Sd. Kfz. 2 or Kettenkraftrad HK 101

tracked bike/trike fitted with a 1.0 ltr NSU lump towing a Messerschmitt 262 or Schwabe the first operational jet fighter and one of the most influential planes since the Wright Bros's kite .. A brilliant design under dev' since the early 40's a certain Austrian's constant interfering in the development programme seen it's debut into the war come too late to have any meaningful effect .. On the few occasions they raised enough to put together decent sized raiding squadrons on the U S bomber fleets pulverising Germany early '45 they were more than a match for the bombers defensives and their P51 escorts .. but too little too late and as was the case with a lot of German kit at the end everybody wanted a piece of this plane with elements of its design being reflected in U S and Soviet jet fighters that appeared a few years later .. 

 

On 9/1/2019 at 10:34 AM, ballpoint said:

Immortalised, of course, in the movie "A bridge too far".  Five VCs were awarded during the operation, with only one recipient, Major Robert Henry Cain, surviving it.  His commanding officer called it "the finest VC of the war", and his story was brilliantly told by Jeremy Clarkson, who, despite what people may think of him, has made some excellent non-car related documentaries (not that I don't like his car ones either).  And Cain was a Manx man, so even this story has some connection to bikes, however tenuous.

 

Spoiler alert for anyone who hasn't seen it and wants to watch it.  Do so before reading any further: 

 

 

At the end, Clarkson reveals that Cain was his father in law, though he died in 1974, before Clarkson met his daughter, so never met him.  A modest hero, his daughter wasn't even aware that he had won the VC until after he died.

I did see that B P and yes Clarkson told the story superbly .. Keeping within you're spoiler alert for anyone who hasn't seen it the one thing that struck home was for a quiet unassuming man how dreadfully upset he became that his men had taken such a pasting and he was jolly well going to do something about it .. And do something he did .. 

15 hours ago, canthai55 said:

Lots of guys ran 15 inch car tires on their Pans and shovels back in the day

 

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Yeah, 'cos they were cheap charlies, could'nt even afford a 5.00x16 Avon Safety Mileage, and did'nt often go around corners.

36 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

Yeah, 'cos they were cheap charlies, could'nt even afford a 5.00x16 Avon Safety Mileage, and did'nt often go around corners.

And in the land of the Pans and Shovel's a lot less corners in the highway system than in England

And in the land of the Pans and Shovel's a lot less corners in the highway system than in England

Ireland?


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https://news.maxabout.com/bikes/sub-500cc-norton-commando-cub/


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27 minutes ago, DILLIGAD said:

https://news.maxabout.com/bikes/sub-500cc-norton-commando-cub/


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Believe it when i see it.

Expected annual sales of 25k?

They can't even make 5k per annum in the UK, and are working on doubling roof capacity to enable space to double production to "eventually" 10k per annum "once" the 650 Ranger/Atlas twins start production.

Eventually.

I'm not dissing Norton, i love their Commando twins and their heritage and the name, but they are a small player nowadays in a niche market, and in a way i hope they stay that way, and survive.

Comfortably.

Certainly not expanding to making more 400cc twins with a Chinese engine made in a factory in India, looking very very very similar to the latest BSA, Harley Davidson, Laverda, and Benelli, BMW 400cc "neo-retro" twins. ????

Albeit with a different name on the tank.

Believe it when i see it.
Expected annual sales of 25k?
They can't even make 5k per annum in the UK, and are working on doubling roof capacity to enable space to double production to "eventually" 10k per annum "once" the 650 Ranger/Atlas twins start production.
Eventually.
I'm not dissing Norton, i love their Commando twins and their heritage and the name, but they are a small player nowadays in a niche market, and in a way i hope they stay that way, and survive.
Comfortably.
Certainly not expanding to making more 400cc twins with a Chinese engine made in a factory in India, looking very very very similar to the latest BSA, Harley Davidson, Laverda, and Benelli, BMW 400cc "neo-retro" twins. [emoji2961]
Albeit with a different name on the tank.

What Laverda???


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15 minutes ago, DILLIGAD said:

What Laverda???


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Same as what BSA.

Somebody, somewhere has bought the names and wants to "resurrect" the past glories.

Yawn.

I believe BSA is in the hands of some Indian conglomerate.

Matchless makes expensive clothing.

Brough is French.

And have you seen what the Chinese have been doing with AJS?

Basically Mash/GPX/Legend/Mutt 125 -250 Chinese singles made to look like 60's er AJS 125's....

Ariel is the odd one out making quality stuff, but again, 75 bikes/cars per annum is not quite 2 a week....

I'm the biggest Brit bike/Luddite/classic bike fan on this forum, but, IMHO, just let sleeping dogs lie.....

