Tributes, are they allowed? The guy was a Yorkshireman.

[fred]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Sunday, in article <[email protected]>
[email protected] "Mike Clayton" wrote:

> In message <[email protected]>, timr
> <[email protected]> writes

> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
> >my 16th .
>
> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.

They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
just fell over for no reason at all.

Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
still would be damn near a writeoff.

--
ô
õçîd

 

[Mike Clayton]

Re: ex-pat tractor

In message <[email protected]>, timr
<[email protected]> writes
>> Incidentally, before that I had a Rayleigh Wisp. Anyone remember those?
>> --
>> Mike Clayton
>> To right the wrong is always right
>> <take out the plug to email me>
>> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton
>
>Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
>quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
>my 16th .
>

If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.
--
Mike Clayton
To right the wrong is always right
<take out the plug to email me>
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton

 

[fred]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Sunday, in article <[email protected]>
[email protected] "Mike Clayton" wrote:

> In message <[email protected]>, timr
> <[email protected]> writes

> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
> >my 16th .
>
> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.

They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
just fell over for no reason at all.

Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
still would be damn near a writeoff.

--
ô
õçîd

 

[Mike Clayton]

Re: ex-pat tractor

In message <[email protected]>, fred
<[email protected]> writes
>> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
>> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
>> >my 16th .
>>
>> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.
>
>They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
>falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
>just fell over for no reason at all.

I only managed to fall off it once, and that was whilst attempting to
start it. I was frantically pedalling with it on the stand, and then it
wasn't

I did give a bus conductor a laugh when I applied just a little too much
throttle behind his bus. The Wisp came out between my legs and 'reared
up'. The conductor shouted out, 'Ride him cowboy!'
>
>Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
>going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
>could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
>your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
>still would be damn near a writeoff.
>
Sod's Law 15
--
Mike Clayton
To right the wrong is always right
<take out the plug to email me>
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:45:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred)
wrote:

>
>Nice little bikes the Tiger Cub, much better than a Bantam. Not as
>good as a C15 though.

My first bike was Tiger Cub (Trial version). Like you say a nice
little bike, but very prone to big-end failure, and the integral
gearbox made it a bit of a sod to work on till you got used to it.
Which didn't take long, given the regular nature of bearing
replacements. I got an engine strip down and rebuild down to under two
hours before I thought "sod this" and bought an AJS 350 single.
That one lasted a couple of years, then I got an Enfield 500 Bullet.
Nice bike, but the one I really lusted for was the BSA Gold Star.
The only thing I've ever ridden that came anywhere near it was the AJS
7R.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Mike Clayton]

Re: ex-pat tractor

In message <[email protected]>, fred
<[email protected]> writes
>> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
>> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
>> >my 16th .
>>
>> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.
>
>They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
>falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
>just fell over for no reason at all.

I only managed to fall off it once, and that was whilst attempting to
start it. I was frantically pedalling with it on the stand, and then it
wasn't

I did give a bus conductor a laugh when I applied just a little too much
throttle behind his bus. The Wisp came out between my legs and 'reared
up'. The conductor shouted out, 'Ride him cowboy!'
>
>Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
>going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
>could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
>your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
>still would be damn near a writeoff.
>
Sod's Law 15
--
Mike Clayton
To right the wrong is always right
<take out the plug to email me>
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:45:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred)
wrote:

>
>Nice little bikes the Tiger Cub, much better than a Bantam. Not as
>good as a C15 though.

My first bike was Tiger Cub (Trial version). Like you say a nice
little bike, but very prone to big-end failure, and the integral
gearbox made it a bit of a sod to work on till you got used to it.
Which didn't take long, given the regular nature of bearing
replacements. I got an engine strip down and rebuild down to under two
hours before I thought "sod this" and bought an AJS 350 single.
That one lasted a couple of years, then I got an Enfield 500 Bullet.
Nice bike, but the one I really lusted for was the BSA Gold Star.
The only thing I've ever ridden that came anywhere near it was the AJS
7R.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Mike Clayton]

Re: ex-pat tractor

In message <[email protected]>, fred
<[email protected]> writes
>> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
>> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
>> >my 16th .
>>
>> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.
>
>They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
>falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
>just fell over for no reason at all.

I only managed to fall off it once, and that was whilst attempting to
start it. I was frantically pedalling with it on the stand, and then it
wasn't

I did give a bus conductor a laugh when I applied just a little too much
throttle behind his bus. The Wisp came out between my legs and 'reared
up'. The conductor shouted out, 'Ride him cowboy!'
>
>Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
>going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
>could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
>your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
>still would be damn near a writeoff.
>
Sod's Law 15
--
Mike Clayton
To right the wrong is always right
<take out the plug to email me>
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:45:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred)
wrote:

>
>Nice little bikes the Tiger Cub, much better than a Bantam. Not as
>good as a C15 though.

