insured

unit. The scooter wiring loom was used,
but chopped about to suit. A better
headlight unit was substituted to improve
night vision. Indicators were also fitted.
John and Alan tried to keep original
features wherever possible. The main
switch, for instance, still looks like the
original, but has been converted to allow
it to perform modern functions. The idea
was to retain the old, but use all the
advantages of the new. The old original
Velocette toolbox was retained and extra
steel panels were made using shaped
cardboard templates in order to disguise
the small SYM back wheel. The whole
outfit weighs 120kg, making it easy to
handle and manoeuvre.
Up to now the machine has been
totally reliable. The only problem
encountered was a flat battery (but they
weren’t 100 per cent sure about its
condition to start with). The original
estimate for converting the bike was
around £750, but it worked out at just
over £1000 in the end with the addition
of new tyres, battery and a few other bits.
Built over a winter, down at John’s
place, Alan’s getting a lot of pleasure out
his bike. He chose to name it ‘Metisse’
(which is apparently French for hybrid).
He did 8000 miles on it last year and
2000 miles so far this year. Alan says he
still likes a big British single, but not the
Digital speedo and
indicators give a
clue that all is not
as it seems
idea of kicking it off on a cold day: “With
this engine you just put in the key, press
the button and it goes,” he says.
“Obviously with an old bike, reliability
and parts availability are not going to be
the same. I change the oil on this every
1000 miles, the filter’s washable so I
clean that at the same time.”
Alan’s final quote pays homage to
John, his partner in this project: “John’s
knowledge as a mechanic and his skill
as an electrician has made a machine
from the past into a bike for the future.”
What you’d expect
to find in a
Velocette toolbox?
– a SYM kick-start,
carried for
emergency,
but never used
NOVEMBER 05 77