It is said that “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery”, so, bearing that in mind, have a look at what
The Black Douglas Motorcycle Co are producing.
It’s a brand-new bike that looks similar to an early 1920’s flat-tank.
There’s a modern Taiwanese engine (based around the old Honda CG125) so its OHV, has integral gearbox with foot change, and even a leccie–start. It has modern electrics and even includes indicators.
Just for info, genuine flat-tank bikes (produced roughly up until the late 1920’s) that weren’t belt-drive generally had
• Magneto ignition, usually with a handlebar lever to vary the timing.
• Kick starting
• Both throttle and air mixture levers on the bars
• A hand operated gear lever, either on the tank or direct from the box
• A separate oil tank (often built into the flat tank), possibly with a hand-operated oil pump
• Side-valve (flathead) engines. OHV becoming more common towards the end of flat-tank production
• Acetylene lighting on the earlier models
• Handlebar mounted bulb-horn or klaxon
The Sump Magazine article reckons there’ll be two camps of thought - Those that think it’s cool, and those that think it’s a cheesy fake.
I’d suggest a lot of folk (esp non-motorcycle folk) will be fooled that its a “real” “Vintage” or “Veteran” machine (at first glance at least). Those that have Vintage and Veteran in their blood won’t.
http://theblackdouglas.com/http://sumpmagazine.com/classicbikenews/december-2014/sterling-autocycles.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUaY0vda3YwNow, after saying all that
– there is / was (?) a company across the pond called the
Timeless Motorcycle Company who are/were (?) making their version of some early 1900s inspired bikes.
Have a peer and see what you think http://timelessmotorcompany.com/home.html
So reader(s)
, is it time to done your tweeds, plus-fours, old open face, wax your handlebar moustache and pretend............. or put the hard-earned into a "genuine"?
Answers on a postcard... blah blah
