We Nearly Crashed A 1959 Ariel Huntmaster! Are Classic Motorcycles Really That Bad?

We finally got to ride a true classic motorbike! Thanks to F2 Motorcycles www.jawamotorcy...
We were able to ride their 1959 Ariel Huntmaster 650; a British made classic motorcycle; it is truly beautiful! The drum brakes are… non existent and very scary, but overall its a real experience to ride! We talk about how motorbikes have improved, and also how they've gone downhill, and whether there are things modern motorcycle designers could learn from the past. We went for a lovely ride on the fens, with this bike and a Jawa Retro 350 2 stroke! Suffice it to say; we had a lot of fun. Bikes like this are all about the event and experience; we love them!
We will definitely be riding more classics on the channel, so let us know what you want to see!
Channel Partners:
XLMOTO: Fantastic quality riding gear, parts and more from a range of different brands. The UKs Largest online motorcycle store! bit.ly/48Id0kX
QUAD LOCK: The BEST Motorcycle Phone Mounts on the market! bit.ly/3TLhRwV
Become a Channel Member to get early bird viewing privilage of our new videos BEFORE they go public! / @mrdarcy-olman
Our SHORTS Channel: / @mrdarcyandtheolman-sh...
DARCY'S CAR CHANNEL: / @darcysdrive
Our Podcast: / @dad-n-darcy
Instagram: / mrdarcyandtheolman
/ mrdarcytheolman
BUY ME A COFFEE: www.buymeacoff...
MERCH: mr-darcy-the-o...

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Before some more nasty comments come in I’ll say this here. We never claimed to be classic bike experts, this was really for fun and to experience a classic bike for the first time, we’d love to ride some more classics and this will be from our perspective not knowing a lot about them. We never claimed this would be a review video either. It was purely to bring our perspective from two classic bike newbies. We loved filming it! So it’s a shame there’s a few negative people here in the comments. Hopefully the majority of you enjoyed this video and would like to see more from this perspective. And those who didn’t then please don’t watch it or better yet, show us how it’s done 😁

[@Bob-ts2tu]

seemed like a fair review & comments of first time experiences on a bike like this to me from a modern perspective, i'm sure many of us would have thought the same. As a non-expert myself at least i got something out of it lol, cheers.

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Loved it 😍 You will always get it from some even if like me I ride them there’s always someone will make a comment that’s uncalled for 😊😊 Keep up the fantastic work and carry on doing them on these ! People just get too touchy 😊 Phil Green

[@ronaldpell2802]

Carry on doing what you do info and entertainment ignore the smart arses 👍

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Like the dwarves of Moria you delved to deeply into the classic motorcycle scene! The classic bike aficionados have been awoken! They are more than a match for any of us 😊😊🙂🙂

[@steveworth544]

I dont see any nasty comments. Are you referring to mine when I said it seemed shiny but mechanically poor?

[@Harpy-Mark-Tomlinson]

To change down, pull the clutch, give the throttle a blip to increase engine speed, gently apply pressure to the gear change lever, when the engine rpm matches the speed of the bike in the lower gear it will change smoothly. It takes a bit of practice but you'll get it eventually.

[@iansaxby729]

I only ride old motorcycles these days. Is blipping the throttle when changing down no longer a thing?

[@billbogg3857]

It is what they used to call a ‘double declutch’.

[@colnuttall9035]

In 1967 I owned an Ariel Huntmaster 650. At the time I was just 14 yo and obviously had no licence. So I kept to the backroads and dirt roads, but the freedom was epic. Australia was great for this back then, but the bike was heavy, being massively built, with thick metal fuel tank, mudguards and poor brakes. There was of course no internet and no motorcycle shops anywhere near where I lived. This meant that you had to come to terms with mechanical fettling if you wanted to continue riding. I also had a BSA C11 and a Bantam D7. Later, when I did get a licence and a Japanese bike, Suzuki Hustker 250, I discovered that if you broke down, the first bike up the road would stop and assist you. This no longer happens, unfortunately. Mobile phone, credit cards and selfishness robbed us of the camaraderie we once enjoyed. At 71 years of age I still ride and have a Harley Softail Heritage Classic. Motorcycling has been brilliant for all those years! During this time, I've enjoyed a vast array of great bikes and count myself fortunate to have had the pleasure. Great video guys, thank you.

[@collyernicholasjohn]

The camaraderie was cos everyone else knew about stuck on the side of the road. 😂 Bikes more reliable now. Similar with hitching. 99% of my lifts from poorer people who’ve had to do it.

