[Frank]

I was at the Pate Swap Meet over the weekend and saw a bike I really loved. It said it was a 1953 Famous James. It was pretty rough but looked complete. They were asking $1000. Never heard of one. It had a single cylinder with the carb hanging off the back side of the cylinder under the seat. It had a suicude shifter on the right side of the tank. Over all it just had a really great look about it. Anyone know the history of these?

 

[RippoDippo]

Soo did ya buy it?

 

[sparkymoffett]

here ya go.. http://www.classicbikeguide.com/archive/august2003/ft2.htm

 

[TRIUMPH TERROR]

Yes I have seen one they had a single cly Villers motor on them.A friend of mine who posts on here once in awhile still owns it.Its a cool little machine not sure how hard parts would be to find for it though.



Shoe

 

[ol_scratch]

There was a guy at a Westminster MD bike show that was restoring them. The one he had at the show was a 1949, that has been run since the day it was bought. And a survivor, never retored. Resilient little things.

 

[Nappy]

Looks a heck of a lot like a Harley Hummer, at least from the photo in the link above.

 

[Frank]

The one I saw had much beefier wheels and sat much lower. I am new to bikes so I have a lot to learn, but I have a soft spot for the Brit bikes. I really don't know what else to compare the look too except perhaps Fonzi's bike.

No, didn't buy it. Maybe one day when I am ready to take on a bike project, I'll run across another one.

 

[ol_scratch]

The one I saw had much beefier wheels and sat much lower. I am new to bikes so I have a lot to learn, but I have a soft spot for the Brit bikes. I really don't know what else to compare the look too except perhaps Fonzi's bike.

No, didn't buy it. Maybe one day when I am ready to take on a bike project, I'll run across another one.

That would be an older model James, probably. They actually stuck around a lot longer than most people think.

 

[JEB]

Hey Frank,

I was there on Friday, and I saw the bike you were talking about. It looked pretty rough for $1000. There was another one, semi-restored, painted, powdercoated wheels, fresh looking motor, etc for $2000. The guy was in DFW area with a 214 number.

Here's the famous James I had about 10 years ago:

 

[tbone16]

Those are some cool ridin sandals jason. You ever gettin that James tootin around?

 

[ol_scratch]

Hey Frank,

I was there on Friday, and I saw the bike you were talking about. It looked pretty rough for $1000. There was another one, semi-restored, painted, powdercoated wheels, fresh looking motor, etc for $2000. The guy was in DFW area with a 214 number.

Here's the famous James I had about 10 years ago:

Why do you look like me? Minus the acid wash shorts of course.

 

[ol_scratch]

Here I am.

 

[JEB]

Damn Scratch, you look like my long lost brother. Who knew you were such a handsome fellow?

You'll have to forgive the acid wash and the sandals, that pic is 10 years old. Sad story about that James, my boss (at the time) had it in her garage, and she wanted me to restore it for her father. He brought it back from WWII, rode it for a while, and it ended up in the back of their garage, where it stayed until 1995. She knew that I liked old bikes, so she asked me to give her a quote on restoring it.

I took it home, tore it apart and cleaned up the motor. In the meantime I found a better job and quit, so all the parts went back in boxes and back to her garage, and I never saw that bike again. I need to find that lady and see if she wants to sell the bike. It was a great looking little single with a girder front end and a sprung saddle and a shift gate on the tank.

Here I am.

 

[JiveBomber]

My Buddy Dave has one too--

Cool little bike he picked up at the Turlock swap-

I'll see if I can have him send me a pic.

 

[JiveBomber]

Pics Here:

 

[oldgoaly]

[number of different models here's a link to more info on those bikes, comet is the one i have 48-52 98cc 2 stroker, www.simplywizard.co.uk tt