Stafford Bike Show

Some pics of the show, taken on Saturday are at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robrait/sets/1149532/

The show wasn't as busy as the April show and I thought that there
were a lot fewer exhibitors, as there seemed to be a lot more space in
the main hall (but that could have been because it was a bit quieter).

There was the usual over-priced rubbish, but there were quite a lot of
very reasonably priced bikes - see the pic of the 4 cyl Guzzi which
seemed a bit of a bargain at £895. Mind you, it could have been a
smokey, rattly old wreck, but it did look nice.

Rob
--

Rob
Broseley, Shropshire
1991 Yamaha XV 535 Virago
1997 Rover 623GSi

 

Nice pix. Very nice indeed.

That Porsche-engined Sunbeam looked remarkably well put together. Liked
the close-up of the Kettle as well.

I bet Lozzo's wanking over the trio of RD400s even as I type.....

 

I'm pretty sure it's an MZ BK 350:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robrait/53013640/in/set-1149532/
as seen here:
http://www.mztech.fsnet.co.uk/history/hst_ms5.html

Never seen or heard of these before, is it a variation on the Honda SOHC
four?

 

jolly good.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robrait/53013640/in/set-1149532/

could be a douglas?

 

Almost definitely an MZ.

 

Yes - from when Alessandro de Tomaso owned Guzzi and Benelli. Some of
the Benelli fours were badged as Guzzis. The 350 certainly was, and I
*think* there was a 400 as well.

 

wot, an opposed twin? Didn't think they did 'em.

 

Yep Tis an MZ

 

yer not wrong:

http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/mz/images/MZ 350cc flat twin 1961.jpg

 

Rob was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Yeah, I noticed that over the last couple of years. Didn't go this
time but it doesn't surprise me.

They tend to work as well as they look, which is useful because
they're impossible to get parts for unless you stick to the 500
Quattro and the 750 Sei. Mainly because those can take a lot of Honda
engine parts.

It does look nice and I'd be tempted if I had been there but then
again it looks like 250 or 350 from here so it's a case of "see
above". I also assume that it wasn't registered for that price...

 

The Older Gentleman was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Nope, a 400 wouldn't make sense in Italy as the tax hike kicked in at
350cc. AFAIK they had 250, 350, 500 and 650 fours.

<small voice>

I'd really like a 500 or 650 Quattro as they combined the reliability
(mostly) and power of the similar Honda with a chassis that handles in
true Italian fashion.

</sm>

 

Rob says...

Ooh, there's a silver RD400D. The rarest of the lot.

--
Lozzo
Track pixie
GSX-R1000 K1
ZX-7R
GPZ500S

 

I think it was on Sun, 16 Oct 2005 19:57:14 +0100 that "sweller"

I'm fairly certain it wasn't badged as an MZ - looking at the pic on
the page you suggested, the exhausts are a different shape and the pad
on the tank looks as if it's a different shape too. The badge on the
tank in your pic is circular, whereas the one on my pic is, well,
badge shaped.

It's very similar but I'm sure the tank badge name started with an
'A'. The frame looks pretty much the same, as do the
shockers/plungers.

Were they into badge engineering in those days? (mid 50s)

Rob
--

Rob
Broseley, Shropshire
1991 Yamaha XV 535 Virago
1997 Rover 623GSi

 

I think it was on Sun, 16 Oct 2005 21:45:21 +0100 that Timo Geusch

I'm pretty sure it was a 350, and it did have a UK plate on the back,
which made me suspect that there must have been something wrong with
it at that price.

Rob
--

Rob
Broseley, Shropshire
1991 Yamaha XV 535 Virago
1997 Rover 623GSi

 

Made by MZ with BMW equipment, to a BMW design:

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/photos/photophotos/R51-3 (3).jpg

....apart, obviously, from the sidevalve engine.

 

Rob was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Sounds more like a highly realistic price - the 350 isn't exactly
sought after an' all that...

 

That's right.

Yes again, but for some reason the bigger ones weren't badged as Guzzis.
I think l only the 350 was.

I've ridden and *nearly* bought a Benelli 654 - surprisingly torquey
bike, lovely brakes and handling, and yes. all the attributes you list.
Sometimes I wish I had bought it.

 

Actually, and surprisingly, there's very little similarity beyond
capacity and appearance.

Bore and stroke are the same, but not a lot else.

 

Ah! All's well with the world.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

I always look at RDs at shows. I'm waiting to see two of my old ones
that have been fully restored by an absolute perfectionist.

--
Lozzo
Track pixie
GSX-R1000 K1
ZX-7R
GPZ500S