Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22814 Location: UK

Can anyone help out John with his query (bit before my time Wink

)

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> Hello,
>
> Firstly, what an amazing site I thoroughly enjoy reading the story during my
> search, but didn¹t find what I am looking for and REALLY HOPE YOU CAN HELP ...
>
> I¹m writing a book and one of the main characters a 17 year old boy who
> passes his motorcycle road test in 1967 and immediate gets off his 125cc
> ³practice bike² and on to a classic (stripped) 998cc Vincent Black Knight
> motorcycle. Knowing things have changed over the years, my question is, would
> it have been legal for him (back in 1967) to ride such a bike at 17, having
> just passed his test?
>
> I REALLY hope you can help as I can find no reference to Ohow it used to be¹
> on the internet So maybe if it was, as I think it was back then like OK!
> You¹ve passed your test - off you go on anything you like! Then it may be
> worth adding reference to this in your motorcycle stories.
>
> Great site!!
>
> Sincere thanks and I hope you can help.
>
> John.
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Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
Yes he could have.
Infact he could have put a sidecar on his Vinnie and taken his test on that, or he could at that time have learnt solo on up to 250cc.
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scott_budds · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Norwich

My dad tell me a story of one of his mates. He went and bought a bike secondhand, not sure what it was but my old man says it was big, bigger than a 500 single. So maybe 600 or 750 twin as this was the early 60s and the bike would have been a few years old. Any ways comming back he fell off 3 times. Some bloke in a car shouted "whats the matter cant you ride that bleedin thing!?" to which he replied "of course I bl@@dy cant, you think Id keep fallen off if I knew how to ride it!" Laughing

So I would think you could ride a big bike with little instruction!

Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

Nic Jarman · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject:

Penman is right about the capacity limits and I went from my moped to borrowing a Yamaha DT175 to take my test on and then the next day was out on my Suzuki GT380J. Unless the kid is a really natural rider going from a 125 to a stripped Vinnie he would not last long. There is not a great deal you can strip off a Vinnie. Also a kid would have a lot of trouble starting a 998cc twin. Maybe something fairly exotic like an AJS Porcupine would be more interesting? Good Luck.
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

I know if you take your test today on a 125cc you can not move onto unlimited sizes for 2 or is it 3 years, However if you take your test on a bigger bike, you are unlimited straight away.

Cheers

Dave

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

Sorry I didn't realise we were talking under 21

Cheers

Dave

Nic Jarman · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:59 am Post subject:

Thank goodness I passed my motorcycle test in 1976. Pass your test buy a superbike and kill yourself, easy. A good way of keeping the Gene pool healthy. Laughing

_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

Ghost · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 75

Like Nic Jarman I passed my motorcycle test a long time ago, before 1976 by some years in fact. I used to attend the Motorcycle Show at the Birmingham NEC each year but quit some time back, when the so called 'superbike' became ubiquitous. I think they are impractical and unpleasant, far from super!

Also in another post above NJ suggests the 17yr old boy in the novel might have a job to start a Vincent so suggest an AJS Porcupine. The Porky has no kickstarter, are you offering to push the lad NJ, I'm too old!

Nic Jarman · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:

When I was 17 I bump started many a bike. I was thrown over the handle bars (clip ons) of a Velo clubman and there are a few more stories. I trained as a motorcycle mechanic.
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush