The owner’s tale: Mal Williams

A chance meeting in a pub four years ago with an old friend whom I had not seen for 30 years resulted in this bike being acquired. It was saved just in time being destined for a skip the week after... It had been in the garden under a sheet and since 1978. It was duly collected and what a state it was in – the frame and front forks had indeed been under a sheet at some time but sheets don’t last 40 years. The centrestand had rusted away completely as had the rim of the front wheel. The engine, silencers, petrol tank and seat had fared better as they had been residing in the attic. Amazingly the rear TT100 still held genuine 1978 air! Several items were found to be missing when it was loosely assembled namely coils, carbs and clocks. The sorry looking pile of bits was stowed away in the garage while we decided which way to attack it. Fast forward a year the frame has now been powder-coated, all chrome sorted, and the rear shock absorbers miraculously cleaned up well and the rebuild begins. The left hand outer crank seal is toast so it’s replaced and the engine actually starts and runs albeit rather smoky; a few short trips indicate that the other crank seals are not very happy. Also second gear is knocking badly, this bike has had a hard four years on the road in the 1970s. Crank and barrels sorted by Grampian Motors in Liverpool, a new pair of second gear cogs fitted and off we go; much better now, no nasty knocks and very little smoke. It’s settling down to be nice little runner now with a couple of hundred miles under its belt and is bedding in nicely.”