Same as what BSA.
Somebody, somewhere has bought the names and wants to "resurrect" the past glories.
Yawn.
I believe BSA is in the hands of some Indian conglomerate.
Matchless makes expensive clothing.
Brough is French.
And have you seen what the Chinese have been doing with AJS?
Basically Mash/GPX/Legend/Mutt 125 -250 Chinese singles made to look like 60's er AJS 125's....
Ariel is the odd one out making quality stuff, but again, 75 bikes/cars per annum is not quite 2 a week....
I'm the biggest Brit bike/Luddite/classic bike fan on this forum, but, IMHO, just let sleeping dogs lie.....

Wasn’t meant to question your knowledge. I just haven’t heard/seen any news about a ‘regurgitated’ Laverda, that’s all.


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4 hours ago, DILLIGAD said:

Wasn’t meant to question your knowledge. I just haven’t heard/seen any news about a ‘regurgitated’ Laverda, that’s all.


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No offence dude.

Read it somewhere. Think it's some Italian.

Just hope it does'nt go the same way as Benelli.

Nowt wrong with the product, just don't get the "designed in Italy, made in China/Thailand" malarkey.

Same as the MG adverts on the telly with the fluttering Union Jack. It's marketing Bollo##s.

You know it. I know it. Maybe the average punter does'nt know it.

 

 

Past glories hey....

The best 750 twin you could buy in the mid 70's......

Where I come from Avon sells lipstick

Yeah, 'cos they were cheap charlies, could'nt even afford a 5.00x16 Avon Safety Mileage, and did'nt often go around corners.

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21 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Believe it when i see it.

Expected annual sales of 25k?

They can't even make 5k per annum in the UK, and are working on doubling roof capacity to enable space to double production to "eventually" 10k per annum "once" the 650 Ranger/Atlas twins start production.

Eventually.

I'm not dissing Norton, i love their Commando twins and their heritage and the name, but they are a small player nowadays in a niche market, and in a way i hope they stay that way, and survive.

Comfortably.

Certainly not expanding to making more 400cc twins with a Chinese engine made in a factory in India, looking very very very similar to the latest BSA, Harley Davidson, Laverda, and Benelli, BMW 400cc "neo-retro" twins. ????

Albeit with a different name on the tank.

 

20 hours ago, DILLIGAD said:

What Laverda???


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Personally I think the way to go is small volume of high quality machinery .. Brit's bike industry cannot take on China in terms of volume but the vast majority of Chinese kit is not quality .. Norton should stick to what has got them this far in the rebirth and build bikes for niche markets with emphasis on quality and desirability .. Ditto B S A I'm not sure what the position is with who holds the name rights now but I'm in agreement that if it comes back on bikes again they cannot be cheapo Chinese junk like the M G name has been tacked on some god awful bloody contraptions .. 

I've found this photo of a " new " Lav' from 2 yrs ago but its not detailed enough to get any leads .. 

 

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

 

Personally I think the way to go is small volume of high quality machinery .. Brit's bike industry cannot take on China in terms of volume but the vast majority of Chinese kit is not quality .. Norton should stick to what has got them this far in the rebirth and build bikes for niche markets with emphasis on quality and desirability .. Ditto B S A I'm not sure what the position is with who holds the name rights now but I'm in agreement that if it comes back on bikes again they cannot be cheapo Chinese junk like the M G name has been tacked on some god awful bloody contraptions .. 

I've found this photo of a " new " Lav' from 2 yrs ago but its not detailed enough to get any leads .. 

 

Isn’t this the Laverda 650 Sport that was manufactured by the original factory up to ‘98?

Isn’t this the Laverda 650 Sport that was manufactured by the original factory up to ‘98?

Maybe
https://images.app.goo.gl/QGC3Yv8xZRKxRwpy7


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47 minutes ago, damascase said:

Isn’t this the Laverda 650 Sport that was manufactured by the original factory up to ‘98?

Not sure mate .. Found a 2 yr old article about Lav supposed to be coming back and that was one of a couple of pics attached .. Its not the clearest pic not helped by me losing my glasses so its even less clear to me .. Interestingly Laverda are quoted as being absorbed into Aprilia group about 15 yrs ago .. 

Not sure mate .. Found a 2 yr old article about Lav supposed to be coming back and that was one of a couple of pics attached .. Its not the clearest pic not helped by me losing my glasses so its even less clear to me .. Interestingly Laverda are quoted as being absorbed into Aprilia group about 15 yrs ago .. 

And it was them who ‘pulled the plug’ on them(Laverda)


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1 hour ago, DILLIGAD said:

And it was them who ‘pulled the plug’ on them(Laverda)


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Aprilia bought them in 2000, but it was actually Piaggio, who took over Aprilia in 2004, who stopped Laverda production in the same year.  They say they're willing to sell the trademark, but there's no news of them having done so.

