Standard AS500 - circa 1930

I can just imagine how much fun a 500 cc single cylinder engine would have been in 1930, probably fastest thing around. Photographed at same place in Germany....love the brake handles and shift lever.

Paul,
Another beauty. I'm sure a single cylinder 500cc motor was very smooth:eek3:.

Paul:

A beauty. I think that dentists really liked the 500CC singles, as with that long stroke and cast iron piston, they could loosen any filling from vibration. Only thing that helped was a compression ratio of just above atmospheric pressure.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Randy

Great to see Paul. it doesn't look German to me- has almost an Italian "Guzzi" feel, maybe because of the colour. I notice this one has two exhaust ports!!!

I own a 500cc single in the name of a Velocette MSS. Singles are a joy to work on because they are so simple. They don't vibrate as much as people might think because of the balancing of the flywheel. Norton Commandos were a lot worse. Mine has moderate compression but she will still hurt you if you don't use standard operating procedures handed down from father to son. I am careful about leaving the bike on it's own but realise that a would-be thief would have to carry the thing away. Starting her would be a risky proposition likely resulting in a very sore lower leg. Those lucky enough to have a manual timing advance can set it to retard when parked so a starting attempt would lead to a broken leg rather than just a sore one!