Motorcycle shops in 70's Sheffield

[Wadsleyite]

I do indeed remember the tall, smart manager at Dan Bradbury's - nice to know he is still around. Their spares department (up the back stairs) was second to none, and often had just the bit I needed. My dad bought an NSU "Quickly" moped from Bradbury's - with its 50 cc engine and two gears (top and bottom...) it did about 35 mph flat-out and got him to work and back for years. NSU produced a 3-gear model before they gave up bikes in favour of cars.

 

Nimrod - looking on http://www.findmypast.com I found that a Barry Dungworth was born in Sheffield in April-June 1936, so you weren't far out with your "around 70 years old" guesstimate!

[Lostrider]

My dad was a motorcycle cop at Attercliffe in the 50's - 60's I have a photo of him on his Vellocette LE leading the Lord Mayors Parade in the 60's.

I remember he had a radio in a box on the back with a telephone handset.

 

He used to wear a normal bobbys helmet with a cork lining and an extra chin strap it, I have still got it somwhere.

 

He once said the LE was reveloutinary at the time with lots of novel ideas that became normal on later bikes.

 

He told me a story that when he tried to get up Jenkin Avenue he used to have to get off and run with it up the hill as it wouldnt get up it with him on it. The kids used to chuck stones at him but, he couldnt stop and give em a clip round the ear, as he'd never get it moving again.

 

Anyone rememer Ropers on London Road?

 

 

Wadsleyite,

When I was small my dad used to show me all the different bikes in shops and on the road and I got to know a lot of the makes and models.

I was once taken on a tour of Attercliffe Police station and shown their Velocette LE bikes that they had just got, they were grey as I recall.

When I worked at one bike shop, they had a Velocette Vouge, I think that was based on the LE as it was a 200cc water cooled,shaft drive flat twin.

My Mums cousin used to have a Bantam, I think it was the D1, It was ex GPO finished in pillar box red with single saddle and bulb horn near speedometer.

I was only small, but can still see John tickling the carb etc prior to starting it.

Nearly bought a BSA 250 a few years ago, but found out it had a fibreglass tank (Barracuda model?) which I thought could be a bit iffy if involved in an accident.

 

Thanks for sharing your bike memories.

[Wadsleyite]

Roper's on London Road was a very good shop - in fact in the heyday of Motorcycling I think Sheffield bikers did very well regarding dealers. The LE Velocette was indeed a revolutionary design, with its Little Engine (L.E.) with twin horizontally-opposed cylinders. The engine was water-cooled, drive to the back wheel was not via a chain but a shaft, and the box-type silencer was very efficient, making the bike purr softly as it went along. There was also the all-encompassing body and the legshields keeping your legs dry (and warm - in winter you got warm air from the radiator blowing on to them). One drawback of the LE was the number of special tools that were needed for major maintenance jobs. The bike also had a number of foibles - you had to know it to run it trouble-free - but it had many devotees, and of course there is a thriving owner's club.

[glaham]

Someone mentioned Dave Tye's motorbike shop at Cromford. Dave must be related to Johnny who was my uncle's lifelong friend and best man. They both were in the RAF and raced motorcycles too. They were also friends with John Cooper of Derby (Mooneyes).

[Lostrider]

Just thought of another but for the life of me I can't remember who ran it.

It was in Beighton bottom near the railway lines. I think it was were the Car dealer (Coopers)? is now. I got a lift down there once from Hackenthorpe with a guy called Pete Drinkwater. I sat pillion on his Gold Star Rocket why he tried to impress me by "doing the ton" down Drakehouse Lane. No helmets. Oh he impressed me allright. I nearly **** myself. I was only 14.

 

He wanted me to look at the speedo over his shoulder. That was a laugh with those wopping great pistons thumping up and down. My eyeballs were rattling about in the sockets. Most of the guys that ride these multi cylinder Jap bikes today have no idea what it was like to ride on a old thumper.

 

I ride a jap v-twin which has the feel of a Brit bike when it gets going. Anything over 60 and it vibrates like mad. Get up to the top end and my visor rattles like a tin of marbles. I love it.

[Puffin4]

Very descriptively written, it brought a smile to my face and turned up long lost memories.

[Lostrider]

Very descriptively written, it brought a smile to my face and turned up long lost memories.

 

 

Thanks

 

Those were the days when it wasn't so much "Vibration White Finger" as "Vibration White Arms".

 

And why did I always seem to have more oil on me than I had in the sump?

 

A tip my dad gave me for starting a wet engine, he always carried a tin of ronson lighter fuel with him.

 

Take out the plug/plugs squirt lighter fuel in, hold a lit match to the plug and wait for the bang. Douse your eyelashes if you were looking, when it exploded.

Hold the plugs over the flame, quickly re-assemble.

Worked every time.

 

And the techniques of Bumps starting, well thats another story.

[Puffin4]

Do you remember the technique for starting a Scott? Bump start it; if kicked there was a chance of it starting in reverse.

[biker]

Just thought of another but for the life of me I can't remember who ran it.

It was in Beighton bottom near the railway lines. I think it was were the Car dealer (Coopers)? is now. I got a lift down there once from Hackenthorpe with a guy called Pete Drinkwater. I sat pillion on his Gold Star Rocket why he tried to impress me by "doing the ton" down Drakehouse Lane. No helmets. Oh he impressed me allright. I nearly **** myself. I was only 14.

 

He wanted me to look at the speedo over his shoulder. That was a laugh with those wopping great pistons thumping up and down. My eyeballs were rattling about in the sockets. Most of the guys that ride these multi cylinder Jap bikes today have no idea what it was like to ride on a old thumper.

 

I ride a jap v-twin which has the feel of a Brit bike when it gets going. Anything over 60 and it vibrates like mad. Get up to the top end and my visor rattles like a tin of marbles. I love it.

I think that was a motorcycle breakers in Beighton as was (still is ) George Pollards in Dinnington.I remember a mate of mine (Dick Roscoe) giving me a lift to Pollards on his Honda 90 up Fence Hill at about 5 mph.There was also Marriots breakers near Dinnington.Great days !!

[normanmarina]

Cant believe no one has mentioned Dougie peacock!!!got my first bike from him,second hand 66 bantam 175,that would be in 1973ish he had a small workshop/showroom near bramhall lane football ground,he then moved to bigger premises at a crossroads near Sharrow I think or getting towards that way,I remember lusting after a 72 cd175 honda!!beyond apprentice joiners wage!!but Dougie was a really honest decent man.