 

There is, however, a company called Laverda Corse, which was set up in 2000 by Piero Laverda, the son of Francesco Laverda, who was the marque's original founder, but has no relationship with the old company owned by Piaggio.  It produces a limited number of SFC/4 bikes, which have a 700cc engine based on Laverda's 668cc parallel twin from the 90s.  They also produce and race replicas of the 1000cc Spaceframe Endurance racer and the 500cc "Barcelona" twin cylinder machines.

 

I guess he gets around the trademark by claiming that he's just putting his own name on the bike.

 

https://giovannilaverda.wixsite.com/laverdacorse

 

Superb 1920's Carfield 175 .. 

And a 30's Carlton .. 

 

 

1930's Frera and some Frera art .. 

Maserati tiddler 50 and a late 50's 250 which is rare even by Mazzer standards .. good looking bike that .. 

 

 

 

 

This looks interesting - Bikes - early years of motocross.  Lots of pics.

 

http://www.earlyyearsofmx.com/index.php/bikes-new/

 

How about this sexy number - I'm sure the Italian designers learned a lot about styling from Greeves. 

Greeves 250 Starmaker 24ME (1963)

 

13 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

This looks interesting - Bikes - early years of motocross.  Lots of pics.

 

http://www.earlyyearsofmx.com/index.php/bikes-new/

 

How about this sexy number - I'm sure the Italian designers learned a lot about styling from Greeves. 

Greeves 250 Starmaker 24ME (1963)

 

Trials version....

 

Another Frere .. 

30's Sertum 350 and a beautiful Fusi .. 

 

Life's a Bianchi:
 

1952 Stelvio 250

 

1949 Bianchina 125

 

1934 Freccia D'Oro 175

 

1926 350 Freccia Celeste.

This bike was raced by the great Tazio Nuvolari, the man who, when his steering wheel broke during a car race in 1946, finished the race by using a wrench to steer the car, while waving the wheel at the crowd:

 

Sadly, this is what a modern (2017) Freccia Celeste looks like:

 

 

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Puch's .. Mid 30's S500 2 stroke twin , 250 single and a slightly later well worn 250 .. Unusual in that the cranks all run north/south but none are shaft drive so the motion has to turn thru 90° to get to the chain .. 

 

Confederate's P51 .. A tribute to the original P51 in the background .. 

Personally I prefer the Wraith if I had to have a Con' .. the 51 looks too Meccano .. 

A superb side on shot of a Mustang and a P47 Thunderbolt .. One of the biggest single seater planes of WW2 and also the most heavily armed with EIGHT .50 cal's as standard plus a ton of bombs or direct fire rockets with some getting 37 mm cannons firing armour piercing rounds instead of rockets .. along with the Typhoon these wrecked havoc in France after D-day .. 

18 pot Pratt & Whitney radial with a highly unusual turbocharging arrangement that had the turbo mounted way back down the airframe with the compressed charge being returned back to the engine the other side of the bulkhead .. The exhausts to spin it were run exposed along the bottom of the airframe .. the ground crews reckon they were easily visible glowing red as the plane took off with max munitions and fuel on board .. 

 

 

Schüttoff 198 cc stroker from mid 20's .. 

Russian L300 from about 10 yrs later .. Note the similarities in the engine .. The L300 is said to have been the first motorcycle produced in any numbers in Russia .. 

 

Cimatti was an Italian bicycle manufacturer, founded by Marco Cimatti, a gold medal winning Olympic cyclist, in 1937, that later started making small motorcycles.  They were known for stylish street and trials bikes, winning the Italian 50cc trials championship 3 times in the late 60s.  They went out of business in 1984.

 

A very sweet looking 1976 Kaiman 6M

 

1982 Kaiman X21

 

1965 S4/B

early 50's Hercules 316 model ..

30's Hercules 98 cc ..

late 60's Hercules 250 with trademark Herc' front end .. 

Hercules C130 gunship sometimes referred to as the Angel of Death .. Started life as a workhorse cargo plane it morphed into a flying gun platform after being fitted with a 105 mm artillery piece , a 40mm A A gun and one sometimes two miniguns to then fly ( fairly ) slowly in a big circle around a target pouring huge amounts of fire on it .. Retro fitted with all the latest electronic kit along with night , thermal and ultra high def' camera's means death will be along shortly if it gets on you're case .. Debuted in Vietnam 50 yrs ago it as made appearances in most campaigns the U S have been involved in since and in some cases it's very presence in the vicinity has the baddies getting the hell out of there ..