Rudge Ulster 500cc walk around and start
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- Опубліковано 9 кві 2021
- A machine from the ‘golden age’ of motorcycles, built by craftsmen for connoisseurs to enjoy, they bear little resemblance to the post war ride-to-work machines. Rudge won the Ulster Grand Prix in 1929 with Murray Walker’s father onboard and their sporting model was forever after known as the “Ulster”.
Rudge made everything themselves and the brakes were more powerful than anything else at the time, as well as being linked together for better braking. Necessitating a different and patented spoke design, they later made wheels for Bentley. Came new with a certificate guaranteeing 100mph performance, the Ulster was the fastest 500cc motorcycle on sale. Four valve, bronze head, four-speed gearbox, it’s a high-quality bike with wonderful performance.
My last motorbike (1968) was a Rudge Sports Special from 1939. Four valve head and twin pipes as per the Ulster. It always started first kick using the handlebar mounted valve lifter. The lever that worked the stand was a delight. Such an easy bike to use every day. I loved it. So nice to hear that engine again. Thank you.
So I've been told yesterday that my grandfather had one, which I didn't even know that he liked motorcycles. I didn't know anything about this bike at all, so I've been investigating and watching videos about it. No words.
Fantastic bike. I've never seen one before and I'm 71!!! Some great features. I can see why you rate it so highly. Brilliant, mate.
as a child i read my grandfathers 'book of the rudge' been riding 40 years, will always hanker after a rudge
This is absolutely gorgeous 😮
Now get your GoPro out and take us for a good, long spin through some beautiful country. That will be about as close as I'll ever get. Beautiful bike Paul - thanks.
The bike is way ahead of its time.
Rudge also made a four valve 500 for speedway racing in the early thirties in competition with the Douglas.A lad i went to school withs father road raced a Rudge sidecar outfit until the early sixties.Great engine.Enjoyed hearing a Rudge engine again.
Thanks for showing Paul. My Grandfather rode a Rudge in the 30’s before the War..
It is beautiful, really beautiful.
Beautiful motorbike...thank you.
Rudge factory had to stop production due to ww2 they tried to carry on after the war, but so much of their machinery and tooling had been lost to the war effort they were taken over by EMI and effectively shut down, one of the great British motorcycle marques .
Yolu had to own one to appreciate just how good they were
Rode out recently with one of these. What a quick little bike it was!! Lovely restoration.
Thanks for the detailed description of the bike , my friend Bob had a '39 model twin port bronze head 500 single , until now i never knew the significance of owning a Rudge . His bike now resides in the Canadian museum collection of the Trev Deeley family .
My dad was always going on about this rudge radial valve motorbike he had with upswept exhausts, as he called them, him and mum, would be out with there friends biking, this was probably late 30s 40s
My grandfather Harry Collins had a factory Rudge Ulster that he did sand racing on back in the late 30's. It had a decompression plate that was fitted for road use under the cylinder head. He told me that to start it without the decompression plate in it at races he had to take out the spark plug and heat it up on a primus stove or it wouldn't go!
Ignore the typographical error. Spell Check is to blame. I meant Rudge not Ridge!
My Great Grandfather got himself a record for riding from Jakarta to Surabaya in 10 hours and 1 minute riding one of these way back in 1932.
Great bike, need a few clips of it on run.
Sounds very modern.
Excellent information and a pleasure to listen to 👍
Paul beautiful bike there - cheers
Of course, as an old motorcyclist, I had heard of RUDGE in Germany, but what these motorcycles really mean and what they can do on the road, I realized only after producing a few days ago this film about a Rudge Special (1930). They really are incredibly good motorcycles. So let's see how they run: ua-cam.com/video/W04ZIqr3Hxs/v-deo.html
Always loved me the rudge petrol tank
just an amazing bike lots ahead of its time...
My mate had one in his bedroom for years as an ornament
My fathers favorite bike as well, lapped Brooklands at over 100mph.
I like it
Pure class
It's a miracle if those Smith clocks are still fully functioning, the odometer usually goes before the speedo
I had several of these machines yes they were great bikes, But they had a serious flaw regarding the bronze head, which cracked between valves and in this day and age would not be a problem, but back in the day I had mine 1954 or so , spare heads were manufactured from memory by a machine shop in Leytonstone, London called Baily, again from memory. You could get a cast iron head, if you were lucky, but most parts, were either used, or knock offs. More information should be available from the Rudge owners club, which used to meet at the bunch of grapes pub in London, maybe it is still around?
Looks really good man. I might get one some day. For now i have to make do with a 36 special (which is also fine 🤪)
On normal roads, I actually prefer Special gearing, if I’m honest. The Ulster is harder work if pottering around with friends. Enjoy your Special!
What a shame they didn’t go back into production post ww2. My first bicycle in 1957 was a Rudge Ulster Tourist! Raleigh owned the name and used it on a re-badged version of their Palm Beach touring bicycle. I loved mine because it had a four-speed Sturmey Archer hub gearchange. I wonder if the gearbox on the bike in the video had a Sturmey-Archer gearbox?
Hi Colin, no, this had a Rudge gearbox, every bearing is roller! I’ve two vintage bikes with Sturmey Archer gearboxes though, I really must post something about them.
Ridge gave up motorcycle production because the Great Depression made it impossible to sell them at a profit. Bicycles were the only form of transportation the masses could afford.
I’m afraid that’s incorrect. Rudge were owned by EMI, but when WWII broke out, production stopped and the company focussed on military radio communications and radar . After the war ended the requirement was for ride to work bikes and the Rudge was always a luxury model, so was never re-introduced.
@@paulmiles You hit the nail on the head. Rudge Whitworth made high quality expensive and sporting machinery. Riders were more interested in buying cheaper "tax cheaters" before the war and military surplus bikes after the war. Rudges won the 1930 Junior and Senior TT races in 1930. They won the Lightweight in 1931 and 1934 and was the runner up behind the New Imperial in the 1935 Lightweight. Rudge Whitworth also made wheels for sport car manufacturers. They were a pricey machine too expensive for the masses.
Wonderful, thanks.