audio-talk

Dave the bass wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:18 pm

Baggy Trousers wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:21 pm The Norman Nippy I can understand, but are you serious about that dreadful BSA?

Yup. Sunbeam S8, in shiny black please.

Apart from being overpriced, never successful, a complete flop, not fast or even any good in the 1st place... I can't see any negatives about them really.

It's a little known fact, but the first Sunbeam S7 prototypes were considered too fast, so they were redesigned to make them more sedate.

EDIT. From the far reaches of my memory, the real problem was that the prototype engine was too powerful for the diff, and rather than re engineer the diff they just cut the power output.

Dave the bass wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:18 pm

Baggy Trousers wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:21 pm The Norman Nippy I can understand, but are you serious about that dreadful BSA?

Yup. Sunbeam S8, in shiny black please.

Apart from being overpriced, never successful, a complete flop, not fast or even any good in the 1st place... I can't see any negatives about them really.

That and the fact the rear cylinder overheated.

and rather than re engineer the diff they just cut the power output.

I don't think you really mean "diff", but the horribly bad worm drive. I checked on wiki and the entry there just about sums up why the British motorbike industry was doomed.

The in-line engine was inherently suitable for shaft drive, and BMW-style bevel gears would have been ideal. However, having inherited some worm-gear machinery from the Lanchester Motor Company, BSA opted to specify worm drive rather than bevel gears.

Nick wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:44 pm

Dave the bass wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:18 pm

Baggy Trousers wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:21 pm The Norman Nippy I can understand, but are you serious about that dreadful BSA?

Yup. Sunbeam S8, in shiny black please.

Apart from being overpriced, never successful, a complete flop, not fast or even any good in the 1st place... I can't see any negatives about them really.

That and the fact the rear cylinder overheated.

I've re read the Sunbeam section of my "British Motorcycles since 1950" book (volume 4) and it seems overheating was a problem on early models, but not the rear cylinder per se. Limited sump capacity was one big problem, rectified on later models.


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Baggy Trousers wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:21 pm

Dave the bass wrote: ↑Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:59 pm

Michael L wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:31 pm Does anyone dream about a bike they owned?

Flippin' bonkers. It was awful, but now so valuable. I could buy a Norman Nippy and Sunbeam S8 now with the proceeds of selling it now and be much happier!

The Norman Nippy I can understand, but are you serious about that dreadful BSA?

This was my nippy, two speed sachs version. Better than a nsu quickly in my opinion..which is more can be said of the Villiers versions I sold this about 3 years ago

Nick wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:51 pm

and rather than re engineer the diff they just cut the power output.

I don't think you really mean "diff", but the horribly bad worm drive. I checked on wiki and the entry there just about sums up why the British motorbike industry was doomed.

The in-line engine was inherently suitable for shaft drive, and BMW-style bevel gears would have been ideal. However, having inherited some worm-gear machinery from the Lanchester Motor Company, BSA opted to specify worm drive rather than bevel gears.

Yes, bad choice of words. It seems the still born S10 model would have addressed that problem.

I remember may years ago at a Sunbeam rally meeting an interesting old codger who went by the name of Fiddler Fred. He had all sorts of tweaks on his bike, one I remember was plumbing the handlebars into the oil system both improving the oil temp and heating the hands at the same time.

Nick wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:25 pm I remember many years ago at a Sunbeam rally meeting an interesting old codger who went by the name of Fiddler Fred. He had all sorts of tweaks on his bike, one I remember was plumbing the handlebars into the oil system both improving the oil temp and heating the hands at the same time.

Nice.

Heated grips are a mostly worthwhile modification on any bike.

steve s wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:02 pm This was my nippy, two speed sachs version. Better than a nsu quickly in my opinion..which is more can be said of the Villiers versions
I sold this about 3 years ago

Thats luvverlee steveS, they were made 'down-the-road-from-here' in Ashford (Kent). I've got a 'thing' about little 'uns, I'd like to rebuild a Puch Maxi one day. Mum-the-Bass and I used to share one in the late 70's and early 80's

The S8, yep for years and years I've been a fan of them, I'm very aware of their multiple failings but love the look and styling of the S8. I've chatted with a few owners of S7's, S7 Deluxes and S8's over the years about how they mange to keep them running.

Phwoooaaarrr!

Sunbeam owners are very lucky to have a company like Stewart Engineering specialising in those models.

http://www.stewartengineering.co.uk/

One bike i still pine for is a moto guzzi 1100 sport. Had a go on one about 20 years ago and it made an impression.
That motor was lovely
Not really a sports bike, it was bloody awful in town but get above 40 and it became comfortable. Clutch was a two handed affair, gearbox was like stamping on glass to get it to change. The bike was objectively awful, but it had something

Nick wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:44 pm

Dave the bass wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:18 pm

Baggy Trousers wrote: ↑Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:21 pm The Norman Nippy I can understand, but are you serious about that dreadful BSA?

Yup. Sunbeam S8, in shiny black please.

Apart from being overpriced, never successful, a complete flop, not fast or even any good in the 1st place... I can't see any negatives about them really.

That and the fact the rear cylinder overheated.

And, like most parallel wins, it vibrated!

Sadly, the excellent Lanchester company was absorbed by Daimler (who had been owned by BSA since 1908) in, I think, the early 'thirties. It was Dr Fred Lanchester who invented the hour-glass worm drive which was 97% efficient and was used for very many years on Daimler/Lanchester products (including trucks). There was nothing wrong with the concept relative to a motorcycle, it was just Bits Stuck Anywhere screwing the things up. Not poor old Ehrling Poppe's finest hour.

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At Carradale on Kintyre. The same day after this photo was took I got drenched, the next day decided to throw in the towel and start back home, still getting drenched, then finally too much Scottish rain got into the electrics and prompted a fire. Trip was completed by the RAC.

But here's a video from earlier of going northward between Barnard Castle and Peebles. The Wealpe Jaws Flex Clamp Mount with Adjustable Gooseneck was pants, so was replaced with something else. Seems to make for a better position for the camera. Squashed insects permitting.

Mike H wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:15 pm
...then finally too much Scottish rain got into the electrics and prompted a fire. Trip was completed by the RAC.

Ah! Scottish Fire-water, that's what our-Ali T drinks I believe.

Sorry to hear that Mike, you gonna rebuild the beast?

Mike H wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:15 pm then finally too much Scottish rain got into the electrics and prompted a fire.

Perhaps the "gods" thought you needed warming up ?


Seriously though, I hope the damage caused is not to difficult (or expensive) to repair.