=
uble ester synthetic oil in the engine, synthetic gear lube in the transmiss=
ion, etc. It is not just a hot rod, it has much improved lubrication, elect=
rical, and braking systems now.
>=20
> Although this bike is 50 years old, it runs stronger and is more reliable n=
ow than it was from the factory. It can run with the modern sport bikes on t=
he twisty roads you saw in the video.
>=20
> Old British motorcycles potentially are the ideal "vehicle" for us to exer=
cise our tools and our skills in the shop. They are the perfect "canvas" to p=
aint a masterpiece, and one that you can ride and enjoy for the rest of our l=
ives.
>=20
> I recently was riding the twisty hill roads shown in the video when I pass=
ed a young man on a Suzuki sport bike. I later stopped at the overlook in th=
e one photo and he also pulled up to chat. He "complained" that he could not=
hear his engine in order to shift it properly when I was in front of him be=
cause my BSA was so loud. He also said my tires were too skinny to ride that=
fast, etc.=20
>=20
> Not wishing to deter from his riding enjoyment, I let him leave first so h=
e could lead and my loud thumping engine and skinny tires would not deter fr=
om his riding. After a couple of curves I passed him again.
>=20
> I am 68, my bike is 50 years-old, and the young man was on a new GSX. Thes=
e old bikes are lighter and have deeper torque,=20
>=20
> These old bikes, and these old men, can still ride, and no amount of elect=
ronic wizardry can change that... :-)
>=20
> best,
>=20
> Doug
>=20
>=20
>=20
> On Wed, Apr 20, 2022 at 8:31 PM Mark Bradakis <mark@bradakis.com> wrote:
>>=20
>> I wish I knew where this came from. Have no idea who the author might=20=
>> be, sad to say.
>>=20
>> mjb.
>>=20
>> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>>=20
>> As I watch the Japanese crotch-rockets blasting the circuits,
>> I am suffused with a distilled sense of wonder, and I marvel;
>> these men and women are so skilled, perfect machines riding on
>> perfect machines. Their bikes are precision instruments built by
>> precision instruments, sold in their multitude to the techno-dazed.
>>=20
>> About ten years ago, I was out earholing on a norton-racer-road in
>> coastal Marin county (north of San Francisco) on my '75 Commando.
>> Rolled up to a stop sign. A guy on an old 500cc BSA thumper came
>> around the corner facing me, leaned through the corner, dialed up
>> the wick, and thumped on up the hill. I shut nort down to listen
>> to the sound of that long-stroke single haul that hill. I was
>> thrilled; I could feel the sound through the soles of my boots.
>> All these years later, when I remember that sound, that fine sound,
>> I choke, and tears fill my eyes. As that quiet thump, thump,
>> thump, faded up the hill, me and nort sat and thought of dinosaurs.
>> It was a good day to think about dinosaurs, one of those crisp,
>> perfect Marin autumn days. Back then, me and my dinosaur could
>> still swat the Japanese flies buzzing around the hills, those
>> primordial crotch-rockets, awesome machines that have come to be
>> so strong, strong enough to eat me and nort for breakfast.
>>=20
>> These ten years gone, I'm now flogging that British oil-bath around
>> the Rockies. But the king is dead (long live the king!), and
>> I'm the dinosaur now, breathing the last breath of extinction;
>> fading quietly, thump, thump, thump up that hill. But I wonder,
>> where went the soul, where went the art, where went the heart?
>>=20
>> _______________________________________________
>>=20
>> Shop-talk@autox.team.net
>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
>> Suggested annual donation $12.96
>> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/ar=
chive
>>=20
>> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/dirtb=
eard@gmail.com
>>=20
> _______________________________________________
>=20
> Shop-talk@autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation $12.96
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/arc=
hive
>=20
> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/fishpl=
ate@gmail.com
>=20
_______________________________________________
Shop-talk@autox.team.net
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archi=
ve
as@icloud.com
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D=
utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto">I totally agree. I=E2=80=99m just finishing=
the frame off restoration of my 67.5 Datsun SPL311 roadster. <div><br>=
</div><div>Peace,</div><div>Pat <br><br><div dir=3D"ltr">Pat Horne =
;<div>We support Habitat for Humanity</div><div><br></div></div><div dir=3D"=
ltr"><br>On Apr 21, 2022, at 10:05 AM, Jeff Scarbrough <fishplate@gmail.c=
om> wrote:<br><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BF<div dir=3D"auto">In th=
e same vein..for what I have in my old British car, I could buy something mu=
ch more modern, more powerful, and safer too. But I'm no longer in a h=
urry to "get there" and I'd rather listen to the music a 2500cc Triumph I-6 m=
akes anyway...</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D=
"gmail_attr">On Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 09:05 old dirtbeard <<a href=3D"mailto=
:dirtbeard@gmail.com">dirtbeard@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquot=
e class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc soli=
d;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi Mark,<div><br></div><div>Thank y=
ou, a poignant and well written piece for those of us who are getting older.=
..</div><div><br></div><div>Times pass, but with our shops, our tools, and o=
ur knowledge, we can keep these old British bikes, or old Harleys running as=
well if not better than they did 50 or 60 years ago. I have my 50 year old B=
SA Thumper that I posted the photos and video of, but I also have a 2013&nbs=
p;Aprillia 1000cc V4 with all of the modern electronic components.=
I still ride both of them. They both are very good at what they do, but I h=
ave been imprinted on the BSA.</div><div><br></div><div>In the spirit of sho=
p talk, over the last 50 years that I have owned the BSA, I have used my too=
ls, knowledge and workshops to increase the displacement to 600cc, ported th=
e head, installed larger diameter exhaust, larger valves, a larger 1000=
series Amal carburetor, a Weber racing cam, electronic ignition, modified t=
