I ride a 109 year old TT Killer Machine!! - National Motor Museum Part 2

[@christyrer9530]

Absolutely brilliant and what a privilege to be allowed to ride these bikes; just goes to show how well respected you are by the Museum. In the moment you first wobbled off on the Enfield I bet you were thinking that flying a plane was a doddle!!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I have to say there was quite a lot in common with flying the piper cub!! Thanks for watching and for the kind comments - all the best!

[@Trevor_Austin]

@@TheMissendenFlyerCome on, a Cub is a simple aircraft. Ailerons into wind, elevator where the wind is blowing and make sure you using a tank with fuel in it (and open the sliding window on the left if you side-slip top the right with the doors open 😊). Complicated? That describes the motorcycle.

[@sergentcolon1]

I was thinking it was more “oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, don’t drop it”

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

@Trevor_Austin I was referring more to the vintage feel of the bike, the "old school" controls and so on - I'm certainly not implying a cub is a complex aircraft.....but they do take some skill to fly well as these bikes take some skill to ride well (something I'm clearly lacking!).....

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@TheMissendenFlyerI was thinking of how difficult it must’ve been to fly those early aircraft. I’m sure you had similar fiddling about with mixtures, spark etc., all while being thousands of feet in the air (and possibly getting shot at to boot).

[@garyhope0103]

What an absolute honour sir, to be able, not just to see these bikes so close up, but to get to ride them. Also to be allowed to film it and take us with you. A big thank you from me to the two gentleman who made this possible. A series of videos which I looked forward too, and have exceeded in my expectations.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I’m delighted to hear that Gary! Thank you

[@FreddieDobbs]

The knowledge of the gent on all of the bikes is incredible! What a great experience🙂👌🏻👌🏻

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It sure was Freddie - you’d love that place!!

[@spetersonmusic]

I cannot believe my eyes and ears. What a fantastic opportunity!!! I was thrilled and yet terrified watching you ride those incredible machines. Imagine going back in time to tell the original owners you would someday be strapping a 360 camera to their bike and riding it to share it with the world on the Internet. LOL! Wow.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes - how things have changed eh!?

[@TheTrincomalee]

Really enjoying these ‘different’ vids. Well done keeping things interesting 👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you like them! They’re the sort of videos I like to watch too - sadly though viewing numbers on these “different” videos are seldom good! I enjoy making them though so will carry on doing so….

[@barryjmarling]

Fantastic series Andy,absolutely beautiful machines,so great to see how difficult it is to pilot these gems.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes hats off to the guys that ride these - we have it very easy these days!!

[@NationalMotorMuseum]

Fantastic video, always good to show some of our veteran and vintage motorcycles in action.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks again for letting me loose on these beasts! Hats off to the guys (and gals) that rode and raced these back in the day....not as easy as it looked!!

[@deanmsimpson]

Ian, the Senior Engineer was excellent! A wealth of knowledge!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes proper old school, an expert and an enthusiast, it was a pleasure to spend time with Ian and Patrick….

[@paul.vanhout57]

Bravo for hopping on and riding these historic, beautiful contraptions without hesitation 👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Well if the offer is there why wouldn't you!

[@paul.vanhout57]

@@TheMissendenFlyer - Most definitely

[@ricatiman]

Fantastic ! You are brave to ride such important historical machines - I would be terrified just trying to remember the correct techniques...and I'd be so afraid of dropping the bike if I could get moving! Keep on bringing these fun adventures...

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

What makes you think I wasn’t!!!

[@cinematictrax8443]

Fan bloody tastic! You are very honoured indeed. Thank you for sharing this, it is quite amazing to get an idea of the complexity involved in riding these early machines. Makes me think, watching you as a well experienced rider, can you imagine the guys that were racing these machines at the TT races. Now we have DCT and heated seats 😊 thank for sharing this, made my day.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@splodge57]

Wonderful bikes and the Harley hasn't changed much in 100 years.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I couldn't possibly comment!!

[@derekpirie9188]

Welcome to the World of Veteran Motorcycles. The Royal Enfield has a Two speed transmission, using two sets of sprockets and chains. By moving the leaver backwards or forwards, you move a cam that expands the drum (acts as a clutch) and engages either low or top gear.

