Drowned Rat Run

Wet and dry miles on a vintage Panther for the Club's Ratty Rally on the banks of the upper river Thames.

[@grahamesherbourne5425]

Pleased to say that Gav's 1952 M75 in now up and running well, after putting up something of a fightback during its engine refurbishment. It is testament to the great value of a dipstick magnet that the debris from the failing big end did no observable damager anywhere else in the motor, even the Pressure fed (sic) drive side bush was unmarked and was reused...... If you ain't got a magnet on your Panther dip-stick GET ONE. 🙂

[@jonathanjones9790]

Thanks for updating us Grahame. Good advice to fit a magnet to reduce the amount of metallic debris circulating, but also to warn of engine trouble well before the nasty noises are heard. We look forward to seeing Gav and his Model 75 Panther out and about again in 2023.

[@kevindaly5093]

The perfectly told story of a beautiful old dame of a motorcycle and her respectful keeper, leaning upon each other as they travel together through this hectic modern world. Perfectly paced and always thoughtfully and cleverly narrated. It's the sum of the parts that make your productions so very enjoyable. I look forward to each and every one. Pure bliss. Thank you.

[@jjrider6758]

Great comment, it mirrors my thoughts exactly !..

[@goldilocks913]

Machines- especially these old beauties most definitely have a sense of humour!

[@kevinfurness1741]

Thank you so much for brightening my winter morning. You are the David Attenbourogh of classic motorcycling! 🇨🇦

[@roymichaeldeanable]

There's something strangely special about riding a motorbike in the rain...its over 55 years and I still remember the experience

[@jonneville2287]

Hearing one of these old British singles chugging along is pure bliss. The hand operated gear change would be a handful at first. This is what motorcycling is all about.

[@borderlands6606]

As a former all-season motorcycle commuter, this brings back memories. My journey to work was an hour and a quarter each way. Traversing two cities and a town by car would have added at least half an hour, and the trip was long enough by bike. Every journey was an adventure, sometimes too adventurous like the Great Storm of '87, where I involuntarily crossed lanes all the way home, surrounded by un-sheeted lorries struggling to keep their wheels on the ground and failing. These days I can choose when to ride the Enfield, and when the weather is like it is today, watch other people's memories.

[@kenpage1107]

Thanks for taking me on that ride, I enjoyed every mile, cheers.

[@piearm1271]

Another excellent production, always enjoy the roads less travelled with some witty informative commentary and who doesn’t like a Panther chuckling away happily as she lopes along in the grand style.

[@roverchap]

I just love your videos, nice to have the first one of 2023. Your machine preparation is second to none. Surviving urban traffic and thunderstorms is a major challenge for an ancient machine, and you (both!) came out unbeaten. Well done.

[@norberthaase1697]

Als sie ansprang musste ich beim Klang des Motors sofort an meine Schüttov 500 denken.Danke für die wundervolle Vorstellung.

[@8025125]

Excellent, well up to the usual JJ standard, my own 500 is just about finished ready for some adventures in the summer. Your trips are an inspiration

[@derekcoe9633]

It must have been lovely to hear these bikes in the countryside back in the day, not like today’s buzz bombs.

[@25chief39]

I'm so glad you don't talk too much or play irrelevant musical soundtracks, giving us ample opportunity to enjoy that delicious engine note!

[@williamnethercott4364]

I enjoy your excellent commentary as well as your beautiful Panther. Very good video!

[@HowardKelsey68]

After watching with keen interest, I've decided "efficient preparation" AND "good fortune" were factors in this successful ride. Both are important on any road trip, let alone one on two wheels, in the wet and with close calls like the dangerous rider at 29:47. He foolishly, was factoring only the latter. Thank God for all His goodness!

[@mickkkkyy]

I really enjoy these onboard videos you do , thanks for taking us along with you

[@motophoenix5951]

Another great video. Thank you so much for your efforts.

[@oldbritishmetal]

Beautiful video. Just beautiful.....!

