Paul Girling (G.P.O.BANTAM)

[Matt James]

hi roger,

I have attached some photos of one of my bikes, this was used at Liverpool South T.D.O.

Great site and becoming a great success, think you hit a nerve there, cheers



Paul Girling

[Matt James]

Originally posted by Ted

Hello Paul,
its Ted from Manchester here

what years were you a messenger? I can remember playing against the Liverpool messengers at football home and away in 1965, I think we played at Bellwood in the first game we lost 6-1 and in the return fixture you beat us again 5-3.

looking at the reg plate it is 1971 so you were still at school when we p[layed you at football,what was the top speed of your bikes and did you have a small lead seal on the carburettor so you couldn't adjust the needle to increase the speed? >ted< 1961 - 1965
_________________
Ted knott
12 Davids road
Droylsden
Manchester
m43 6ww

[Matt James]

Originally posted by BidstonHall

hi ted, although both my bikes are 1971, more or less the last year they were used ,i was at l.n.t.d.o. 1967-1968

1969 they introduced mopeds in liverpool as we had 2 deaths at our office in the preceding couple of years

some of the lads were a bit wild and did all kinds of crazy stunts

getting them on mopeds got the hardline element out of the picture and the lads who rode the mopeds were a bit more sensible

HI TED, CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY USED TO KEEP THE SPEED DOWN, I THINK THEY USED A SMALLER NEEDLE IN THE CARB AS SOME OF THE LADS CHANGED THEM BACK AGAIN TO GET A GOOD SPEED OUT OF THEM, HAD TO PUT IT RIGHT WHEN IT WENT TO THE DEPOT AT BOOTLE FOR SERVICE

I REMEMBER ALL THE SPEEDOS HAVING A RED LINE MARKED AT 28 MPH WHICH WAS THE OFFICIAL SPEED LIMIT FOR ALL P.O. VEHICLE

MY 2 BIKES HAVE THAT RED LINE ON THEM AS WELL

[Matt James]

Originally posted by Ray Broadfield

hi paul
great pics. of your bike.i think the 125 bikes were governed by having a slightly longer longer throttle slide than standard civy bantams we used to try and fiddle the lead seal off and put the needle up a notch and carefully twist the wire and seal back on,i'm not sure if it made much difference in speed but we seemed to think it did.i believe the reason for the change to mopeds was,when B.S.A. stopped making the 125 they changed to the 175 and then the law changed restricting youngsters to 50c.c.machines untill a certain age, 17 i believe, although i stand to be corrected .
all the best
ray broadfield

[Matt James]

Originally posted by Bidstonhall

hi yes, i think you are right about the change in the law, both my bikes are B175's, incidently one of them has the original tiny post office carb, apparently these are as rare as hens teeth as what usually happened when the bikes were eventually sold on, the newboy racer who bought it would scrap the leg shields and the carb

make a great sound though, takes you right back