[@daryldaryl913]

A great Era most of the time.

[@peterappleton5213]

I had a hustler in blue and white passed me test on it

[@login1226]

The throttle cable on my BSA 650 Rocket used to wave about in the wind like that one, when you hit 80m-90 it used to stick open and you’d have to feed it back into the carb. - Great days , when you could speed, freedom of no crash helmet if you wished, Policeman on Triumph Speed-twin challenged me to a race ! 😊

[@jamesschneider3828]

My 650 Thunderbolt ate clutch cables. It got to where I carried a spare every time I wanted to ride out of town.

[@loddude5706]

The Huntmaster & A10 BSA were some of the sweetest handling bikes of their day, this one may need the swing-arm bushes looking at, &/or the rear shocks having a birthday re-build at Hagon's. That front brake needs some loving wisdom too, it shouldn't be that bad, - well, not quite that bad : )

[@Pigdowndog]

I had a '59 Bonnie in 1961 and I really can't remember having problems with brakes. I suppose we just accepted them in those days and drove accordingly.........mostly. Still riding a more modern Bonnie in my 82nd year and not looking forward to the day when I can't. Love your videos. Thanks.

[@Borntobemild2625]

Brilliant review. Reviewing clasics really appeals to me as I am thinking of purchasing a clasic bike at some point. You can pick them up in a fairly good condition for very low cost & it seems to me that if you are into bikes, why wouldn't you? It kind of makes sense to go backwards in time with its engineering to get that buzz that slowly diminishes when riding modern bikes. Well done👍

[@mervynprice7009]

I have been reading the comments about the brakes on bikes from the 1950s. Let us think about what happened to you in more detail. Each brake has only one leading shoe & one trailing shoe. In order to get the bike to stop, it is going to need the effort of two leading shoes. Half the shoes on the machine. So one leading shoe from the rear brake & the other leading shoe from the front brake, applied in that traditional order. The two trailing shoes only provide a small addition to the braking. This is why improved drum front brakes have all leading shoes. The downside of this with a motorcycle is that the front brake of an all leading shoe drum brake may not be able to hold the machine on an up-hill junction. This is why a lot of road bikes had twin sided hubs on the front wheel, with a leading & trailing shoe on both sides. This gave them a pair of leading shoes on the front wheel. The moral of this is simple. With these classic machines, forget about front wheel only braking. They are designed for rear wheel braking with assistance from the front brake to aid retardation, required & to prevent the machine from rolling back.

[@williamnethercott4364]

Lovely old Ariel, thanks for reviewing. It should handle very well unless there is wear on the swinging arm or other vital component. As a rider of a classic bike, I wouldn't object to changing the front brake to twin leading shoe because the bike is meant to be ridden, rather than being an ornament. The existing front brake, properly set up, can still give an adequate performance but it's never going to be like a twin disc. Before the 1970s, little attention was paid by many manufacturers to improving motorcycle brakes. I think it would good for you as well as the viewers if you were able to review more classics in the future. I would be interested to see your take on a Triumph Speed Twin, a Velocette Venom or an AJS Model 18.

[@jagracershoestring609]

I rode a BSA A10, same engine really, 820 miles in 20 hours around Scandinavia in 1975 with a sidecar on the bike. Only one puncture, and three countries in a day , and over a five thousand feet high snowy pass on gravel roads.

[@loddude5706]

An average speed of 41mph, including a puncture, over 20hrs? - Incredible stuff! : )

[@conradstone6719]

Back in 1968 at 17 years of age I had a 1959 BSA Super Rocket, I wish I still had it today, now I have an Interceptor 650 which is 30 kilos heavier and not as quick!

[@lovingmylifeasIage6741]

I have a 1965 Triumph T120 chopper with the original drum brakes. I was going to take a side road but I had to change my mind because I couldn't stop in time to turn in. I had to pass it up then turn around and try again. That was exciting. I've not been too keen on Royal Enfield but the Shot Gun has peaked my interest. Comparing that to the Kawasaki 650RS would be interesting to me. The cost difference is substantial.

[@DushyantsCHANNEL]

That Kawasaki will certainly not feel like an old school classic motorcycle. The W800 will.

[@lovingmylifeasIage6741]

@@DushyantsCHANNEL I do like the 380 crank sound a lot better then 270 or the 180 crank sound.

[@Brough1111]

I can imagine the pride and excitement of buying one in 1956

[@barriewilliams4526]

At the age of 87, these were the bikes of my day. I now have a "keep it on the boil" Yamaha twin. How things have changed.....

