Panther 650 Model 120 short test run.

[@fabpeter9764]

Panthers were built in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, my local town, by Phelon & Moore. Always known locally as "P & M's" An old timer at work, back in the 60s, after looking at my Crusader Sports, "lad's bike" commented, "Aye, that'd be no good to me lad, w'unt be able to tek t'wife an' kids art for a run on't weekend, like I can on t'old P&M!"

[@1stMrSceptical]

luv the honest patina, and the two tone rust and rattle.

[@williamnethercott4364]

I don't know how many times I've watched this video but, every time, you can almost feel the joy as she gets to do what she was built for again. Lovely bike!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@Martin_Schorr]

It sounds like mine. I picked it up from merry old england 10 years ago and restored it, together with my late father. The panther is a real beauty. A few months ago, I was overtaken by one. I drove a lorry. So amazing 😊

[@paulhenshaw4514]

They are great old machines!

[@waynemullally6423]

What an amazing old beast. And Patina and all, it's set to pick up where it left off 50 years ago. Amazing job of keeping it looking like it's still lives in the barn.

[@mikestanley2190]

Beautifully un-restored.

[@daveharriman2756]

Some folks might not agree, but that is a thing of beauty, it's almost as if once it was running, it didn't want to stop, what a wonderful machine!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

It is a truly wonderful old machine, isn't it?

[@markkumanninen6524]

It's alive! What a number. I ride a thumper, too - a Suzuki DR650. Nice to see (and hear) an ancestral one at work.

[@noeldoran8884]

I started work in 1970 and the store man had one a bit rougher but ran well, great for riding to the chip shop at lunchtime across the fields....

[@roeng1368]

Thats a real throwback to a different age, a big softly tuned chuffing single, no pretence about speed at all. Just an honest ride to work commuter machine.

[@anythingoldmechanical]

ro eng My Dad had one pulling a double adult sidecar. Within 1,500 Miles from new- the big end went.

[@derekcollins1972]

@@anythingoldmechanical What a shame. Did he ever get the bike repaired?

[@jjrider6758]

Steady on mate, that's the short-stroke Lightweight Super Sports model !.. The 'ride to work' model you're on about has a four foot conrod and a 30 pound piston..

[@johnferguson40]

British workers went to work riding bikes like this back in the day. As I young boy I used to drool over them parrked outside the factories in my Edinburgh.

[@niallsommerville9941]

Don't know about you but it made me smile.

[@notwocdivad]

Would you call that a "Wonderful patina" or "Covered in rust"? Lovely old thumper, looks quite strange without a sidecar attached! Mates Dad had one many years ago, It was family transport before cars became affordable, just as it was intended to be, transport for the masses! Lovely!!

[@owpeterj]

Ja. Lovely old thing - I rode one with a chair a few times when I was in my teens. You made such a 'just right' vid of the bike. I actually really remember the thing and it was quite a handful. Glad you got it running. I just searched Panther motorcycle on the offchance. Thanks a might bro.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the Panther video, I have a few other Panther videos, featuring both this machine and another I worked on.

[@eskimojulie]

Just beautiful !

[@stevepage2541]

Man,listen to the exhaust,a bang every OTHER lamp-post! 😁

[@warrenhumphrey9038]

What a wonderful bike..just needs the oily rag now..thanks for sharing..

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks for watching!

[@ralphmctell5210]

A fine machine - looks lovely. Oddly enough my frame was painted that odd colour of purple as well!! I wonder if used to be pink.

[@randyandtheretreads3144]

Looks like it was pulled out of a grave but starts instantly and runs nice; whereas my 1964 looks better than new but I have yet to start it. Has so much compression I can barely kick it over even with the comp. release. Maybe I will try again this summer. Viewers may enjoy my songs: Old Harley Breakdown Blues kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYu8f2ucbat_j6M , I Want to Ride (Let’s Ride) kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2ram2ucpdeKeJI , and sort of biker related: Drinkin’ Buddies kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5PRi4mmaJqFnpo

[@janetmuskett3210]

A scarred old warhorse you couldn't kill with a sledgehammer!!!

[@grateberk6435]

What a beauty

[@highdownmartin]

Use to visit the village blacksmith a camra pub in London, back in the eighties. There was a bloke there who rode a tatty big cat as a solo. He told us that it had a speed limiter, anything over 65 and the fuel taps would vibrate shut.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

My blue and white Sports Cub does exactly the same!

