TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Sixty years ago as a thirteen year-old schoolboy I was given gratis my first motorcycle. It was a 1930s 225cc Royal Enfield hand-change two-stroke. This mechanical baptism led to a lifelong enduring interactive desire to fettle such machines as a KSS Velocette, Vincent Comet, BSA Golden Flash, and many other British bikes before the modern sophistication of motorcycles arrived.

A workshop ethos developed from boyhood inevitably led to the accumulation of many tools. In my youth, torque wrenches were not readily affordable and I acquired a feeling for the tightness of nuts, bolts, fasteners so I could discriminate between finger-tight, tight, and – oh dear, stripped! Even in my dotage this mechanical nous has not deserted me. However, future biking generations are unlikely to experience those spannering joys of yesteryear which seem to be disappearing in sheets of plastic, computer-aided design and five-star servicing.

Lately my loyalty to the glorious days of British motorcycling has been questioned by my wife and son who think I should move into the 21st century. This according to them might mean buying a brand new machine under warranty, which would negate kneeling in pools of oil and getting my hands greasy. As both my James and Francis-Barnett are, or will be approaching the once defined state age of human retirement, perhaps I should be given a mechanical allowance to keep them running? To some extent I already am, for their road tax is free, and bikes prior to 1960 do not need a MoT, so it’s not all doom, and gloom!

They say that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Bearing (well-greased of course…) this in mind, I have decided against a new plasticised machine requiring a duly stamped main dealer warranty book of routine maintenance. Therefore, I intend to keep my garage full of patinated tools, etc, and to remain firmly rooted within the ethos of 20th century biking. Indeed, some sixty years on I can still remember the magical moment when, after taking off the cylinder head from that Royal Enfield, I discovered the oddly shaped deflector piston head. Happy days indeed, and long may they continue! RL Smith, member 8090

Happily for all of us, classic motorcycling and modern motorcycling aren’t mutually exclusive… although there’s probably less overlap between the two than most observers might imagine (discuss). Anyway, your hardearned workshop techniques are invaluable, Mr Smith. Perhaps you should hold classes to pass them on to younger generations?! Rowena