Do you know this bike?

I have just become the owner of the bike pictured below. It has some distinctive features: The very nicely executed frame bracing & box-section swingarm to note but two. It even has a name: "The Marauder". It seems the bike may have been raced in VRRA events, in Canada, up until 2000. If anybody recognizes it I'd really like to know something about the history of this bike.

Cheers! ~ Gary

I don't know it, but it looks like a sweet ride. Congrats

Looks like Beckers work on the frame to me.

willh said:

Looks like Beckers work on the frame to me.

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Agree, the tank looks exactly like the one I fixed a few months ago (it belongs on an ex Becker racer). Nice looking ride, are you going to ride it on the street? It will need a total loss system for lights (magneto ignition) but with LEDs, you should be OK for daytime use or city use with a LED headlight. Does it have a kick starter?

Jean

Beautiful bike.

Thanks for the pointers, so Herb Becker is likely to have been the builder? I don't know what is in the engine or gearbox, I plan to ride it a bit before delving into its interior.

are you going to ride it on the street?

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It's destined to make it's race track comeback in the Pacific Northwest, mostly WMRRA and OMRRA vintage races: Hopefully the odd west coast AHRMA event.

Gary

This is an ex-Becker racer, notice the similarities...



Hard or impossible to see, but it has the same magneto in the same location, the gas tank, the primary drive cover and the frame are almost exactly alike, even the catch can is in the same location. Coat the tank before doing anything else(Caswell) or make damn sure you never ever put gas with ethanol in it.

Jean

ggryder said:

It's destined to make it's race track comeback in the Pacific Northwest, mostly WMRRA and OMRRA vintage races: Hopefully the odd west coast AHRMA event.

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You can still get it sorted, get your license and make it to Miller in time for the AHRMA race...

Whatever it is, it's sweet.

Jeandr said:

This is an ex-Becker racer, notice the similarities...

Hard or impossible to see, but it has the same magneto in the same location, the gas tank, the primary drive cover and the frame are almost exactly alike, even the catch can is in the same location. Coat the tank before doing anything else(Caswell) or make damn sure you never ever put gas with ethanol in it.

Jean

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It's definitely one of Herb's old bikes. Get it BACK ON THE TRACK!

Dougie should be chiming in soon.

Hey Jean, unfortunately this beautiful gray bike (and rider sitting on New Norton in the background) slid down the track in Turn 2 on Sunday in a bad pileup. The rider was transported, but I believe he's okay. Just got his bell rung a bit. No word on the bike, other than it had damage down one side.

hey ggryder; this is an Herb Becker built race bike you have- the #649 that raced at Mosport last weekend was the twin of this bike. When Herb built a race bike in a particular configuration, he would always build a Period 1 bike (drum front brake) and a Period 2 bike (disc front brake) - those are the class designations here in Canada. Herb only built the two of these bikes pictured here to my knowledge. The added cross member was an attempt to triangulate the frame for more stiffness, to make it more like a Seeley, but in the end he decided it wasn't worth the extra weight and he moved on to a different handling set up in the next 'generation' of his bikes which is the one that I own- as for mine, there is a Period 1 version of my bike as well which is actually for sale and listed in the 'for sale' section on this website by Herb (I posted it for him).
The tank on your bike is a one off Herb made tank and is a shortened version of a production race to allow the racer to get his weight further forward- the seat is an elongated version of a production racer so you can move back and forth on the bike more. I see the Joe Hunt magneto is still on the bike as well- I have had some problems with mine but when set up right and working properly they are great for battery free running. This bike was raced by Jim Struke most likely with a few rides perhaps by Canadian ex-GP racer Dave Lloyd. Jim was a great, superfast racer and won many races in Canada and the US before he retired from racing about 6 or 7 years ago.
Any other questions, let me know- I can ask Herb. --Doug

Doug MacRae said:

hey ggryder; this is an Herb Becker built race bike you have-

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Thanks for the info Doug. I do have a few burning questions: -

Any idea what year Herb would have built my bike?

It currently has a motor with 850 barrels, is that likely to have been the original set-up or would it have been a 750?

The bike came with an Avon AM23 130/80 rear tire and fitted a newer AM23 130/650. Now I find the chain fouls the tire. I can only imagine that the when I got it the wheel was skewed in the swingarm to allow the tire to clear the chain. Where these bikes intended to run 130 section rear tires? I'm currently building a new wheel to take a 120 section tire that should work.

Cheers! ~ Gary

Hey Gary- I had a conversation with Herb and he recalls the bike being built around '98 but he would have to explore his written records to confirm. It is indeed an 850 motor, probably with a big valve head. He recalls it dynoing around 64-65 hp, very respectable numbers. The bike would have had a 520 chain on it - you most likely have a larger, stock 530 chain which will lose you around an 1/8" and make the 130/650 tire more likely to rub. I use that tire and it works well but my clearance is very tight too. You can take an exacto knife and cut the edge off the tire a bit if you only have a small amount of clearance to make, that is OK. If you want Herb's # to ask him any questions, just send me a PM, he said you are welcome to give him a ring- I'm sure he could find you a few more hp if you like as well...

Nice to see the big ol' Joe Hunt mag still hanging off there. That bike is pretty neat-o.

Doug, what you race is the most fascinating bike to me. What rim size do you use to fit 130/80 tire? Ken said he was faster on the 130 than 120 size. I'm more concerned with wear endurance though extra traction is always good, unless its too big a meat to enjoy until on limits being chased in a race. Interesting power report.
Percentage of displacement increase, don't increase the useful power by same percentage it seems. i wonder if I'll like 920 over 750 for public use.

The tire I use is a 130/650 Avon which is a special tire for use in vintage racing- it has a stepped sidewall allowing a tire with the outside circumference of a 130mm tire to be used on 2.5" inch rim which is the maximum allowable rear rim size for the classes I run in vintage racing. For a true 130/80 or 130/70 tire you would require at least a 3.5" rim which is not legal in my class.

Ok thanks Doug. Peel has room in swing arm for 130 but maybe not 530 chain.
She has 520 sprockets for first running trials but don't think I can stand replacing the fanned over or missing teeth every season or so.
I'm confused on tire width, couldn't load the fatso 17" tires leaned like i could 120 18". Wove in standard 2.15" rim for Peel which fit 120 fine but 130 old race tire Ken sent only when on even seated 1st time but not the next 3x's. So confused again.

Too bad these extra light paired down races aren't equipped to charge lights to ressurect for public glee. Its was a bugger to figure out Peel that can fit charger on crank end no more. Still not constructed but think jack shaft will fly.
Each 4 lb off is said to be worth 1 hp in get go. I do note the drilled brake straps and braces on your and this instant wonder ride. Flashbacks to my own.