Topic: Ever Seen Or Heard Of One Of These?

[bill440cars]

     It's called a Tonkin Tempest 500 and the engine looks British (like a BSA Gold Star, or something similar like Matchless, AJS, Norton...)

     

[ProTeal55]

I like...

[Frankencake]

I'm just looking at the front of the frame and wondering just how much flex it has.  The motor is not supported from the bottom.  It looks like it's hanging from the rear and the head.  Weird.  I checked it out quickly on Google.  There is not much about them. I saw another pic from the other side that showed a timing cover that might have been a belt or chain up to the head.  It was actually a Tonkin Typhoon in the picture I saw but I think that it has the same 500cc made by Beale.  Check out that single sided flywheel???  Right side shift.
    Judging from that article, if that above is a picture of your bike, you have a rare bird and should consider some really good insurance.  Like four feet of concrete in the walls of your garage kind of insurance.  It's one more of Colin Seely's creations.

[malcolmgb]

hi Bill, yes I've seen one before at a show.
I'm not a fan of British bikes, will need to speak to my mate, but I think it is a Gold Star engine and the frame I believe is made by the person who has the rights to the Seeley frame. Steve Tonkin, the builder, is a racer from the 70's http://www.stevetonkin-restorations.co.uk/

[bill440cars]

I'm just looking at the front of the frame and wondering just how much flex it has.  The motor is not supported from the bottom.  It looks like it's hanging from the rear and the head.  Weird.  I checked it out quickly on Google.  There is not much about them. I saw another pic from the other side that showed a timing cover that might have been a belt or chain up to the head.  It was actually a Tonkin Typhoon in the picture I saw but I think that it has the same 500cc made by Beale.  Check out that single sided flywheel???  Right side shift.
    Judging from that article, if that above is a picture of your bike, you have a rare bird and should consider some really good insurance.  Like four feet of concrete in the walls of your garage kind of insurance.  It's one more of Colin Seely's creations.

        I appreciate your input on this. I have to tell you though that I doubt that there is any flex in that frame, as long as the engine is in place. you see, the engine, in a frame like that, is Part Of the frame. Ever looked at a Honda Super Hawk or a CBX (several others also)? This one does have the appearance of looking like the engine is about to fall out of the frame.

                                  Take care, Bill    

[mcpuffett]

Hi Bill, he lives just down the road from me about 10 miles away, i used to knock around with his brother  , cheers Mick.

[bill440cars]

Hi Bill, he lives just down the road from me about 10 miles away, i used to knock around with his brother  , cheers Mick.

          Hey Mick, that's really something! From what I saw by going to his site (using the link that Malcolm posted), looks like he does great work on those restorations! Can't believe I came upon a bike that was turned out by a fellow who lives that close to you. Ever get a chance to see any of those bikes that he's done?

                          Have a good one Mick,  Bill

        And thanks again for passing on those pins to me through oldhondarider.

[bill440cars]

hi Bill, yes I've seen one before at a show.
I'm not a fan of British bikes, will need to speak to my mate, but I think it is a Gold Star engine and the frame I believe is made by the person who has the rights to the Seeley frame. Steve Tonkin, the builder, is a racer from the 70's http://www.stevetonkin-restorations.co.uk/

   Hey thank you for the input on this Malcolm, I thought it was a pretty interesting motorcycle and surprised that I hadn't heard of it before.   Thanks for the link too!

[Frankencake]

I know Bill, I wouldn't think that she would flex that much given who the creators are.  The head of the frame looks a little flimsy to me, though, but it is just the appearance.  Royal Enfields are built a similar way with the frame acting as a trapeze for the motor.    I found some more info.  You have to use your zoom function to read the text under the pic.  That motor consumes me with curiosity.  I want to dissect one.....
http://books.google.com/books?id=c5451eLaze0C&pg=PA250&lpg=PA250&dq=tonkin+tempest&source=web&ots=yD959IYwnL&sig=9WZQ_IJxoyUaQbE6d4yjagEpNPo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA250,M1

[bill440cars]

I know Bill, I wouldn't think that she would flex that much given who the creators are.  The head of the frame looks a little flimsy to me, though, but it is just the appearance.  Royal Enfields are built a similar way with the frame acting as a trapeze for the motor.    I found some more info.  You have to use your zoom function to read the text under the pic.  That motor consumes me with curiosity.  I want to dissect one.....
http://books.google.com/books?id=c5451eLaze0C&pg=PA250&lpg=PA250&dq=tonkin+tempest&source=web&ots=yD959IYwnL&sig=9WZQ_IJxoyUaQbE6d4yjagEpNPo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA250,M1

