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.
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.
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!
Standard AS500 - circa 1930
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