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks Jonathan, riding along with you - the bard of old bikes - was the perfect antidote to my current Panther woes. My M120 had a broken top ring, so I switched in the old piston and now she's a smoker. Oh well, two steps forwards.......

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

I'm sure that an old hand like you won't be beaten Nick. Thanks for your support, as ever.

[@michaelfirth1075]

Great videos, I enjoy the narration.😊

[@themediaman100]

I remember people joking about the Panther, saying they fire about every lamp post. 😂

[@roymichaeldeanable]

I love camping in the rain, or used to do 50 years ago

[@peterelsegood2700]

What a treat,great start to a Saturday morning, and still in my pyjamas. Thanks.

[@roberthocking9138]

I have always found it interesting that early bikes seemed to give amp meters precedence , from the riders view , over other measures such as a speedo or tachometer . Obviously the condition of the early electrical systems were considered vital.

[@andrewallen9993]

Fortunately for my knees I live 50 metres from the top of a hill so I can still own old motorcycles 😁

[@rb3166]

Would've started on the 5th kick I bet! Nice bike, nice ride!

[@dogpaw775]

only came across this 'vlog' recently. i find it rather like an amalgamation of Ixion and Wainwright. i enjoy it immensely. ps trust the GLA is still looking out for our friend @29:47 as he is obviously not as engaged in his future longevity himself.

[@ryanrodgers1826]

thanks for the run out Jonathan good weekend for you back out there on the bike stay safe cheers

[@susijones2875]

fantastic road trip to the river Isis how superb. loved this video Jonny thank you

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

Your husband knows how to ride a Panther Susi. Ask him to give you a lesson.

[@ronnronn55]

A few minutes of a hair dryer or a heat lamp aimed at the cylinder generally makes the engine feel better. They like summer! Ronn

[@shoshone3]

It's a good job the mighty flywheel keeps the piston at it's approved trajectories when slow running in all that traffic. At least once it starts. Some of my triumphant motorcycles required continual wrist input when filtering through traffic, sometimes only to be rewarded with a chuff sound, followed by silence emanating from chrome trumpets.

[@michaelbailey8729]

Love the satnav. Royal Flying Corp style. The Panther was a leg breaker on start up. You must have the technique.

[@ragnarragnarson5184]

How charming and the bike sounds so lovely and crisp, i always wanted a Panther but they are getting very expensive now, i had several big BSA singles including an M21 with the same style girder front forks.

[@mikeburton7077]

I felt every drop of rain ! As you went past Corby ,we were only half mile away. A bsa owner I could be interested in a Panther

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

BSA single to a Panther wouldn't be a huge leap Mike. From a twin you might suffer more of a culture shock.

[@stewy62]

The A427 Oundle to Corby road is a favourite from my youth and unspoiled by road straightening schemes. It seems quieter than it did years ago, as traffic has been diverted to other routes. The steelworks may be long gone but annually over 200,000 tonnes of steel tubes are still made on the site. Next time you pass by some of the older sheds may have been demolished, as was the 7 storey concrete HQ just before your journey when it’s new owners couldn’t get permission to turn it into flats. The B4036 Market Harborough to Daventry road is also very familiar so I especially enjoyed this video. Had I known you were passing so close to where I live I would have put out the flags for you.

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

Thanks Stewy for putting me right on the Corby steelworks. I'd be honoured to have a flag raised; not at half mast just yet I hope.

[@RabSpaniel]

neat countryside.

[@julianpurcell8167]

Hi Jonathan, I am restoring a 1932 M50 panther in Australia. Looks just like yours but still in pieces. I greatly enjoy your rides, hoping soon to be doing the same. I am still chasing parts like a primary chain cover, any leads??