My first bike was Tiger Cub (Trial version). Like you say a nice
little bike, but very prone to big-end failure, and the integral
gearbox made it a bit of a sod to work on till you got used to it.
Which didn't take long, given the regular nature of bearing
replacements. I got an engine strip down and rebuild down to under two
hours before I thought "sod this" and bought an AJS 350 single.
That one lasted a couple of years, then I got an Enfield 500 Bullet.
Nice bike, but the one I really lusted for was the BSA Gold Star.
The only thing I've ever ridden that came anywhere near it was the AJS
7R.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Mike Clayton]

Re: ex-pat tractor

In message <[email protected]>, fred
<[email protected]> writes
>> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
>> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
>> >my 16th .
>>
>> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.
>
>They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
>falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
>just fell over for no reason at all.

I only managed to fall off it once, and that was whilst attempting to
start it. I was frantically pedalling with it on the stand, and then it
wasn't

I did give a bus conductor a laugh when I applied just a little too much
throttle behind his bus. The Wisp came out between my legs and 'reared
up'. The conductor shouted out, 'Ride him cowboy!'
>
>Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
>going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
>could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
>your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
>still would be damn near a writeoff.
>
Sod's Law 15
--
Mike Clayton
To right the wrong is always right
<take out the plug to email me>
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:45:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred)
wrote:

>
>Nice little bikes the Tiger Cub, much better than a Bantam. Not as
>good as a C15 though.

My first bike was Tiger Cub (Trial version). Like you say a nice
little bike, but very prone to big-end failure, and the integral
gearbox made it a bit of a sod to work on till you got used to it.
Which didn't take long, given the regular nature of bearing
replacements. I got an engine strip down and rebuild down to under two
hours before I thought "sod this" and bought an AJS 350 single.
That one lasted a couple of years, then I got an Enfield 500 Bullet.
Nice bike, but the one I really lusted for was the BSA Gold Star.
The only thing I've ever ridden that came anywhere near it was the AJS
7R.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Mike Clayton]

Re: ex-pat tractor

In message <[email protected]>, fred
<[email protected]> writes
>> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
>> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
>> >my 16th .
>>
>> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.
>
>They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
>falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
>just fell over for no reason at all.

I only managed to fall off it once, and that was whilst attempting to
start it. I was frantically pedalling with it on the stand, and then it
wasn't

I did give a bus conductor a laugh when I applied just a little too much
throttle behind his bus. The Wisp came out between my legs and 'reared
up'. The conductor shouted out, 'Ride him cowboy!'
>
>Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
>going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
>could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
>your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
>still would be damn near a writeoff.
>
Sod's Law 15
--
Mike Clayton
To right the wrong is always right
<take out the plug to email me>
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:45:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred)
wrote:

>
>Nice little bikes the Tiger Cub, much better than a Bantam. Not as
>good as a C15 though.

My first bike was Tiger Cub (Trial version). Like you say a nice
little bike, but very prone to big-end failure, and the integral
gearbox made it a bit of a sod to work on till you got used to it.
Which didn't take long, given the regular nature of bearing
replacements. I got an engine strip down and rebuild down to under two
hours before I thought "sod this" and bought an AJS 350 single.
That one lasted a couple of years, then I got an Enfield 500 Bullet.
Nice bike, but the one I really lusted for was the BSA Gold Star.
The only thing I've ever ridden that came anywhere near it was the AJS
7R.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Mike Clayton]

Re: ex-pat tractor

In message <[email protected]>, fred
<[email protected]> writes
>> >Yes, I can remember the Ralleigh mopeds. A friend of mine had an NSU
>> >quickly. I was lucky enough to own a mobylette, my Dad bought it for
>> >my 16th .
>>
>> If I see a Wisp on Ebay I may buy it. They were neat little mopeds.
>
>They were bloody horrible, I never once managed to ride one without
>falling off. I could stay on a 650 twin no problem but them buggers
>just fell over for no reason at all.