[@ellaevansbolt]

The Huntmaster was a great, very reliable bike. The engine was basically A10 but had Ariel designed rocker boxes which made a big difference if you had to do any head work. The Burman Gearbox was renowned for it's slow gearchange, but you couldn't break them! The alloy brakes were possibly the worst brakes of the era! They made the bike look pretty, until you buried into the back end of the car in front! The older BSA single side brakes were far better. The rear brake was worked though a fairly complicated linkage to an operating cable, making it even worse than the front. Steering was a bit ponderous, but it was a tourer, not a sports bike in any way.

[@adrianluckman-yy7bm]

Very similar looks wise to my 1951 Triumph. Remember roads were gravel then, hence the intentionally weak from brakes. Most of the braking is on the rear & you should be using the engine to help brake on dirt roads. The gearbox will work much better is you double clutch up and down through all gears except changing up from 3rd to 4th as its not needed. Very simple machines to maintain. Very reliable if maintained!

[@thewatchman6074]

Those old drum brakes needed to have the pads and inner drum regularly degreased, and finely adjusted to get the best out of them, but they were never going to throw you over the handle bars.' As an aside to biking in this era, my old AJS 500 had worn clutch plates and used to slip in 3rd and 4th going up hill, but I couldn't afford new plate's at the time. As my brother and I sat over a pint in the local pub one night, he was studying a cork beer mat rather intently. "I bet these would make good clutch plates" he said. We half-inched a couple of those beer mats, cut them to shape, and super glued them onto the existing plate, and viola',...they last for months, til I could afford new plates. Those were the days.

[@davidrochow9382]

1959 that's the same age as me, I wish I looked half as good as it does. Another British bike that you can't fold the kick starter away so that you will catch your leg on it. I don't care what anybody says but I think bikes should still have a kick starter on them just in case. It's a 1950's British bike so what were you expecting from the brakes?😃

[@jeffmoore4153]

I had one of these bikes years ago with a sidecar attached, you really had to anticipate a stop. It was a good reliable machine.

[@BlakesPipes]

Would buy one of those tomorrow! Love the color and the look!

[@mikeogden5256]

I bet that’s alot of fun 😊

[@Mr93616]

Remember this , with out past engineering history ,we would not be so advanced as we are today, people who take the piss out of classic bikes don't really under stand any form of engineering at all. I ride my classic with pride and understanding it's limitations.

[@Simulera]

Really beautiful! Evolution is a wonderful thing though. These are why the old /2 BMW were such a revelation at the time. Also the demands of maintenance requirements of the Ariels and such are on a par with the demands of braking and shifting. This is a really great video.

[@bsabiker-d7z]

Perhaps the brakes need looking at as they should be better than you have said. Also try using the gearbox to assist the braking. I've owned my 1960 BSA A7 Shooting Star 500cc twin since I was 17 years old and still ride it at normal road speeds (60 to 70 mph), yes they can be temperamental but that's all part of the motorcycling experience. You are wrong about the amount of traffic on the roads back then, that was why they built motorways and bypasses to get traffic out of towns and cities etc. But I agree that there was a lot less than now and not as many potholes then either.

[@cedhome7945]

My bsa A10 almost the same was rebuilt in 1984 and it can be left for months and it will start after just a couple of kicks.i used to travel all round the country on it .I you take time Assembling them they can be very reliable and lots of fun 😉

[@IanSixbikes-by6ei]

Another interesting vid , bike technology has like everything else in our lives moved on especially when it comes to brakes, so the "Ol Mans" Brown trouser moment wasn't a surprise , as for classic bike ownership it's frequently a mixture of fun and frustration (never a dull moment) , I tried out classic British iron but just couldn't get on with the right hand gear change so abandoned the idea and stuck with 70 & 80s Japanese classics with the gear change on the left. Looking forward to more classic bike content in the future.

[@JH-ox7hn]

Thank you for showcasing this wonderful machine. The duplex drum brake on the front is made by BSA and needs constant maintenance and checking, but then works beautifully. I would quote you here with "It's a work of art". Always loved the Ariels as , for me, they represent British Motorbikes like no other brand. Whenever you look at one of them, you find some quirky technical details, which prectically scream Britain.

[@white-wy6dg]

I bought a 1958 Huntmaster in 1972 for £20.00 I still have it . Totally reliable engine ,but those "full width" brakes ware far worse than the ones they replaced! I have a hydraulic mini (car) twin leader set up on the front which is better.

