Rocket Gold Star Replica finished at last!

[alanp]

Attached hopefully you should find some photos of my RGS rep. I can only post 5 photos so have selected just these. RGSs came with a choice of clip ons or upturned bars and 8" or 190mm front brakes (see Motor Cycle road test dated 22 Nov 1962). I chose the 8" with Eddie Dow tls brake plate and the bars shown for comfort (my Goldie is awkward in city traffic) and I prefer the neat look around the top of the forks. The bike frame was ideal to modify since it already had the left side brake system/solid swing arm spindle and other niceties like the bigger gap under the battery tray, but needed removal of the steering lock, steering head gusset replaced with the taller type, Goldie top yoke, replacement of the main stand and stand frame lugs, main stand spring moved to the left side, replacement of the bottom pair of front engine lugs with the wrap around type as per the upper pair etc. etc. etc.
I fitted an oil pressure gauge which you can see in the photos. Due to the night riding we often do I felt indicators would be worthwhile so fitted them. I fitted updated Lucas enclosed switchgear from later years to cope with the indicators and to prepare the switches/wiring for later electric start fitment.
So, you can see it's not a pure RGS rep. but you'd be hard pressed to spot the difference ignoring the indicators and oil pressure gauge.
Hope you like it.
Alan

[muskrat]

Good one Allen. She's a beauty. Mods don't detract at all
Cheers

[LJ.]

Very very nice indeed! Congratulations Alan, now to get some miles in on it. Cheers

[MG]

Lovely bike Allan, very good work indeed.

[lawnmowerman]

Looks really nice Alan. Where did you get the levers with the mirror mounts and the mirrors - also the indicators and switch. Would appreciate some close ups. Indicators are a really worthwhile mod in today's traffic and I have been thinking of fitting some for a while - also not happy with my Halcyon bar end mirror so I would like to fit an alternative.

Jim

[chaterlea25]

Hi Alan,
Congrats on building a fine looking bike 

I hope you dont mind me pointing out that there seems to be some bending strain on the front wheel spokes
as if the rim is not dimpled correctly or something???
Lovely Dunlop rim though (very rare now!!)

On my RGS, (project) it has been fitted with a replacement Dunlop rim, which I am told came from a Norton
however it has the 190mm hub, the spoke angles look ok but I'm told by the previous owner that the hub is out of round
as a result of trying to pull some damage out of the rim
Time will tell when I strip it for inspection

Keep Safe
John O R

[bsa-bill]

Hi Alan - nice bike, I'm interested as my project is along the same lines but not quite so RGS ( hence I call it a Rocket Gold Flash).
I kind of agree with John, looks like some of the spokes are coming from the wrong side of the rim (although the dimple looks like it means to head in the right direction ? )
I think there is a theory that in a perfect world spokes should not actually touch each other but this is difficult, one reason possibly is SS spokes might just be a tad thicker than original, I know mine do touch and deflect slightly.

Anyway - nice job

All the best - Bill

[alanp]

Chaterlea/Bill, well spotted, not much gets past you guys. The spokes on the off side are thicker SS than the near side and are deflected/slightly bowed to clear each other. I should sort this out really.
Lawnmowerman, you can pick these switch/lever parts up on ebay.co.uk and .com using 'lucas switches' etc as the key words. You can also find repair kits for the switches which include the internal springs as well. The switches have the mirror mounting holes already there. The mirrors are best found at auto jumbles like Shepton/Kempton etc so that you can be sure of the arm dimensions/mirror size before you buy rather than try to trawl through hundreds of ebay mirrors and end up with the wrong stuff since dimensions are lacking for these sort of things on ebay.
Alan

[alanp]

Lawnmowerman, attached 2 pictures of the switch/lever assemblies. They have l/r indicators, head/dip beam, headlamp flasher, horn, engine electric start and a spare. Hope this helps.
Alan

[muskrat]

G'day Alan,
                    they look like the switches for a late A65. I remember buying a set back in '78 for the lightning, cost me $120 each back then. The throttle looks different though, what's the bit at the top?
Cheers

[bsa-bill]

Looks like a lock to me Muskrat.

[muskrat]

Ah, so you can lock the throttle. Good idea.
Cheers

[MG]

I guess this locks the twist grip when closed, not in the fully open position.

So not what you would want, muskrat!  

[muskrat]

Bugga, I get arm pump from holding it wide open for hours on end.
Cheers

[bsa-bill]

Muskrat - I expect more from an Oracle  - put the throttle on the otherside of the bars mate