[@highdownmartin]

@@paulhenshaw4514 boil the cork. It’ll firm up for a while. But you knew that anyway. Are you still in touch with that panther ? Hope it’s still looking as good as it did.

[@tommiatkins3443]

I can imagine blasting that horn to alert a pedestrian that a 650 single is approaching. Without it, how would they ever know? :)

[@jackdale9831]

They'd hear the "Chuff" of it, wouldn't they? It's not an Electric!

[@duanetrivett750]

I would love to own a Panther ! But I have not ever seen one in America.

[@derekcollins1972]

That is one lovely sounding horn..Way better than my little beep beep.lol Beautiful machine with a very happy sounding engine. I love it just the way it is. I hope it gets used often.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Many thanks!

[@fergushooper9755]

The engine sounds great. Well done.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@Rahul-tc1nx]

Nice unrestored motorcycle...beauty

[@mikeflanagan825]

beautiful.striking.

[@charlestomasino9161]

That's crazy like it was taken out of a different age and brought back.

[@garypeatling7927]

What is clacking noise the straight cut gears rattling perhaps

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Probably the coupling driving the magdyno and / or the magdyno itself.

[@davidmacgregor5193]

The model 120 denotes the stroke of the 650cc motor in millimetres, the smaller Panther model 100 was of 600cc with a stroke of 100mm.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

The Panther Model 120 has a bore and stroke of 88 x 106 mm, the Model 100 has dimensions of 87 x 100 mm.

[@chrisjohnson4165]

Thanks for doing this! Excellent.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, glad you like it!

[@jjrider6758]

Purple and black two-tone wouldn't be my choice of colour scheme, reminds me a bit of those 'blackcurrant and liquorice' sweets you used to be able to get !! - Anyway, each to his (or her..) own ! - That really was a miracle of resurrection Paul.. and curiously, just as I typed the word 'resurrection' I remembered that it's Easter weekend !.. coincidence ?..

[@ralphmctell5210]

and looking good on Aprils Sloper!!

[@shingerz]

Sound that Paul 👍

[@bloodsugar2low]

L O V E T H A T S O U N D Thank You very much.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you!

[@johnmcdyer7297]

Lovely old machine that Paul but if you ride it in the night take a good torch with you

[@deanclark3806]

Hi Paul, Excellent job mate... saved.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Dean!

[@amelierenoncule]

Can't get better than first kick The exhaust-note sounds rather timid...robust muffler ot anemic CR ?

[@stevec-b6214]

was that a B reg ie 1964 - my first bike on the road was a 1964 honda cb72 250, electric start (and kick start - forward acting) overhead cam twin leading shoe front brake. I know which I would like now (clue-they were made in yorkshire ;)

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Yes, 1964 reg.

[@biffaozzie2373]

Well, it certainly has an abundance of patina. Would be nice to see it tidied up a bit but not “restored”. Is the purple frame original?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I think I remember the owner telling me his late Father painted the frame and because of that I think he was keeping it that way.

[@spgranorthiam123]

thanks it would have been nice, to see it restored, I remember them back in the 60s Pride and Clark use to sell them new, people put side cars on them, I don't remember them solo. to be honest never thought about getting one, even back then they seemed old fashioned, I think like a lot of big singles they slogged and knocked them selves out quickly, may be not so now days with modern oils and a bit of TLC,

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I don't know about 'knocking themselves out quickly' - these Panthers and lots of other British singles were actually pretty tough.

[@spgranorthiam123]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Thanks for reply, Terry

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@spgranorthiam123 No problem, Terry!

[@martino.malley9276]

There is a one of these in my mother's garage. It was my late fathers. 1969. Was the last time it was on the road. He went to pick my grandfather up to come watch the moon landing on our tv. Because he never had a tv. There is also an Ariel square four. I was offered £900 for both of them. Is that a fare price.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

No, not a fair price and far from it !! Join my Performance Classics Facebook page if you like and I and others may be able to advise [you can post pictures if you wish]. Do not sell for £900, whatever condition they are in, you will be being robbed !!!

[@mark3427]

The square four itself could very well be worth thousands, those are as sought after as Ends of Rainbows. do not sell, invest in restoring it, you cannot lose and you'll be the envy of the county in my opinion.

[@spgranorthiam123]

What's happened to it since has it been restored?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I think the owner carried on tidying it up, but I am not sure if he got as far as putting it back on the road.