[@ThomasDoubting5]

The whole point of two wheels is the fear of what maybe happen if you make mistake , like driving a car as well, and if you ride a motorbike or drive a car without the fear of making a mistake you need to hand your licences in and catch the bus .

[@fatherjack1148]

Something you will often hear older bikers say about modern bikes (and I have heard this for decades) is that "they have no soul" I would say this is because the older bikers had to KNOW their ride inside and out, many will have had it in pieces and rebuilt it more than once, this gives one a sense of 'understanding' of the bike the slightest change in engine tone will be noticed instantly not only that it would be diagnosed equally swiftly. You KNEW your ride, which I suppose gives a feeling of a personality to the bike in question, it creates a sort of 'bond' between biker and bike, I have to admit that my older bikes DID seem to have their own 'personality' no doubt due to me having to get to know it. The fact that modern bikes require much less 'rider intervention' is probably why 'some' older bikers will say that they feel modern bikes have no 'soul'. Personally I will take that over having to carry a huge bag of tools everywhere with me. oh, and ask an older biker about oil leaks, yeah, seriously, some of us would be banned from parking on friends driveways by their parents due to the oil slick we would leave behind, leaks which would cause a modern biker to panic were just accepted with a 'that's how things are' shrug, just don't forget to keep it topped up.

[@ralphrotten6912]

You hit the nail on the head with this. That's how I feel and why. The seasons affected how the bike ran, and you had to know how to compensate for that. Same with kick starting the bike. Seems that lever is missing on new bikes. Amen for that!

[@fatherjack1148]

@@ralphrotten6912 I certainly don't miss the old kickstart, I still have the scars!

[@philpeacock7803]

Great review guys. I'm looking at a 1959 royal enfield prince at the moment.

[@kwakithailand]

Those old designers knew how to protect the bike from getting covered in dirt 👍

[@martinrea8548]

I've noticed before on older bikes that the speedometer reads from right to left-the opposite to today's bikes. Smith's went on to make watches. I think they were standard issue for the British army for a while.

[@chrisweeks6973]

Actually, Smiths started making watches in 1851; they made their first speedometer in 1904. They gained a Ministry of Supply contract for aircraft clocks in 1938 and the RAF was the company's main focus. In 1944 they produced the Mark X watch for the RAF, though it wasn't issued. The Mk.XI Navigator watch was issued from 1950. During the 'Phoney War' Smiths started to develop stop and pocket watches for all branches of HM Forces, but the supply of wrist watches to the Army came post-war with the GS model, followed by the W10 model.

[@ADahlberg]

I absolutely agree with you guys when it comes to the mudquards - we need to bring back those beautiful functional mudguars frome the past. Thank you for a great channel. Best regards from Norway

[@andrewbernard9571]

Good feature, don't worry about the brakes it can easily be put right. Even upgrade to a Twin leading shoe. And the Huntmaster is a very Reliable machine.

[@Geshmaal]

Oh man this bike sounds proper! I don't know much about Ariel bikes as my knowledge of British bikes mostly comes from my dad and he never had done, but this thing is awesome.

[@russellwhite4086]

I'd think it's good that a few people, like you two gentlemen, are rediscovering wonderful old bikes like these. In their day they were just normal motor cycles.Not everyone had the benefit, and privilege to have been there at the time and lived it during those far off days. Far too few of the younger generations are even aware of this stuff. Maybe vids like this will help with awareness? Cheers!

[@jeffwatson4908]

It has a nice puttputty sound. One thing that won’t be missed is a vertically split crankcase. Thanks to Honda and probably others over time horizontally split cases gradually became vogue. Nothing worse than splitting a case on an old Brit bike and watching parts scatter or worse not stay put on assembly. Working on a Honda with all parts sitting in a “basket” was a revelation.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

My first motorcycle was a 1955 Zundapp K601, much used and neglected when I bought it in 1961, and I do not remember having notable problems stopping it. The Ariel you rode has two leading shoes in the front brake, but they are actuated by separate cranks. Such a setup requires careful adjustments to get both shoes working together. But I always admired the looks of Ariels in my youth.

[@nonsononessunooko4066]

beatiful

[@olethorhermansen5696]

Unlike most modern motorcycles, this Ariel was clearly designed to be more than just a weekend toy. Practical features such as centerstand and functional mudguards have disappeared on modern bikes, and so have enclosed chaincases. They work brilliantly and make chain drive bearable, but we get colourful TFT screens instead, I guess....

