6. 1he NMM's Model 90
That I've gone on about my Sunbeam obsession in these pages, it's perhaps no surprise that I'll have this machine in among my selection.
This particular go was restored by Peter Woodward, who sold it to National Motorcycle Museum founder and owner Roy Richards. It had a cracking history and had been meticulously put together by Peter, a man who knew his Sunbeams (and who
I'd coincidentally spoken to 10 years before when he'd answered my 'wanted' ad for a 'vintage sportster' and offered a go kit; we discussed and both decided it was beyond my abilities!) and was as pretty as a picture.
As a boy, I'd been captivated by Model gos, one in particular; the ex-Bob Lowe 'special order' machine featured in the November 1985Issue of The ClassicMotorcycle, and which I'd read and re-read. I loved that bike - and actually still do, though I'd heard some unsettling rumour that it had been sold and restored to 'catalogue specification' thus discarding some of Lowe's special orders. I truly hope not. It is pretty much my dream machine.
But the one in the National Motorcycle Museum (though there's actually two in the museum) is an absolute beauty.
It had good provenance too, but it'd not been used for a good few years before I requested a try out on it, asking 'Can I use it in a few events?' The accommodating museum people said 'yes, of course you can; much to my delight.
That I was able to ride it at several events, as well as for a good few pleasure runs, was a true privilege. And how did itgo? Reallyratherwell. The engine is a thing of wonder with performance akin to a good 1950s 500cc single - and I mean a good one, too, as this is by no means a slow motorcycle.
It now is part of the museum fleet and is regularly given a run out by those who take advantage of the regular museum try out and riding days. Everyone I've spoken to who's ridden it, has come away impressed. It's worth signing up to one of their days just to experience the go.
Incidentally, the issue in which I wrote about it (January 2018) featured Barry Winter's Square Four on the cover and later I learned Barry has a Bullnose go too. Barry also owns his dad's old Parallel g (the forerunner to the Model go) which he was able to buy back from an old boy in Norfolk. The old boy's name was Archdale - when you read number three in this list, that'll make sense.