Old Bikes

raygun · 05-12-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

Getting Lugers to shoot properly is like tinkering with auto electrical systems made by Lucas.

take it easy ! My 30 year old Norton runs fine with its all original Lucas electrics, and my two 90 year old all original
Lugers function flawlessly with a variety of ammunition !

So there .

Vlim · 05-12-2009, 12:46 PM

Roger that,

My 1937 S/42 / VoPo shooter has performed flawlessly for several years now. Fresh springs, MecGar magazines, S&B 124gr 9x19 and no noticable problems whatsoever.

I recently got a batch of Winchester White Box 9mm and although it is good, the S/42 doesn't like it as much as the S&B. Let's say a 90% reliability score with Win, and a 99.9% reliability score with S&B.

(ah, and never load the mags to the max. 5 - 6 rounds always works well).

British car electronics are like Russian quality control, German humour and Dutch generosity: Not good

Ron Smith · 05-12-2009, 12:55 PM

Hey Chris,

You have a Norton? The first bike I ever rode was a '67 750 Commando. It nearly squirted out from under me when I rolled the throttle.

Ron

raygun · 05-17-2009, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

Hey Chris,

You have a Norton? The first bike I ever rode was a '67 750 Commando. It nearly squirted out from under me when I rolled the throttle.

Ron

Yes Ron , I actualy own a british Bike shop . Mostly do spare parts . They still have a popular following and represent a reasonable investment .

The first Commandos were the superbike of the day and were probably not the best choice for a beginning rider!

I have had my personal 74 model 850 commando since nearly new. I have only done about 45,000 miles on it but it has proven impecably reliable. I have ridden it hard, but I never thrash it, think thats the secret - bit like a Luger , use it but don't abuse it.

sheepherder · 05-17-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raygun

Yes Ron , I actualy own a british Bike shop . Mostly do spare parts . They still have a popular following and represent a reasonable investment .

My second cycle was a 1965 Norton Atlas, bought used in 1968/69. The new Commando had just come out, but the models here in the States had a 3rd gear that was improperly heat treated (at least that was the popular belief) and stripped that gear...resulting in 3 or 4 weeks wait in dealer shops for rebuild...Two friends of mine in College bought new Nortons; one a P11, the other the new Commando...

I really liked the 750 Norton. I was able to get a parts Matchless N15 (rebadged Norton Scrambler) and convert mine to Scrambler...then I sold it & bought a basket case Triumph Bonneville and rode that for 12 years...

All my BritBikes had (or were converted to) magneto ignition; that cured any ignition problems...

unspellable · 05-17-2009, 10:39 AM

I bought a 1974 Commando new and had it for many years, then sold it. I still have occasional pangs over missing it. Contrary to the street wisdom it proved very reliable including the electrics. (And it did NOT leak oil!)

Note the S&B ballistics are listed for a 150 mm barrel, not a 100 mm barrel. It's not too hot. Both Luger cartridges are sensitive to barrel length and gain noticably in velocity as the barrel gets longer. As for wear on the pistol, the increased velocity is offset to some extent by the heavier barrel, keeping cannon (upper or slide) velocity within bounds.

DavidJayUden · 05-17-2009, 11:06 PM

I've got a basement full of British bikes, Nortons and Triumphs mostly, and a couple of Trackmaster Triumph 750's. Maybe we need to start a seperate category for British riding Luger collecters?
DJU

fg42 · 06-05-2009, 12:22 PM

My first car was a very used 1953 MG TD so I became very well versed in the purchasing and stockpiling Lucas generators voltage regulators etc. That was because it took about 2 months to get them. At times the formula ----One hour driving = one hour working on the MG wasn't really true but -----one day driving = one day waiting for parts did come closer. Does anyone else remember "Babbet bearings." Anyway when years later I saw a bumper sticker that cracked me up upon reading for the first time the now famous question. WHY DO THE ENGLISH DRINK WARM BEER? BECAUSE THEY HAVE LUCAS REFRIGERATORS. As to the thought that --Maybe we need to start a separate category for British riding Luger collectors?
DJU . Hey every Luger collector I have met is a separate category. They are all extremely interested in something else also be it history, English motorcycles parrots, the holocaust, or old pens with pictures of naked women in the key hole. Bob

Ice · 06-05-2009, 01:17 PM

I feel left out. My first car was a 1957 Alfa Romeo; I spent almost as much time under it as driving it. Italians make great cars but I don't want a Beretta. I drive an older Mazda Miata MX5 now but don't want a Nambu. What I want is a Porsche but can't afford it so I'll just stick with Lugers; they are my high second.

