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Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general

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Mick Strong
Coventry
16 of 23  Fri 31st May 2024 2:26pm  

On 31st May 2024 11:05am, Slim said: I've always used scooterist; I was a scooterist myself once (but my main vehicle was a proper motor bike). But mopedist?!
So, were you a Lambretaist or a Vespaist?
Mick Strong

Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general
matchle55
Coventry
17 of 23  Fri 31st May 2024 5:06pm  

I am neither of the above having been a motorcyclist since 1965. Next week I will be one of many hundreds attending the D day landings celebrations. I will be riding my 1942 Matchless despatch riders bike, but I draw the line at wearing period attire. My waistline dictates Lol Double thumbs up
Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general
Slim
Another Coventry kid
18 of 23  Sun 2nd Jun 2024 12:27pm  

On 31st May 2024 2:26pm, Mick Strong said:
On 31st May 2024 11:05am, Slim said: I've always used scooterist; I was a scooterist myself once (but my main vehicle was a proper motor bike). But mopedist?!
So, were you a Lambretaist or a Vespaist?
Neither. I never wanted a scooter, but my dad's mate at work had bought his son a little scooter, and his son never used it but went to college to study sociology (unlike his dad, an engineer, the son was more of the arty type). My dad thought he might learn to use it as a runabout, so he bought it off his colleague for a mere £5, which was cheap even in the olden days. However, my dad had always been a car man, and decided it was too late in life to learn to ride a two-wheeler. So he gave it to me. Now, this little scooter (NOT a moped as the newspapers and even the polliss get wrong today) was a Raleigh Roma. It had a single-cylinder 2-stroke 80cc engine. Three gears. Top speed was about 40mph going downhill with a strong tailwind. But it was good as a runabout for going to work and to the shops. A gallon of fuel would last two weeks easily. The little Del'Orto carb used air, not petrol. I used it for a few years, the main bike being my cherished Norton for weekend use, which of course was thirstier on petrol, but went rather faster. I later sold the Raleigh Roma to someone for about £20, which I thought was good. Later, I became aware of my mistake: the reg number was 24 BRW. It was sold on for a much larger amount of money who wanted the cherished registration number. Ain't life a b..... So in answer to your question, I was a Raleighromaist.
Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general
Not Local
Bedworth
19 of 23  Mon 10th Jun 2024 12:15pm  

Slim - You are the only other person I have ever encountered who owned a Raleigh Roma scooter. My first motorised transport was also a Roma, I think I paid £15 for it. I rode it for a few months until my so called mate and younger brother decided to take it bits to rebuild it. Needless to say, vital nuts and bolts were lost so the scooter was thrashed to death round a local coal yard by my brother and his mates. I did see a Roma in an exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum a few years back, but that is the only other one I have ever seen. I moved on to a Lambretta TV175 scooter which was certainly a lot quicker. This brings back memories of visiting the Frettons showroom in Bishop Street and ogling the new bikes. I seem to recall that the scooter accessories were on the first floor. A few years later I was able to purchase a proper bike, a 1960 Triumph 350cc, Model 21 and one owner from new. I paid the vast sum of £40 for it from a very nice chap in Kenilworth. I only kept it for about a year because increasing mortgage rates were making things very financially tight. I did get my £40 back though.
Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general
Martin Harban
Perth, Western Australia
20 of 23  Fri 4th Oct 2024 12:54pm  

On 30th May 2024 9:47am, NeilsYard said: Fretton's have been mentioned on several threads so wasn't sure where to put this one - their old outlet on the corner of Stoney Stanton Road and Eagle Street.
What a great trip down memory lane seeing this photo. I bought my 1st means of motorised transport, a new Mobylette 50cc moped from there in 1960. I picked it up on the Saturday, the day before my 16th birthday, and pushed it all the way home to Stoke Heath because I was afraid of being stopped by a policeman. I was up at the crack of dawn the next day buzzing around the streets.😊
Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general
Helen F
Warrington
21 of 23  Fri 4th Oct 2024 1:27pm  

Hi Martin, welcome to the forum Wave
Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general
NeilsYard
Coventry
22 of 23  Fri 4th Oct 2024 2:55pm  

Yes welcome Martin - Perth's a long way but once a Cov Kid................
Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general
Martin Harban
Perth, Western Australia
23 of 23  Thu 10th Oct 2024 12:22pm  

Thank you Helen and Neils Yard for the welcome
Cars, Motorcycles and Motoring - Classic Coventry Motorcycles - general

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