Description
1929 Sunbeam model 9 saddle tank in model 90 sports trim.
Original 1929 reg no. with V5 in my name for fourteen years.
Druid girder forks, twenty one inch front wheel, twin port head with large inlet valve and hairpin valve springs.
An amac brass TT25 carburettor is used with needle conversion and works well and is adjustable as required.
An American (arias) high quality lightweight piston was fitted a few years ago which was checked last year and clearance checked at 3. 5 thou which is what the cylinder was bored too at the time of fitting so no wear has occurred . New piston rings were fitted anyway . It uses no oil and dose not smoke.
The engine is a correct 'LL model 9 engine number but from 1930.
The gearbox was fitted with a new mainshaft and sliding pinion a couple of years ago and has only done a thousand miles or so.
The clutch is open and has ferodo friction plates,
This Sunbeam is in sports trim with no lights or speedo so very much a period boy racer machine and is fast for its era easily keeping up with much later bikes.
Handling is superb and it will steer where you look, though you must keep your eyes open for the bumps!
The paintwork and nickel plating and aluminium casings are all good and though having been restored some years ago was not overdone and so has the look of a well looked after used Sunbeam.
I have owned it for fourteen years and it has always been reliable, the BTH magneto giving a very strong reliable spark.
In the true sense of a sporting Sunbeam it was put together with rear set footrests and no Kickstart and so currently a bumpstart is necessary. This has never been a problem to me as it starts very easily as long as you pull back on compression and remember to retard the ignition!!
I have accumulated nearly all that is required to convert back to kickstart spec including lever, quadrant with shaft , return spring and brake pedal, just rear brake a cable would need to be made up. All of these parts will be included.
Some improvements I would do would be to the saddle frame which has broken a couple of times and hurriedly been repaired when away at events . Its strong but not that pretty,
Also the front brake drum could do with a skim.
The Marston Sunbeam club is a fantastic club with an excellant spares back up for the model 9 together with an extensive events calender each year so that these brilliant vintage Sunbeams can be used as intended ,
So if you fancy the Banbury run or just want a vintage motorbike for sunny country road riding this is the ideal machine..
