1290SAS??????

@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp KTM

I find my Norton Commando 850 likes a crack of throttle to fire up the dual Amal Concentric carbs, despite what seasoned owners/builders have recommended to me...I have no chokes installed, but it likes throttle open a tad when warm or cold starting, plus tickle when cold.

No just learn the starting technique and use them regularly and starting isn't a problem. Our Thurxton and the Sportsman aren't problem starters

Nothing wrong with going electric start but still kick over regularly

Flood the carby first . Couldn't see where the advance retard was set. Then after finding compression come up fully and a decent full kick not stabbing and they will go first or second kick

aCtually according to all I have read on the subject, the Velo takes a little different starting method....get it to top of compression, then pull in the Ex. valve lifter to get it just over TDC, kick it one full stroke of the lever to the bottom position, let it come come up fully, with Ex. lifter released, now give it a full hard kick. Important as the gearbox & kicker ratio is not like other bikes and it needs a lot of flywheel momentum to bring it over the top of compression to have a chance to fire up.

My Triumph 500 and BSA Roadrocket 650 didn't have valve lifters. Valve lifters were used more on the big singles. @@TornadoCAN99

A Thruxton is a wee bit of a challenge to start. Especially if they still retain the GP carb. More than your average British single. 😂😂😂. These boys have been playing with them for a while. One at least since the 1960s. You can start a Matchless G80 in half a kick. But a Velo especially a Thruxton is way way way harder to start. Kicking British singles since 1968. 😁

Had a talk to the guys about the hard starting. They said they had just done a long run and the bikes were hot. They think the issue was petrol evaporating in the carbs. The bikes were fine to start when cold.

This is the exact technique I've used to start many different and high compression motorcycles. Also at the end of the kick-starter stroke immediately lift your leg in the event of a kick back. I've tried to show this to many riders under the age of 60 who have bought classic motorcycles. It's an art they just can't seem to get

I counted 21 attempts on bike #1, and another 12? on bike #2 right at the end of the video. These were presumably running the GP carbs and god knows what engine mods (racing bikes??), but the two riders are obviously seasoned Velo owners....what hope does that give me! I'm about to take ownership of a '54 Velo as my first velo...might even be your original bike ;-)

@TornadoCAN99 Wow! thats fantastic, I'm sure that you'll be delighted with it. Don't expect it to stop or the 6v electrics to be up to much!! If it's an MSS, does it have the excellent two level original dual seat and the adjustable rear suspension via the big hand wheels? Starting is an art, it's very well described in the original handbook. I'm afraid that despite what you said those lads knew nothing about how to start one, it isn't as difficult as they made out. Wishing you many happy Velo riding miles.

@tonycamplin8607 yes my MSS has the two level seat. Quite a few spendy bits bolted on: new stainless wheels; tires; rear hard pannier cases, stainless rear rack, electronic BTH mag, 12v electrics, belt drive primary kit, Amal concentric premier carb, TLS front brake off a BSA I believe. Also has turn signal lamps fitted, an absolute necessity in modern traffic. Expected to arrive here in Western Canada from Liverpool early March.

@@TornadoCAN99 I hope that you enjoy it.

@@TornadoCAN99 Bike #2 is modified with a modern AMAL Mk2 carb. AMAL GP's had no idle jet!!!!

The "arc" is to adjust the suspension softness, if you are using the bike with a full load, move the top of the suspension unit more vertical to give a harder suspension. Chris B.

@@453421abcdefg12345 thank you, that makes sense. In some cases, on other motorcycles, the length of the shock was changed to influence the rake of the steering head. If you used a longer shock it would decrease the rake, a shorter shock would increase it. I had a Yamaha DT 3 with a modified swing arm that lowered the rear slightly and increased the rake to improve the off-road handling. I thought this might be something similar to tune for different race courses. I have been wondering about those arcs for at least three decades, thanks for clearing it up for me.

@@terrycavender 3 decades! You are a patient man. The Vincent had an eccentric cam on the front fork to alter the amount of trail on the fork for solo/sidecar use, this was a very good idea but some people rode with the cam set on sidecar trail and got into difficulties. The Velocette suspension was designed at the very beginning of suspension /damper technology so it was thought a good idea to have an adjustable system to cater for varying rider/load situations, now of cause the units are adjustable, but then the units were of the oleomatic type with air pumped in for varying weight. Stay safe! Chris B.