[@trevordale9694]

Love it, good to see modern motorcyclists trying their hand at vintage riding. I regularly ride a 1928 Sunbeam and love it. I do feel you didn't quite get the full experience as once you get into the higher gears ( 2nd and top anyway) these bikes really come into their own. The engines are so flexible and torque it's hard to believe they are almost 100 years old. Perhaps if you get another opportunity you might get the bug as I did. Good on you anyway Keep up the good work

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thank you Trevor - yes really great fun, I hope to get back to the museum next year to try some more machines out (hint hint if anyone is watching ;0))

[@chrismayes3588]

Bloody brilliant! What absolute gems...

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Agreed!

[@123rtheo]

Blimey mate, all those levers and just staying on the thing, bloody brilliant.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It was a fun day!

[@dustymiller7758]

Fantastic, looking forward to the next episode. You are so lucky. Must have been there nearly the same time. We love Beaulieu.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Next episode coming on Saturday - stay tuned!

[@milolabrett6549]

Andy I love one of your sayings as explaining a bike as being “quite agricultural”. Well I believe you’ve met the rubber on the road as being exposed to full on agricultural. Great tour!!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Indeed I have!

[@ianseddon9347]

Superb ….. I could hear the pilot’s ears pricked up talking about a lever to enrich the mixture! A great insight into pioneer motorcycling, so beautifully presented, thank you Andy!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andrewhayes4246]

Well done Andy. Looks like juggling snakes!😂😂😂

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

That's a pretty good analogy!!

[@zweispurmopped]

This was wonderful, I just love these very old machines and all their quirkiness that was not quirky at all in their day which just adds another level of quirk. (That probably will get called a metaquirk?) IWhen they were made Bowden wires hadn't been heard of too widely yet, so getting the controls from the handlebar to their destinations would have been a mechanical nightmare. I can't think of another excuse for such ergonomic disasters, as likeable as they may be! To think these machines were daily drivers for many people back then pops your mind!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It sure does!

[@garytilley3217]

What a wonderful adventure. To say they were quirky would be an understatement

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Agreed!

[@duncancleverley6366]

Brilliant.. love a classic/vintage bike.. 👍🏻

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad to hear that....

[@aps-pictures9335]

What a chance to have a go! Not sure I’d have been so quick to try my luck, what with such an expensive repair bill 😅. I can see the comparisons to a cub and monitoring mixtures, etc. very cool!

[@terrygreen9107]

Fantastic what a privilege the Harley looks really interesting, cheers Andy thanks for sharing 🏍🏍👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Very much my pleasure Terry!

[@billcotton1551]

I would have been terrified TMF! Kudos to you for riding that piece of history.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

What makes you think I wasn't!!!

[@tarmacscratcher]

Fantastic stuff. Thank you 👍 How to ride old stuff is interesting.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PDCRed]

Classic bikes, I thought, weren't my thing. Until, as a budding photographer in 2007, I was asked to photograph the fully restored Norton that won the first IOM TT in about 1907. Had a brilliant day in Somerset and the photos were used in a 10 page spread in Classic Bike Magazine. The bike was utterly beautiful. I hung up my lenses a while back, but this was probably the best days 'work' I ever had.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Sounds like a fun day in the office to me!

[@gzk6nk]

Wow! I don't know whether to be jealous or relieved that it was you doing battle with those lovely old bikes, and not me! But what a privilege, too. I guess like anything else, riding them will get easier with practice as 'muscle memory' gets to know the taps and levers and what does what. But you did amazingly well to jump on them for the first time and ride them. Vince

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks Vince - appreciate that - I do think my piloting experience helped......

[@gzk6nk]

@@TheMissendenFlyer I agree. Flying teaches you to sift the wheat from the chaff, to prioritise what it is essential to get right. I could see that process in action as you clarified with the engineer the stuff you needed to have clear before you launched.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

@@gzk6nk That was exactly it!

[@hoofhearted1955]

As a member of a classic club I've seen lots of these lovely machines and had the chance to ride a few. Makes me laugh when people moan that modern bikes are too complex. Great stuff Andy.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes, they should certainly try to ride one of these!!

[@garyshuttleworth3459]

very well done Sir, complicated yet beautiful machines

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes they are - thanks for watching!

[@randymcm4019]

Thanks for doing this video, much appreciated.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Very much my pleasure!

[@KevZJ]

I'm only 6 minutes in, but after the explanation of the controls on the Royal Enfield, I would have just walked away saying " no thank you." Good on you for giving it a go.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes - there was a lot to do!!

