Showcase Time - Classic era bikes

Francis B · Post by **Francis B** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 7:03 pm

Loving the posts!! Geoff, bit harsh saying the FB wouldn't make it between sections nowadays! maybe we can swap this weekend at Sedgewick to show you what an ""English thoroughbred " is capable of? Picking up the Sprite tomorrow so will have it along for a ride (hopefully rides better than the FB!)
Cheers Francis

Post by **David Lahey** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:23 pm

hardly classic but I didn't know that Jawa made trials bikes of this era and was fascinated when I saw it

Geoff Lewis · Post by **Geoff Lewis** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:40 am

Hi David, I think if you were able to adequately research the efforts by Jawa/CZ in observed trials you might be surprised and surely there must be people still around who remember these efforts.I have asked my contacts in Europe from time to time but drawn a blank. There is no Classic Trials movement in Slovakia or Czech republic that I can determine. Unfortunately as the CZ factory archives were destroyed in floods in the 90s, no written record exists of these exploits. My friend Dennis Easby, sadly now passed away, told a story of when he cadged a ride on one of the factory bikes of the Czech army team at the SSDT in the early sixties. He said he hopped on it, opened the throttle and dropped the clutch, like he would on his Bantam, and couldn't get the front wheel down until he ran out of carpark! The bikes must be out there somewhere as well. FB that Sprite is a nice bike, I wouldn't mind a squirt on Sunday and you can have a ride on a real bike, my CZ! Czech out the Gaunt Jawa,I want one.
Regards Geoff.

JC1 · Post by **JC1** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 9:45 am

Geoff, I like the look of that little Jawa too, but I can't help wondering what it would have been like if he'd used the 120 Suz engine (from his previous bike) in that frame.

Anyway, he's a pic of yr Jawa in action:

: CZ250 of G Lewis 2.jpg (74.02 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

And some polish WSKs. Engine's bottom end looks somewhat CZ-ish. First couple converted from 4speed road models originating from mid-60s:

: WSK 175 MR16 1965.jpg (101.83 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

: WSK mod'd MR16B.jpg (65.91 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

While we're at it... a couple of prod'n trials models, circa 70/71:

: WSK Trial MR16T.jpg (58.92 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

: WSK Trial MR16T 3.jpg (79.63 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

: WSK Trial MR16T 4.jpg (110.31 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

: WSK Trial 250 6.JPG (137.04 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

: Tank-seat are non-prod'n; WSK Trial MR16T 6.jpg (49.86 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

And the latest prod'n models, still early 70s & 4sp. Look decidedly Ossa-ish:

: wsk trila mr16t (1).jpg (91.29 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

: Wsk Trial 2.66 175 250.jpg (126.44 KiB) Viewed 7696 times

Amazing what you find on the web sometimes!

Total prod'n run said to be only a couple of hundred

Geoff Lewis · Post by **Geoff Lewis** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 8:38 am

Hi John , I almost look like I know what I'm doing in that pic! I could have bought a WSK from Jonny Munn at Classic Style in Seaford many years ago and it had the squarish cases as seen on the bikes in your posting. I wasn't sure what it was although I did look it up in my Tragatch but decided at the asking price it was not worth the risk if it was a dog as I already have enough of those. Jonny Munn certainly comes up with some interesting bikes from time to time and it is always worth asking him if he has something interesting. He had a real nice original Cotton about a 1972 model and only wanted about $3000 for it and it was an unmolested gem, but he has had some real scruffy tat for the same sort of money. who knows?
Regards, Geoff.