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Author Topic: How they used to make motorcycles  (Read 14198 times)

Offline Chaos

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How they used to make motorcycles
« on: November 16, 2016, 12:16:45 PM »
Very cool video from early 1900's
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  • sw ohio
1987 K75S    VIN 0231
Original owner, Original litter
200,000 miles (plus or minus) and 5 paint jobs
sold 6/23
2023 Ural 2WD sidecar (BMW's bastard step child)

Offline The Dude

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2016, 12:38:56 PM »
Very cool.All you needed was a hammer an a couple of spanners! :clap:
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  • Auckland, New Zealand
  • K75s
Current.
TR6R 1973 from new.
Moto guzzi 850 III .1983 from,almost, new.
K75S 1986 from new.vin-0103141
On my second millionth km.give or take a hundred k Kay's.
"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there."
All the best!

Offline furnimoto

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2016, 03:20:15 PM »
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
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  • Oakland, CA
  • 1996 bmw k1100rs, 1973 bmw r75/5, 2015 ducati diavel

Offline kris

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2016, 04:06:01 PM »
I think Urals are still made this way. You can see some videos online :popcorm
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  • In The Hammer!! Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
  • 1986 K100RT (Heinz) 2004 Kawasaki Concours (Eddy) 2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 (Linda) Previous: 1968 Honda CD175 1973 Kawasaki S2350 1975 Honda CB550K
"I got bike fever bad!!"

Offline billday

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2016, 08:55:59 PM »
Just after the 8 minute mark there's a great cloud of smoke when they start up a couple of the bikes. Just like a K75 firing up.

Chaos, there's an airborne sidehack about 9 minutes in.
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  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline Laitch

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2016, 09:52:32 PM »
Quote from: kris on November 19, 2016, 04:06:01 PM
I think Urals are still made this way.
I think that hammer is the only tool in a Ural tool kit.
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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 102,000 miles

Offline Martin

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2016, 10:34:41 PM »
And a sickle so you can find it in tall grass.
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  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline Laitch

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2016, 07:36:16 AM »
Quote from: Martin on November 19, 2016, 10:34:41 PM
And a sickle so you can find it in tall grass.
:clap:
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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 102,000 miles

Offline billday

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2016, 10:10:25 AM »
Here's a film about building Jaguar cars in 1961:

http://silodrome.com/documentary-one-leap-ahead/

Amazing how much was done by hand -- all the repetitive labor combined with skilled handwork. Imagine balancing crankshafts all day long for years on end.
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  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline John Lang

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2016, 11:09:57 AM »
I would have bought a Jag for the interior smell alone. When Ford bought Jaguar they knew they would have to invest a lot to upgrade production facilities. In fact, they had to start all over. Existing plant was long obsolete. It cost them far more than they had calculated it would. Low marks for due diligence.
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  • Ottawa, ON Canada
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Offline billday

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2016, 11:27:30 AM »
John Lang, is that T E Lawrence on his Brough Superior?
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  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline Chaos

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2016, 11:31:27 AM »
Quote from: billday on November 20, 2016, 10:10:25 AM
Here's a film about building Jaguar cars in 1961:

http://silodrome.com/documentary-one-leap-ahead/

Amazing how much was done by hand -- all the repetitive labor combined with skilled handwork. Imagine balancing crankshafts all day long for years on end.

Wow, seeing all those brand spanking new Mk 2's was a trip.  So used to seeing them rusty, rotting interior and flat tires sitting behind a garage.  The spin in the E type made me wish it was 1962 again.  Thanks for posting, great way to loaf around on a sunday morning. 
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  • sw ohio
1987 K75S    VIN 0231
Original owner, Original litter
200,000 miles (plus or minus) and 5 paint jobs
sold 6/23
2023 Ural 2WD sidecar (BMW's bastard step child)

Offline John Lang

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2016, 11:58:36 AM »
It is indeed T E Lawrence astride his Brough Superior SS100. He had several of them. According to Wikipedia (which has the same photo) he called this one George V. Jay Leno's Garage has a video about the SS100.
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  • Ottawa, ON Canada
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Offline Laitch

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2016, 01:13:07 PM »
Quote from: John Lang on November 20, 2016, 11:58:36 AM
It is indeed T E Lawrence astride his Brough Superior SS100.
The new Brough Superior's prospective price is approximately $64,000USD and it is not even engineered for mounting tragkorbs. :nono

John's post brings up this interesting point.
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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
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Offline John Lang

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2016, 02:07:48 PM »
Notice that in the photo Lawrence is wearing the uniform of an army private. He was the British Army's youngest-ever colonel at the end of WW1. At the height of his fame he left the Army and joined the Air Force as a mechanic under an assumed name (Leading Aircraftsman Shaw, if memory serves). When discovered, he resigned and re-joined the army as a private under yet another assumed name. His stated desire for obscurity is somewhat undermined by his practice of standing next to his portrait in the National Gallery hoping to be recognized by visitors.
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  • Ottawa, ON Canada
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Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #15 on: November 20, 2016, 04:57:29 PM »
Quote from: John Lang on November 20, 2016, 11:09:57 AM
I would have bought a Jag for the interior smell alone. When Ford bought Jaguar they knew they would have to invest a lot to upgrade production facilities. In fact, they had to start all over. Existing plant was long obsolete. It cost them far more than they had calculated it would. Low marks for due diligence.

Oh yea, the whole Premier Automotive Group experiment...they say that when Alan Mulally first entered the parking garage at Ford headquarters he asked where all the Fords where, since all he saw were Jags and Land Rovers
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  • Grand Rapids, MI
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'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...

Offline Martin

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #16 on: November 20, 2016, 05:48:14 PM »
Occasionally (read twice) I have run into a guy Tony at my mates place. He virtually built a RTV Vincent from scratch. When RTV went broke he managed to secure bare unfinished engine castings off them. He proceeded to machine, tap holes and polish and manufacture most of the required bits. It is a copy of the RTV, he made all of the body work and I believe he used a modified Norton frame. I believe it is 1200cc and sports a starter motor although apparently when at home he starts it on a powered roller. I now have a camera permanently on my bike hoping to get some pictures. There was an article in Motorcycle Trader about three years ago on it. If I do ever run into it again I will photograph and post.
Regards Martin.
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  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
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Offline Snowman

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Re: How they used to make motorcycles
« Reply #17 on: February 03, 2017, 03:31:48 PM »
If you cant fix it with a hammer it must be an electrical problem.
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