Sammy Miller Rickman Metisse day 2023 | Velocette KTT | Rickman parade laps

Ok so out on another KTT ride. I was keen to do this ride as the Rickman Metisse day was bound to be a great event with Don Rickman present. But mainly i needed to check whether my ignition timing was ok on the third attempt. Answer not really. Iam not liking how it feels a bit more vibration in the bars. Acceleration seems not as clean especially high rev. Exhaust note not so crisp. And when starting advance retard lever not really retarded at all or wont start. Previously was two thirds back so something is not right.
Next i will either attempt points gap bit larger, or re time it to 37 degrees instead of 35 as stated and see if that sorts it.
Actual points could do with a clean. they look clean but i see i think a black dot in the middle of both, but what to clean them with, some now say never use fine wet and dry paper and that's what I've always done.
So comments welcome on ignition timing.

[@JoshNabney]

It was a great day, good to see you there! Glad I could get your book signed for you

[@JoshNabney]

The ktt looks great in real life, even the wife was impressed 😂

[@velofan.]

yeah cheers for the book signing. I wouldn't have got near him he was so busy with doing signatures etc. And wow that's good she was impressed. Bet she wasn't impressed with my story of re mortgage without wife's permission lol. Glad i came. Will defo try make it next year if we get good weather like today, and one day get me a real loud Rickman to go with the loud Velo

[@JoshNabney]

Maybe il be able to do the parade next year. Yea I think most wives would not be impressed by that 😂

[@MarkDaleADV]

Hi there, some nice throaty sounding bikes on the parade for sure. I guess it'll take a while for you to master the KTT ignition timing technique, maybe bit of a black art. Any chance of using an electrical method to detect when the points open rather than the old cigarette paper method? Multimeter/lamp or whatever. Can you use a stroboscopic timing light on it as well? My KH250 used to have three sets, never saw any points on a car or bike without a black arcing mark, unless they'd just come out of a packet! Have you checked the condenser/capacitor as well, just to make sure that's doing it's job. No use in recommending a piranha transistorised ignition as that would just ruin the bike, but no harm in using high tech methods to set, test, and measure the timing. All part of the fun really with an old bike, unreliable, but simple to fix!

[@velofan.]

yes some of those rickmans were seriously loud, again cant be really shown in a video, need to be there makes me want one plus knowing the grandson even more reason to get one with the straight through pipes. Timing wise the magneto some how is constant so using mutlimeter doesnt work, but you can buy a specially created box for magneto ignition timing and it has little red light to indicate exactly when they opening but iam happy using baco foil or fag paper. Cant use strobe light from what i understand also my bike is so noisy could never run it up to try test it also cant hold constant rpm. I can always modornise it to electronic ignition but not keen. no condenser or capacitor its within the magneto i guess just points then mag then ht lead, but many thanks for saying nearly all points will have an arching mark as rests my mind as worried i may have cooked them during rides of inaccurate timing. Like you say a black art, but iam gaining knowledge every time i do it. Never done timing before owning this ktt. I also have an acquaintance fellow ohc owner and ktt owner so will get there in the end i guess but frustrating after three full attempts dis assemble then re assemble entire job. What is your oldest motorcycle currently ?

[@MarkDaleADV]

@@velofan. It's an 81 virago 750 I'm afraid, nothing special, and not sure I'll keep it when I get it finished (seized swinging arm pivot), but they do make a nice cafe Racer conversion, we'll see. I'd like a proper classic, but unlike you, I can't face the premium purchase price.

[@velofan.]

@@MarkDaleADV lol i cant face it either, hence my re mortgage story featured in some of my videos. But you are lucky as currently prices are falling. I sold a velocette mss for 12k and now see one on facebook for 7500 same type as mine was. I sold mine in 2020 so who knows. My KTT might also end up worthless but iam fairly confident not only becasue rare and desirable. However a real cheap classic is a bsa bantam if you can handle slow. My mate has a virago not sure what size engine he is chopping the hell out of it to be a bobber. I like modern and old. But i need a 50s/60s bike in my line up. Matchless g50 or g45. Maybe ajs 7r. this is dream land territory sadly. unless prices do keep falling