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So no one knows approximately how many Seelys were made?
Various Seeley Frames (Mks)
- Thread starter Dances with Shrapnel
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Modified Seeley BSA racer These two shots are of a MK3 Seeley chassis with a BSA Goldstar engine and Quaife 6 speed transmission. My friend Craig did the basic engine installation, and then I did a lot of the detail work, including the extra frame bracing. The bike's owner said the bracing firmed up the handling noticeably
Another Seeley BSA racer This picture was sent to me by Tomas Tallkvist. It shows him on his Seeley Goldstar winning a race at the Bothniaring in Jurva, Finland. Tomas is doing a nice job of developing the chassis and engine on this bike.
Seeley / Yamsel.
Colin Seeley in England made frames to suit Yamaha twins from the late sixties and into the seventies. (Michel du Maine)
And a Seeley Monocoupe
http://www.raceretro.com/showcontent.as ... 0000000205
Another Seeley BSA racer This picture was sent to me by Tomas Tallkvist. It shows him on his Seeley Goldstar winning a race at the Bothniaring in Jurva, Finland. Tomas is doing a nice job of developing the chassis and engine on this bike.
Seeley / Yamsel.
Colin Seeley in England made frames to suit Yamaha twins from the late sixties and into the seventies. (Michel du Maine)
And a Seeley Monocoupe
http://www.raceretro.com/showcontent.as ... 0000000205
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Here's some more Seeley Weslake pictures I took while spectating at various UK CRMC meetings.
First one is Dave Nourish's own 850 Seeley Weslake, taken in the pits at Chimay in 2008. Chimay is one of the classic Belgium real roadrace courses,ie a mini TT. I think Dave's rider Paul Coward had at least 1 win on that weekend. The sister bike to this one, the 500 version has taken part in the Classic Manx Grand Prix for about the last 20 years and has finished as high as 2nd. Dave N's bikes don't look especailly flash or shiny but they are extremely functional. This frame is a Roger Titchmarsh Mk 2. Tank is a special large one ( 6 gallons?) they use for the IOM.
The next pic is Ken Platts Mk2 750 ( I believe) taken at Croft in 2002. It looks like it might be a Barber replica frame rather than a Titchmarsh but I couldn't tell you anything more about the frame. The next year at Croft Dave Nourish lent Mr Platt his own 850 engine and his rider ( Mike Hose ) preceeded to cleanup in the unlimited class, even beating Mr Gourlay on one of the Rob North triples.
I'm curious about how many different people have done replica Seeley frames, the Mk 2, 3 & 4s. ( not interested in the Suzukes Hondas and Kawas)
I know of Titchmash, Barber, Glyn Poole and Norman White.
Does anyone know the builder that supplied George Beale and Andy Molnar? Did Spondon ever do any?
First one is Dave Nourish's own 850 Seeley Weslake, taken in the pits at Chimay in 2008. Chimay is one of the classic Belgium real roadrace courses,ie a mini TT. I think Dave's rider Paul Coward had at least 1 win on that weekend. The sister bike to this one, the 500 version has taken part in the Classic Manx Grand Prix for about the last 20 years and has finished as high as 2nd. Dave N's bikes don't look especailly flash or shiny but they are extremely functional. This frame is a Roger Titchmarsh Mk 2. Tank is a special large one ( 6 gallons?) they use for the IOM.
The next pic is Ken Platts Mk2 750 ( I believe) taken at Croft in 2002. It looks like it might be a Barber replica frame rather than a Titchmarsh but I couldn't tell you anything more about the frame. The next year at Croft Dave Nourish lent Mr Platt his own 850 engine and his rider ( Mike Hose ) preceeded to cleanup in the unlimited class, even beating Mr Gourlay on one of the Rob North triples.
I'm curious about how many different people have done replica Seeley frames, the Mk 2, 3 & 4s. ( not interested in the Suzukes Hondas and Kawas)
I know of Titchmash, Barber, Glyn Poole and Norman White.
Does anyone know the builder that supplied George Beale and Andy Molnar? Did Spondon ever do any?
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More Seeleys
First is Roger Titchmarsh's own bike. It's a 500 in his own replica Mk3 frame but with added engine hangers a la Mk4. Roger explained that when he was actively campaigning this bike in the 90s, weight reduction became an unhealthy obsesssion. It weighs 245 lbs and has magnesium crankcases and gearbox as well as home made magnesium wheel hubs. And a lot of titanium parts. He even took to glueing the fairing screen on instead of using bolts to reduce the turbulence their heads created. I believe he's currently working on making it a 750 but gets easliy distracted away from it with paying jobs.
