Panther Model 100 engine; Part 5. Out on the road

The last part in a series describing our build of a 600cc Panther Model 100 power unit, from bench to road. Join us for the engine's first 100 miles, riding with the group on a VMCC section run to the coast. Includes philosophical thoughts on the value of optimism, gratuitous anecdotes and images which some viewers may find distressing.

[@martinderrington221]

A very enjoyable video feels like we're all riding that lovely panther

[@jjrider6758]

The usual fantastic riding video with soothing commentary and a thumping Panther soundtrack.. People who don't ride British singles really don't know what they're missing.. I usually get home after a run completely 'chilled-out' (as the 'Yoofs' say..) and POC videos are the next best thing ! - After all, as someone else once said, 'You'll never see a motorcycle in a Psychiatrist's car park, unless they rode it to work..' or something like that anyway..

Very therapeutic - thank you!

[@kaybag698]

What a brilliant Chanel this is & what an engineering talent you are sir! I’m a bit knackered now & in bed a lot so watching your videos takes me back to my same time repairing & riding. Bravo & a bag of brownie points to you & the wife for this great work.

[@cpuuk]

A run out for those who are not "hasty folk". I love your route :-)

[@christeapot1177]

👏👏👏...Enjoying your videos 👍

[@frankboff8185]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing.

[@roberthocking9138]

Another wonderful episode and successful conclusion to the restoration.

[@davidahugill99]

Sounds similar to cycle rides we do with a backmarker to look after the rear of the group , the leader , or some other followers waits at every turn off for the whole group, which can work most of the time . With a wide range of ability, and the presence of electric bikes these days it can and does get complicated! Cheers DaveH

[@neilfoddering921]

This is why I left the Veteran-Cycle Club a few years ago. We used to have rides at a steady pace, which allowed chatting as we rode, and with people ensuring that no-one was left behind or got lost. Then there was a change of ride leader, and on the first ride he led, I took along a pal to see whether he would like to join the club. I was riding a single speed 1950 time trial bicycle, and the ride was in countryside with which we were unfamiliar, since it was about 60 miles from our home town. The new chap set off at a blistering pace, which he maintained. My pal and I managed to hang on to the group, albeit somewhat behind, because I was limited by my single gear. The group disappeared round a bend, and as we rounded the bend ourselves, we discovered that there was a fork in the road, and that the group had disappeared. We took the left fork, hoping that it was the correct one. It wasn’t. We rode aimlessly round unfamiliar country lanes, not having a clue where we were, for an hour or so until quite by chance, we met the group coming towards us. We turned around and managed to stay with the group for the rest of the ride, but the whole expetience was farfrom pleasurable. My pal didn’t join the Veteran-Cycle Club, and this was the last ride I ever had with the V-CC. I left the club, sold up my collection of 1930s and 1940s racing cycles, and went back to motorcycles. I apologise for being so long-winded, but it shows how important it is to have a ride leader with the right qualities!

[@markstuckey6225]

Thank you so much for posting this. I eagerly look forward to your vids. Most entertaining are your musings, and the pleasant rhythm of a British single puts one's mind at peace. I am currently awaiting surgery, the recovery from which, will remove from me the pleasure of kick-starting my BSA for some months hence. All the worse for it being late spring in this part of the world (the best riding season). But I hope it won't be too long before I can vicariously ride a British single because of your videos. Once again, thank you.

[@FATBOY692011]

Just found your channel yesterday. Not a Panther owner, however my grandfather that died in 1976 was. I was seven at the time, but don't remember the bikes as he had given up riding when he retired. Whilst not an old bike per se, being a 2019 model, I have a Royal Enfield Classic 500. The thump from that big piston is similar to that of your Panthers. I love it and I love the work you put into your machines. I've only had my 'big' licence for just over two years but this year I took out my first group ride. Seventeen bikes and nineteen riders and pillions. This was for the Royal Enfield 'One ride' event which is global. Fantastic fun and our finish point was a lovely café in rural Perthshire. I have another ride in my head upto Glencoe in the spring which will be a group ride for Royal Enfields. I look forward to watching some more of your content and listening to the delightful thump only a big single can supply.

[@alanhodge984]

i own T120 and T140 Triumphs A65 BSA and Norton Commando but would love to have a Panther classic brit motorbiking lives! great film

[@stephenbrown13]

always enjoyable, thanks so much. Stephen

[@IanLawrie-l9q]

An inspiring run masterfully arranged by Angie and yourself albeit in the car. The folks obviously enjoyed the ride. Ach, it’s just a wee bit of smoke 👍👏👌

[@MARTINSIDE]

Another great video!

[@nick949eldo]

Wonderful, amusing and a tribute to your dexterous mechanical work. Thanks JJ.

[@terryjones6229]

Great video Jonathan and a welcome reminder of one of the best runs of last summer. It was one of those rides I never wanted to end

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

Thank you Terry. Just one problem with the ride not ending; no fish and chips and donuts(sic)!

[@terryjones6229]

@@PantherOwnersClub1 valid!

[@borderlands6606]

How I wish I still had my MZ 250 Trophy like the one in your later shots. A jolly good day by the look of things.

[@chrispomphrett4283]

Thank you for that ride along. Running an engine that you just know you put together right is still a slight nagging worry until suddenly its trustworthy and running A1. I've a problem with my right knee so I'm unable to kick the old BSA into life for the whole of this summer so its been the push button Honda or nothing. I do miss the thud thud thud , it's not the same as whir whir...

