Hello all. My name is Paul and I'm pleased to be a member of this forum. I live in the Isle of Wight, England and have had a number of motorcycles over the (many) years.
Nowadays I have a 2001 Harley Sportster, a 1976 BMW R100RS, 2 Normans, a 1944 Autocycle/Autobyke & a 1957 200cc Trials machine and my lovely (well used) 1951 BSA Golden Flash.
The GF is as far as I can tell a one owner from new machine who's owner used it a main transport all his life. When he had small children he used a chair and as a solo subsequently. He sadly died in 1999 and his wife who died last year left it in his shed unwilling to sell it.
I bought it from their sons when the estate was disposed of. The GF is called Les in memory of its former owner.
I am having some troubles with it at present. I will not stop firing back through the carb, most annoying! It did not do this when I first bought it but it stared to do this latterly so I bit the bullet and sent the carb (pre mono) to Martin Bratby for re-sleeving/restoration and a lovely job he made of it but it still was farting and banging, have replaced the head gasket and two into one down pipes (these were held together with exhaust paste!) but still no joy. Bearing in mind she starts first kick and still does, no smoke or oil, I now suspect the magneto as the slip ring looks rusty on one side?? Grateful for your thoughts....
Anyway, enough of my moaning, I love old motorcycles and classic cars. I also own a 1957 Austin A35 Saloon and a 1985 Audi Coupe who's former owner was the legendary Spitfire ace and test pilot, Squadron Leader Nevil Duke. He held the air speed record in a Hawker Hunter for years!