he dry sump oil-in-frame supply to dual feed to better circulate and cool th=
e oil, fabricated and a routed pressure-fed oil line to the rockers to bette=
r oil and cool the valve gear, installed a full-flow oil filter on the oil r=
eturn circuit, higher voltage ignition coil, solid state electrical rectific=
ation and regulation, improved clutch plates and stronger clutch spring=
s to withstand the increased power, modern brake linings arced to the drums t=
o be able to stop the bike at high speed (not quite as good as dual front di=
sc brakes, but I can lock the front wheel if I try), modern Avon tires that g=
rip the road and handle extremely well (deep lean angles), rewired the entir=
e electrical harness with vibration-proof connectors and larger gauge wire w=
ith abrasion-resistant vinyl insulation, running Motul 10w60 double ester sy=
nthetic oil in the engine, synthetic gear lube in the transmission, etc.&nbs=
p; It is not just a hot rod, it has much improved lubrication, electrical, a=
nd braking systems now.</div><div><br></div><div>Although this bike is 50 ye=
ars old, it runs stronger and is more reliable now than it was from the fact=
ory. It can run with the modern sport bikes on the twisty roads you saw in t=
he video.</div><div><br></div><div>Old British motorcycles potentially are t=
he ideal "vehicle" for us to exercise our tools and our skills in the shop. T=
hey are the perfect "canvas" to paint a masterpiece, and one that you can ri=
de and enjoy for the rest of our lives.</div><div><br></div><div>I recently w=
as riding the twisty hill roads shown in the video when I passed a young man=
on a Suzuki sport bike. I later stopped at the overlook in the one photo an=
d he also pulled up to chat. He "complained" that he could not hear his engi=
ne in order to shift it properly when I was in front of him because my BSA w=
as so loud. He also said my tires were too skinny to ride that fast, etc.&nb=
sp;</div><div><br></div><div>Not wishing to deter from his riding =
enjoyment, I let him leave first so he could lead and my loud thumping engin=
e and skinny tires would not deter from his riding. After a couple of curves=
I passed him again.</div><div><br></div><div>I am 68, my bike is 50 years-o=
ld, and the young man was on a new GSX. These old bikes are lighter and have=
deeper torque, </div><div><br></div><div>These old bikes, and these ol=
d men, can still ride, and no amount of electronic wizardry can change t=
hat... :-)</div><div><br></div><div>best,</div><div><br></div><div>Dou=
g</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><d=
iv dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 20, 2022 at 8:31 PM Mark Bra=
dakis <<a href=3D"mailto:mark@bradakis.com"; target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"nore=
ferrer">mark@bradakis.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail=
_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,=
204);padding-left:1ex"><br>
I wish I knew where this came from. Have no idea who the author might <=
br>
be, sad to say.<br>
<br>
mjb.<br>
<br>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br>
<br>
As I watch the Japanese crotch-rockets blasting the circuits,<br>
I am suffused with a distilled sense of wonder, and I marvel;<br>
these men and women are so skilled, perfect machines riding on<br>
perfect machines. Their bikes are precision instruments built by<br>
precision instruments, sold in their multitude to the techno-dazed.<br>
<br>
About ten years ago, I was out earholing on a norton-racer-road in<br>
coastal Marin county (north of San Francisco) on my '75 Commando.<br>
Rolled up to a stop sign. A guy on an old 500cc BSA thumper came<br>
around the corner facing me, leaned through the corner, dialed up<br>
the wick, and thumped on up the hill. I shut nort down to listen<br>
to the sound of that long-stroke single haul that hill. I was<br>
thrilled; I could feel the sound through the soles of my boots.<br>
All these years later, when I remember that sound, that fine sound,<br>
I choke, and tears fill my eyes. As that quiet thump, thump,<br>
thump, faded up the hill, me and nort sat and thought of dinosaurs.<br>
It was a good day to think about dinosaurs, one of those crisp,<br>
perfect Marin autumn days. Back then, me and my dinosaur could<br>
still swat the Japanese flies buzzing around the hills, those<br>
primordial crotch-rockets, awesome machines that have come to be<br>
so strong, strong enough to eat me and nort for breakfast.<br>
<br>
These ten years gone, I'm now flogging that British oil-bath around<br>
the Rockies. But the king is dead (long live the king!), and<br>
I'm the dinosaur now, breathing the last breath of extinction;<br>
fading quietly, thump, thump, thump up that hill. But I wonder,<br>
where went the soul, where went the art, where went the heart?<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:Shop-talk@autox.team.net"; target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"norefer=
rer">Shop-talk@autox.team.net</a><br>
rrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk"; rel=3D"noreferr=
er noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk</a>=
<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive"; rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" tar=
get=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
lk/dirtbeard@gmail.com" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http=
://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/dirtbeard@gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:Shop-talk@autox.team.net"; target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"norefer=
rer">Shop-talk@autox.team.net</a><br>
rrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk"; rel=3D"noreferr=
er noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk</a>=
<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive"; rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" tar=
get=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
lk/fishplate@gmail.com" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http=
://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/fishplate@gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div>
<span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span></span=
><br><span>Shop-talk@autox.team.net</span><br><span>Donate: http://www.team.=
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