Rob Meadows recently aquired a 1968 Greeves Anglian 250 for a "good price" and has made it his project for the winter. He currently competes on a BSA Victor, and wanted to try "something a little different". The bike was complete and in fairly good shape, but Rob has decided to get it into top running condition and do a "rider restoration".
Here is the frame as received by Rob. It is a unique combination of steel pipe, cast aluminum, and steel plate. This bike has the "Earles" leading link forks, though you could also order the Anglian with telescopic forks.
This rear shot of the frame shows the unique swingarm, hub with speedo drive built in, and flat, "no grip" foot pegs common for the period. I wonder how the riders in "Muddy Old England" kept their feet on the pegs.
Here can be seen the "hard chrome" (not shiny) tank along with other bits Rob has prepared for the rebuild.
Engine cases have been cleaned up and had new bearings installed. Rob gave the cylinder a rebore and new piston and ordered new clutch plates. Note the bolt on transmission which makes this makes the Villiers engine "semi unit construction". Shifter in upper right hand corner can be "up shifted" with the heal. Rob noticed the engine castings were rough at best and very porous. He will be replacing one of the plugs in the dual plug head with a compression release.
Here the frame has returned from being powder coated and is ready for Rob to start reassembling
The transmission has been reattached to the engine, all has been cleaned, sand-blasted, and put back together. Rob has changed the carburetor to a Mikuni that mounts to the original intake manifold. The old carb had no idle stop so you needed to let the slide close all the way with some slack if you didn't want acceleration in turns due to changes in cable tension. Note the spark plug wire comes directly from the side case.
With the engine back in the frame you can begin to see some of the uniqueness of this motorcycle. In this photo you get a better shot of the Mikuni carb (with a very British air filter) , and the plug wire. Bash plate is built into the frame as seen on the frame photos. Looks like Rob may have built up the nubs on the foot rests a little. (Looks like spikes would be a better way to go).
Original Girling shocks have been cleaned up, painted, and will be reused for now. Rob says they still have some dampening and don't appear to be leaking. Original steel rims will be relaced to the now highly polished hubs with stainless spokes
Lower shot of the front end again shows Girling shocks on the leading link suspension. Hub has been laced after polishing and the steel rim now sports an IRC trials tire
Now we're getting close to a finished product. The original tank has a "dimple" on the left side and a "crease" on the right, but is otherwise in great shape. A new red fiberglass replacement is being considered for the future. Rob is now waiting on the "right" fenders (sorry, "mudguards") and a seat to finish this unique beauty. Note the "springless" side stand, up and out of the way, clipped to the rear sub frame, and the original one inch trials bars. Rob needed to buy two sets of grips due to the bars size. Rob's son Michael may give this bike a try in Vintage C class for the 2005 series. It will be good to see Greeves back in the series again. I'll have the finished project here in the near future.
