Comments on: The Cooling of the Classics

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:00:57 +0000

Brit bikes leaked oil because of the way the crankshaft was made and the bearings were fitted which dictated the way the crankcase was split — nothing to do with gaskets (although they are better now!).

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:07:07 +0000

Why do we always knock old Brits for leaking oil? The chrome on Italian bikes was worse than on the average loo roll holder, the German bikes were so pricey only real Gentlemen could afford them, the old US bikes would not go around corners and the old Japanese bikes inspired a legion of frame builders the handling was so useless! Okay, they dropped a drip here and there which was unsightly — but rust was never a problem, they sounded great, looked great and most important of all they handles well on what passed for roads in the UK back then… Why didn’t we invest more? We spent all our money on rescuing the French and others from the first and second attempts at European unions and had nothing left for gaskets! We quite literally blew the lot. buy a good Commando and see what you are missing.

By: Rob Whitton

Rob Whitton — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:31:48 +0000

Sorry but your talking rubbish for me many Jap bikes are classics as well by your own criteria. I have a 63 bonneville cafe racer, great classic but my Kawasaki Z1’s are just as much classics, even my Duc 916 is a classic and my mk1 R1 will be as well.

By: Richard Hardman

Richard Hardman — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:35:34 +0000

British bikes can be made just about oil tight and they can be reliable. My Velocette MSS cost £4 and I used it for commuting to London for 10 years once I had got it running correctly. It was economical and just as fast as the current Japenese bikes in the traffic. I still have it and along with my Vincent Black Shadow I can not think of any bikes to replace them.

By: Phil Davis

Phil Davis — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:33:44 +0000

I am old enough to remember objects of desire like the original Bonneville and the Triton (Norton frame — triumph engine) — even better the Vincent 1000 although you couldn’t call it a cafe racer. They all leaked oil and you spent more time with a spanner than you did riding them but there was something about them that the efficient Japanese machines could never match. Perhaps it was the sound they made or the fact that you didn’t just ride them you cherished them and coaxed the last ounce of power out of them.

My modern Bonneville retains some of this character along with an oil tight engine and a lot of modern conveniences. The Hinkley bikes are certainly as good as anything from Japan and some at least retain the character. It is unfortunate that the new Bonneville has gone over to alloy wheels and fuel injection although it still looks like a real motorbike.

By: robert smith

robert smith — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:15:48 +0000

If you look at early jap bikes a lot of the styles were British, but the companies would not move with the times and the designer has to eat. Also the gaskets were far superior and the engines did not leak oil.