[@raimondogualazzini]

Amazing how nowadays we complain about our bikes not having many features instead of just being happy of how far we came . 😂😂

[@keithwhitewood9342]

Brilliant videos Andy, absolutely fascinating. It looked terrifying and a total joy at the same time.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

That about sums it up Keith!

[@ChrisSmart1]

Super stuff Andy, i thought as a pilot you'd have a better idea than the rest of us about mixture control and ignition advance and retardation or perhaps ive spent to much time enjoying flight sims lol, they are rub your belly and pat your head machines for sure well done m8 :)

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I think you’re right! Riding these bikes reminded me of flying the piper cub!

[@jeffday777]

What a fun day at the National Motor Museum! 🙂

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It sure was Jeff!

[@johnlenart597]

I experienced a similar ride. Years ago while at "Wheels thru Time" in Maggie Valley N. C., Dale, the owner noticed I arrived on a BMW and was allowed to do a parking lot ride on a flat twin Harley built for desert use in northern Africa. I didn't stall it but was terrified of dropping it. A once in a lifetime experience. 👍👍🏍🏍🏍🙋‍♂️

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes quite hairy aren’t they - massive Qdos to the guys that rode these!

[@johngarrity6942]

Loving this series, Great work Andy!! 👍🏍🏍👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thank you - chuffed to hear that!

[@Triumph_Explorer]

Well done!!! Beautiful motors!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Many thanks!!

[@richardho5955]

Once again absolutely brilliant! Well done Andy not doofing either of them! 👍👏 Looking forward to you riding the ‘Silent Grey Fellow’, the 1915 Harley Davidson! 👍😎🇿🇦🏍️🍺

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks 👍

[@garryclarke-kray4071]

Well done you did well on the complex machines

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thank you!

[@jamesmackinlay2500]

What a brave man you are. I bet it would be easier to be flying your plan. Great video again. Bring on the next one.big 👍👍👍 up.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks 👍 - Next episode tomorrow morning!

[@julianlewis632]

You’ve done it again!! Bloody brilliant Cheers mate

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I’m thrilled you enjoyed it!

[@grayman999]

Well done Andy I watched this at breakfast time with my coffee I was so engaged with learning about how the bikes work me coffee’s gone cold lol love the Sunbeam what a beautiful motorcycle 😮you lucky man 😊

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes it was a great privilege to be able to ride these bikes - although I prefer "fortunate" to "lucky" ;0)

[@robreed2999]

Absolutely brilliant to see you on the Enfield 👏😃 you sure need to concentrate 🤣 I could not bring myself to leave until closing time as those bikes are just amazing 👀 thanks Andy for a brilliant video 👍 I hope you enjoyed your day there as much as I did 🤞ride safe ⛽🏍👍

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Oh yes it was kid in a sweet shop stuff that day…

[@d33b33]

I'm 52 and I got my motorcycle license this september. That's why I still remember lesson 1, opening statement: "The left side of a bike is for shifting the gears and working the clutch. The right side of a bike is all about speeding up and slowing down." This is bike riding but also patting your head whilst rubbing your tummy. With your feet. Because your hands are busy.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Tell me about it!

[@ThiefOfNavarre]

Haha, that looks like wicked good fun! I love an enfield!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It was! ....and me too!

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Well Done Andy great to see you riding these watching you remind me how I hadn’t a clue 6 years ago but now I’m happy and understand a lot of these now well done Great to see you ride the sunbeam side valve just waiting for you to change gear so easy 😂😂 Good stuff 😊😊 So enjoyable once you master it 😊😊

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Good to hear!

[@loddude5706]

Nice one - this is not just bling, it's veteran wo-bbling! Considering these machines were sold to Edwardian horse folk looking for 'a little more' in their life, & who's mechanical knowledge likely amounted to knowing which cutlery to use at dinner, it does somehow seem the equivalent of selling Billy the Kid a brand new Ducati. (Please dress-up as Randolph Scott for the Harley : )

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes good point!

[@TEKKYTWO]

I would have loved to see you change gear on the Sunbeam, looks brill! Thanks for the upload

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Next time!

[@peterericson890]

Nice work , great machines, brave museum

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thank you very much!

[@bebop2599]

Great little innovative series this. !!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you approve!