I only managed to fall off it once, and that was whilst attempting to
start it. I was frantically pedalling with it on the stand, and then it
wasn't

I did give a bus conductor a laugh when I applied just a little too much
throttle behind his bus. The Wisp came out between my legs and 'reared
up'. The conductor shouted out, 'Ride him cowboy!'
>
>Talking of falling off, did you ever notice that the faster you were
>going the less damage you did? If you fell off a bike at 30 mph you
>could usually pick it up without a scratch, pick the gravel out of
>your palms and ride away. A bike that fell over when it was stood
>still would be damn near a writeoff.
>
Sod's Law 15
--
Mike Clayton
To right the wrong is always right
<take out the plug to email me>
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike_clayton

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:45:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred)
wrote:

>
>Nice little bikes the Tiger Cub, much better than a Bantam. Not as
>good as a C15 though.

My first bike was Tiger Cub (Trial version). Like you say a nice
little bike, but very prone to big-end failure, and the integral
gearbox made it a bit of a sod to work on till you got used to it.
Which didn't take long, given the regular nature of bearing
replacements. I got an engine strip down and rebuild down to under two
hours before I thought "sod this" and bought an AJS 350 single.
That one lasted a couple of years, then I got an Enfield 500 Bullet.
Nice bike, but the one I really lusted for was the BSA Gold Star.
The only thing I've ever ridden that came anywhere near it was the AJS
7R.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 08:15:05 +0000, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 19:50:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred) wrote:
>
>>Good bikes the Panther, fired once per lamppost.
>
>Indeed : )
>
>The pillion seat was amazingly high -

So was the rider's. One of the lads I worked with had a Panther,
although I seem to recall it was the 650 single - made in Cleckheaton
incidentally. His method of dismounting was to decide which way the
bike was going to fall when he stopped, and jump off that side before
it did. He usually got it right.

He persevered with it for a fair while, but eventually got rid when it
broke his ankle. Not the dismounting bit, but the kickstart. They had
a decompression lever to make it easier to kick over, and one morning
he forget to use it. When it fired the recoil on the pedal threw him
over the bike.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 08:15:05 +0000, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 19:50:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred) wrote:
>
>>Good bikes the Panther, fired once per lamppost.
>
>Indeed : )
>
>The pillion seat was amazingly high -

So was the rider's. One of the lads I worked with had a Panther,
although I seem to recall it was the 650 single - made in Cleckheaton
incidentally. His method of dismounting was to decide which way the
bike was going to fall when he stopped, and jump off that side before
it did. He usually got it right.

He persevered with it for a fair while, but eventually got rid when it
broke his ankle. Not the dismounting bit, but the kickstart. They had
a decompression lever to make it easier to kick over, and one morning
he forget to use it. When it fired the recoil on the pedal threw him
over the bike.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 08:15:05 +0000, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 19:50:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred) wrote:
>
>>Good bikes the Panther, fired once per lamppost.
>
>Indeed : )
>
>The pillion seat was amazingly high -

So was the rider's. One of the lads I worked with had a Panther,
although I seem to recall it was the 650 single - made in Cleckheaton
incidentally. His method of dismounting was to decide which way the
bike was going to fall when he stopped, and jump off that side before
it did. He usually got it right.

He persevered with it for a fair while, but eventually got rid when it
broke his ankle. Not the dismounting bit, but the kickstart. They had
a decompression lever to make it easier to kick over, and one morning
he forget to use it. When it fired the recoil on the pedal threw him
over the bike.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 08:15:05 +0000, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 19:50:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred) wrote:
>
>>Good bikes the Panther, fired once per lamppost.
>
>Indeed : )
>
>The pillion seat was amazingly high -

So was the rider's. One of the lads I worked with had a Panther,
although I seem to recall it was the 650 single - made in Cleckheaton
incidentally. His method of dismounting was to decide which way the
bike was going to fall when he stopped, and jump off that side before
it did. He usually got it right.

He persevered with it for a fair while, but eventually got rid when it
broke his ankle. Not the dismounting bit, but the kickstart. They had
a decompression lever to make it easier to kick over, and one morning
he forget to use it. When it fired the recoil on the pedal threw him
over the bike.

Cheers
Ian D

 

[Ian D]

Re: ex-pat tractor

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 08:15:05 +0000, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 19:50:04 +0000, [email protected] (fred) wrote:
>
>>Good bikes the Panther, fired once per lamppost.
>
>Indeed : )
>
>The pillion seat was amazingly high -

So was the rider's. One of the lads I worked with had a Panther,
although I seem to recall it was the 650 single - made in Cleckheaton
incidentally. His method of dismounting was to decide which way the
bike was going to fall when he stopped, and jump off that side before
it did. He usually got it right.

He persevered with it for a fair while, but eventually got rid when it
broke his ankle. Not the dismounting bit, but the kickstart. They had
a decompression lever to make it easier to kick over, and one morning
he forget to use it. When it fired the recoil on the pedal threw him
over the bike.

Cheers
Ian D