Another book of choice

Just read Gary

Smith’s letter ( TCM, December 2020). I too have read Bert Hopwood’s Book ‘Whatever Happened to The British Motorcycle Industry?’ and thoroughly enjoyed it. I haven’t yet been able to get a copy of Steve Koerner’s book ‘The Strange Death of The British Motorcycle Industry’ so cannot comment on that.

I can, however, recommend John Rosamond’s book

‘Save the Triumph Bonneville! The inside story of the Meriden Worker’s Co-op.’ This book describes the enormous effort and sacrifices John and his team put into the Co-op which, it seems, was Tony Benn’s experiment to prove that Co-ops would work. Unfortunately, the odds were against them and, in the end, there was no more money available to support them.

Thanks for a great magazine and let us hope that 2021 will be a better year than 2020.

With regards to your modelling comments in the editorial last issue, I have just completed my lockdown project, which was my first attempt at scratch building a model of one of my all-time favourite bikes, namely the Ariel Golden Arrow. It is all of 16in long and hand carved, the only plans I had was: “How am I going to make the next bit?

I’ve really enjoyed the amazing feedback from people who have followed its progress on my Facebook page, and I hope you can find space for a few photos, taken as the project was in progress and of my finished machine. John Tiley, France, via email

I first encountered TCM while on a work trip to Skowhegan, Maine in 2011. I stopped at a local paperback bookstore and was perusing the magazine rack looking for something to read in my hotel room, and your publication caught my eye. I had just bought a vintage cycle as an early retirement gift to myself and thought TCM would be an interesting read. I’ve been hooked ever since. I subscribed immediately upon returning home and have not missed an issue since. The mix of your regular columnists, test ride articles, technical discussions, reprints of articles from days gone by, biographies of important figures and classified ads is something I look forward to every month. Occasionally I’ll see a mention of my motorcycle within your pages, but even if not, I always place the just-read issue of TCM in my bookcase with a better understanding of some mechanical or technical topic that makes me a more knowledgeable classic bike owner and tinkerer. I’m a history buff, and there’s plenty of that in each issue too.

You may be wondering which classic motorcycle I own (and if you’re not wondering I’m going to tell you anyway). In 2011 I purchased a 1965 ex-military Chang Jiang M1 with a Mark II side-valve engine. I researched CJ’s for two years online and chose a shop in Beijing which specialised in rebuilding surplus military motorcycles to build one to my specification. This is a true ex-PLA bike which is based on a 1938 BMW R71. It was built using as many NOS PLA components as possible (not a shoddy reproduction built in someone’s back yard from a pile of aftermarket parts). You can read a brief history of these bikes (and see a photo of my CJ) by going to Wikipedia and performing a search for Chang Jiang (motorcycle).

The 22hp 750cc flat twin with four-speed gearbox is great for riding two lane backroads here in New England; it will cruise all day at 45 to 50mph with a never exceed speed of about 65 (I found that out the hard way, but that’s another story). It’s a true taste of riding as it was back in the day, and TCM readers know just what I’m talking about: six-volt electrics, manual spark advance, kickstart only, drum brakes front and rear, oil bath air cleaner, etc. The only concession to modern day sensibilities is the turn signals that I asked the builder to install. I like to tell curious onlookers that it’s a 55 year-old bike running 80 year-old technology. There’s a large online community of owners and parts suppliers, and if all else fails, there’s Oldtimer Garage in Poland, as 90% of R71 parts will bolt right on. Keeping it in running condition isn’t difficult.

Thank you for your informative and enjoyable magazine, you have a happy subscriber here in the US. Tom Denison, Maine, USA

What a superb job. John Tiley’s Ariel Golden Arrow. It was his first attempt at scracth builing a model.

A 55 year old bike, running 80 year old technology, is how Tom Denison describes his Chang Jiang.