           I shoulda known that You should have known that it wasn't that flimsy.   You know, I had forgotten about the Royal Enfield frames not having any tubing under the engine. Duh me! I guess you have figured out that I don't have the bike I showed. I had intended to tell you that on my 1st reply to you. I was pretty sure that it had the Gold Star engine and that link you provided showing the right side of the bike, revealed that it was indeed a Gold Star engine and the article less no question. Don't know if you realize it or not, but the angled cover on the right side of the engine, is the magneto drive. Every British engine that I can recall, did it that way (back then). That has ALWAYS been a pretty Healthy engine.

                                Take care, Bill

[Frankencake]

Google the tonkin typhoon.  There is a photo somewhere that shows the right side on the engine and where "timing" cover looks like nothing that I have seen.  Tell me what you make of it.  It looks like an overhead cam set up.  I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about goldstar motors.  The motor on the typhoon is a "Beale".  If you have any insight on that, I would be interested to learn more.  The Beale motor is the one that I would like to dissect.  It really looks like it has a one sided flywheel.  WTF?

[bill440cars]

Google the tonkin typhoon.  There is a photo somewhere that shows the right side on the engine and where "timing" cover looks like nothing that I have seen.  Tell me what you make of it.  It looks like an overhead cam set up.  I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about goldstar motors.  The motor on the typhoon is a "Beale".  If you have any insight on that, I would be interested to learn more.  The Beale motor is the one that I would like to dissect.  It really looks like it has a one sided flywheel.  WTF?

        I'll sure check out the Tonkin Typhoon. But, I'd like to say that I know of another bike called the Typhoon and that one is a Matchless 600cc Single cylinder bike back in the 60's.

[bill440cars]

Google the tonkin typhoon.  There is a photo somewhere that shows the right side on the engine and where "timing" cover looks like nothing that I have seen.  Tell me what you make of it.  It looks like an overhead cam set up.  I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about goldstar motors.  The motor on the typhoon is a "Beale".  If you have any insight on that, I would be interested to learn more.  The Beale motor is the one that I would like to dissect.  It really looks like it has a one sided flywheel.  WTF?

          Well, here it is (the Typhoon) and the engine is a Beale G50. That is a 500cc Matchless single cylinder engine in that bike (engine may be modified by Beale, but a Matchless all the same.

         

          Here is a Matchless G50CSR and it was an OHC engine.

         

       And, just for good measure, here is the Typhoon I knew about.

         

[malcolmgb]

Now George Beale  OK hope you are ready for this.

George Beale was a sponsor of very quick riders back in the 70's, he is based about 10 miles from me in Coleorton although back then I thought he was from Ravenstone, close to Mallory Park. Check out his biography at http://www.georgebeale.co.uk/

Now the interesting Honda link, he set about recreating the Honda 6 RC174 race bike, read the story here http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_honda_rc174_six/index.html and later the Benelli.

[Frankencake]

I must have one of those matchless engines!!!!!

[malcolmgb]

I must have one of those matchless engines!!!!!

there you go http://www.manx.co.uk/products/g50.htm hope you have a deep wallet

[mcpuffett]

Hi Bill, yeah i had a look in his old workshop some years ago know and saw some of the bikes he was restoring at the time, he has now moved and has a workshop next to his house  , he has always had a lot to do with BSA Goldstars and the like  , cheers Mick.

[Frankencake]

I must have one of those matchless engines!!!!!

there you go http://www.manx.co.uk/products/g50.htm hope you have a deep wallet

The pockets in my shop are not that deep.  $15000 for a motor with one piston?  I'll pass.  I'll stick with my 4 Cyl. beasts.  You can buy them cheap and sometimes get them for free. 

[bill440cars]

I must have one of those matchless engines!!!!!

there you go http://www.manx.co.uk/products/g50.htm hope you have a deep wallet

The pockets in my shop are not that deep.  $15000 for a motor with one piston?  I'll pass.  I'll stick with my 4 Cyl. beasts.  You can buy them cheap and sometimes get them for free. 

        I'll agree with that!