Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Another travesty, SS100 this time..

John, I suspect one sets one`s datum in the era of ones formative years in terms of matters automotive...? Perhaps even as in little time as the passage of a decade can make quite a difference in one`s preferences, given the likely speed of progress in the 1900`s ..?
Norton Dominator and Triumph Bonniville, much less so BSA were the top dogs in my era, the plain bearing on the crank in the Beesa was not a favourite, though my uncle (ex racer) being circa 25 years older than I had raced a 500 BSA Gold Star, which he preferred to the Manx Norton... In those times if it did not leak oil it had none left in it... (-:
My Barbour jacket had pockets full of pliers, screw driver, spark plug, various chain links, half links, spring links, even some clutch corks... in it, every time one threw it down the road gravel rash was expected, but the hope was that one did not end up with pliers or screw driver embedded in one`s anatomy... (-:

I guess my "era" spanned the growing domination of Jap bikes, my pal had a Triumph dealership, later Triumph BSA before changing over to Honda... I well remember the brand new oil in frame Bonivilles leaking oil out of their push rod tubes after very few miles..!!! Triumph Twins used external push rod tubes for decades, sigh... Seems that silicone gasket goo arrived just at the right time for Triumphs new Bonny...
I well remember the first Honda Gold Wing in Scotland arriving at his dealership, which he intended to put on track at Knockhill, and asked me to put some miles on it beforehand, which I initially did on the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh back and forth a few times, Once opened up it was a powerful lump at the time but no racer for sure, though I do remember it sliding under power , and the front tyre hopping under heavy braking.... Interesting machine, compared to the 850 Commando he lent me to take to the IOM, which was a whole lot different from my slimline Featherbead Dommi .... I went back to m/cycles in my 50`s and bought a BMW R 80R, still as daft as ever I even rode the thing in the snow... I gave up on bikes when I required to wear glasses..

John that which you applied to bikes in your last paragraph above, is identical to that which I apply to both cars and bikes... and why when the sun is out, my old Mog sees more use than the 991...(-:


P.S. I have another pal who is still into bikes, and has a collection of old Triumphs, which he restored, even has a modern Harley, though he suffered an episode while trying to kick over one of his old Triumphs and ended up in hospital to have a stent fitted...Fortunately recovered well, now has just completed the restoration of an old dog of a 500 velo, staring that will no doubt be a bit of a health risk...
As ever each to their own.
Hope your "new" bike brings much pleasure.
BTW a local youngster has a imported and EVO Harley from the US, and is currently jumping through hoops in a bid to get it UK registered

I was getting quite excited when I saw the title, SS100, wow, who has bought one of those but it turns out to be a motorbike!

I met the owner/rider of this machine at Dawlish Sainsburys filling station several weeks ago and admiring his bike had an interesting natter - he even mentioned toying with the idea of getting himself a Morgan. He mention too it is a very limited edition of hand made bikes but requires servicing in France, as no one in Britain is capable enough to work on them.
To my eye the machine stood out immediately as something very special and even superior to the original from the lean looking sculpted bare metal parts and exposed bare bones of the frame. I certainly would not call it a travesty.

I had an early Gl1000 Goldwing, which I'd bought off a mate back in the mid 90's. There was a chunk ground away on both sides of the timing belt cover, after a rather enthusiastic lap of the IOMTT he'd done. Did about 130,000 miles in her, but the engine eventually gave up the ghost. I fitted a new one, but got fed up with the rather temperamental carbs and let her go last year.


Both my 1984 FLHT (EVO) and 1980 XLH (Ironhead) were imports. Found the process really straightforward - sent all the documents off, and a few weeks later got a V5 through the post and an email with the new reg number.

As long as he has a NOVA and a Dating Cert (previous US Title, or an email from HD)he should have no problems.

Thanks for the reply TBM, I think the issue is that this bike has been through a few hands and that the youngster bought it without the required paperwork, which seems to be the issue. I do remember a pal buying an American import Triumph 650 Twin (TR6..?) from a UK importer perhaps 20 years or so ago, and it having all the required paperwork to get it UK registered, which he later restored, I sprayed the tank and mudguards back to original for him. Coincidentally, at the same time I had my first ride on a Harley.... While the look sound and low down power of the Harley (shovel head) impressed me greatly, the Triumph more suited my m/cycle preferences..

Having enjoyed seeing the real thing at Bovington with Graham during a couple of visits there I strongly disagree, they had class and style a plenty and were very advanced for the time.

This is like an Egli Vincent except they actually look akin to the real deal, whereas this pastiche is fugly, as in choice of Morgan’s it’s an individual thing.

I'll just leave this here for people to judge for themselves ... it's a value judgenent thing so there's no right or wrong ..... the original wasn't by any means sleek ... however for me there's no contest! 🙂



K

Would be the original for me, though that Moggo mentioned that this new "Brough" was of French manufacture piqued my interest so went off in search of some more info and found this vid. Having got so used to the sound of the V Twin Harley, I would not have imagined this bike to sound as it does... Interesting concept, though unlike the original it seems not to have had the investment potential that can be so important for some...?

I think I have self cancelling indicators, and press both for the hazards...they may have become standard fit back in the early '90's. possibly '91 as my '90 Gray Ghost Fatboy from memory didn't have the feature,Many thanks for the info.

Perhaps the French did themselves an injustice by naming it after a British Classic. A more apt name might have been "Le Baguette Supérieur", after the shape of the fuel tank, the part which I felt did not replicate the original as well as it might have alongside the spoked wheels that would have looked much nicer had they been formed of wire S/S as per the original Brough Superior.