[@steve_colwill]

Looks like a great ride. Nice to see the BMW R25/26. 👍🏻

[@Willopotomas]

Would love to see you at MotoFest Coventry next year. Love watching your videos as they gee me on to get some of my old donk's sorted out. :)

[@bigred8438]

I always fancied without ever really knowing, that the Model 100 must have great torque and that once in 4th, there was little to no reason for changing down while out on the road, round-about's notwithstanding.

[@MrBeracah]

Hi Jonathan thank you for very enjoyable video. When to arrive at your destination could you please consider just quickly videoing each participants bike with outline details make model etc thks again

[@simonholyfield3319]

Another excellent video - perfect virtual-biking therapy for me, sitting at my desk with a head full of COVID! Could you say a few words about your camera set up? I imagine you change batteries a few times on a trip that long.

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

Thanks Simon. I'm using a GoPro Hero 3, which is getting a bit long in the tooth now but still performs well for me. Battery life depends on their age but I reckon on at least an hour until they begin to fail after a year or two. I carry a couple of spares but usually only do one change mid-way on a ride like that. A 64gb micro SD card can take a full day's video. Main issues are with wind noise and camera shake. I have a Hero 4 as back-up but it doesn't come out that often. Brief use of it, with a spike for the verge, appears in a video due out in early November '23.

[@williamnethercott4364]

Very enjoyable video and your makes a lovely sound. I expect you had a supply of oil on hand. Did the smoke reduce on the way home?

[@quicksharp]

Hi! Compared to the very quiet engine on your black panther with sidecar (in the difficult starting episode), this engine seems to make a clacking noise when asked to do anything. It is similar to the noise made by my old bike, which was thought to be big end, but maybe it is main bearings. What think Ye?

[@keithgarland3404]

Enjoyable video, engine sounded sweet, rings may bed in after further miles. Just wondering are you, or have you been using running in oil.

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

I certainly hope the rings will settle further as we cover more miles Keith. No, I haven't considered using a running-in oil, probably not something in general use in the Panther era. Unless there's a real problem like a broken ring, in most cases things settle on their own. I'll do an oil change after a thousand or so. I assume that the particularly heavy oil burning at the start was soon reduced because no-one complained and I saw nothing when we paused at junctions and lights. The 1955 Panther hasn't turned a wheel since because I've been involved with other motorcycles and events but I'll get back to it in time.

[@marioeggermann6410]

I really liked your videos, thank you for them. Question, as a relatively new old bike rider: Why do you press the advance/retarder lever while riding and stay about in the middle? According to my predecessor's instructions, I only operate this when starting and then pull the lever back towards me. Best regards, Mario

[@jonathanjones9790]

Thanks for your interest Mario. Your advisor is right; retard to start and set to specified full advance for running. Tight-wire advance levers can sometimes vibrate and retard ignition so I may occasionally prod to check on this, but mostly it's because I'm an inveterate fiddler.

[@llamamanism]

Non motorcyclists believe that bike touring requires nothing more than a desire to go and a motorcycle. Having done more than a few there is more than that, early or late starters, a level of mechanical responsibility, the cruising speed, rider ability, a desire to see some of the country’s sights or not and many more.

[@ronnronn55]

I love your videos but without image stabilization I get eye aches. Consequently I skip through them and miss some your best commentary. Thanks for your postings. Ronn

[@jonathanjones9790]

Still trying to get on top of this ronn. The transparent plate, broken off at 33.50 was a part solution as the video afterwards suggests. I have not so far been satisfied with stabilisation during editing but will keep searching for the perfect solution. Don't give up on us!

[@ronnronn55]

Thanks for your reply Jonathan. I especially appreciate the skills you bring to us through your videos. -Ronn@@jonathanjones9790

[@peter7624]

How do you judge your speed now that the lamposts are so far apart? 😜 Great video thanks!

[@robertfindlay2325]

Lamp-posts? Rev counters! 44 bangs at 30mph on a M120 650cc, standard Oxford-spaced lamp-posts.

[@basilwatson1]

Is anyone else now watching the clutch hand and waiting for a change in the engine note?

[@eagleairborne7132]

Who knows the brand could be revived, manufactured again, let's hope so!

[@raythirkettle4155]

well…you could of dropped in for tea and buns and done me tappets as you were passing!!

[@Pete-z6e]

Fuel consumption fell to zero…..Drollery of the highest order!

[@christineayres7199]

1 whole Pig costs £400 so you could literally buy 2 and a half pigs for the price of that plastic one lol , chancers around but someone will be daft enough to pay for it one day lol

[@PantherOwnersClub1]

Thank you Christine. Yes you are spot on. Staff assured us that they had already sold two!

[@christineayres7199]

@@PantherOwnersClub1 cheers 🥂 i love the classic motorcycle 🏍️ my neighbour used to own a BSA Gold 🪙 Star ⭐ it was so cool 😎 sadly it did break down a lot so often I'd be the one giving him a lift back 😂 but such a beautiful bike it was and the Panther is cool too it actually sounds like a Panther when you started her up 👍

[@hdevo80]

You never show all motorcycles, only your bike. Not good.

[@garys4756]

Yeah,would be nice to see the others in the pack.