As a firm that was turning out 25,00 bicycles a year in 1897 and employed some 1,800 workers, it's a great pity that Rudge didn't survive into the post-war era. They had a huge factory at Crow Lane (Crow Lane dated back to the 12th century) and 34 Spon Street, which once towered over central Coventry. They stopped racing in 1935 due to the escalating costs and production ended in 1940. Incidentally (and being slightly pedantic) the Rudge-Whitworth company was actually sold to The Gramaphone Company, located in Hayes, Middlesex, which was part of EMI. The Coventry plant was turned over to radar production and later carried the name GEC. In 1943 the Rudge-Whitworth name was absorbed by Raleigh who, post-war produced their 'Autocycles.'
Very true, EMI had acquired the company and did initially spend quite a lot of money upgrading the range Perhaps they felt that electronics were the way to go. Securing materials required for motor cycle manufacturing may have been challenging too
Well given that the Rudge would be much older You have to wonder what bits are inside That said if it has more cylinders it’s not a given that it I’ll be faster
four valve per cylnder are nothng new the first was n 1916 of Idnian motorcycle and it had the frst electric start and electrc lgingng but was my Great uncle freedie the did the 55 Degree valve hemi head on his 1919 harley Davison for brooklands racng
Some really nice bikes there, hard to choose a favourite, but the Manxman would be my pick. A shame about the TSS. Too little too late, it's ironic that emission regs helped kill the Triumph twins & now the industry has returned to the parallel twin.
Sorry!-Meant bikes like Honda 'Bros" narrow V twin in a ?? frame , Honda MVX 250 triple.... umm...Suzuki 650 Savage...Yamaha TX 500, (perhaps as 180 degree motor), Suzuki RF900...naughty little brother of GSX1100-Japanese bikes under the radar is what I'm trying to say I suppose! Love your channel! Kia Ora from N.Z.
The Bros wasn’t sold in quite that form in the UK but as a rather more dull NTV with shaft drive, Hond’s V3 never did arrive unfortunately although the 400 did
Had a bit to do with a 250 radial 4-valve Rudge sprinter some years ago, ( which went well ) and rather thought that the Honda RFVC engine acronym actually stood for ' Rudge Four Valve Copy'. The sub-rocker system is very, very similar...
More old beautiful bikes indeed. I really liked the look of the Ariel. Were the logo's on the sides of the tanks hand painted for each bike? Ride safe all. Cheers
As a firm that was turning out 25,00 bicycles a year in 1897 and employed some 1,800 workers, it's a great pity that Rudge didn't survive into the post-war era. They had a huge factory at Crow Lane (Crow Lane dated back to the 12th century) and 34 Spon Street, which once towered over central Coventry. They stopped racing in 1935 due to the escalating costs and production ended in 1940. Incidentally (and being slightly pedantic) the Rudge-Whitworth company was actually sold to The Gramaphone Company, located in Hayes, Middlesex, which was part of EMI. The Coventry plant was turned over to radar production and later carried the name GEC. In 1943 the Rudge-Whitworth name was absorbed by Raleigh who, post-war produced their 'Autocycles.'
Very true, EMI had acquired the company and did initially spend quite a lot of money upgrading the range
Perhaps they felt that electronics were the way to go. Securing materials required for motor cycle manufacturing may have been challenging too
An old guy at work said he had a Rudge and then a Norton 99 - he said the Rudge was faster - It surprised us as we always thought a twin was faster.
Well given that the Rudge would be much older
You have to wonder what bits are inside
That said if it has more cylinders it’s not a given that it I’ll be faster
Yes, I would quite like to take that Rudge home with me 🙂 Good video Dood.
Cheers Greg Moore.
four valve per cylnder are nothng new the first was n 1916 of Idnian motorcycle and it had the frst electric start and electrc lgingng but was my Great uncle freedie the did the 55 Degree valve hemi head on his 1919 harley Davison for brooklands racng
It’s true that Indian like a number of companies put 4V heads on competition bikes but these were usually intended as over the counter street bikes
Certainly know of Freddie Dixon
A legend in his time
Some really nice bikes there, hard to choose a favourite, but the Manxman would be my pick. A shame about the TSS. Too little too late, it's ironic that emission regs helped kill the Triumph twins & now the industry has returned to the parallel twin.
How very true
If Triumph brought out the tss again now if would fly off the showroom floors 👍
It does have a mean & purposeful look that modern Triumphs lack
@@bikerdood1100 very similar to how it looks in the video,unlike unlike the modern space alien 👽 grasshopper look!
😂
Hah,here's a poser! How about five of the most undersquare engines ever fitted to a motorcycle? 😊
MV Agusta F4 75 😂
Panther
Or even Rudge...
😂
It’s an interesting idea
Well,it beats my last suggestion of,yawn,five Japanese 400cc four stroke twins,zzzzzz 😁
Sorry!-Meant bikes like Honda 'Bros" narrow V twin in a ?? frame , Honda MVX 250 triple.... umm...Suzuki 650 Savage...Yamaha TX 500, (perhaps as 180 degree motor), Suzuki RF900...naughty little brother of GSX1100-Japanese bikes under the radar is what I'm trying to say I suppose! Love your channel! Kia Ora from N.Z.
The Bros wasn’t sold in quite that form in the UK but as a rather more dull NTV with shaft drive, Hond’s V3 never did arrive unfortunately although the 400 did
Had a bit to do with a 250 radial 4-valve Rudge sprinter some years ago, ( which went well ) and rather thought that the Honda RFVC engine acronym actually stood for ' Rudge Four Valve Copy'. The sub-rocker system is very, very similar...
Few things in life are ever completely new
Those British engines are are unique works of art that are a joy to study how's and why's of its engineering.
Well it’s all there in the open
Valves and all
More old beautiful bikes indeed. I really liked the look of the Ariel. Were the logo's on the sides of the tanks hand painted for each bike? Ride safe all. Cheers
Thanks
The logo probably wasn’t hand painted but all pin stripes were
@@bikerdood1100 Very amazing artisan's. Cheers