1965 Moulton Mk1

[Pandora]

It's been inevitable for a wee while, but today I picked up a Moulton Bike.

It's a '65 Delux and it looks to have hardly seen any use. It popped up on Facebook up in Inverurie, way up North, but luckily the guy's son had been up for Easter and was coming back down to the Central belt, so I saved the postage (a bit of a killer on a bike!), so it ended up a cheap project. I don't think many folks down south would travel that far to get one!

A bit of adjustment to the gears and lowering of the handlebars and it goes pretty well. Of course, I want to do wee bits and pieces to it, but it's really just a garage ornament, and I am delighted with it

Moulton.jpg

Al

[mab01uk]

Very nice example!.....I had a Moulton Mini (7/8ths scale, an early pre-Raleigh one with front suspension) for my 10th birthday in the 1960's. Have been tempted several times recently to buy a full size 1960's Moulton or maybe rescue/restore a Moulton Mini.

The Marvellous Moulton Mini
http://www.bicyclehub.co.uk/moulton-mini
Moulton Books by Paul Grogan.
https://www.theclassicmoulton.co.uk/the ... ulton-mini

[Polarsilver]

semi restored mums 1965 Moulton Standard .. take care with the original cables & their plastic supports onto the frame as available replacments are crap & over expensive... an original seat is hens teeth .. my thoughts are the Mk1 Moulton is best for hanging on the garage wall or in the London Design Museum or perhaps hang on the back of the Moke, as in reality the "F Frame Moulton Bike" is a horrible thing to ride ..

Moke & Molton.JPG

[Pandora]

It has the fluted cable outers, but being quite early it still has the brazed metal loops, not the plastic clips

Ride it? Are you mad????

Al

[Pandora]

If anyone wants to know what it's like to ride a Moulton one handed, I suggest the following simulator: Loosen, or maybe just Remove, all the suspension mounting bolts from your mini, over inflate the tyres massively then drive down a potholed road.

It's like that.

It feels totally fine with both hands on the bars, but take one off and it's skittish as hell. Interestingly, their own technical guide to owners makes this very point saying it's due to the far lower flywheel effect of the small wheels, and points out it's illegal anyway....

Al

[Polarsilver]

Perfect description of the Mk1 Moulton Bike experience.

[Polarsilver]

Moulton+Bicycles+on+Mini.jpg

Alex+Moulton+AM+spaceframe+Silver+Shadow+Baslow.jpg

[snoopy64]

I had and stupidly sold the Land Rover edition of the space frame ATB and it was a surprisingly good ride..

[steve1071]

I bought the breadknife a Moulton for mothers day two years ago. It's barely turned a wheel, not unlike my mini's....

[Pandora]

Gentlemen, feast your eyes on this! Yup, it's a cafe racered Moulton! you may laugh, but I bet by Blyton next year you'll all be wanting on

All the bits I've changed are pretty much period appropriate. Of course the Sturmey Archer rear hub selector chain snapped the other evening, and if it was a 3 or 5 speed hub I could have my choice of replacement, but not for the 4 speed I have, so a bit of jewelery level tinkering will be needed next week to marry the available chains onto my pin. I have one pedal changed but the other is putting up stern resistance, so GT85 and WD40 have launched an all out war on it.

Replacement parts are generally in Alloy, and on the whole, it's been a really pleasant few evenings tinkering with it.

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Al