Charlie

Piet · 06-05-2009, 02:07 PM

BMW for me, but only bikes. No BMW cars. Had a 1969 R50 500CC TWIN. The sound of the boxer engine, tuned to idle one piston at a time, and opening the throttle, a deep growl from the Dunston? pipes. A guy on a Honda actually followed me one day for about 30km. When we stopped at the robot, he said he followed me, just to hear the BM. Must say the Harley's sound in comparison is like the clatterring of pots and pans in the diner on a Sunday afternoon!
Piet

Ron Smith · 06-05-2009, 02:33 PM

This is my '01 "4 DOOR".

Getting ready to do a loop down through California and back up through Nevada in a couple of weeks.

Piet · 06-05-2009, 02:37 PM

Ron
When the door is opened, does the roof light switches on?
Piet

Ron Smith · 06-05-2009, 03:07 PM

Just the map light. I removed the seat belt, GPS and cup holder.

Tepo911 · 06-05-2009, 03:16 PM

After years of driving British sportscars, I came to agree that Lucas was indeed "The Prince of Darkness".

tomaustin · 06-05-2009, 03:30 PM

thanks in advance, tom..............

wlyon · 06-05-2009, 03:40 PM

Ron
Nice bike.what flavor? I still ride, nothing like it. Bill

Ron Smith · 06-05-2009, 04:09 PM

Hi Bill,

It's a "clattering pots & pans" HD Road King.

I love this photo. It's my Father in Law (on the right) and his brother just after they returned from Europe in 1946, leaving for a road trip.

Gene still had this 1945 HD in a shed when I first met my wife in '77. I tried to get him to sell it to me after we were married in'79, but he refused, saying that he didn't want his daughter to be a widow.

He sold it a year later for $750 to a local guy. He was happy because he sold it for more than he paid for it, even though I told him that he could have gotten $5000+ out of it in a blink.

What do you ride?

Ron

Ron Wood · 06-05-2009, 06:23 PM

fg42

Does anyone else remember "Babbet bearings"

You bet I do. My 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe has 'em. Never had a bike but the Model A has been my wheels since 1957.

wlyon · 06-05-2009, 08:27 PM

Ron
I ride a Honda Shadow. My wife thinks that at age 73 none would be preferable. Neat picture. My first bike experience was in 1951 on an old Indian Chief. Wish I still had it. Happy riding. Bill

apis mellifera · 06-05-2009, 10:44 PM

Wow, looks like we all have similar interests. I have:
58 MGA Coupe
59 Bugeye Sprite
71 Triumph Bonneville
71 BMW R60
73 Land Rover
74 MGB GT

I've never been left stranded by any of them and only lost the headlamp function once.

05-12-2009, 12:55 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hey Chris, You have a Norton? The first bike I ever rode was a '67 750 Commando. It nearly squirted out from under me when I rolled the throttle. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-05-2009, 02:33 PM	#11
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	This is my '01 "4 DOOR". Getting ready to do a loop down through California and back up through Nevada in a couple of weeks. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-05-2009, 03:07 PM	#13
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Just the map light. I removed the seat belt, GPS and cup holder. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-05-2009, 03:30 PM	#15
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts	hey, fg42, can i order one of those old pens from you??? thanks in advance, tom..............

06-05-2009, 03:40 PM	#16
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,655 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 2,619 Times in 971 Posts	Ron Nice bike.what flavor? I still ride, nothing like it. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

05-12-2009, 12:46 PM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Roger that, My 1937 S/42 / VoPo shooter has performed flawlessly for several years now. Fresh springs, MecGar magazines, S&B 124gr 9x19 and no noticable problems whatsoever. I recently got a batch of Winchester White Box 9mm and although it is good, the S/42 doesn't like it as much as the S&B. Let's say a 90% reliability score with Win, and a 99.9% reliability score with S&B. (ah, and never load the mags to the max. 5 - 6 rounds always works well). British car electronics are like Russian quality control, German humour and Dutch generosity: Not good

05-17-2009, 10:39 AM	#6
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	I bought a 1974 Commando new and had it for many years, then sold it. I still have occasional pangs over missing it. Contrary to the street wisdom it proved very reliable including the electrics. (And it did NOT leak oil!) Note the S&B ballistics are listed for a 150 mm barrel, not a 100 mm barrel. It's not too hot. Both Luger cartridges are sensitive to barrel length and gain noticably in velocity as the barrel gets longer. As for wear on the pistol, the increased velocity is offset to some extent by the heavier barrel, keeping cannon (upper or slide) velocity within bounds.

