Mark Karacsonyi
Established Member
I am, thanks for asking. A good reason to now buy a aged Defender.Oh dear sorry to hear it.
Are you ok?
Cheers James
I am, thanks for asking. A good reason to now buy a aged Defender.Oh dear sorry to hear it.
Are you ok?
Cheers James
Phil, That sounds like the bike with the faulty cast alloy wheels. Quite a number of these were involved in crashes and extra webs were added to the wheels and they were fine after that. I've a BMW R100/7 and an R100GS-Paris Dakar, smashing bikes, and tough as old boots.1980 - 83 I had a BMW R100RT (bike) that was the biggest pile of excrement I've ever seen on the road. I never rode it again after the alloy front wheel folded up and it threw me over the screen. I never felt the slightest inclination to buy anything by BMW after that.
Phil, In 2006 I shipped my Honda Pan European to New Jersey and rode her to San Francsico and back before shipping her back to the UK. 17,000 miles in three months. Brand new tyres when I started the journey but after six weeks I'd reached Tucson AZ where she need another new rear tyre (7,000 miles) and rear wheel bearings.I went through a Michelin rear in six days once. I had a KH 250 for 18 months. 16,000 miles, five rear tyres, six chains and six sets of sprockets. New plugs every 400 miles. I'd get 3000 miles out of a rear tyre on the Yam - that was a 190 x 70, Bridgestone only so not cheap.
That brings back memories. My first car was an 850cc Mini Traveller. I rebuilt the engine with 731 cam, 12G295 head, LCB exhaust, twin SU carbs etc. After that the car went like a ... snail. It was an 850cc Mini Traveller after all. However, it was no longer like an arthritic snaal and I convinced myself it was a vast improvement.First car 998cc mini until i fitted a 1275GT engine that was bored out to 1340cc, Leyland 731ST half race cam with a pair of Stromberg 1 3/4" carbs. LCB exhaust and a Rover 2600 centre box at the back. 6Jx10 wheels and 165/70 10's. Cooper S gearbox. Went like the proverbial off shovel.
You needed to get rid of the forest attached to the traveller......That brings back memories. My first car was an 850cc Mini Traveller. I rebuilt the engine with 731 cam, 12G295 head, LCB exhaust, twin SU carbs etc. After that the car went like a ... snail. It was an 850cc Mini Traveller after all. However, it was no longer like an arthritic snaal and I convinced myself it was a vast improvement.
What I find eally odd is that over 40 years later I still remember part numbers for the rebuild.
But, but, but ... I thought this was a woodwork forum?You needed to get rid of the forest attached to the traveller.
Certainly. They were known to be $hitt. I didn't have the cash to pursue BMW in a legal case. I wouldn't touch a BMW with a bargepole.Phil, That sounds like the bike with the faulty cast alloy wheels. Quite a number of these were involved in crashes and extra webs were added to the wheels and they were fine after that. I've a BMW R100/7 and an R100GS-Paris Dakar, smashing bikes, and tough as old boots.
That brings back memories. My first car was an 850cc Mini Traveller. I rebuilt the engine with 731 cam, 12G295 head, LCB exhaust, twin SU carbs etc. After that the car went like a ... snail. It was an 850cc Mini Traveller after all. However, it was no longer like an arthritic snaal and I convinced myself it was a vast improvement.
What I find eally odd is that over 40 years later I still remember part numbers for the rebuild.
Very true. I would not do that now. Who knows what my reasoning was as a teenager.No point spending all that money on an 850cc engine. Most power comes from extra capacity.
I have never been into circuit racing except as a spectator. My thing has always been rallying and when I started I did quite a few events in Coopers and Cooper Ss. Then over the years a wide range of other stuff up to WRCs and R5s etc. Usually as co-driver rather than driver. I suppose I could have done more driving; it was only a total lack of talent, commitment - and money - that stopped meI had a few races in an 850cc Mini 7 many, many years ago.
Very true. I would not do that now. Who knows what my reasoning was as a teenager.
I have never been into circuit racing except as a spectator. My thing has always been rallying and when I started I did quite a few events in Coopers and Cooper Ss. Then over the years a wide range of other stuff up to WRCs and R5s etc. Usually as co-driver rather than driver. I suppose I could have done more driving; it was only a total lack of talent, commitment - and money - that stopped me
The only time I ever drove on a circuit was in a 1600cc Ford-engined single seater during a test day at Mallory Park. Not particularly enjoyable and not something I have ever wanted to repeat.
Nice one. Something for you to remember.Talking of rally cars, one of my close neighbours owned a Renault 5 Turbo 2, the second iteration of the banned Group B monster, and let me drive it on the road once.
The old Group B rally cars (Group B - Wikipedia) were my absolute favourite; unfortunately they were also pretty lethal (hence being banned).Found more information on that renault - anywhere between 158 and 345 horsepower from the factory? That's quite a range.
I could see 345 horsepower in a square shaped car (the types that don't seem to have a preference in terms of their orientation vs. the orientation that the car is moving) with probably questionable clutch feel and a notchy shifter being a bit of a problem.
Renault and alfa and other euro cars never lasted long here as brands because......their individual cars never seemed to last very long as cars. Other than the pike's peak climb, there wasn't much rally car here in the mainstream, and the same for motorcycles (racing was more regional than a national sporting event - something one of my english friends here hates. "american motorcycles are equivalent to tractors from the 1940s. This country has no real motorcycle racing scene!")
I'm guessing that a lot of what's on the road now would outrun one of those. I recall as a kid that the cheap speed car at the time was a mustang LX. 0-60 in about 6 seconds, probably not the greatest at keeping the rear tires in contact with the road and 225 horsepower.
Other than the pike's peak climb, there wasn't much rally car here in the mainstream
violent!!A good opportunity to add one of my all time favourite car videos - Ari Vatenan's record breaking PP run in the Pug 405.
Climb Dance - 1988 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Ari Vatanen - YouTube
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