Interesting motorcycles, not XS650

650Skull said:
Gradua gear system.
The zenith was banned for having an unfair advantage in club hill climbs. Being able to change the drive ratio meant it could start on a 25° hill where the other bikes had to change the fixed gearing, depending on the gradient.

https://club.shannons.com.au/club/b...-australasia-zenith-gradua-unfair-they-cried/
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Ahhh..... here, the penny drops. It's an early version of what's known today as CVT. Continuously variable transmission. Very cool and very forward thinking engineering. Excellent.

To add - a fairly well known CVT was called Variomatic from DAF, later called Volvo. I can't be sure as I have little interest, but I suspect some modern designs of hybrid and/or electric vehicles use a modern CVT.
 
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gggGary said:
Clue they are driving on the LH side of the road...
Or mebby that's a red herring....
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Interesting observation. Indeed they're driving on the wrong side of the road for Germany. I first thought that the image had been flipped, but it hasn't.

It's a shame I can't see the text clearly on the road signs to see the town names. I think in the 1950's or 60's, Sweden switched from left side to right side of the road driving? Could it be in Sweden when I think they drove on the left?

Edit - Sweden switched from left to right side driving in September 1967.
 
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Its been a long time said:
A curious thing, the W1 650. BSA and Triumph had moved to unit construction engines. Kawasaki licenced the old A10 design from BSA, pre unit 650.

Also curious to think that Kawasaki and Yamaha thought the future was still bright enough for 650 parallel twins to launch them. While in 1968 Honda changed everything with the CB750.

To the best of my knowledge, the UK never officially got the XS1 or the W1. They just wouldn't have sold well enough anyway against British 650s.
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Perhaps it was a business decision. License an established designat minimal cost and risk versus take a bold gamble...
 
Its been a long time said:
Yes, by the time the T160 was released you might see a true 115 or 120mph on a very good day. Extra weight and stricter emissions regulations were taking a heavy toll on motorcycle performance in the mid 70's.

In the real world back then, a well ridden RD350 would almost certainly be faster from A to B most times. (Real world quicker than an XS650 too).
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Yep a t160 will nudge 120 mph
At least my one will and it's a standard engine although it was built by LP Williams and is totally reliable
 
1756560936541.png


1756560952851.png


1756560971827.png


"Priced new in 1932 at £188, for which you could have bought a nice house in the country, with a few acres of apple trees. Ten were made"
https://thevintagent.com/2017/07/26/road-test-1930-brough-superior-austin-four/
 
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Its been a long time said:
Ahhh..... here, the penny drops. It's an early version of what's known today as CVT. Continuously variable transmission. Very cool and very forward thinking engineering. Excellent.

To add - a fairly well known CVT was called Variomatic from DAF, later called Volvo. I can't be sure as I have little interest, but I suspect some modern designs of hybrid and/or electric vehicles use a modern CVT.
Click to expand...
Early machines like printing presses used this design to vary machine speed
 
Always a curiosity, never saw one in the plastic, cropped up in the M/c magazines from time to time, partly the influence of Royce Creasey, one time editor of Bike (?) or had he been editor someplace else and a features guy they turned to for odd ball stuff? Creasey and one or two of his mates espoused the belief that the future wuz FFMs - feet first motorcycles. Less drag, more efficient, safer in a crash, on paper they had a point, but the idea never took off . . .
 
Raymond said:
Always a curiosity, never saw one in the plastic, cropped up in the M/c magazines from time to time, partly the influence of Royce Creasey, one time editor of Bike (?) or had he been editor someplace else and a features guy they turned to for odd ball stuff? Creasey and one or two of his mates espoused the belief that the future wuz FFMs - feet first motorcycles. Less drag, more efficient, safer in a crash, on paper they had a point, but the idea never took off . . .
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Indeed, and LJK Setright. With the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, they got away with writing some utter dross and getting paid for it.

Nothing new there, I suppose ;)
 
Its been a long time said:
Interesting observation. Indeed they're driving on the wrong side of the road for Germany. I first thought that the image had been flipped, but it hasn't.

It's a shame I can't see the text clearly on the road signs to see the town names. I think in the 1950's or 60's, Sweden switched from left side to right side of the road driving? Could it be in Sweden when I think they drove on the left?

Edit - Sweden switched from left to right side driving in September 1967.
Click to expand...
I can make out "Katrineholm" on the sign. That's a town in Sweden.

1756660622400.png
 
Yes it is in Sweden
The other place is Norrköping a bigger place

The License plate appears to start with I making it coming from an Island Gotland. ( Back then It was possible to see where the vehicle came from )
A was Stockholm getting to see a lot of clenched fists
On vacation mainland.
Note worthy is the drivers footwear a type of slippers common of wood with a sole and open at the back.
When kick starting it happened it got Airborne. As when kicking footballs.
Still used ( not on motorcycles ) but not so much today it was used at workplaces --hospital staff have them white.
Could get it with steel on the outside at the front. Blacksmiths and so.
It was a profession making them You could get them individually fitted .. Within the same Size say 41 the maker could adapt it.

Ladies version

1756668654341.png



Top left FÄRG is selling Paint

The second car looks as a VOLVO PV 444 ---

Never seen a Horex The leather jacket was standard outfit back then called TT Jacket
I guess mid 50 ies to late 50 ies .

Hahah there was demented old men never grasped the thing starting drive on the other side. Police chasing them.
 

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