This one is the bike Roger was competeing against, Bob Heath's Seeley Mk2 replica G50. Ironically Roger made the extra lightweight frame for it. This bike is the reason some classic race series now have minimum weight limits. The story goes that Dick Hunt offered to make Bob Heath some magnesium fork yokes to make him quit drilling holes in the ally ones. It held the classic Manx Grand Prix lap record for many years ( at 108mph I think)
First is Roger Titchmarsh's own bike. It's a 500 in his own replica Mk3 frame but with added engine hangers a la Mk4. Roger explained that when he was actively campaigning this bike in the 90s, weight reduction became an unhealthy obsesssion. It weighs 245 lbs and has magnesium crankcases and gearbox as well as home made magnesium wheel hubs. And a lot of titanium parts. He even took to glueing the fairing screen on instead of using bolts to reduce the turbulence their heads created. I believe he's currently working on making it a 750 but gets easliy distracted away from it with paying jobs.
This one is the bike Roger was competeing against, Bob Heath's Seeley Mk2 replica G50. Ironically Roger made the extra lightweight frame for it. This bike is the reason some classic race series now have minimum weight limits. The story goes that Dick Hunt offered to make Bob Heath some magnesium fork yokes to make him quit drilling holes in the ally ones. It held the classic Manx Grand Prix lap record for many years ( at 108mph I think)
There was a nice story and interview on Mooneyes Cooper in Classic Bike several years ago.
The Yamsel was actually his idea and it was raced in 1970. In 1969 Cooper had the Seeley Mk3 AJS7r single that handled like a dream but was slow, and he says because the Yamaha 350 two-stroke that he wanted was not available in the U.K. then, he had to have Barry Briggs bring one over that year from the USA. which was fast but did not handle so well and he crashed it at Cadwell that year. So he came up with the idea to put the Yamaha two-stroker into the Seeley frame.
Seeley only supplied a couple of bent up down tubes and Cooper and a guy named Ron Herring built the bike up. He lost the first race with it because he had the wrong gearing, but then got a close-ratio box for it and won his next 39 races, Wow! The Yamsel weighed 240lbs wet and had 54 horsepower.
The 1997 interview told that Cooper still had the "1970 Yamsel" and also his 500 Seeley-Matchless, which is "the second ever built and the most original in existence".
Sadly I heard that a few years ago Cooper had a break-in and someone stole a bunch of his old racing bikes, but I do not know the details. What a shame something like that has to happen.....
The Yamsel was actually his idea and it was raced in 1970. In 1969 Cooper had the Seeley Mk3 AJS7r single that handled like a dream but was slow, and he says because the Yamaha 350 two-stroke that he wanted was not available in the U.K. then, he had to have Barry Briggs bring one over that year from the USA. which was fast but did not handle so well and he crashed it at Cadwell that year. So he came up with the idea to put the Yamaha two-stroker into the Seeley frame.
Seeley only supplied a couple of bent up down tubes and Cooper and a guy named Ron Herring built the bike up. He lost the first race with it because he had the wrong gearing, but then got a close-ratio box for it and won his next 39 races, Wow! The Yamsel weighed 240lbs wet and had 54 horsepower.
The 1997 interview told that Cooper still had the "1970 Yamsel" and also his 500 Seeley-Matchless, which is "the second ever built and the most original in existence".
Sadly I heard that a few years ago Cooper had a break-in and someone stole a bunch of his old racing bikes, but I do not know the details. What a shame something like that has to happen.....
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This is a pic of my seeley, note the rear shock mounts they are mounted into the frame ,not bolted to outside of the frame.?
Chris
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Hi all
Just thought I would mention that as Seeley920 said the picture from Beng of the Seeley with the orange exhaust is a Jim Lee frame. Jim built frames & his rider (in the photo) was none other than Mick Grant. I have to say a few words in support of Jim Lee, as I am the proud owner of one of his frames.
I was not allowed to race it with the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club at the time as I could not prove it was raced prior to 1973. Jim was amazingly helpfull. He told me that they never numbered frames as they were too busy going racing. Building & racing bikes & all that in tales. He never thought that people would be asking questions about them 25 years later. They were just racing!!! Micks helmet logo is JL he raced with it for his whole career IOM TT Works Kawazaki works Suzuki Works Honda GP oval piston NR500.
Jim said he would ask Grantie about my frames history. Mine was built for Crooks Suzuki. Eddie Crooks was a sponsored Seeley Team
But he could not get enough equipement from Colin so he commisioned my frame for Stan Woods to ride. It was withdrawn with a crank problem!!! (not) After Colin had seen it!! The next season Eddie ran 250 350 500 Seeley Suzuki's & Seeley Commandos. I am only missing the name of the man who brought the Suzuki T500 engine bike at the 72 TT & fitted it with an 8 valve Rickman T120 Bonnie engine for F750. It turned up at Steve Wynnes (Hailwood Ducati fame) shop but he cant remember who he brought it from.
ps a lovelly fella (Seeley 920 will laugh at that) within our club brought a Goldie a few years ago, & was asked by the seller if he would like the scabby frame with the orange exhaust as well?
It is going to be resurrected soon.
all the best Chris
Just thought I would mention that as Seeley920 said the picture from Beng of the Seeley with the orange exhaust is a Jim Lee frame. Jim built frames & his rider (in the photo) was none other than Mick Grant. I have to say a few words in support of Jim Lee, as I am the proud owner of one of his frames.
