Anything with wheels

Hi all,
In the very near future i'll be able to get on with my second love in life (gardening"s the first) and doing old bikes "both cycle & motor bikes" up but this last summer i must admit i nearlly bought a kids tin peddle car while we we're looking around a brocante (like a car boot sale) but the boss said i couldnt have anything until we'd finished doing the house up

But we are almost finished the house and then it's 'my time' and ive a few old classic bikes ive had for years and i'll be polishing them up and on the look out for more projects from the french brocantes.

It's funny really when we go to the brocante days out i find im attracted to the rusty stalls, my other half just cant understand "why"( must be a mens thing.)

 

I did up a lovely old pushbike, think it was a Triumph. Had rod brakes & a full chain guard.

Someone nicked it.

 

I owned several bikes when I was younger (mainly trail bikes)

these were my best 2

Yamaha XT-500



Honda XL-500S



went all over Africa with those, including the namib Desert (south west africa ... now known as Namibia)

got married and I was 'not allowed' to own a motorbike anymore

would love to get another old Yamaha XT 500 ...was my best motorbike

 

Here's my bike! it's an original Dutch Bike, from early 1970's, no gears, no hand brakes, just 'back-pedal' brake. Fitted with original dyno-lamps, chainguard and overcoat (or skirt) shield. Happily in town the terrain is fairly flat, so lack of gears not so much of a problem.

a-a

 

Rod brakes and big leather seat

ahh i know what your saying, ive an old french sit up and suffer style i was given last summer, this has the rod brakes (the shoes fit under the wheel rim) and the handle bars are really a relaxed fitting, No gears & a full "bum" fitting sized leather seat,
Im going to rub this baby down and re-spray it black! and then it's going to be the transport for the daily visit to the field im turning into my allotment,

Must admit i cant wait for the summer to arrive.

 

Union

One of my french friends has a old dutch bike "its make is Union" very much like yours and again no gears, Ive had a ride on it and its a smooth ride; You can feel the quality in the bike, not cheapest on the market but a really well made bike.

 

A.j.s / velo 200cc

Ive a 1956 A.J.S & an LE VELOCETTE (the noddy bike)
Both are in working order and both nice lookers but having said that ive not had them going for the last 3 years so may need a little bit of tickling in the right places to get them into life,

Thats the nice bit about the old bikes you can work on them, but the more modern bikes are a different kettle of fish.

These two bikes are worlds apart, the A.J.S sounds really thud thud, but the velo, you can hardly hear it, Both are head turners when your on them.