Basket Cases

[David Lahey]

Is it aftermarket Dave? SM?
Also is it rude to ask how expensive the freight was?

Q2 Not at all John. The package weighed just under 12 kg and it cost about $550 freight and I'm still getting over how fast it got here.
Paul Arnott was very helpful regarding who to use for the freight to minimise the cost.

Q1 yes, aftermarket and made in about 1972/74 I'd say. Go on have a guess

[JC1]

My guess would be SM hi-boy frame; if not then Whitlock or Wasp.
Not sure the latter 2 made many for Sherpas tho.

[David Lahey]

My guess would be SM hi-boy frame; if not then Whitlock or Wasp.
Not sure the latter 2 made many for Sherpas tho.

Yes John an early type Highboy - as in suits a slimline tank and has a central frame tube in front of the swingarm pivot

[JC1]

With the laid down rear shocks or the earlier version?

[David Lahey]

With the laid down rear shocks or the earlier version?

Hmmm I haven't looked at that yet - the swingarm is still tied up.
Here's a photo of it in the UK before it was pulled apart.

[JC1]

Yep, that's the model with the laid-down shocks
Great score. Did you get the tank-seat unit too?

[David Lahey]

Yep, that's the model with the laid-down shocks
Great score. Did you get the tank-seat unit too?

Thanks John.
No to the tank for two reasons.
1 It's in the UK and every attempt I've made at buying a second-hand fuel tanks from the UK has been stopped by a some regulation.
2 Yes they are interesting and rare, but I don't like the look of those tanks.

I'll take a photo of it with some shocks and your slimline tank on it tonight

[David Lahey]

Yep, that's the model with the laid-down shocks
Great score. Did you get the tank-seat unit too?

Thanks John.
No to the tank for two reasons.
1 It's in the UK and every attempt I've made at buying a second-hand fuel tanks from the UK has been stopped by a some regulation.
2 Yes they are interesting and rare, but I don't like the look of those tanks.

I'll take a photo of it with some shocks and your slimline tank on it tonight

Shock ratio is 1.42 which means 5.7" axle travel with Falcons.
The model 80 slimline tank comes nowhere near fitting this frame so I didn't show it. The slimline tank/seat is about 50mm too long. Also I'm now thinking that this frame is more like 1975/76 because of it having the Homerlite tank and laid down shocks.

[JC1]

Yes, I'd have thought circa '75 too Dave
Notice in the pic with the Homerlite unit that it has been cut to make it fit around the top shock mount.

Nice frame. From what I've read, that's the one to have.
One of the early SM frames was said to have the footpegs in the wrong place.

[David Lahey]

Yes, I'd have thought circa '75 too Dave
Notice in the pic with the Homerlite unit that it has been cut to make it fit around the top shock mount.

Nice frame. From what I've read, that's the one to have.
The early SM frame was said to have the footpegs in the wrong place.

I noticed the pegs were further back than the model 80 and model 49. I'm sure there will be lots more revelations along the way.
Have you seen this story?
http://motoeuro.org/sm552.htm?fbclid=Iw ... z7WIXyS6p4
I noticed that my frame looks like the one in this story but the bike in the story has later type triple clamps than what was on mine in the UK