Welcome to Jim's Classic Bikes Page.

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I own just two Classic Motorcycles and on this page you will find a description of each motorcycle, with contact details of their respective supporting clubs. A history of my ownership is given for each machine and thumbnail pictures give access to larger images.

1960 Panther M120 and Busmar Sidecar

First of all, what is this Panther?

Its a great Classic British Motorcycle. It was made in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire by Phelon and Moore from approximately 1904 until 1965-ish.

I bought my Panther in 1970 for £45 and its been ridden regularly almost every year since. It has never been really "restored" just tidied up piecemeal as needed. My example is a 650cc single cylinder model M120. These machines were very solidly built and are considered a little top heavy when riding solo, compared with the more usual vertical twin cylinder 650s of the 1960s era. They found their market niche as heavy sidecar haulers. The long stroke of the sloping engine gives a very high torque despite the modest horse power output. This machine will haul 2 adults, 2 children, a trailer containing a four birth frame tent and all the necessary family camping equipment, at 55mph up hill and down dale. Phelon and Moore also made the sidecar chassis which uses the same wheel as the bike, thus a spare wheel can be carried which fits all round. Lift stands are provided for all wheels and the wheels themselves are the easiest quickly detachable system I've seen. The sidecar is also quickly detachable and can be detached or re-fitted to the m/cycle in under 10 minutes.

How easy are they to find?

Just, marginally more common than fresh rocking horse poop! If you're interested in aquiring one then you'll need to be patient as their appeal is currently in the ascendency and they are getting harder to find. Try checking the classic bike mags and motor Trader mags for adverts.

Whats the spares situation?

If you join the Panther Owners Club (POC), then not to bad for most parts but not as good as most other British Bikes because of the lower numbers of these rarer machines in preservation.

What should you do to find out more?

Join the bunch of nutters known collectively as "The Panther Owners Club (POC)"

Write to:-

The POC Membership Secretary
Oakdene
22 Oak Street
Nertherton
West Midlands DY2 0AQ
England

or failing that hit the Link below to the Panther Owners Club internet site now!

The Panther Picture Gallery

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1953 Velocette LE

What is an LE Velo?

First of all its the total opposite of a Panther, which is big rugged and noisy. It has a nearly silent 200cc twin cylinder horizontally opposed sidevalve engine in a tin box frame. In its day it was one of the most advanced motorcycles in Britain. It has a pressed steel monocoque frame, liquid cooled engine and shaft drive to the rear wheel. It has a unit construction engine and gearbox, with a dry plate clutch. Just to be different it has a hand change 3 speed gearbox and a hand pull starter lever.

It was made at the Stamford Road factory of Veloce Ltd. in Birmingham, England from 1949 until about 1970. It was much loved by Police Forces as a patrol vehicle where its quiet operation made it ideal for local beat patrols without disturbing the residents. Or to put it another way, PC Plod could creep up on you, un-anounced if you were up to no good.

I bought my LE in 1969 for the huge sum of £5 and it has been ridden regularly ever since September 1973. It had been used as a field tracker by children on a local farm and required some restoration to bring it back to road legal condition. No attempt has ever been made to get it back to original condition, the color is wrong and the leg shields are home made but I like it this way and I've owned it now for 32yrs. Maybe one day I'll find the time to restore it properly but maybe not, anyway its well loved.

How easy are they to find?

Hello, we're back to the rocking horse poop, or maybe Hen's Teeth? The L.E. Velo Club Ltd. magazine called "On The Level" does however adverties the odd LE for sale and of course the classic bike mags and Trader mags are a good place to look.

Whats the spares situation?

Don't really know, I've never needed any. See! I told you its the opposite of a Panther. I've had only one mechanical breakage in the years I have owned the bike and otherwise replaced only wear items.

PS:- Since I was stupid enough to write the above sentence I have blown both cylinder head gaskets and discovered that both heads are corroded through from the water space to the outside world. Looks like the LE will be off road for a while. Is that laughter I hear coming through my modem?

What should you do to find out more?

Join the L.E. Velo Club Ltd. and start receiving their excellant little magazine every six weeks. You'll learn lots about LEs and lots of other things too.

Write to:-

New Membership Secretary
LE Velo Club
Chapel Mead
Blandford Hill
Winterbourne Whitechurch
Blandford
Dorset DT11 0AB
England

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