[@ericking7406]

Love it, me want!

[@441rider]

Super lucky dude, uhh some guys have all the luck.

[@alanroche6559]

Well done for bringing her back to life .what year is it ? I love it.good onya mate.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, it was a late one, about 1960 I would think.

[@enfielddnepr]

Love the vid but.. no air filter?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

There would have been one originally, but lots of bikes run without them - especially in Britain where there isn't much dust to worry about!

[@peter7624]

What a shame the owner hasn't given it a good polish, obviously prefering "patina"over shine. Shared one with a few mates, all as stupid as I was "back in the day". We fitted "apehangers" to try to emulate our American cousins. It caused a few minor leg injuries before we found the use of the advance/retard lever and the decompressor. It's probably the reason my right knee's knackered..

[@paullacey2999]

Great Sound! You got on the left of the bike,Is there a tale to this or is it for luck?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks! I always get on from the left and if I have to get on from the right, I step off to the left and get back on from there. It is just a hunch about bad luck that I have. I also mostly push them along from the right side.

[@paullacey2999]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Thanks!And safe riding Sir!Keep up the good work,Im getting through your content,enjoying it very much.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@paullacey2999 Thanks very much!

[@garys4756]

It's funny how we get on our motorbikes on the left side I wonder if it was just carried over from riding horses?

[@jackdale9831]

Like most Panthers, just a patina-ed, big Pussy. LUV the dual-exhaust head, and the faded-purple frame! I Know owners don't DO this, but could that bike be given an oil pump, rather than using the "splash-lube" it came with, so it could cruise all day @ top speed of, say, 80mph? What do those bikes "change-hands" for?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

They have forced oiling using a pump, it is just the return to the wet sump which finds it's own way home, although there is also a weir to keep some oil at a level where the flywheels can pick it up an fling it around, as well.

[@Rahul-tc1nx]

Where is the place ?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Carmarthenshire, South Wales.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Carmarthenshire, South Wales.

[@bigred8438]

What are your plans for it? For some reason I thought you were a bike mechanic (perhaps you are), but suppose you could be a bike collector to. Is this an early to mid '50's model?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I have my own bikes, but repair, restore and sometimes tune them for customers. I also build wheels. It was a hobby that turned into a full time job. This Panther was a job for a customer, just to get it running and everything working again.

[@AA-69]

CONTOURS 👍 🤣😂🤣😂

[@gogogeedus]

My Dad owned a Panther back in the 50's but I don't think he liked it very much because it had no rear suspension, He preferred his Matchless which had the twin honey pots at the back and was, according to him, very comfortable.

[@thra5herxb12s]

JAM POTS !!

[@mark3427]

I almost fell into my mug of coffee ........ladies have honey pots, motorcycles have jam pots

[@christeapot1177]

👏👏👏👍☺

[@hermangibbs8163]

Grand old bike.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Lovely old thumpers, aren't they!

[@thra5herxb12s]

Wow that sounds as rough as, and you say you've been working on it. I can only imagine that the inside is as neglected as the outside.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I didn't touch the engine, it was fine. The camera picks up noises not heard in real life, but thanks for the trolling attempt anyway.

[@andrewholden4812]

A long stroke engine, so that's taking the deep breaths heard on the video , another like here.

[@thra5herxb12s]

@@paulhenshaw4514 I didnt give you the thumbs down Paul. I always like, and I subscribed a long time ago. I'm just taking another tour of the channel, because it's much better than the crap they put on tv these days 😁. I'm building up a 54 Ariel VH and couldn't remember if you've done one 👍

[@bakeredwards]

I'm assuming this is a customers bike, and just thinking it slightly odd buying a bike like this and then giving it to someone else to work on! Surely if you get an old bike that needs work it's because you like doing the work. As a kid I went in my dad's friends panther sidecar, believe he hit a bus shelter with it, and that was the end of that!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

It had belonged to the owner;s father and laid in a shed for 40 years or so. It was brought to me to get it running again for the owner's son, who wanted to then do it up a bit.

[@bakeredwards]

@@paulhenshaw4514 ah, thanks, sounded nice 🙂

[@charliegutierrez8728]

Awesome thumper. Can I have it. It's supper hard to find a panther in California

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Not my bike to give away, sorry!

[@raymondsanderson3768]

That needs rescuing if only for that yucky purple frame!

[@anythingoldmechanical]

Them silencers aren't right, & look dreadful.