[@johnburns3703]

Enough blue sky to make a dutchmans trousers mean the cloud cover is thin and will give way to blue sky. see the lonsdale book of weather lore for more meteorological facts

[@goldilocks913]

Lovely video as usual! Where did you get the wonderful route sheet holder from? I would love one that size given my eyes!?😂

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

Thank you goldilocks. I'm using this one which takes the A4 sheet. vmccshop.net/route-roller-oxford-products

[@goldilocks913]

@@PantherOwnersClub1 thank you so much for the link 👍

[@TheYorkie1954]

Quite often get overtaken by some young gun and spend the next few corners wondering if I an going to round a corner and have to help pull him out of a hedge or worse

[@MrBeracah]

What is your usual cruising speed on this bike please

[@jonbennett5291]

A couple of questions: I assume at the garage you filled with E5 fuel, but do you also use additives, and if so what ? Silly question - but what sort of speed are you typically ‘cruising’ at - 40-45 or 45-50 mph ?

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

Thanks Jon. Good to know the run also gives pleasure second-hand. No, no additives in my fuel. As mentioned when filling up the bike last year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJDSn2t4bJmDsNU I prefer to discover for myself whether commercial solutions offered are for problems which don't exist. Ethanol is certainly not a new invention. It may not suit some modern plastics but nothing has been affected on this Panther... yet. On the subject of forward motion gearing through the three-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox gives easy cruising in the 45 to 50 mph range, with some in hand. I can comfortably keep pace with modern trucks on A roads in Britain.

[@stewy62]

The nozzle went back in the E10 holder. I guess if you know it’s not going to be hanging around in your bike it’s less of an issue.

[@michaeljames5708]

I own a 1947 65 model do they have any value to them or they just a cheaper model it says it's a MK1 please let me know

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

A photo of the bike and its engine number posted on this Facebook group may help to gauge interest in your Model 65 Michael. facebook.com/groups/11553580477

[@keithmoore5224]

2t 250 one of the most reliadle british bikes i owend make sun red colour yvd 98 just saying

[@ragnarragnarson5184]

Also i know the young lad who we see at 47.16 as he is a member of 2CVGB like myself 🙂

[@jonathanjones9790]

That would be our ubiquitous chairman, Luke. One of the nuts (and bolts) holding the POC together.

[@ragnarragnarson5184]

@@jonathanjones9790 Yes ive known Luke a good few years

[@kaybag698]

Hi please try this starting procedure it allways worked for me on various old bikes:- Tickle carburettor- kick over about 5 times with ignition off- tickle carburettor again- turn on ignition then kick start, i allways left advance & retard in the running position. Good luck

[@jjrider6758]

I'm not a fan of 'road-trip' videos as a rule.. I usually find them quite long-winded and boring, yours are even longer but for some reason they pass in a flash and I'm finding them compulsive watching, ! - It could be the soothing sound of the Panther pootling along ?.. I just can't quite put my finger on it.. May moons ago, as a callow youth, I knew an old biker (rumoured to be a Hells Angel..) called Ferret who ran a Panther chopper, he worked at a bike shop which was up back street with a steep incline, he'd retard the ignition and the Panther would chug up the hill, seeming to fire at every other lamp post !.. As two-stroke mounted teenage hooligans we'd giggle at this but only a few years later I got the British bike bug and have ridden them ever since !

[@jonathanjones9790]

Thank you for your enthusiastic comments JJR. In honest moments I admit that these videos are created for my own pleasure so it's gratifying to discover that they resonate with other riders of old motorcycles.

[@jjrider6758]

@@jonathanjones9790 You're welcome Jonathan !.. I've always liked Panthers but never had the nerve to take the plunge ! - Some years ago now a bloke I knew at the time was (slowly) restoring a 1939 Panther (not sure of the model but it could have been a Model 100 ?..) It had taken him several years and he was doing a lovely job of it but he moved away before finishing it so sadly I never saw the end result.. This, along with Ferret's chopper of course, is my only 'real-world' experience of the marque, but your videos are making me think again.. Runners seem to fetch relatively high prices today, but there's a reasonable Model 100 restoration project on Flea-Bay right now so I'm off there for another look !..