Showcase Time - Classic era bikes

Geoff Lewis · Post by **Geoff Lewis** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:22 am

Hi David , Did you get any photos of the rest of the bike? The plate on the headstock tells the story , year of manufacture, H.P, displacement etc. I guess this bike will be prepared for Pre 60 class in which it would be hard to beat!
Regards Geoff.

Post by **David Lahey** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:06 pm

Yes Geoff it is for pre-60 class, and I would have loved to see the frame but it was just the motor there at the time

JC1 · Post by **JC1** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:07 pm

Hec David, that got the pulse going! Nice find for somebody.

I was going to suggest a Wasp trials kit for it:
(Originally built from 63 to 74, now being re-manufactured in UK)

: Wasp RT4 trials kit, 1963-73.jpg (31.23 KiB) Viewed 7394 times

Back in the day they were made for Bul, Villiers, Bantam, Cub, C15 & Triumph unit twin engines

Here's a Wasp Villiers from back then

: Wasp-Villiers Trials.jpg (30.27 KiB) Viewed 7394 times

And one (I think) being currently being built in UK, apparently with a trick top-end:

: Wasp maybe.jpg (161.12 KiB) Viewed 7394 times

Geoff how do you reckon yr CZ engine would go in one of those Wasp frames if money were no object? Probably could be adapted.

There is a precedent... almost - a Wasp Jawa trials from the 70s, using the ISDT engine

: Wasp-Jawa 420 trials, 210lb.jpg (64.25 KiB) Viewed 7394 times

Geoff Lewis · Post by **Geoff Lewis** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:37 pm

Hi John, If I could afford the frame kit I could probably afford a nice 500cc ESO motor to go in it as well, now that would be a fun heavyweight!

Post by **David Lahey** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:59 pm

Those Wasp kits look expensive but very interesting. I'm working up my courage to find out how much they are

Takhli44 · Post by **Takhli44** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:43 am

[quote="JC1"]I found out a bit more about the Firefly & GRM, pictured above on p4.

If my info is correct the Firefly was a UK kit bike from 67, built for Cub, C15, Greeves & Villiers engines

GRM was Bill Grapevine's work (GRM = Grapevine Racing Motors), who was a bit of a trials identity in the US. He began building bikes in the 60s, including some lightweight rigids & a Hodaka 90 model shown below - known as GRM Mavericks - but the GRM Islo was mass produced in Mexico from 71 to 74 when 1575 were said to be built/sold but of course thats not Classic era.

I rode a trial (Past Masters year 2000 in Fredonia Kansas USA) that Bill helped set. He was a very interesting person to visit with and put on one of the most fun trials I have ever ridden. The GRM's really came out of the woodwork (there were a lot of them) as well as riders like Mick Andrews and Ryan Young and likely a lot of well known riders that I didn't recognize. It was a vintage event with a loop for some modern.

Jon V8 · Post by **Jon V8** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:11 am

David Lahey wrote:Those Wasp kits look expensive but very interesting. I'm working up my courage to find out how much they are

I cant tell you anything about prices,but a couple of weeks ago I was in a workshop where work was being done to a Wasp trials frame for unit BSA motors.It looked really good,and considering who is working on it,it will be good.Be interesting to see how much they push it when its ready for production.It did make me think that when I'm too old to keep crashing around on pre unit concrete mixers,that this would be a good way forward...

JC1 · Post by **JC1** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:18 am

More info on the Wasp kits here

http://www.waspmotorcycles.com/wasp%20t ... 0solo.html

And some converted Impala roadies:
(Impala's were available from '62 to'71, then were back in production - almost exactly the same - from '81 when Montesa needed some cash-flow.
There must be hordes of them in Spain as they were a big seller for Montesa)