[@BrianMundyWTC]

I had one of these in 1963 till 1967. It’s was a 1956 model. It was great. The brakes did need checking and cleaning every few months. I had a sidecar on and it would pull very well fully load and could top 100 when required. Wish I had kept it.

[@franktreadwell3442]

The great thing about most classic bikes from the 50s, 60s and 70s is that the foot peg position is very slightly forward of centre (similar to the BMW R18), which makes it very comfortable for short and tall riders. Yes, I will attend the bike meet at Hanslope on Saturday. I will be riding the Green Goddess, which has serious mudguards front and rear.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Awesome see you there 👍🏼

[@nonsononessunooko4066]

the front its very similiar to the classic/bullet 350

[@fraser7744]

The brakes were never going to be anything like as good as modern bikes, but having said that they were nothing like as bad as the ones on that particular Huntmaster. Those look like twin leading shoe front brakes which were actually quite effective provided they have been set up and adjusted correctly. Whoever lent you that bike doesn't have much knowledge about these things, otherwise he would never have let anybody out on the road with the brakes in that state, which is lethal.

[@ellaevansbolt]

Those brakes were always lethal. Trust me, I've done many miles on a Huntmaster back in the 60s.

[@peterbennett4948]

Ariel's can't be that bad, Buddy Holly had one ! 👍

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Lovely bikes 😊😊

[@walkerhjk]

I had a 1955 Huntmaster, a lovely bike, very comfortable, lots of performance and economical. around 65 mpg

[@Vidve]

I've got a 97 plate CG-125W. So I'm basically learning to ride on hard mode, in a way. With drum brakes, kickstart, minimal instrumentation all packaged with legendary reliability. But it, like most old bikes, is gorgeous. This Ariel Huntmaster is no different. Older bikes just have this utter charm and appeal to me. When you say "motorbike" to me, those kinds of bikes are what come my mind instantly instead of more modern designs cribbing cues from sports bikes. I think the biggest thing modern bikes can learn from the classics is aesthetic design decisions. The NX500 you reviewed last that I commented on comes to mind instantly. If it borrowed more from Honda's classic designs, like the CL500 has, it would be far more appealing to more people. I hope one day I can ride this Ariel Huntmaster, or a bike like it though.

[@zedcharlie]

One thing for sure that todays bikes won t be running in 65yr. Electronics will cost more than bike is worth in 5yr from now or whatever. A mechanic pal of mine summed it up. Electronics is the new rust. By tbe way i have 3 modern and 3 classics😂

[@morini500dave]

Yes,love that saying.electronics are the new rust.

[@AStrangeHill]

Oh, how nice it is to see the two of you out doing your thing together again. Enjoyed this one as i do with most o' your video's. Looking forward to your upcoming content!

[@AdamForeman]

If you haven't had a kickback from a kick starter bike before, you haven't been bike riding! Getting bruises is a badge of honour!

[@Lee-70ish]

Rev matching to drop a cog is rather second nature to me I still do it on my little Enfield 350 classic and in the wifes MX5. Both braking is also a habit I cant get out of after 50years. Seems to work fine still specially on bikes with limited braking power.. Do me best to get Ethel the Enfield to your meet

[@karlrichardson-hf7yl]

I think this is adorable! Having ridden these old things since the '70s, and not really riding anything that would rate as "modern", I am completely out of touch with current motorcycle technology. If I were to take a new sportsbike and review it, I'm sure contemporary riders would find it hilarious! Watching this for me, is a bit like watching Back to the Future! 😆

[@BlueRidgeRider]

Great video! So many things that people accepted in the old days, like leaky engines and crap brakes, didn’t have to be. When Honda arrived with high revving engines, brakes and suspension that worked and most of all, no leaks, the British motorcycle industry reacted by going on strike and going out of business. The reason the paint looks so weird is that today’s vehicles have a clear coat that protects the color and makes it look deep and shiny. Old paint jobs look unfinished by today’s standards. So you got to experience the difference between “retro” and “old”. I’m older than the old man and I have an extensive background in mechanics but I’ll take my V7 over any bike from 50 or more years ago.