I was not allowed to race it with the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club at the time as I could not prove it was raced prior to 1973. Jim was amazingly helpfull. He told me that they never numbered frames as they were too busy going racing. Building & racing bikes & all that in tales. He never thought that people would be asking questions about them 25 years later. They were just racing!!! Micks helmet logo is JL he raced with it for his whole career IOM TT Works Kawazaki works Suzuki Works Honda GP oval piston NR500.
Jim said he would ask Grantie about my frames history. Mine was built for Crooks Suzuki. Eddie Crooks was a sponsored Seeley Team
But he could not get enough equipement from Colin so he commisioned my frame for Stan Woods to ride. It was withdrawn with a crank problem!!! (not) After Colin had seen it!! The next season Eddie ran 250 350 500 Seeley Suzuki's & Seeley Commandos. I am only missing the name of the man who brought the Suzuki T500 engine bike at the 72 TT & fitted it with an 8 valve Rickman T120 Bonnie engine for F750. It turned up at Steve Wynnes (Hailwood Ducati fame) shop but he cant remember who he brought it from.ps a lovelly fella (Seeley 920 will laugh at that) within our club brought a Goldie a few years ago, & was asked by the seller if he would like the scabby frame with the orange exhaust as well?
It is going to be resurrected soon.
all the best Chris
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Next Questions:
I have seen several examples of a Seeley single disk front end but were there any Seeley dual disk front ends?
Did Seeley really go into the manufacture of forks or was this a third party arrangement for Seeley?
I have seen several examples of a Seeley single disk front end but were there any Seeley dual disk front ends?
Did Seeley really go into the manufacture of forks or was this a third party arrangement for Seeley?
lcrken
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I think I've posted these pictures somewhere on this site before, but can't seem to find them. In any case, this seems like a good thread for them. These are shots of the Caffrey Vendetta Seeley style frame that John built for Martin Adams back in the early '80s. The one with the fairing removed was taken outside my house, and the other two are from Daytona 1987. The rider was Paul Lewis, aka The Angry Ant. The engine is an 872 Commando with lots of trick stuff.
Ken
Ken
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I believe the original forks used on Seeleys were made by Metal Profiles.
About the Yamsels. There is one here in Australia, still in Albury but never raced. It was extremely competitive in A grade races in the early 70s. It had a TR3 motor, with another with the gear box removed, welded on top so that both cranks engaged the clutch.
Love that Seeley Weslake, every boy should have one. Why has it got lights ?
About the Yamsels. There is one here in Australia, still in Albury but never raced. It was extremely competitive in A grade races in the early 70s. It had a TR3 motor, with another with the gear box removed, welded on top so that both cranks engaged the clutch.
Love that Seeley Weslake, every boy should have one. Why has it got lights ?
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hobot said:Modified Seeley BSA racer These two shots are of a MK3 Seeley chassis with a BSA Goldstar engine and Quaife 6 speed transmission. My friend Craig did the basic engine installation, and then I did a lot of the detail work, including the extra frame bracing. The bike's owner said the bracing firmed up the handling noticeably
There was a really fast A grader used to ride a Seeley G50, told me that he felt the Mk 3 was wandering in the front end. I use a single gusseted piece of chrome moly pushbike tube in the front of mine, and it always feels positive and nimble.
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Hi Steve , I had the figure once, but forgot it ( age ?) , but nearly the same as the Commando which is a light frame as you know it....but as it got less ancillaries (isolastic,z plates,and so on ...) the final is far less heavier, including most people fit alloy jugs, belt drive , alloy rims, alloy tanks..........
grandpaul
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One more interesting tidbit for those who are offended by certain racing organization's view of history - AHRMA doesn't necessarily limit bikes to '72 and older, they can be newer as long as they are "like design".
AHRMA's policy is that the RACERS police themselves when it comes to class compliance. Round up 100 old guys that want to race their homebrews and ask them to rule out other competitor's bikes that they believe aren't "like designs", or otherwise don't conform to the exact "letter of the law". I believe there's a fella that's been posting in this thread that might make a few "friends" in a big hurry.
AHRMA's policy is that the RACERS police themselves when it comes to class compliance. Round up 100 old guys that want to race their homebrews and ask them to rule out other competitor's bikes that they believe aren't "like designs", or otherwise don't conform to the exact "letter of the law". I believe there's a fella that's been posting in this thread that might make a few "friends" in a big hurry.
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Ugh, Martin I mean how much do these Seeley's weigh by themselves. I keep seeing claims a big Seeley advantage is weight savings over the iso frame so would like to know how much they weigh as I know what Combat frames weigh. Of course a solid frame will handle better than un-tamed isolastics but the fastest bikes in the world now make frames flex for side loads on purpose, so maybe Seeley ain't all that better that way either. Do the Seeley flex detectability?
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grandpaul said:
Although grandpaul may be a member of AHRMA, I want it to be clear that grandpaul does not speak for nor does he represent AHRMA.
