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A trip to Westray (Orkney Island)

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Orcade-Ian:
One of the friends who participated in our recent motorcycling adventure to Austria and Germany (Leslie) was born on the small Orkney island of Egilsay (ask Mr Google) and as a youth, somehow managed with another friend to get hold of a 1958 AJS 350 to thrash up and down the few roads and tracks.  It had already had a hard life and was missing its tank but something from another scrap bike was pressed into service.  This bike was bought new from Cheynes in Aberdeen by Tom Bain in Westray, another larger Island further to the North.  Eventually, following a few more owners, it fell into the hands of another former Egilsay resident, Karl Moar and was dismantled with the intention of eventual restoration.  Unfortunately, this never happened and Leslie, who had tried to buy it years ago, was offered it for free one day when he was standing in a queue at the fish shop.  He has joked a few times that it was the most expensive fish supper he has ever bought! 

Following a sleep of nearly 50 years, I somehow got the job of restoring the engine, gearbox and primary drive - a bit of a challenge after many bodges had been carried out in the intervening years (will I ever learn?)  I tried hard to 'engineer out' some of the shortcomings and rectify some of these er, 'modifications' and try to keep it oil-tight.  If you ever see an old British bike without a few drips of oil underneath, there's probably none in!  So far this has been mostly successful - apart from the badly sized kickstart shaft seal, which was a good fit on the shaft but too small on the O/D - now rectified, we hope!

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Original pic by George Burgher

Leslie has made a wonderful job of the cycle parts and paintwork but in view of the advancing years of the original owner, we had to get a move on so that he could see it finished!  The intention was for a few of us to have a trip to Westray to take an 'up to date' picture of the restored bike in the exact location where it had been taken when new.

When a predicted 'weather window' seemed likely, Leslie booked the Ferry for 5 bikes and 7 people, not always easy at this time of year with the inevitable influx of tourists filling the ferries.

So we set off on our magical 90 minute boat trip to Westray, firstly to where the original picture, with George Burgher, the original photographer, had been taken and then to the farm of the original owner whose Wife put on a wonderful spread for lunch - something we have experienced many times when visiting folk almost anywhere in Orkney.  There were 5 of us on 4 bikes - Leslie and Karl on the restored AJS, Johnny Wood on his 350 Matchless, Leslie's Wife Karina on a CB 200 from Leslies large collection and I took the CB 550 F1 with the top box to carry spare jumpers and the like - just in case.  Unfortunately, the other AJS belonging to Stuart Wiley decided to mis-behave before we reached the Ferry, so he couldn't join us - hey ho!

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It was great to be a part of this story and to accompany the restored bike to this lovely island,

Ian

Laverda Dave:
That's a great story Ian. I like the before and after photos, time appears to have stood still!
I am always amused when reading about Brit bike restorations and the engine is said to be completely oil tight, I have yet to see one in the flesh that actually is!

K2-K6:
A great journey for both bike and those involved in the restoration and connecting with previous owner.

Obviously inanimate, but the connections and stories just one motorcycle has generated over its life is quite something.

I really like the going back to original site of photograph to tie the whole together.

Wonderful effort from you all.

Orcade-Ian:
It's great that these 'inanimate' machines can evoke such memories and bring folk together like this - I would think that many of us on this and other forums have similar stories but can't imagine there will be many surrounding Mondeos or Nissan Micras!

Leslie also took the bike a few days ago, back to Egilsay to the old house and shed from where it would be dragged out for another merciless thrashing all those years ago.

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Oh, by the way, the original owner Tom, now in his 80's still has a bike - a 2010 Triumph Bonneville SE!

Ian

........and a pic of the bike with its spurious tank and a few of the miscreants in Egilsay intent on having fun!

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taysidedragon:
A great story Ian. The bike looks fantastic 👌

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