V-Twin-Innovator- News page 11
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Posts dated in red start chronologically from the bottom upwards on this page
CLICK ON PICTURES FOR MORE DETAIL
THE BEE ONE HUNDRED STORY:...... (FOR ALL THINGS B50 go to B50.ORG )
1. THE FITZPATRICK BSA B100:
The project was started in 1976 and completed in 1978. "Engine-designer" Gerald Fitzpatrick designed and built this 1000cc special using two BSA B50 top ends with a 10:1 compression ratio (accortding to the following article), on home-cast crankcases that he designed himself. It was a 60-degree vee. The crankwheels and crankpin were made by Gerald in his shed and he used Matchless "knife and fork" con-rods (presumably from a model X). Here is a PDF of the magazine article from Mororcycle Mechanics April 1978: MM April 1978
According to the following article (source for following pictures), http://www.b50.org/vtwin.htm Fitzpatrick offered it to Triumph, who considered producing the engine, but then decided not to, due to tooling costs. It was ridden for 2 years and clocked up 2000 miles, then went into dry storage. After 10 years, it looked like this:
THE HEEMSKERK BSA:
Also started in 1976, Jan Heemskerk, an agricultural machinery test manager in the Netherlands, who owned an AJS 7R racer and used to own a Vincent, decided to design and build a modern v-twin that he considered BSA could have produced. The project was completed in 1982 .It was a 50-degree vee, like the Vincent, with Vincent-type big end bearings. It has chain-driven SOHC (single overhead camshaft) heads and chain tensioners similar to those on the AJS 7R. You can read about it in Alan Cathcart's article in Classic Bike from May 1984... read it below - (click on picture)... and articles translated into English from two Dutch articles. The originals are in: Motor Sport Nieuws jrg.17 #195 1982 and Weekblad Motor (date unknown):
From the three articles, we can summarise the technical specs as follows:
1065cc* 50-degree v-twin *84mm bore x 96mm stroke * 2 valves per cylinder * Horizontally divided crankcase * Wet sump lubrication * Chain-driven overhead camshaft * Unit construction * BSA B50 cylinders, heads and pistons (modified) * Home-designed and cast crankcases, timing cover, camshaft, cam-chain tunnels, cam-follower housing and covers * side-by side Vincent con-rods* Camshaft adjuster coped from AJS 7R racer * Norton Commando alternator * Eccentric groove instead of holes for crank-balance * Triple-row roller big end bearings on EN36 crankpin * 2 x 30mm Amal carburettors * Air filters from BSA A65 * gearbox exterior from Norton/AMC * 4 gears from Norton Commando* Home-designed and built frame (single-tube backbone and twin-loop cradle) * Triumph handlebars, fuel tank, wheels, forks and brakes * Isolastic engine mounts inspired by Norton Commando * crankshaft and camshafts homemade * Cam grinding by Piper, UK * Cam-chain tensioners: “Weller” like AJS 7R* Cam-chain: Norton * Norton Commando clutch * Commando Triplex primary chain * Chain-case: Norton Commando * Oil filter from a car * Crankshaft gears (timing side and drive side) : Norton * Intermediate timing gear wheel: BSA * Camshaft drive gears: Norton * Home-made oil pump * Exhausts made by “London” in Hilversum, Netherlands * Manifolds: home-made * Silencers: 750 Commando * Marzocchi shocks * Saddle: home-made * paint by GL Paints * Avon tyres
THE EVANS-BSA V-TWIN
In 1984, an engineer called Owen Evans wanted a British v-twin, but the price of Vincents and Broughs led him to design and build his own. Evans went to visit Gerald Fitzpatrick and then designed his own version of the idea. Like the Fitzpatrick, it was a 60-degree vee of 1000cc using two BSA B50 top ends on his own crankcases, but he reduced the compression ratio to 9.5:1 and used Harley 883 Sportster con-rods. The work on the engine started in 1984 and was completed in 1988, when an article appeared in issue 4 (January 1988) of British Bike Mechanics (later changed its name to British Bike Magazine). You can read the whole article here: http://b50.org/mags/bbmjan88.PDF
After 8 years work, the bike was running by October 1992, but there were some teething problems. After 300 miles, the front cylinder liner cracked and the piston was damaged. The CCM pistons were replaced with B50 ones, the CCM oil pump was modified to an increased capacity and oil jets were added to the base of the cylinders. By 1995, 700 miles were ridden on the bike, with no problems. You can read an article all about it in British Bike Magazine issue 91, from April 1995. Here are some pics from the article:
The bike was spotted a bit later, with a disc brake. In order to fit this Norton Disc, Commando fork sliders were fitted.
