Sounds like a neat project. What do you want to do with it? It would be nice as a Sunday afternoon ride if you had it in mostly stock configuration. Are you going to use it enough to justify the cost of insurance and plating?
As cool as these bikes are don't expect it to be trouble free. I've owned lots of AJS and Matchless bikes from the 50's. Always fun to tinker with, but hard to get totally reliable. My bikes had separate magnetos and generators so they were simple to work on. The Triumph has a rotor/stator arrangement. The points are tricky to get set up right, but you can swap in an aftermarket ignition. Parts can be hard to find. When is the last time you found a 6 volt light bulb? I think they went to 12 volts in 1966.
Probably worth buying if you don't spend too much money. Remember that old British bikes are well known for oil leaks and there is a reason Joseph Lucas was called "The Prince Of Darkness".
__________________
2011 EC250E
|