[@125ZJK]

Great job tmf. Good job your a pilot. The instructions for that first bike had my head spinning😂

[@grahamstubbs4962]

Bang on. I lost the will to live somewhere during the instructions.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes there was a lot to remember!!! Great fun though - hats off to the fellas that raced these death traps!!!

[@wesheiser9429]

These 100 yr old bike controls are mindboggling. This must be how my son feels as I start to teach him how to ride a Triumph.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Exactly......

[@thomaskane9298]

Oh my goodness.. I cant believe that these bikes were actually ridden way back...just seem so complicated..😂😂😂😂😂

[@dankorolyk5917]

Very cool mate

[@grahamclutterbuck583]

Enjoyed that andy. Braver man than me.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks 👍

[@highlandrab19]

If you are looking at getting into classic bikes id recommend starting with something like the matchless g3 or ariel red hunter. Both nice simple machines that are quite reliable if maintained

[@sergentcolon1]

Hi Andy, Im not surprised the guy crashed that Enfield so many times, imaging trying to race that bike, concentrating on bends and racing lines while managing the controls, rider overload I think 😳 Reminds me of a few years ago when some current top bike faces were given a go on Sheens 500cc Suzuki and Kenny Roberts Yamaha 2 stroke race bikes and they wondered how they managed to race them with their tiny power bands and brakes that were terrible compared to modern race bikes. Nice video.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@shadowred1980]

It would be interesting to know, when the bikes controls became the layout that we know today. I had a 125 in the 80's that although 2 stroke and with a choke lever, had controls the same layout as modern bikes. Great video.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes good question!

[@jag1970s]

Brilliant. I live nearby and have wanted to do this for ages. My grandad rode a 1930’s BSA 500cc single. I’m not sure it made me feel nostalgic, though!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Very cool!

[@lordpunter6188]

Really enjoying this series Andy, now planning a trip there in spring next year, combined with a mini tour of New Forest !

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Great place to ride so I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

[@ianhalliwell8604]

Really amazing experience obviously filled with trepidation got to admit i wouldn't have had the balls to try one, nevermind all 3 I'd be frightened to death of crashing such an expensive bike.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Don't think I wasn't!

[@thebikegeekandmore2448]

More of this kind😀

[@peterbrewer6104]

In the words of Monty Python’s Life of Brian, you lucky, lucky b*****d. I’ve been visiting Beaulieu since I was a kid from 1972 when The Wombles came to help at the opening of the new museum building, and became a life member of the Friends of the NMMT in 1987. I’ve loved walking around the cars & motorcycles (especially the m/cycles) in my years there; what I’d give to ride/drive a few of the exhibits 😉

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes I am super fortunate to have been given that opportunity - a fact not lost on me I can assure you!

[@MrJulianneave]

Its amazing how far Harley have come since 1915. Back then they were making large capacity, air cooled V twins with low power for their engine size and poor handling, whereas today they're making... Ah, never mind.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I know - hilarious isn't it!!

[@ragerider6283]

Excellent vid TMF. Really enjoying these & fast realising I would have had zero chance of being a biker back in the day as I don't think I could've of even started them lol!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Agreed, me too!!!

[@marty_krygs]

LOL, I would not be riding that RE. It's scary complicated! Great KZbin viewing.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Tell me about it!!

[@MrPX207]

Awesome video, love the classics although never ridden anything that age! The controls on the Enfield are similar to my 1940s James. Great fun but you do have to think ahead.😂

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

You’re not wrong there! Hats off to you for riding one of these beasts!!

[@johnalbone3372]

Thank goodness we don't have to ride bikes like that now Love the old bikes and great video I wonder what they will think in the future about the bikes we have now

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

We have it easy now don't we....and yes, self riding bikes in the future....no thanks!!

[@darrenhall6509]

Lovely bikes but so complex to control, I`m surprised they caught on at all... By the time you figured it out and got going it would have been quicky to walk, not to mention getting on all your bike gear as well. Imagine one of those things on a long journey in the rain.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

My thoughts exactly!! Hats off to the guys (and gals) that rode and raced them!!

[@neilurquhart8622]

Or on the TT course……a real challenge🥸

[@Jeff-bg7pt]

Nice old bones shaker's

[@AdamForeman]

That's like riding an airplane on two wheels with all those controls! Thank goodness we don't have to deal with that today

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Very true!

