RUMCars Forum
General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: Bob Purton on July 03, 2009, 10:44:35 PM
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I started rebuilding my Motobi in earnest this week. As you can see my methods are unorthodox, I reassemble whilst hanging it from the rafters. Ive restored four Italian lightweights using this method, one day I will treat myself to a bike bench! The hard bit is done, the forks! I'm hoping to get this done in time to do the mini Moto Giro UK in September which stops off at the Goodwood revival on route. Its on schedule so far.(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm224/gyrostarter/motobi064.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm224/gyrostarter/motobi067.jpg)
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Is it a 125 Sport circa 1970?
This is how I strung up the Gordon's body earlier this year when taking it off for painting underneath. There was nobody around to help me lift it off.
Last year I sold my two bike benches on eBay. They are a very heavy piece of kit.
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Hi Rob. Its a 175 Catria circa 1957/58 but yours was a fair guess because the frames would look exactly the same. Quite advanced for its age with the pressed steel construction and horizontal engine. You must have been a struggle hanging up that body shell on your own! A strong back and stronger roof joist! Hang em high!
Hear is a 125 Imperiali sport I restored for a friend. 1968
(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm224/gyrostarter/motobi058-1.jpg)
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I started rebuilding my Motobi in earnest this week
I do most of my rebuilding in the garage ;)
Looks good Bob
Ralph
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Hello Ralph. Nice to hear from you. Will you be at Stonham Barns this year? Dont you have wallpaper in your garage then Ralph? Ho Ho!! I only wish my machines were allowed in the house, that pic was taken at my pals place , the guy I restored it for. These bike handle very very well, low slung engine for fast cornering!
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I'll not be going to Stonham, I'm working that weekend :'(.
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Oh thats a shame. I'm just off to the Battlesbridge bike show in the schmitt, hope they let me in!
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Here's my Motobi Pesaro moped
I prefer cosmetically unrestored
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/groovydubber/MOTOBI_Pesaro1.jpg)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/groovydubber/MOTOBI_Pesaro2.jpg)
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Thought I would show you the progress on the motobi, its not a micocar but niether is half the stuff talked about on the forum. As you can see its nearly finished, just waiting on some chrome plating etc.
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ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
I love the bubble-wrap under the stand to stop the paint getting scratched. Bet you can't wait to get it MOTed and taxed.
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Ha! Sorry to disappoint you Rob but even I'm not that fanatical! I have yet to find the stand rubber stop that stops it whacking the frame when the stand is up, the bubblewrap is for preventing contact with the frame, I dont know how it ended up between the stand and the concrete. Honest!! Glad you like it, there is something about the styling of these 1950 latin jobs, all red paint and transfers, lovely!! I rode my mates 125 Motobi Imperialli sport and it handled like a dream! Cant wait to put this one through its paces.
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What's with all those racing stickers, it's a bit Essex! ;)
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Cheeky blighter! That was the custom in the motherland, every time one of there bikes won a race the manufacturers would produce a decal and the next batch of new bikes came out of the factory wearing them. I have simply kept what it had from new, they are even lacquered over. So young Planty, its not a case of Essex boy's got some stickers, it's called restoration, something you haven't done yet! Ha ha!! :D :D ;) ;) How are you settling into your new house by the way? Where was it now ? Oh yes, Essex!! ;) ;)
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Essex boarders actually... so it still counts as East London. I shall be continuing with the Nobel once the 6 foot deep pile of builders rubble has been cleared from the garage. :-\
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If you say so Mike. Is the Nobel at the new house yet? Any room for a schmitt as I was told last week that the the storage barn I use is closing and we all have to get out this month!
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Hi Bob
Looks like earnest is doing a good job ;)
Seriously, I think the Motobi is looking stunning I too like the styling of the latin 50s era and 60s. Some of the small sports cars are desing icons.
Pinninferina, Bertone and the like came up with so many great designs.
Once again Bob well done.
Regard
Ralph
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Hi Ralph. I had forgotten all about Earnest! How is your Schmitt running?
