Roadholder 364 - April 2018

17 The author's R65 Not long after purchase, the rear wheel spokes began to break away; those fitted were actually found to be for to the lighter Jubilee: all 36 were therefore replaced. Until 1985 the bike was ridden back and forth from Florence to several locations in Tuscany and elsewhere in Italy when, even driving in big cities, it was still a pleasure. In 1985 I acquired a second-hand BMW R65 and the Navigator was rested, unforgotten in the garage. At that time it had covered 71,000km. When, 10 years later, room was needed for my daughter’s bike, the BMW was sold and the Norton was again put back on the road after being thoroughly inspected. The original Amal carburettor was replaced with a new one, cylinder heads and barrels were removed and new piston rings fitted, valves were re-ground. Then, getting By the seaside ... Advice notes from Ferraris Piston Service, and Taylor Matterson Ltd, London, Dec. 1961 Sainte Ménehould, eastern France, memorial tablet: "In this place stood the ancient Post Royale from where, on June 21st 1791 the pursuit and arrest of King Louis XVI took place at Varennes in Argonne"