[@oliw3664]

And to think that when I first learnt to ride in 2020 I struggled to coordinate it all. I’m not sure I’d ever have picked these up!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Can you imagine learning to ride on one of these! I guess at least they didn't have Mod1/Mod 2 and so on....

[@sussexbikerpillion]

Great. I couldn’t stop laughing. “Last guy to ride this died of his injury’s don’t bother with the front brake , useless”. Your face and that big gulp before you got on the bike. Very heavy breathing 😂😂 what an experience.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It sure was.....

[@bradwiebelhaus7065]

That is cool.

[@johnmacdonald1878]

Very interesting.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Glad you think so!

[@stephenpotts8170]

LOL, and I thought being aircraft pilot was complicated. Thank you.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

A similar level of complexity me thinks....

[@CaptainFeathersword]

These bikes give you all kinds of incentive NOT to stall them 😄

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Exactly!!

[@roberthocking9138]

What a massive privilege you lucky man, wonderful bikes

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes it was a huge honour to be able to ride these beasts.....

[@douglaswilson9276]

Fantastic did you ask what the to speed was x

[@AC-iy1ov]

I can write a thesis for all the operating procedures 😂 And people nowadays say manual transmission are hard. No wonder the oldies always say “back in my days”

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Exactly!

[@mitchcornett587]

😮 Too many levers for me. I would probably careen into a wall like that first RE rider. 😀

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes I can see why he did!!

[@Paul-de5mm]

Now imagine averaging close to 50mph over a gravel road and cart track IoM TT course on bikes like that Enfield...sounds slow but took a hell of a lot of skill and effort!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Too right....hats off to those guys.

[@paulyflyer8154]

That must have been like hovering a helicopter and playing the drums at the same time...

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

A bit like that only harder…..

[@ticthedog6095]

👍 Great video and what a privilege to ride these bikes. I don’t like using the L word, because you’re put a lot of planning and hard work into becoming this lucky

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thank you for recognising that - hence why I prefer "fortunate"

[@peterdane9138]

Definitely better than the Goldwing!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Steady on!!

[@UncleWally3]

Just when I was thinking my ‘18 Africa Twin was getting long in the tooth . . .

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Exactly!

[@alanottley]

Wow!

[@flatcapcaferacer]

I'll admit I thought you might go down in flames without experience on these old machines. I think you did 9 out of 10, I'm not sure I would even get a 7 out 10. Maybe being an airplane pilot helped riding these bikes.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I’m not sure I’m worthy of such high marks!! And I have to say riding these old bikes did remind me of flying the piper cub - so maybe my piloting experience did help!

[@andrewphillips432]

Have you decided which panniers you're getting for the z900rs I want some on mine I'm waiting to see what you get.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I have - video coming on the 25th....

[@mickieboy]

Imagine taking your bike test on one them

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

I can't imagine taking a public road one one!! Imagine a traffic jam on a hill....nightmare!!!

[@jamesschneider3828]

So where's the ride mode switch and tft screens.

[@thewatchman6074]

Er, NO,....the minute he said the original rider had been killed on that machine (Damian?). I would have declined the offer. How the hell you could be in a race like the TT and remember all those mechanical operations is beyond me.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes, we have it too easy!

[@palantir135]

I’ve seen how difficult it was to ride a T-Ford. This looks similarly difficult. I hear you being nervous with so much information to just ride the first bike. I bet you were exhausted after riding these bikes.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes - but in a good way....

[@arthurdunga345]

you need to be an octopus to drive that MF looked fun though

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

It was - complicated but great fun!

[@michaelcase8574]

A privilege, that's the word! I love the suicide shift. It takes as much to keep it going as it does to drive the cars of this era. Are these 2 or four stroke? Curious. Nice job!

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

That’s a good question! I assume two stroke but don’t actually know I’m ashamed to say….

[@michaelcase8574]

@TheMissendenFlyer Now that I think about it if the oil was mixed with the gas we would know if it were 2 stroke.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Yes of course, good point.....

[@philliplum3845]

Fantastic Andy.. The Royal Enfield was made in Redditch Worcestershire not far from me.. Absolute admiration to the engineers of these truly amazing motorbikes..

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Thanks for watching and stopping by Phillip!

[@mrsmith697]

Yes my Honda whit DCT is easy to drive..what bikes are the opposite