Benly - probably one for TOG.

I'm looking for a bike to ride in this year's Moto Piston in October. It
needs to be Pre-1980, which the organiser tells me includes bikes made in
1980 or later if the model was available in 1980.

I've found this Benly...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250758546946&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

So far my research tells me that this model was available in 1980.

Is there anyone out there that can confirm when this model became available?

John

 

Dunno.

So a 1980 Morini would be eligible. I see there is a hill climb.
<Glances at newly refurbished above averagely quick Morini>

Is it warm in Spain in October?

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2008 CG125 fits that criterion.

<flicks Vs at High Priestess Murray>

 

I did look at Morini - (and I've read your earlier post). I'd quite like
something that can do 1000 gentle miles without roadside fettling. Also,
Moto Giro de Italia might be my 2012 ambition so a small engine is needed.

The hill climb is by invitation - an excellent afternoon watching them
though - much noise and Castrol R smell.

It only rained on us this year on the way back to the ferry - it was warm
rain.

John

 

This very bike did just that in 1987, two up, with camping gear. I
reckon it's up to that test.

Ah, not many of the 175 ISDT jobs about and a Tresette or Sbarazzino
wouldn't be cheap.

Chiz. A quick google looked as if there was an 'exhibition' class for
pre-1980 bikes with more than 1 cylinder.

OK, just that my mate who rode down to Spain for a trail riding holiday
in October a couple of years ago said it was pretty cold - even more so
going down through France. Though that was late October TBF, so not that
surprising. Can be glorious still at 'the chateau' some years.

Still might be interested though. Almost certainly going to be warmer
there than Hartland Quay, if it's about the end of the first week as it
was in 2010.

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That's right. I once owned a 1980 V reg model. Its predecessor, the
CD185, was released a year or so earlier and is basically identical
except that the electric start was blanked off.

CD185s and early (pre-1980 200s had six-volt electrics, which definitely
struggled to start the engine in winter (a kickstarter was fitted and
always did the trick). Thereafter the 200 got 12v electrics, which are
much better. Also CDI ignition.

That said, this one's nice but no way would I pay £750+ for one.

 

Thanks for that age confirmation. I agree that £750+ seems a lot for a 200cc
bike but I'm having to adjust my price boundaries. I see ratty C90s going
for £400 and burned out CB 250s at £250. In Tesco the other day, waiting for
Janet, who was poking about in the emoluments, I spied a white cabbage at
18/7d. At the Leominster 4x4 auctions today I gave a £1 coin to pay for a
cup of tea that involved the counter lady adding half a pint of hot water to
the tea pot containing the previous brew before pouring it into the
polystyrene cup.

I could probably buy a working Benly for £400 or so but it might need
several hundred pounds of stuff to bring it up to snuff.

More importantly - how does this Benly compare with a CD175?

John

 

<rolls up sleeves>

Totally different. The 175 needs revving like hell to gtet anywhere. The
200 has a much broader spread of torque, which is great.

Comfort is far better, too, thanks to a massive seat.

Brakes are better, though I think they actually have the same drums. But
the 200 has a thicker brake cable which doesn't stretch as much (a mod I
retro-fitted to every one of my 175s, and it improved their braking no
end).

Economy - about the same. 70mpg+.

Maintenance - the same ease, although the 200's one-piece cam cover
makes acess easier to the valves.

Handling - the 200's a bit better but runs out of ground clearance
earlier - if scrapes really easily.

The 200's a better bike.

 

the CD200 you sold me (and which subsequently went to Blaney, though
he's blanked the memory of it) had 6V electrics which, as you suggest,
were crap, but you're also correct in suggesting that the kickstarter
worked. Every time - even in the snow/rain/freezing cold/whatever -
just the slightest prod of the kickstart got the motor running.

No lights though.

 

You *need* megaphone exhausts . . . .

Apparently my folks could hear me from about 3 miles away wringing it's
neck

 

error - I meant emollients.

 

Unctions too.

 

Oh, yeah, the lights were utter shite. If you had the headlight on,
and the brake light was also activated, there wasn't enough juice to
flash the indicators unless (a) the battery was brand new and (b) the
engine was running flat out.

I flogged my last one to Lady Nina a few years ago, together with some
spares that included a pair of manky wheels (c/w tyres) that I'd
planned to get rebuilt but never got around to. Wheoever weass with
her when she collected it lobbed them into the boot of his car and
they set off on the trek back North and somewhere around Northampton
or Nottingham, stopped for petrol and it picked up a nail in the rear
tyre.

One of those serendipitous moments, because there was a fully
operational spare wheel ready to hand, which got her home.

Absolutely indestructible bikes, mind you. Camchain is actually a
duplex (double-row) chain. God knows why.