[@EdSmith-wb6lx]

When i was in my teens and twenties i had all kinds of bikes including a Huntmaster that was a great bike with good brakes what you have here needs to be fixed my future wife and i rode all over England. to motor bike races on a regular basis we had a Speed twin triumph, an Ariel leader, but back then we all worked on or bikes and kept them in super shape and there was plenty of traffic plus our roads were mostly Two lanes one each direction and the surfaces were not as good as they are now. Even though i now live in the USA i come back from time to time to visit family and old friends though some have past on and i still have my 1958 Velo Venom here and i still ride it not so much now as i am 83 but i still keep it in super shape without any computer work just hand tools. yes i have to tickle the carb to fill the float chamber then adjust the fuel mixture and retard the timing the kick to start it which is an art in itself ask anybody who has one and i am a member of the American Velo club. Ed 40 S of Vegas

[@martindavies8326]

I would only have a classic bike with a 8” twin leading shoe Front brake, hence I have a 69 Triumph Daytona 500 and boy does it stop, you have to be careful not to lock it up in the wet though, no ABS 😱 if you get the chance to ride a bike with that brake you’ll be pleasantly surprised. ❤️ the video 👍

[@DucatiDiaries]

Very cool, gents. Love it.

[@Scout4x]

My first BIG motorcycle was a 1966 Triumph T120 Bonneville (bought it used in 1968 while at university). Having the shifter on the right side with the rear brake on the left was a little tricky at first, but I got used to it. What I really hated were the drum brakes that could never stop me quick enough!! Thankfully the Japanese all came out with nicer bikes which made the rest of the world upgrade what they were doing (or go out of business like BSA and Triumph).

[@FairladyS130]

You can blip the throttle and change down when approaching a stop, much better than arriving at a stop still in a high gear. Helps the bike slow down too. Those old twins vibrated and leaked oil. modern twins leave them for dead in all aspects.

[@davefrench3608]

When you have a poor front brake don’t forget you have the engine and rear brake. It’s about reading the road, riding to the conditions and concentration And what a beautiful bike.

[@billbogg3857]

On my old Velocette I used to apply the front brake, release it, on again etc . I believe a modern ABS system does the same!

[@DD-lc5ts]

Very enjoyable look at, and appreciation of a classic bike. I often ride out with some classic lads, though I’m on a modern bike with all the bells and whistles. I love the history of the classics, I get the love people have for them, and their riders may have retained more of the “skills” that I may have lost thanks to ABS and Traction Control. But, you’re correct about the empty roads back in the day. Now, on modern roads, with the volume of traffic and the performance of modern vehicles, I think a modern bike is a necessity, in the same way as I wouldn’t want to be driving an old Morris Minor with drum brakes in the traffic we have now.

[@GreggBennett-j3p]

Really enjoyed this. ‘Brakes aren’t too good, he said’. So true. That said, if carefully set up (a process that has virtually disappeared from availability), they can be made to work ok. Fortunately, I grew up near an old school brake rebuilding business that hand cut shoes to fit. Even the small/narrow brakes of the early 60’s can be made serviceable if set up properly. Im 62 and have owned many British twins back in the late 70’s and 80’s. Mostly Triumphs and Nortons. Since then I’ve owned many, many, now collectible motorcycles, but I still think most fondly of my 1967 Triumph Bonneville. But, Do I want to go back? No, I don’t. I could go on for thousands of words wanking on like an old geezer about these bikes, but I won’t. These days, the only old bike I’ve kept is my, never-for-sale 1990 Moto Guzzi Lemans 1000, a Suzuki 650 Vstrom, and a Suzuki DR 650. The Moto Guzzi hits all the classic notes while also having nearly modern road going capabilities. The two Suzukis speak for themselves. My advice to younger people looking for classic bikes is to target Japanese bikes from the 70’s the 80’s. Sadly, the days of practically owning a 60’s British twin are largely over. Not because they don’t work well, but because they’ve simply become too ‘precious’. Back in the 80’s, they were cool, but nothing like precious.

[@collyernicholasjohn]

Thanks for clip! I live in the middle of large city so most riding is max legal speed 60 kph/35mph. A small capacity bike with low horsepower and brake drums is not just fine, it’s way more fun.

[@Disposalist]

Lovely to see you on a real classic. Could have been the bike I used to own and tour Europe on with my step dad (him on an Ariel KH). You definitely need to be an engineer (or have a tame free engineer) to run one. Or have plenty of money and contacts with the owners club hehe. AOMCC are a lovely bunch by the way. Even though I no longer run one, I'll be going along to the annual Ariel rally this year.

[@Disposalist]

@Turnipstalk Hehe I know what you mean. I tend to say engineer because my step-dad was an engineer (electronics professionally, but also turning precision parts for local companies) and did all the restoring and maintaining of our bikes.

