What Bike Is This?
- Thread starter DaveM
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One of my vintage bike buddies has a running flat-twin Douglas, but we never see it so I have no pictures.
Spanna
Well-Known Member
Yes Alan got it! It's a gnome et rhone.They made motorcycles under licence from ABC.
While you can see it is not a standard bike as such, the restorer has added a few personal touches, all very nice I must say.
I don't think it's as customised as seems, it looks like he has used the frame off a gnome rhone M1 (large picture) and the engine is the AX2.
Then again I have no idea what it looked like when he found it in a 'junk shop'.
I believe the engine was originally made as a 350cc but the French engineer at gnome et rhone modified them into 500cc, a much improved design, as the original engine was nicknamed the glow worm. As the cylinders used to glow red after running for a while?
I actually found the bike when I was looking at the ABC bike pics, the motor was similar but the frame was the unusual part
anyway, here is the next one simple enough for students of old motorcycles
anyway, here is the next one simple enough for students of old motorcycles
Nobody want to guess on this one?
A hint, was American and also produced under licence in England
A hint, was American and also produced under licence in England
Well I have been pondering on this one for some time as it struck a note when you did post it and now with the clue I give you this.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS6LHXRVzzs
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS6LHXRVzzs
For a bit of a change instead of going old let us look at a modern bike
It's not an AJS
Now this is strange as it really would appear to be that one but this is the one I am looking at Hunter Motorcycles Australia - Hunter Daytona , however I think I need to give it to you anyway.
Spanna
Well-Known Member
Saying that, our little competition here has probably shown it might have been the case from the very beginning, with manufacturers using the same engine, same frame and forks etc. I guess what goes round comes round?
Sorry Dave.
Anyway I prefer older bikes so hope you don't mind me going back in time with my latest offering.
A real beauty this one.
That has to be a Crocker
Spanna
Well-Known Member
Yes Alan it is, what a good looking machine it is.
Crocker first made single cylinder speedway bikes but started making 'V' twins in 1936. Crockers were manufactured to order, with the 91+ cubic inch engine (about 1,491 cc) being the largest capacity production motorcycle of the time.
They out horse powered 'Indian' and 'Harley' machines by a good 10-20HP.
Quite a considerable difference especially in those days.
During the war Indian and Harley Davidson got military contracts to produce motorcycles, Crocker got a contract with 'Douglas' to produce aircraft parts, which proved to be more lucrative than making motorcycles.
The last one being made in 1942, making them one of the rarest machines, I think only a hundred were made, of which there are still about 60 in ownership.
If you should be lucky to find one in a barn or in a junk shop?? expect to get around and over a quarter a million US dollars for it!
If you are interested in owning one, you can. In 1999 a new corporation was formed to manufacture replica parts, and now produces complete Crockers in kit form, following the original specifications. They are only $53,000 (£41,500) but you only get the 1000cc engine.
Crocker first made single cylinder speedway bikes but started making 'V' twins in 1936. Crockers were manufactured to order, with the 91+ cubic inch engine (about 1,491 cc) being the largest capacity production motorcycle of the time.
They out horse powered 'Indian' and 'Harley' machines by a good 10-20HP.
Quite a considerable difference especially in those days.
During the war Indian and Harley Davidson got military contracts to produce motorcycles, Crocker got a contract with 'Douglas' to produce aircraft parts, which proved to be more lucrative than making motorcycles.
The last one being made in 1942, making them one of the rarest machines, I think only a hundred were made, of which there are still about 60 in ownership.
If you should be lucky to find one in a barn or in a junk shop?? expect to get around and over a quarter a million US dollars for it!
If you are interested in owning one, you can. In 1999 a new corporation was formed to manufacture replica parts, and now produces complete Crockers in kit form, following the original specifications. They are only $53,000 (£41,500) but you only get the 1000cc engine.
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Try this one for size, from the other end of the bike spectrum.
Jammin'John
Member
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