FINGER-LICKIN’ GOOD
TRIALS BANTAM
• Built 2018É19 ( rayton frame] B1Ç5 engine) • Bore 6{mm • -troke 58mm • Capacity: 186cc • Comp ratio ot knoün • Carb 626 mal • Gearbox our-spee`
“This is the last Drayton frame made for a Bantam by Jim Pickering, who was Mr Drayton. He passed away last year. I’d ordered the frame kit, with saddle and tank, at the Dirt Bike Show 12 months ago and got it in the last week of July, so it’s been built over a period from then until March this year.
The forks are Marzocchi, but I’ve ordered a pair of REHS from Duncan Mcdonald so the bike can be fully Scottish Pre-65 legal. I also have Rock Shocks for it. The engine has been bored to 186cc and has a Rex Caunt crank. The head’s been modified for squish and skimmed. It’s got a 12-tooth primary gear from Drayton and has a low second gear and higher fourth gear. It’s got a stock clutch – with carefully routed cable and a longer clutch arm; clutch pull is so light you wouldn’t believe it’s a Bantam clutch. The carb is a 626 Amal, jetted to suit the engine mods. The ignition is Electrics World electronic.
The wheels are by Jerry Minchell – aluminium hubs with SM Pro rims and spokes from Central Rims. The front tyre is a Michelin, the rear is an IRC. It’s got a Montesa 313 4RT front mudguard with hand-made brackets. The sprockets are Talon with a 420 chain by Renold. The levers, throttle and grips are Domino. I’ve also fitted bar end protectors.”
‘RESTORE THEM COMPLETELY OR LEAVE THE PATINA! THERE IS NO HALFWAY HOUSE’
I don’t smoke or drink, so why not do this? The only ones I’m keeping are the D13, D1 rigid and the D7 I’m working on. And if certain Bantams come up, like a Bushman, then of course I’ll buy them.
“It’s a rollercoaster, finding bikes. Sometimes they seem to be really scarce, then you get a guy selling several in one go. I advertise in local papers and found a chap who sold me a 1954 D1 and a pile of spares – and he sold a D1 to Keith, a friend of mine. The only thing that may change is that I’m at a stage where I might put a hold on bike restoration and sort the house. It needs
‘IT’S A ROLLERCOASTER, FINDING BIKES. SOMETIMES THEY’RE SCARCE, THEN YOU GET A GUY SELLING SEVERAL IN ONE GO’
decoration and sorting out so I might do that for a while.
“I’ll always keep the Flea – it’s all about sentimental value. I’ve also got a 500 Triumph, but otherwise it’s all small bikes. You can push them around easily. And I’ve always preferred things like Bantams. I’m doing more trials bikes now. I needed a change from Bantams.” Dave’s worked on Bantams for so long now that he takes the restoration process for granted and doesn’t find anything about Bantam rebuilds particularly challenging. But he does offer some advice to would-be Bantam restorers: “Either restore them completely or leave the patina! There’s no halfway house. It’s like my Flea – it’s an 80-year-old bike, but to restore it would take away the value and every memory that my dad, his dad and myself have of the bike.
“But I’ve no problem restoring a bike that I buy with no knowledge of its history. Like the grey D3 Bantam I’ve got to do. I can restore that, because I’ve no idea of its past. The red D7 Sport – I’ll change the seat but leave the rest as it is, because the patina is great.”
What about favourites? Is it a case of the older the better, or do the new Bantams give him more pleasure?
“It’s hard to say what’s the best bike or my favourite bike among the Bantam range. It’s whatever takes my fancy at the time. I do enjoy D1s, but then I like the trials Bantams which are thoroughly modern and allow me to indulge in doing anything I want with the build. For example, I’m getting REH forks for the next trials Bantam. I can buy a new frame and build another – but this time do the frame black. It’ll have a 186cc engine like my Drayton Bantam. Totally trick.”