Hobo Jungle

[Tramp]

Jon, imagine D on the back, happy as a spring moth. She is without a doubt the best passenger I've ever carried on a bike.

Wayne, thank you for the pictures.

Dirt, sometimes it's a joy to go slow.

[The Dirt]

Tramp, I thought you were going to tell me 34 MPH, in 1st gear!

'Slow', yes, some things are meant to be savored. As D can well appreciate!!

[webenda]

Dirt,

Even if it was 134 mph it would not be as fast as a Ducati 900 CR SS.

[Tramp]

Dirt: Barry White knows, brother!

The Velo LE gets well over 100 mpg. You got to appreciate mileage like that.

[2railjon]

I'd love to take this baby for a spin!!!!!!!!!!
I doubt it could hit 34 mph, but I'll bet it could go through a house!!!!

[Lutz K]

I'd love to take this baby for a spin!!!!!!!!!!
I doubt it could hit 34 mph, but I'll bet it could go through a house!!!!

Oh, oh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRhkdD3 ... re=related
The difficulties to make an turn.
For this the ability to go through a house

[rogruth]

IMHO the front wheel did not have good contact with the ground.To much weight in the rear.

[webenda]

Lutz,

Fragte ich mich Schwierigkeiten über Lenkung. Vielen Dank für die Buchung von Video

[bikermike]

We used to call them - LE Velos - The 'whispering death' because police men used them for local patrols. They are extremely quiet being watercooled and often the only give away was if the radio squawked. Without looking it up, they're quite small arent they, less than 200cc and opposed twins if memory serves.

The Velo Fellows were perhaps some of the most loyal supporters of any marque and its a pity Velocette didnt have the resources to stay in business because they were noted for their good engineering and quality finish. The bike I always wanted was the Velocette Thruxton venom a true monster of the old school, a 500 single, which was rorty and a real mans bike which means an utter ****** that would try and kill you if given half a chance! (I had to edit this after I checked my facts, I would have sworn they were 650's!)

I liked the LE's but they werent easy to find on the second hand market and they were best suited for quiet rides along quiet country lanes appreciating the scenery around you. Despite the water cooling I believe they were prone to overheating, I know they had an Achilles heel but I cannot remember what it was now.

To put things in perspective compare those to the Honda 90 Cub step through. Same performance, much cheaper, far more reliable. Velocette had good engineers but they were a tiny firm and didnt have the money to invest in modern tooling so were pretty much compelled to assemble motorcycles by hand in much the same fashion as they were in the 1920's.

[2railjon]

Mike, The Thruxston is another classic british ride I put in the catagory with Ariel's and Vincents!

To put things in perspective compare those to the Honda 90 Cub step through

None of us saw that coming, did we!!!!!

[bikermike]

Its a beautiful machine isn't it? Goes like hell too and those Brooklands silencers look great and sound good.

Velos were quality machines, a nice brace of bikes I'd like would all be 500 singles, The Thruxton Venom, the BSA DBD34 Gold Star and the Manx Norton. They were in many ways the apogee of British motorcycle design even though most were designed before the war.

Vincent made a 500 single too, the 1000 was basically two of them.

IMHO 500 cc is the optimum size for a motorcycle engine. Big enough to have all the power any sane man requires, small enough not to be excessively heavy. My two favourite engines are 500's and 250's.

[Tramp]

Mike, have you ever seen an LE Velo in America? Have you ever heard of one being on this continent? Mine is a 149cc. My 900cc Ducati weighs under 400 pounds. I hate heavy bikes because if they begin to tip they simply fall over. You're correct about the LE being quiet though mine has a minor header pipe leak. Might order new headers from England. 50 pounds for the pair. But first I better replace the 40 year old tires, eh? 3.00 19 Avons. Can't seem to find that size.

Do any of you still drink beer?

[2railjon]

Do any of you still drink beer?

The Army has temporarily F****d that pastime up for me! We get plenty of Becks and St.Pauli Girl in the NA variety, but it just doesn't have the same affect!
I can see where the state of our military is going to hell when the powers-that-be are more concerned about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy then they are concerned with treating soldiers like adults.
Oh Well............... A couple more months to go!

[bikermike]

Mike, have you ever seen an LE Velo in America? Have you ever heard of one being on this continent? Mine is a 149cc. My 900cc Ducati weighs under 400 pounds. I hate heavy bikes because if they begin to tip they simply fall over. You're correct about the LE being quiet though mine has a minor header pipe leak. Might order new headers from England. 50 pounds for the pair. But first I better replace the 40 year old tires, eh? 3.00 19 Avons. Can't seem to find that size.

Do any of you still drink beer?

No I have never seen an LE in America, they are rare enough in the UK.

I agree about heavy bikes BUT I've managed to lift my Vulcan when it got knocked over though I'd rather not if I could ever find anyone to help me. Fortunately my crash bars and saddle bags have saved it from being damaged. I always swore I'd never buy a bike like the Vulcan but the power! Its not that fast can just top 100 but the torque is incredible and thats what makes it such a sweetheart ride. You really have to ride one to find out for yourself.

[webenda]

I see the fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) are blooming here in the jungle. I see them with yellow, yellow-red and red flowers. The yellow-red flowers are easiest to photograph.
The all yellow or all red do not have enough contrast, however, it rained in the jungle today, giving the red flowers more interest.