[@roysimpson9711]

This was my very first bike . Mine had a Watsonian Monza sidecar . I was 16 and I didn't want a 250nor smaller. It was in 1967 that I got it. I loved it

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Lovely Ariel 650 just a bit of brake servicing will soon put that right it’s all part of owning a piece of history 😊😊😊 good one guys Just takes a bit of interest and passion these bikes are great fun 😊😊

[@stevenguajardo6049]

Dude, that's cool. She's beautiful. Thank you for showing her off.

[@daryldaryl913]

I am Australian and i do have a passion for old British bikes although i like most bikes. I had a Norton for years and other machines from other countries. Great bike. But you will eventually become a mechanic if you own one long enough. Everyone worked on whatever they owned. I can not remember mechanics being around, only talented friends.

[@davidoldboy5425]

Totally agree, I became a decent home mechanic and learnt how to do things by trial and error (no internet then) I became quite proficient. This has served me well over the years, saving me a lot of money and giving a lot of satisfaction.

[@Richard-r1x7d]

Fit a four leading shoe Seeley with modern brake material and you can lock the front wheel

[@donalfredisaac]

Beatiful bike, you brought me memories from that time, you see,I grew up one block away from the Seminar and there were two priests that had one like this one but with chromed fenders, the other priest had a 500cc single, so the sound is quite familiar to me except had not listened it for more than six decades, many thanks!!!

[@philmuskett265]

C'mon lads, motorbikes (especially in the 50s and 60s) were made to go -- not stop!!!

[@bikerbeliever8169]

The older than your dad joke was good. Nicely played.

[@edwardsenesac]

I don't like beards, prefer clean shaven. The SuperCub 125 I have in Japan has a similar exhaust and the chain is enclosed. It seems that the chain is immersed in oil. Funny to hear your fender comments again 🤣! We have certainly become much less practical in modern times with bikes with virtually no water and muck protection Always enjoy your sensible views.

[@carver7689]

The Huntmaster is beautiful, but it would be a hassle to maintain. Even if I wanted to, there isn't the workspace for it. We've all done the shave & regret cycle. Give it time, Darcy. You'll do it, too!

[@jamesrindley6215]

Brakes on classics obviously aren't up to modern standards but there's no reason they should be as bad as you make out here. A lot depends on proper set up and adjustment of the shoes plus lubrication of the pivot points and cable. And you'll need all 4 fingers on the lever of course and perhaps a bit of hand exercise!

[@everTriumph]

The main problem with gear shifting on the old BSA's was that the lever would fall off and you had to turn around and retrieve it. In whatever gear you were in. That and self-slackening steering head bearings. If it felt like a jackhammer when you braked your bearings were loose. And is that a front mudguard stay that can double as a stand for when you need to drop the wheel out. You don't need it at the back, put it on the centre stand and pivot the mudguard up and out of the way.

[@davidpate6095]

It’s cool though. Riding an old bike is pretty cool.

[@martynlaverick3405]

Great vid guys and love the father son banter👍

[@stewy62]

You need to increase your anticipation and gap between the vehicle in front of you when riding these old bikes. You mentioned that traffic was much quieter back in the day but funnily enough 1960 was the year of highest motorcycle usage in GB (don’t ask me how they know). 1960 was also the second worst year for motorcycle fatalities in this country (1,743) only beaten by 1930 (1,832). If you don’t know modern day figures are @ 350. In 1960 new motorcyclists on L plates were restricted to 250cc max and that was for all ages from 16. So yes, not that they’d have the money but a 16 year old could ride one of these bikes on their 16th birthday. Helmets didn’t become compulsory until 1973 so it’s easy to understand why fatalities were so high especially in the 50/60’s. And maybe the brakes had something to do with at as well.

[@pierrelauwers8719]

The throttle cable should be re-routed ASAP, as it could cause a crash as it is. The brakes, yes....Drum brakes need precise maintenance. Maybe some improvements could be obtained. But this said, modern ABS brakes can be surprising too, and too much confidence could lead to somewhat awkward situations.

[@leoclegg3047]

Same Burman transmission as the Norton's. 1 up--3 down. Worked great on the dragstrip by just tapping the kill button (which you had to install) at WOT,

[@robenglish5016]

Bit of a trek for you both I know. But the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham have a classics ride once a month for members and you can take these on the road

[@sionthenet]

I have a 1955 Huntmaster, and yes the brakes are poor but all part of the experience. I inherited this bike and don't yet have the knowledge I need to maintain it, but you tube, and owners clubs can really help get you started. We need more younger people (for this subject, at 48 I class myself in this bracket) to get interested and keep all these bikes going.