05-17-2009, 11:06 PM	#7
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I've got a basement full of British bikes, Nortons and Triumphs mostly, and a couple of Trackmaster Triumph 750's. Maybe we need to start a seperate category for British riding Luger collecters? DJU

06-05-2009, 12:22 PM	#8
fg42 User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My first car was a very used 1953 MG TD so I became very well versed in the purchasing and stockpiling Lucas generators voltage regulators etc. That was because it took about 2 months to get them. At times the formula ----One hour driving = one hour working on the MG wasn't really true but -----one day driving = one day waiting for parts did come closer. Does anyone else remember "Babbet bearings." Anyway when years later I saw a bumper sticker that cracked me up upon reading for the first time the now famous question. WHY DO THE ENGLISH DRINK WARM BEER? BECAUSE THEY HAVE LUCAS REFRIGERATORS. As to the thought that --Maybe we need to start a separate category for British riding Luger collectors? DJU . Hey every Luger collector I have met is a separate category. They are all extremely interested in something else also be it history, English motorcycles parrots, the holocaust, or old pens with pictures of naked women in the key hole. Bob

06-05-2009, 01:17 PM	#9
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	I feel left out. My first car was a 1957 Alfa Romeo; I spent almost as much time under it as driving it. Italians make great cars but I don't want a Beretta. I drive an older Mazda Miata MX5 now but don't want a Nambu. What I want is a Porsche but can't afford it so I'll just stick with Lugers; they are my high second. Charlie

06-05-2009, 02:07 PM	#10
Piet User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 143 Thanks: 155 Thanked 35 Times in 22 Posts	BMW for me, but only bikes. No BMW cars. Had a 1969 R50 500CC TWIN. The sound of the boxer engine, tuned to idle one piston at a time, and opening the throttle, a deep growl from the Dunston? pipes. A guy on a Honda actually followed me one day for about 30km. When we stopped at the robot, he said he followed me, just to hear the BM. Must say the Harley's sound in comparison is like the clatterring of pots and pans in the diner on a Sunday afternoon! Piet

06-05-2009, 02:37 PM	#12
Piet User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 143 Thanks: 155 Thanked 35 Times in 22 Posts	Ron When the door is opened, does the roof light switches on? Piet

06-05-2009, 03:16 PM	#14
Tepo911 User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	After years of driving British sportscars, I came to agree that Lucas was indeed "The Prince of Darkness".

06-05-2009, 04:09 PM	#17
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Bill, It's a "clattering pots & pans" HD Road King. I love this photo. It's my Father in Law (on the right) and his brother just after they returned from Europe in 1946, leaving for a road trip. Gene still had this 1945 HD in a shed when I first met my wife in '77. I tried to get him to sell it to me after we were married in'79, but he refused, saying that he didn't want his daughter to be a widow. He sold it a year later for $750 to a local guy. He was happy because he sold it for more than he paid for it, even though I told him that he could have gotten $5000+ out of it in a blink. What do you ride? Ron Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said... Last edited by Ron Smith; 06-05-2009 at 05:00 PM.

06-05-2009, 06:23 PM	#18
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	fg42 Does anyone else remember "Babbet bearings" You bet I do. My 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe has 'em. Never had a bike but the Model A has been my wheels since 1957. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

06-05-2009, 08:27 PM	#19
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,655 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 2,619 Times in 971 Posts	Ron I ride a Honda Shadow. My wife thinks that at age 73 none would be preferable. Neat picture. My first bike experience was in 1951 on an old Indian Chief. Wish I still had it. Happy riding. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

06-05-2009, 10:44 PM	#20
apis mellifera User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Posts: 149 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	Wow, looks like we all have similar interests. I have: 58 MGA Coupe 59 Bugeye Sprite 71 Triumph Bonneville 71 BMW R60 73 Land Rover 74 MGB GT I've never been left stranded by any of them and only lost the headlamp function once.

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