W
Wendy
Guest
Re: Sun motorcycles
Have a look at this thread. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20&page=2
Have a look at this thread. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20&page=2
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HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
we are now using a backup solution
Re: Sun motorcycles
Sun Motorcycles, like so many other MC firms, came out of older, bicycle, firms. The first Sun Motorcycle appeared in 1911 and continued in manufacture until 1933. After WWII with the dearth of cheap transport, Sun started again with a 'moped'. Like most of these, flimsy tin pressings housed a Villiers engine. In 1948 a lightweight motorcycle appeared, known as the Challenger. Sun produced many variants in the 50's, the 99cc Hornet, 224cc Cyclone and 249cc Wasp twin, there were competition variants too. In 1957, they jumped on the scooter craze with the 99cc Geni.
By 1960 however, like so many B'ham MC firms, Sun having been owned by one family since the start, they decided to retire. All manufacturing rights were sold to Raleigh, and any post 60 Bicycles came from Worksop.
Does that help ?
Sun Motorcycles, like so many other MC firms, came out of older, bicycle, firms. The first Sun Motorcycle appeared in 1911 and continued in manufacture until 1933. After WWII with the dearth of cheap transport, Sun started again with a 'moped'. Like most of these, flimsy tin pressings housed a Villiers engine. In 1948 a lightweight motorcycle appeared, known as the Challenger. Sun produced many variants in the 50's, the 99cc Hornet, 224cc Cyclone and 249cc Wasp twin, there were competition variants too. In 1957, they jumped on the scooter craze with the 99cc Geni.
By 1960 however, like so many B'ham MC firms, Sun having been owned by one family since the start, they decided to retire. All manufacturing rights were sold to Raleigh, and any post 60 Bicycles came from Worksop.
Does that help ?
Are there any other Sun Cyclone owners out there?
I have one manufactured in 1955 and first registered in 1956. I had this restored in 1999 and to the best of all the info I have tracked down so far, she looks pretty original. She does not have the optional chrome tank plates but does have what appears to be Challenger MKIV brass tank badges. May of the parts are pattern or after-market now but I would love to hear from anyone with any more info on these machines. Willing to share.
I have one manufactured in 1955 and first registered in 1956. I had this restored in 1999 and to the best of all the info I have tracked down so far, she looks pretty original. She does not have the optional chrome tank plates but does have what appears to be Challenger MKIV brass tank badges. May of the parts are pattern or after-market now but I would love to hear from anyone with any more info on these machines. Willing to share.
Apologies to anybody clicking on my Flickr links in my old posts above. They are all dead since I closed that account.
I will edit them out if I can, since clicking on dead links is quite annoying I know very well.
Most of my stuff is now being transferred to my own site here:
https://www.bicyclz.com/
There are a few Birmingham bikes on there, plus some of Leonard Gundles great carrier bikes, and Royal Enfields, Rudge, etc.
More to be added as I get time.
John.
I will edit them out if I can, since clicking on dead links is quite annoying I know very well.
Most of my stuff is now being transferred to my own site here:
https://www.bicyclz.com/
There are a few Birmingham bikes on there, plus some of Leonard Gundles great carrier bikes, and Royal Enfields, Rudge, etc.
More to be added as I get time.
John.
andrew.winterbotham
New Member
Re: Sun motorcycles
I have just coming into a Sun Challenger 197cc original paint and in many pieces. I will be bringing it back to life and wondered if there were others out there who have recently done the same. Andrew
I have just coming into a Sun Challenger 197cc original paint and in many pieces. I will be bringing it back to life and wondered if there were others out there who have recently done the same. Andrew
andrew.winterbotham
New Member
Re: Sun motorcycles
Mine was built in 1956 and registered in 1957. Same as me.
Same as me. We put it all together with a friend when I was 16 and we found it in a friends shed. Still original paint mostly and the engine turns over.
What shape is yours in?
Andrew
Mine was built in 1956 and registered in 1957. Same as me.
Same as me. We put it all together with a friend when I was 16 and we found it in a friends shed. Still original paint mostly and the engine turns over.
What shape is yours in?
Andrew
Re: Sun motorcycles
All repainted and engine restored waiting to be put together. Working on a 122cc at the moment so it will have to wait.
Yours must be a challenger mark IV with a Villiers 8E engine and a frame prefix of VMC.
Keep in touch on the progress and post a photo when finished and I will do the same.
Regards Bud.
All repainted and engine restored waiting to be put together. Working on a 122cc at the moment so it will have to wait.
Yours must be a challenger mark IV with a Villiers 8E engine and a frame prefix of VMC.
Keep in touch on the progress and post a photo when finished and I will do the same.
Regards Bud.