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Hi Bob
Schmitt going ok but I think that it needs some attention to the brakes in the new year, but it has pased its MOT.
I've been looking for a spare engine but they seem to be a bit steep in the price department :'( I would like to have a spare because mine is the original motor and I dont want to play around with it too much. The dynastart will only run forwards unless the battery is as fully charged as posible so I think that the brushes or comutator need looking at. I would also like to fit EI but it is just getting round to getting one.
How's Primrose and the Inter?
Regards
RalphT
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Hi Ralph. Yes engines are a bit steep now! I held on to my spare motor for many years but finally yielded to an offer this year, I needed the money for other projects and do not suppose I will ever be able to afford the luxury of having a spare one again. Primrose is good thanks apart from losing my storage for her this month. She runs a lot quieter now I fixed the loose baffle in the silencer. It had been clattering for years before John Hunt diagnosed the problem. The Inter is still unregistered and next year I want to put in a new piston and do some fine tuning. I may have to part with one or the other at some time in the future, the schmitt is bad for my vertigo because of the hard ride. I may have to acquire a microcar with larger wheels and a more sedate ride. Motorcycles are good for me because I can store them at home and they do not make me dizzy. Hope to see you this summer. Bob
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the schmitt is bad for my vertigo because of the hard ride. I may have to acquire a microcar with larger wheels and a more sedate ride.
I might be able to help you there Bob, as I've just bought all five of these little articles from a breakers yard in North Wales last Saturday. :) They have 10-inch wheels and a very comfy seat so should suit you down to the ground right now. I'm keeping two of them & three are to be sold on in due course, so form an orderly queue & place your orders now for one of the remaining three, which I expect to start advertising around March 2010.....
(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z211/stuartcyphus/S7303528.jpg)
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Thanks for the offer Stuart, I will take all three! :D Now here is a controversial topic. Do the keepers of registers have an unfair advantage when it comes to buying vehicles that come up for sale, as they are often the first point of contact for the people selling? Should the keeper of the register offer the vehicles to all the other register members first before snapping up the bargains themselves? Don't worry Stuart, I'm not pointing a finger but its a grievance that I have often heard expressed. After I set up my Inter blog I was hoping that I would be inundated with offers of cheap Inters, It didn't work for me! What do you all think?
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Not to worry Bob, these were indeed brought to ICR member's atention first, viz the center pages of the current Conveyancer. These were bought by me personally with my own money, & not by the ICR, though the fact I am the ICR did help enormusly in getting them away, as the yard owner would not have delt with an individual regarding these vehicles, whereas I am the "official" organisation for them, thus he was prepared to do a deal with me alone as I had proved myself to be serius with these things. The short of it was, they were to have been baled at the end of April had I personally not got myself up there for a face-to-face. No question about it. In a case such as this, the "rules", whatever they be, have to go by the wayside. :-*
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snapping up the bargains
Not really, Bob, belive me, these things are going to be costing me a serius amount by the time they reach Oxfordshire from North Wales, what with transport, storage etc etc, not to mention the purchase price itself. Still, i keep telling myself I'm doing it for the love of the vehicles..... ::)
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Hi Stuart, As I said I was not pointing the finger or saying this was a point in case but raising an issue that concerns many and applies to registers accross the board. I was hoping not to have to use an example but looks like I will have to to make the point. A person wants to sell say a Tourette [I know , I'm obsesed with them!] The owner knows its a rare microcar, googles rare microcar and discovers RUM, makes some enqires and who really gets the first crack at aquiring the desirable car, is it not who ever is running the register at the time, many would say the noble thing to do would be to give some advise on values and tell the owner to put it on the open market. The temptation however is to say, Oh I will have it off you , I am the register and it will be going to a good home! I know I would be tempted! Its an issue that comes up in the motorcycle world all the time and with classic car registers alike. I bought it up because I dont think it has been debated before on the forum as far as I can remember.I will open a new thread and see what folk think.