Lovely tour of the National Motorcycle Museum , great to see Barrys old Walmsley Manx. I worked for Dunlops Moto GP tyre service back then and fitted a pair of race tyres for him that weekend also cut him some extra tread into a pair of intermediate tyes too ai seem to recall. I worked on the Val Moto Triumphs in 2004 while woking for Pirelli. Good days !
I live in the U S and really enjoyed today's video. The colors and early beginnings were impressive. As I'm now 71, I'm gravitating towards the historical side of the motos. I could spend a week there. Thanks for the tour. 👍👍
A cracking tour around a wonderful venue, anyone who is even remotely interested in motorcycles will be in heaven there it is without a doubt the best collection of British built motorcycles in the world. As you say Keith, how did we go from being the biggest producer of bikers in the world to what we have today, unbelievable, thanks for that buddy 👍
A really great video, it was good that the R.E. Classic 350 was the red and chrome model, the museum obviously knows about classy bikes 🤣 As for the rigid rear end of pre war bikes, my father bought a BSA 350 cc Empire Star new in 1938 and did lots of long distance travelling until petrol rationing came in with WW2. he told tales of mixing paraffin with petrol to carry on using it and trying to filter out the dye of 'Pool Petrol' without any success. The light you thought was oil was in fact an acetylene one burning the gas made by mixing chloride and water in the reservoir at the bottom of the lamp. My grandfather's pushbike still had them on the I was very young. As for the demise of the British motorcycle industry, where can I start? Poor and incompetent management, lack of investment in modern machinery etc and ancient factories. But one of the biggest reasons was the advent of cheap small cars like the mini which were not much more expensive than a decent motorbike. The final nail in the coffin was the oil crisis of 73/74 where crude oil went up by 150% in about a year. The whole of the western economy went 'tits up' from then on and motorbike industry/BSA ceased trading. In about 1954 or so their advert was 1 in 4 bikes in the world was made by BSA they were the biggest manufacturers in the world after buying Triumph. Alas they didn't modernise then.
Thanks for sharing Mate. I think They had a Red and Chrome because all the others had sold out😉. Your potted History is interesting, such a shame. Just a sign of the times I guess, a changing world. Ride safe mate 👍
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Lovely tour of the National Motorcycle Museum , great to see Barrys old Walmsley Manx. I worked for Dunlops Moto GP tyre service back then and fitted a pair of race tyres for him that weekend also cut him some extra tread into a pair of intermediate tyes too ai seem to recall. I worked on the Val Moto Triumphs in 2004 while woking for Pirelli. Good days !
Wonderful memories then.
Where did that time go?
Ride safe Mate 👍
I live in the U S and really enjoyed today's video. The colors and early beginnings were impressive. As I'm now 71, I'm gravitating towards the historical side of the motos. I could spend a week there.
Thanks for the tour. 👍👍
Absolute pleasure John. Thank you for commenting.
Ride safe👍
Part II. Thanks Keith. So much to see, glad for splitting it up into two parts 👍
A cracking tour around a wonderful venue, anyone who is even remotely interested in motorcycles will be in heaven there it is without a doubt the best collection of British built motorcycles in the world. As you say Keith, how did we go from being the biggest producer of bikers in the world to what we have today, unbelievable, thanks for that buddy 👍
Absolute pleasure Mike.
Ride safe👍
A really great video, it was good that the R.E. Classic 350 was the red and chrome model, the museum obviously knows about classy bikes 🤣
As for the rigid rear end of pre war bikes, my father bought a BSA 350 cc Empire Star new in 1938 and did lots of long distance travelling until petrol rationing came in with WW2. he told tales of mixing paraffin with petrol to carry on using it and trying to filter out the dye of 'Pool Petrol' without any success.
The light you thought was oil was in fact an acetylene one burning the gas made by mixing chloride and water in the reservoir at the bottom of the lamp. My grandfather's pushbike still had them on the I was very young.
As for the demise of the British motorcycle industry, where can I start? Poor and incompetent management, lack of investment in modern machinery etc and ancient factories. But one of the biggest reasons was the advent of cheap small cars like the mini which were not much more expensive than a decent motorbike. The final nail in the coffin was the oil crisis of 73/74 where crude oil went up by 150% in about a year. The whole of the western economy went 'tits up' from then on and motorbike industry/BSA ceased trading. In about 1954 or so their advert was 1 in 4 bikes in the world was made by BSA they were the biggest manufacturers in the world after buying Triumph. Alas they didn't modernise then.
Thanks for sharing Mate.
I think They had a Red and Chrome because all the others had sold out😉.
Your potted History is interesting, such a shame.
Just a sign of the times I guess, a changing world.
Ride safe mate 👍
What an amazing place, the number of bikes is astonishing, like you said you could spend all day there.
You could mate.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Ride safe👍
Another wonderful video Keith! Thank you for taking time to share this. It's the only way we in the States can see an all British bike museum.
You are very welcome, I'm pleased that you enjoyed it.👍