[@andyshaw5378]

Great video. Hoping to be at the sanctuary on Saturday weather permitting. Lovely old bike. I did consider getting a bike same age as me so we could grow old together. Hunted for an April 67 triumph but I’m not a mechanic so decided against it in the end. My mate had a super meteor than had a neutral selector so you could get neutral from any gear. That’s something I’d have now. Keep up the good work

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed, hope to see you there 😊

[@vk2aafhamradio]

It's supposed to have an air filter, same as BSA A10 etc. This Huntie is running lean & won't idle because the air filter is missing.

[@lifechangingat56]

I have a 54 huntmaster in Black it breaks ok i have it drown up to 100 miles per hour it is a fantastic english motorbike what a sound 💪🙏🙏 you can hear it on my you tube channel best regards from Denmark

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Well done on riding the Ariel Huntmaster 😊😊😊 yes there’s a sequence at least the ignition timing is automatic without advance / retard levers… Try to find neutral before you come to a halt…. The bike is 4 years older than me and I ride these bikes often 😊😊😊 Well done guys 😊 You have to get used to the gears and becomes muscle memory cus I ride both new and old 😊😊 I rode my 1932 500 cc side valve a couple of weeks ago for the first time Hand gear change 😊😊 😂 Mechanical stuff is quite easy just pick up a book or on line great fun 😊😊😊 Phil

[@kapilachandrabharathi7134]

Love those old bikes. It's a task to handle which makes you feel more man than you are😊 Cheers from Sri Lanka

[@markellott5620]

I had an Ariel NH Red Hunter. At the time, I made subtle improvements to it, modernising the air filter as the Ariel one was hard to come by and didn't fit very well anyway. I also fitted a Cibie headlamp to improve lighting.

[@alunbliss]

I have a 1961 Matchless g12….also a 650 twin so very similar. Shame I didn’t know you were in the area, as you could have done a little comparison. You are right….classic ownership is something quite special.

[@johnblack3498]

My first bike, with a Watsonian sidecar. Bought @ age 16 in 1969 for £30. Where are you, 111 DUR ?

[@steveparish9210]

Beautiful bike!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

We agree!

[@PhilipHarrington-n1h]

I've been rebuilding a matchless G5 350 lightweight fer me mate. It's from 1961. Has same sort of wheels n mudguards. Project nearly ready. Me and the owner ain't rode it yet. We can't wait to test the awesome brakes. She gonna be a bundle of fun. Ive had to go through everything mechanical on it. 63 years old it all needed looking at. I've fitted indicators to it for modern day traffic. May give me and owner a fighting chance. Great lil bikes all got their own character. Mr phil the dood

[@michaelsquires984]

Hi, I had a model 8 AJS in the mid seventies. I just wanted to pass on my experience with the rear brake which I recall was quite effective. I did on one occasion have the lug on the brake plate shear off resulting in wrapping the brake rod round the back wheel and instant wheel lock. Fortunately I stayed right side up but ask you to carefully inspect the plate lug for cracking. Other than that -enjoy.

[@PhilipHarrington-n1h]

A worthy note. I removed all the paint to bare metal on brakes backplates front and rear to re spray. Visually they looked sound no evidence of metal weld fatigue etc. so they now been re painted and wheels are on bike. Rear brake has to be centralised then inner nuts tightened followed by outer nuts that holds rear wheel into swingarm. There is no backlash flop in front brake just had axle pass through fork lower clamps and all tightened up. I just gotta splice another key operated ign switch into loom. Fit couple warning lights for Hi beam ha ha and for indicators. Fill the 3 chambers with oil and bit petrol n see wot happens. Big fingers crossed. It's been a highly entertaining project. Everything mechanical needed looking at. She be on road in bout weeks time. Later dood. Mr phil the dood

[@rhodaborrocks1654]

Those brakes aren't adjusted right, they should be a lot better than that !!

[@Paul-lc4io]

My personal favourite brit bikes are the Matchless/AJS duples framed singles of 1960/61, very sweet and light handling, very comfy and lovely smooth (if slow) gearbox. The brakes work fine up to 50mph if they are set up correctly..I get the impression that the Huntmaster brake needs seting up.

[@jamesschneider3828]

Motorcycles like these are what makes cell phone justifiable. Have fun with that machine.

[@coilstreeservice9398]

Great video friends 👍 So I now have a 1986 Honda Shadow vt1100 and I would love to see y'all find one and do another "retro review" they only made the one I have 1985-86

[@ScrapYardDog64]

More Classics please.. 👍

[@kirand483]

Nice video. Depressing the plunger on the carb in order to flood the float chamber is known as "tickling" the carb.