What Bike Is This?

[Spanna]

Personally, I think its pig ugly, God knows what Suzuki were thinking of when they put wheels and an engine on an up-turned bathtub?
Maybe would have looked better in 'avacado' A very popular bathroom colour over here in the late 70's?...............Not!
Are you really surprised that it didn't sell well Garry???

 

[harper6t]

Pig ugly, yep, that about sums it up.
Can you just imagine the designer asking for the not inconsiderable sums of money needed to put that bike into production, but what on earth were those in power doing approving it for production. No bike has ever looked good with a brown vinyl seat.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Personally, I think its pig ugly, God knows what Suzuki were thinking of when they put wheels and an engine on an up-turned bathtub?
Are you really surprised that it didn't sell well Garry???

I'm with you 100% in the Pig ugly department, and no I'm not surprised at all. Lets face it, who in their right mind would want that. ??. I'll stick with my Thunderbird thanks.

 

[Spanna]

OK people let's try this one, I tried to pick something fairly attractive, after the last offering made me feel quite ill? Haaa, Hope you like it.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

everyone, someone will know it.

 

[DaveM]

View attachment 39727 OK people let's try this one, I tried to pick something fairly attractive, after the last offering made me feel quite ill? Haaa, Hope you like it.

At first I thought it was a rotary but then I noticed the cylinders hanging out the side, so I would say it is European but I don't think BMW, very neat bike I like it.

 

[Spanna]

The owner of this particular machine, found it in a junk shop. 4 years of hard work restoring and your left with this.
I hear these stories of barn finds and in this case junk shop finds, where do you find these barns and junk shops???
Answers on a postcard please to.......

 

[Rocky]

I often wonder the same thing, but they do turn up in the strangest places - even around here - but not that often

 

[Greyfell]

Very curious bike! As DaveM hinted, it has an interesting style that is appealing.

 

[Spanna]

Yes Stephen, I think it's a smashing looking little bike, a labour of love by the restorer.

 

[DaveM]

I am getting the feeling this one has been highly customized as I am seeing what I think it is but still cannot be sure so I will let it ride a bit longer.

 

[Spanna]

I think you may be right in one way Dave, I think the restorer put his own mark on the bike, however the engine should help a bit. Your right about it being European and again correct that it's not a BMW.
The manufacturer made motorcycles from the 1920s until the 1950's.
That might be a big enough clue to the original maker?

 

[Rocky]

It beats me.
So many British and European bikes came and went that we were never exposed to and have little or no knowledge about.

 

[Spanna]

Yes Rocky hundreds of manufacturers worldwide some were only around for a short while, others for a longer time. Some made their own engines and frames, others used parts under licence. But what they gave us all, were innovations and inventions that shaped the whole motorcycle industry, if not the whole world. Without them we wouldn't have the wealth of choice we have nowdays.
I used to think, if it's not broke don't fix it, until quite a few years ago, someone I have the greatest respect for said 'if we didn't try to fix things that weren't broken, we would still be living in the stone age'.
I am sure you will find a lot more still to come, that most of us have never heard about.

 

[DaveM]

Then it must be French and if so I will wait for tomorrow to post up what I think it is.

 

[Rocky]

Then it must be French and if so I will wait for tomorrow to post up what I think it is.

Until we started this game I didn't know the French made any bikes.
But that comes back to our lack of exposure over here.

 

[DaveM]

Until we started this game I didn't know the French made any bikes.
But that comes back to our lack of exposure over here.

There were a number of French companies making motorcycles Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of France - Wikipedia

The more I search for this bike the more confused I am getting so I think I will give up on it. I was looking at flat twin motors of European design but the one that I thought it was the heads were more flat and square. So then the closest I could get was a British Bike but I don't think it is this one either.

Douglas Dragonfly - Classic Motorcycle Review - RealClassic.co.uk

 

[harper6t]

Gnome et Rhone

 

[DaveM]

Gnome et Rhone

This was one that I looked at but the motor seems a lot flatter and square

However this view of the motor does look better and more like the mystery bike.

 

[harper6t]

This was one that I looked at but the motor seems a lot flatter and square

625 × 417 - bikeexif.com

However this view of the motor does look better and more like the mystery bike.

After a bit of detective work I found the image on the web at this address http://www.bikeexif.com/gnome-rhone