The bike has now come into my possession, having been in a garage under a tarpaulin, near Portsmouth for 18 years. This is how it looks (March 2017) before being renovated:
Watch this site for the progress. Hopefully on thje road by Summer 2017!
...Ok... Autumn 2018 and NOW the Evans is on the road!
THE EVANS WESLAKE or MkII
Owen Evans followed up his first v-twin with another set of his own crankcases, designed especially for the a pair of 4-valve Antig Weslake heads that topped it off. It is an 1100cc 60-degree v-twin bike that produces 76 bhp while weighing only 376 lbs. It hits 140 mph and does the standing quarter in 12.6 seconds at 105mph. It is in a modified Rob North duplex cradle frame and pulls wheelies in the lower gears - in fact he has a job keeping the front down. It has Cosworth pistons and Carillo con-rod and a Quaife-Hemming 5-speed gearbox. No expense spared. You can read all about the bike in Classic Bike Magazine of October 1999.
BSA-THOMPSON
Built in 1991-1992, this was one of 5 B100 v-twins built by Pete Thompson. It has BSA B50 top ends and a BSA A10 frame and gearbox. The timing covers are Triumph Bonneville. It is a 50 degree vee and displaces 1100 cc. It was put up for sale on ebay in 2012.
Here is an article about it on the Kneeslider: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2012/09/20/bsa-thompson-1100cc-v-twin/
The bike is currently for sale (March 2017) ... here is the website: http://motos.autos-markt.com/BSA-Thompson-V2-301625260823/lot59227
THOMPSON V2
...and here is another of Pete Thompson's five v-twins with B50 top ends in an A10 frame -50 degrees and presumably also 1100cc.
THE THREE MISSING THOMPSONS>>>
Pete Thompson is the resident "genius engineer" at Attitude Cycles in Southampton, UK https://www.attitudecycles.uk Thanks to Ralph Southerton for the long-stroke bike pic, takem at Kent Custom Bike Show
This one (below) has just been "rebuilt after spending 15 years outside". Posted by Simon Harris of Attitude Cycles: https://www.imgrumweb.com/post/Bq0M5X9Ae-T
Before resto...............................................................................................................After resto (Nov 30 2018)
Chaincase side:
This appears to be a sixth version of Pete Thompson's 'Thompson V2'. Pic: thanks to Ian Gittins photogrqaphed as Cassington or the Banbury Run 'a few years back'
SUNBEAM-JAP
Another picture found.
ABW
ABW - "Australian Battle Wagon". The bike is on display in the Australian National Motorcycle Museum ,(Nabiac, NSW) which claims "Alternator by Magna, automotive carburettor, narrow-angle V-Twin home built." However, the first thing we notice is that there are 2 carburettors and they are Amal concentrics - motorcycle carburettors, not car ones! Next we notice that this bears an uncanny resemblance to the water-cooled version of the Howard "Twelve" rotary hoe engine, (1340cc) as made in Australia..see picture above. the crankcases say "Heavy Weight Power Cruiser"... and since the crankcases are cast iron, it will indeed be heavy!
Sources:
http://avcmc.iinet.net.au/2006_02/html/national_mcm.html
http://nationalmotorcyclemuseum.com.au/gallery/australian/ABW-Battlewagon-2.htm
http://onedaytech.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/national-motorcycle-museum-nabiac_01.htm
VINDIAN
Vincent in an Indian frame... from this unloadable page: https://egli-vincent.net/2014/01/01/the-american-corner/
AJW 996cc AJW-SUMMIT
This is an article in The Classic Motorcycle, from January 1987. Advanced features like an all-welded duplex cradle frame made it unique. It was fitted with a 996cc British Anzani (= British Vulpine = Summit) engine; a 4-speed Jardine gearbox; Royal Enfield wheewls with 8 inch drum brakes - then 9-inch ones - very advanced for 1927. This is the single-port head version, but they also offered the bike with the eight valve engine and 4 exhaust pipes and interconnected brakes (AJW were based in Exeter). The bike is on display in the National Motorcycle Museum.
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