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Moulton cycles
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:33 pm
by 1965MOKE
I just thought that this may be of interest to classic mini enthusiasts, after all they were designed by rubber suspension guru Alex Moulton?
I collect the rare ones and as I will never be able to impress you all with a cooper S, how about these beauties?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/worksmoulton/
any questions happily answered
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:17 am
by coop12g295
Goodwood 2009 Acespeed had one as his paddock bike
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:52 am
by guru_1071
have you got any of the racing ones?
they are amazing things!
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:41 am
by Vegard
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:42 am
by 36inter
What a great collection, and they take up a lot less room than a Mini.
Having looked at that ebay advert the cost of one is approaching Mini territory, blimey, whatever next, did this ought to be in the WTF thread!!
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:31 am
by guru_1071
i wouldnt class that as a 'proper' moulton bike as its one of the modern ones.
the old school ones with the rubber damped front forks are the best
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:32 am
by 1965MOKE
Thanks guys, My collection comprises mainly of racing and touring machines, some of which had famous cycling name owners or works development bikes!
The period 1963-65 is my main interest but I love em' all!
As for the prices?
Well interest is strong in Japan and Taiwan etc so values have rocketed on the sixties "S" handbuilt range but Alex Moulton builds new spaceframes up to £14000.
Alex Moulton is now 91 years old!
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:43 am
by 1965MOKE
guru_1071 wrote:
i wouldnt class that as a 'proper' moulton bike as its one of the modern ones.
the old school ones with the rubber damped front forks are the best
A little bit of Moulton history:
Moulton bicycles launched the small wheel bike system 1963.
sold out to raleigh in 1967.
Started AM bicycles in 1983 with the spaceframe design.
development continues 2011 !
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 1:05 pm
by guru_1071
i do like the space frame ones, but they are too modern (and expensive!) for me
the best ones are the pre raleigh ones, as raleigh altered the design to make them cheaper (got rid of the rubber suspension on the front, so the frames started to break!)
i have one that my grandmother bought brand new in about 1965 - it still rides great
the only 'fault' with them is that the small wheels make them unstable at high speeds and you can get a good 'wobble' on the handlebars if your going some down a hill - my dad found this out when he had a 'hundred yard accident' on ours, he started with a wobble, tried to ride through it and eventually had to bail off into a bush!
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:31 pm
by Pandora
there are worse places to land.
whos was it? was it neatly trimmed? etc etc.......
Always fancied a Moulton. I remember someone dumped one over a wall just out side the village when the forks snapped going down the hill. was this a common failure?
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:59 pm
by 1965MOKE
There was a recall on front forks in the early sixties due to welding problems at Kirkby, also the original curved rear forks twisted and cracked, but this was cured with a new design fork circa 1964-5.
The 1965 onwards bikes are pretty well bomb proof!
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:06 pm
by 1965MOKE
This is what you need!
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:14 pm
by Pete
Had a Raleigh version as a kid, treeemendous acceleration that usually shut my mates up who thought it was a 'girls bike' .
I've got a photo of Neal and Rhodes on what look like Moultons somewhere.
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:00 pm
by guru_1071
in my copy of the 'the marvellous moulton' book (i know, i know saddo annoracks all round.....)
it states that the frame problem was started when raleigh decided to 'cheapen' the range in '71 by deleting the suspension (to make a cheaper bike, they still did a version with the rubber as well)
despite been warned that the frame would be too weak, they did it anyway, this resulted in them having to free issue a frame reinforcing 'bodge' that wrapped round the headstock to stop it falling off!. opps
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:20 pm
by johnatandy
, tried to ride through it and eventually had to bail off into a bush![/quote]
Wow, thats the way i want to go, head first into a nicely trimmed bush, beautiful
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:43 pm
by Tim Harber
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:09 pm
by 1965MOKE
A sporting moulton
17" rims with DUNLOP high pressure tyres and that whopping 72T chainwheel
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:54 pm
by 1965MOKE
Long time no action you guys!....Just thought you might like to see this patriotic image from the jubilee...oh and a new moulton in my collection?...
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 3:45 pm
by guru_1071
that gear set is imense!
Re: Moulton cycles
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 4:04 pm
by Etienne B.
TA + Campagnolo isn't it ?
Great !
