Over the last 18 months I've been working on a Navigator I bought off ebay and, without wishing to tempt fate, I think I'm almost there with the big jobs and can now consider it a rolling restoration.
It's my first venture into the weird and wonderful world of classic bike restoration and along the way I've probably made all the rooky mistakes it's possible to make, for e.g. not recognising that it had a Jubilee engine fitted! Still, what else am I to spend my money on eh? Food, heating? Fortunately through the club I managed to source a 350 engine and have had it completely stripped and reconditioned. Coupled with a conversion to 12v wiring and electronic ignition I now have a bike that can hold it's own in modern-day traffic, though I much prefer the country lanes!
Purists should look away as Ethel bears little resemblance to an 'original' bike, but she suits me just fine and having done 600 miles or so over the summer I can say she runs and handles as well as she looks. To be honest there's not much left of the original bike, (or my bank balance come to that), and I still have a list of jobs to complete. That's what winter is for right?
I've been a frequent user of this forum throughout the restoration and just wanted to say thank you for all the advice and assistance I've been given by other members. Without the NOC I'd have been proper stumped!
Nick Hutchinson
Looking good.
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Engine mods and a better…
Engine mods and a better rear wheel? I'm up for both of those and would love to hear your plans!
I've got some 'kick-ups' to angle the silencers at 20 degrees but they're on the shelf at the mo, as the existing brake rod would get in the way. If there are any alternative rear wheels for the Navigator I'd love to hear about them!
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Rear wheel
Nick, I found the back brake poor, even after some work that I hoped would improve it. Recently had a ride on a Jubilee, back poor, front a little better.
I have an Indian Enfield rear hub that looks like it would fit. The swinging arm would need some small mods to get the wheel to fit and the rim offsetting a little to get everything lined up. The real head scratcher is the sprocket, Enfield or Norton size chain or some other size?
The Enfield hub is QD, has a drive line shock absorber built in and a back brake that works quite well, so a significant improvement, I hope!
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A man after my own heart…
A man after my own heart. Ethel looks the part.
Tastefully done money well spent and a lot of fun along the way I would expect.
Never mind the outlay, there are no pockets in shrouds more pleasure this side of the grass
I'll wager.
I am drawn to your shiny rear light housing that looks to be connected to the rear mudguard.
Was this home made or a bought in item?
If bought, from where may I ask?
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The rear light housing was…
The rear light housing was an ebay purchase from goodness knows where. It came complete with a sealed LED light but it didn't work with positive earth so I binned the lens and fitted a genuine Lucas lens unit and a proper 12v positive earth LED bulb. I also found some dinky little indicators - a modern convenience and at £5 a pair they didn't break the bank!
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Looks lovly...
... and very shiny! Well done.
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Beautiful bike
Absolutely stunning Nick.
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Nice job Nick, great to see another lightweight back on the road.
You're not the only one to buy a Navigator with a Jubilee engine, I did the same. Thankfully sorted without any hassle.
Like you, although the bike is running well , I still have a long list of jobs to do, some as a result of the modifications I have made to the engine (further development) and some because I want to, top of the list being a QD rear wheel with a better bake.