Motorcycle Shops

[Richard Dye]

I get that Richard, it is what it is, as the yanks say.
I've had fast bikes, and cruisers and all sorts, but I keep going back, to ,as you say, the look.
Then there's the smell of the bike shop, but thats another thread

It’s the Castro R that gets in your veins or maybe the Duckhams as well .

 

[boilerman]

It’s the Castro R that gets in your veins or maybe the Duckhams as well .

I've had the odd stimulant in my life, but not any, as good, as being on a bike, any bike

 

[Richard Dye]

I've had the odd stimulant in my life, but not any, as good, as being on a bike, any bike

Castro R is the racing oil that you can smell from the exhaust pipe that was a great stimulant for me, as soon as I started up!

 

[Pete Elliott]

I knew Len Vale-Onslow way back in the 1950s, he had a shop in Handsworth. This might interest you bikers/ex bikers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/features/2004/05/vale_onslow/vale_onslow.shtml

https://www.vale-onslow.co.uk/

Hi Eric, I bought my first pudding basin from Onslo’s shop on soho road Handsworth, even before I started riding so my mate Keith from work could take me on his Bonnie to follow the vintage rally around the inner circle bus route on Sunday, this would have been 1967, I bought my tiger cub from H&L Motors on Dudley road in 1968. Happy Days

 

[Pete Elliott]

Whe was the Birmingham Speedway rider who had a Motor Cycle shop on the Birchfields road, was it Harry Bastable ??? I used that shop guite often as i worked on the Birchfields road just below chain walk anyone Know Bobby b

Hi mate, Harry Bastable and Bob Joiner set up the bike training course in Smethwick that I attended ‘67/‘68

 

[Pete Elliott]

Castro R is the racing oil that you can smell from the exhaust pipe that was a great stimulant for me, as soon as I started up!

I used to put a teaspoonful of Castro R in my Bonnie’s petrol for the racing smell

 

[mw0njm.]

Racers used "R" as the main lubricant but it can sludge an engine up. It was only recommended for use when racing engines were stripped down regularly to replace rings and be overhauled due to the normal than usual wear caused under racing conditions and if left in an unused motor for any considerable length of time it would sludge.
Castrol R is a vegetable based oil The oil can turn into a jelly if mixed with mineral oil so its not recommended.

i put some in my fergie tractor fuel tank what a nostalgic pong come out the exhaust pipe

 

[Richard Dye]

Hi Eric, I bought my first pudding basin from Onslo’s shop on soho road Handsworth, even before I started riding so my mate Keith from work could take me on his Bonnie to follow the vintage rally around the inner circle bus route on Sunday, this would have been 1967, I bought my tiger cub from H&L Motors on Dudley road in 1968. Happy Days

I bought my Aviakit (sp) Trackstar helmet about two weeks before I got my used BSA from Oxford Motors on Bristol Rd.

 

[Richard Dye]

Racers used "R" as the main lubricant but it can sludge an engine up. It was only recommended for use when racing engines were stripped down regularly to replace rings and be overhauled due to the normal than usual wear caused under racing conditions and if left in an unused motor for any considerable length of time it would sludge.
Castrol R is a vegetable based oil The oil can turn into a jelly if mixed with mineral oil so its not recommended.
View attachment 201327
i put some in my fergie tractor fuel tank what a nostalgic pong come out the exhaust pipe

Yes, engine sludging was a by product of R. As an aside, engine sludging was problematic on Ford car engines in the late 60’s early 70’s.

 

[adap2it]

Whe was the Birmingham Speedway rider who had a Motor Cycle shop on the Birchfields road, was it Harry Bastable ??? I used that shop guite often as i worked on the Birchfields road just below chain walk anyone Know Bobby b

I think that was Tiger Hart...
Dave A

 

[Morturn]

Good morning members, we are talking about motorcycle shops here so let get back on track.

Thanks

 

[Vivienne14]

Have moved off-topic posts to another thread under General Discussion

 

[mw0njm.]

Good morning members, we are talking about motorcycle shops here so let get back on track.

Thanks

sorry

 

[Pete Elliott]

Anybody else remember the old chap with the dusty old shop at the top of Cape Hill ? Globe Motorcycles I think. I'm talking late 60s, but the shop looked like it had been there for years, if you wanted something strange, or needed to 'improvise' he always had an idea, and then sold the stuff really cheap. He mustve had loads of loose piston rings, bearings etc out the back, he just used to disappear for a bit then come back with something to fit.

Was great for me, running old wrecks, he helped me out no end of times.

I remember globe motorcycles, he always had what ever you wanted, and those long waterproof coats and gauntlets hanging by the door looked great . Happy memories

 

[Pete Elliott]

Re: More Bike Shops?

Kings of Birmingham Bristol Rd at Monaco House & at Washford traffic lights, manager went on to open Solihull M/C Lode Lane, Terry with a green 911.

I bought my first brand new bike from Kings, BMW R/80 1978

 

[Pete Elliott]

Hi everyone, new member here. My Dad used to manage H & L Motors on Dudley Road back in the late sixties/early seventies. They were primarily a Triumph dealer but also sold BSA, Norton etc. When that closed he worked at Stirchley Motor Cycles on Pershore Rd and then they opened Kawasaki City in Selly Oak. When I was little I remember going to work with him and going to some old dealers at the time including Ray On The Cape, Hailwood & Gould, Copes, Vale Onslow and many more i can't recall at the moment. I'd love to hear from anybody who may know my dad.

Was your dad Don, I bought my Tiger Cub from H&L in 1968, I was always in there looking for bits even when I had my tritons, it was a chap called Albert Gauntlet who worked with my brother that told us about the tiger cub for sale. Your dad would have known my mate Keith aka “ Christmas tree “