Interesting to see a video of a French motorcycle from the 1930s. By the mid-30s, lever throttles were mostly superseded by twistgrips on British machines. Harold Willis of Velocette designed the first effective positive-stop foot gearchange in the late 1920s, and other manufacturers moved from hand- to foot-change during the 1930s. Velocette also developed the automatic ignition advance/retard in 1936 conjunction with their supplier of magnetos, BTH (British Thompson Houston) although manual ignition controls were still in use over two decades later, especially on sports machines. It’s the requirement for rider involvement that I find so interesting about older machines. One thing that does puzzle me though, is why so many vintage machines now have picnic hampers on their racks. I don’t recall seeing one on any vintage motorcycle when I first started riding nearly 60 years ago, and I’ve never seen a period photograph of a motorcycle sporting a hamper.
Yes The French liked them as a sort of cruise control over their straight open roads Also good over bumps The velocette gear change is covered on one of my videos on most important motorcycles Including Scott and the tele forks and kick start Of course
@@bikerdood1100 I have the adjuster on twistgrips tightened so that the throttle doesn’t close when I take my hand off for the same reasons, and also so that the bike doesn’t doesn’t decelerate when I’m signalling to turn right. (No indicators on my KSS)! I’ve discovered your channel only recently. I’ll have a look for your piece about the Velocette foot change. I had a Scott Flying Squirrel, but being a 1930 model, it still had a hand change.
I just got a 1929 Matchless T4. After decades on Japanese bikes, the controls are so different! I was wobbly too for the for first 5 mins. You do relax and get used to it. I need to get out on the open road and play with the air lever settings.
It can take a little adaptation but it’s incredibly rewarding The most challenging and most fun on two wheels 200hp pah Easy by comparison, no rider aids here 😂
@@bikerdood1100 I love it! I've had VFRs and other faster stuff, but this little Matchless is so much fun. Sounds nuts, but it feels more like flying a small aircraft.
What a brilliant video,I would like to get a flat tanker and this is a great incite into the workings of such a bike ,Tom got there in the end.👍
Oh it didn’t take him long
Considering, big change from a conventional bike
@@bikerdood1100 I know, it’s a bit like rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time.
Interesting to see a video of a French motorcycle from the 1930s. By the mid-30s, lever throttles were mostly superseded by twistgrips on British machines. Harold Willis of Velocette designed the first effective positive-stop foot gearchange in the late 1920s, and other manufacturers moved from hand- to foot-change during the 1930s. Velocette also developed the automatic ignition advance/retard in 1936 conjunction with their supplier of magnetos, BTH (British Thompson Houston) although manual ignition controls were still in use over two decades later, especially on sports machines. It’s the requirement for rider involvement that I find so interesting about older machines. One thing that does puzzle me though, is why so many vintage machines now have picnic hampers on their racks. I don’t recall seeing one on any vintage motorcycle when I first started riding nearly 60 years ago, and I’ve never seen a period photograph of a motorcycle sporting a hamper.
Yes
The French liked them as a sort of cruise control over their straight open roads
Also good over bumps
The velocette gear change is covered on one of my videos on most important motorcycles
Including Scott and the tele forks and kick start
Of course
@@bikerdood1100 I have the adjuster on twistgrips tightened so that the throttle doesn’t close when I take my hand off for the same reasons, and also so that the bike doesn’t doesn’t decelerate when I’m signalling to turn right. (No indicators on my KSS)! I’ve discovered your channel only recently. I’ll have a look for your piece about the Velocette foot change. I had a Scott Flying Squirrel, but being a 1930 model, it still had a hand change.
I just got a 1929 Matchless T4. After decades on Japanese bikes, the controls are so different! I was wobbly too for the for first 5 mins. You do relax and get used to it. I need to get out on the open road and play with the air lever settings.
It can take a little adaptation but it’s incredibly rewarding
The most challenging and most fun on two wheels
200hp pah
Easy by comparison, no rider aids here 😂
@@bikerdood1100 I love it! I've had VFRs and other faster stuff, but this little Matchless is so much fun. Sounds nuts, but it feels more like flying a small aircraft.
Cool bike . It actually has speed control.
Yeh !
Had that monster to 45mph
Any quicker is plain scary
Ha ha. He's a natural, Brilliant 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Nice bike! I own a (fixer upper) Terrot JSS (HSSO) 350, but what kind of oil are you using?
I’m using 20/50 mineral oil
Use the same on my BSA
@@bikerdood1100 thank you!
Complicated thing that👍
He got
@@bikerdood1100 i doubt if could remember all that 🤔👍