Pre 65 long stroke singles for daily and trials

[savingclassicmotorcycles]

Hi everyone I hope we are all well

I’m after tapping into everyone’s knowledge if that’s ok

Recently I let my commando go and I’ve been flying about on my 650ss which is my most modern bike (in my mid 30s) an old figure skating injury has been rearing its head again an I’ve been struggling a bit with the kickstarting using it daily,

So it’s got me thinking I absolutely love riding my 1927 Norton 16h rode her last winter an quite a bit this year have 0 issues starting and all in all I just love life on the longstroke singles, which is a huge departure for me as I’ve rode the 650ss since I was 22 an now in my mid 30s,

So it’s had me thinking I know I know usually leads to spending money

At the moment I’m downsizing our house with my dad so I can look after him (he’s got stage 3b/4 prostate cancer) the commando went to fund that move so I can’t get anything till next year as we are doing it currently.

On the British bike front I’ve only ever had Nortons so have 0 experience of other British marques,

I’d like to pick another or two singles to use as daily’s and to have a go at pre 65’ trials or long distance trials very undecided on that an some green laning,

I’m gonna include up to 65’ in this question

My other bike is a WD16H which I’m finishing which can be a bit tricky getting bits for,

Whatever I get I’m hopefully gonna take out to Norway next year my dads gonna take a modern bike an I’ll van them out stay in a hotel each week with him an move to different areas so he’s fresh a bit different to the Iceland trip we had before his treatment but main thing is he has an awesome time,

At first I thought about a tr6c but I’m really fancying another single,

So my question is what would you get and why?

Also apart from Norton what’s got good spares availability now a days? Obv the commando has terrific parts availability an better than most Japanese bikes but what’s good for the British singles

My initial thought was a Redditch Bullet but the Matchless bikes keep catching my eye well as well as everything really yep I’ve got it bad haha

Thanks in advance,

Tom

 

[t ingermanson]

What cc? A Cub is much different than a B50.

What's the riding you're thinking of doing on it? An actual MX/trials bike may be a bit much for a "daily" to go to the store for bread and milk.

A big single can be a lot more tricky for kicking with an old injury.

 

[hybridracer]

You should look at a Triumph TR5T which is a B50 BSA with a Triumph 500 twin engine.

 

[baz]

I'd go for an ex WD b40
But fitted with a mikuni or concentric carb
These bikes have a mild cam but basically the same bottom end as B44 with end fed crank and decent main bearings
Plus you get the wide ratio gear cluster that suits on and off road

Google Image Result for https://www.classicsuperbikes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BSA-B40-WD-1-1.jpeg

 

[acotrel]

A Yamaha SR500 might be good - and cheap.

 

[baz]

A Yamaha SR500 might be good - and cheap.

Pre 65 ????

 

[kommando]

Concur with @baz B40WD which is short stroke at 70mm or a B25 crankcase fitted with B44 90mm stroke crank with a raised B25 barrel which gives you long stroke but similar capacity.

Frame and running gear first appeared in 63 on the C15 competition bikes using developments from the BSA Comp dept who developed further into the B44 world championship winner.

 

[savingclassicmotorcycles]

Thanks everyone really really appreciate the replies and information sorry for the slow reply, been an eventful day,

An ive not found the 1927 16h to bad to kickstart with the lifter sussed out a few techniques that really help I’d say this week it’s been my main bike while the shoulders calmed back down, naturally though I’ve 0 experience of later singles yet, i was fine with the commando when I had the tri spark on it, just the 650ss that’s aggravated it a bit,

On the singles I might end up having to get two eventually if I got really into the trials stuff, I’ll totally have to check the b40’s out something that totally wasn’t on my radar thanks for the suggestion

The main thing as well is parts availability I didn’t realise just how lucky we were with the commando stuff once you get pre war it sure is a bit trickier, an you can have periods where you have to source stuff, all part of the experience but that’s what got me thinking about a post war single,

I think the main priority after thinking about it for a day or two is to use it daily with some green laning thrown in, just for fun as I’ve missed doing the easy stuff on my modern bike now that’s gone an the 650ss isn’t suitable for that,

My normal road miles entail shops, visiting family, and 7-10 hour rides into the peaks from 70-300 mile days, a the occasional jaunt up to Scotland, but those Scotland trips are not on the cards at the moment, till next year, an I’m hoping I can get something if the house moves done in October ish,

and just dip my toes into pre 65 trials stuff then if I really like it double up on the model of bike or bring something else in, if I get really into it,

My initial thoughts were a 350/500 so it has a bit of legs, for the road usage, I was reading the section that hitchcocks re produced on the Enfields from don morleys book I’m gonna try get the full book on trials bikes,

The ones I initially thought of was a matchless G80CS, or ajs version been watching old footage of Gordon Jackson, a 350 bullet or 500 Redditch built, again both motorcycles I’ve got 0 experience with of what they would be like to live with,

An the other idea was an Ariel but again a brand I’ve got 0 experience with bar reading up about the rarity of WW2 wng’s and sitting on one once,

I know Sammy Miller used an Ariel for a while back in the day was watching footage before,

A few people have been mentioning bsa’s a brand I certainly need to check out an research as my knowledge base is wm20 era an the goldies as well are something I’ve not really read up on, all exciting to be learning new stuff and bring something in to compliment my 3 Nortons

I’m thinking with the trials stuff of approaching it as a personal thing so like rather than trying to be at the sharp end I’d love to ride something as close to period mods as possible, an just be in competition with myself each event and ride that to the best of my ability if that makes sense,

I guess eventually I might have to end up with two, an if space becomes an issue with the house downsize kitchens are for building engines and storing pre 65 trials bikes right haha!

just a few thoughts