HAS ANY ONE SEEN OR HEAR OF A SARACEN MOTOR CYCLE IT WAS MADE IN THE UK AND EXPORTED TO THE USA ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE WASSEL EARLY 70,S IT WAS FITTED WITH A SACH 125 GS ALLOY MOTOR ??????????????????????
e.mail. ndgreen1@aol.com
Max,
I have a Saracen. It is a Sachs powered machine. I believe mine is a 1969. Can I help you with more info???
Paul
HI PAUL
IS YOUR SARACEN A MOTO X OR TRIALS BIKE ? IF YOU HAVE A 69 MODEL IT WILL HAVE A IORN BARREL SACHS MOTOR I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME PIC,S IF POSS I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PURCHASE ONE BUT CANT FIND ONE HERE IN UK I WAS A WORKS RIDER FOR SARACEN M/X FROM 1969-1972 WHEN THE COMPANY WENT IN TO RECIVERSHIP AND CLOSED ANY INFO YOU HAVE WILL BE MOST INTERESTING e,mail ndgreen1@aol.com
Max,
The frame # is 6900969. It has an alloy topend. From what I have seen there really wasn't any difference it the MX and trials except for the footpeg location. My machine had the MX footpeg brackets on the frame under the engine, it also has the trials pegs mounted in some holes by the swingarm. I have numerous write ups on those machines that I will copy and send you if you like. The best write up is in "Classic British two-stroke Trials Bikes" by Don Morley. If you find that book buy it, it also has a great Wassell article. The Saracen is praised as one of the best small bore trials machines. They picture Jack Galloway and David Brand in the story, did you know them??
Paul
Email ISDT@nauticom.net
Paul do you have any idea what the value of a nice restored trials model is? I know of one for sale. Thanks
Dennis Jones
There is a guy out west who restores and rides Saracens. He had one for sale for $ 3,000.00 awhile back. They are quite rare and really sweet to ride. The nickel plated frame is light as a feather. The condition of the plating is a factor in the value.
Paul
HI DENNIS i would be greatfull for any informatoin on the wereabouts of a sarasen for sale mad max e,mail ndgreen1@aol.com
There is a great article on the Saracen bikes in Motorcycle Competion Vol2 by Ariel Publishing. The guy that imports Classic bike is St Louis has them for sale $22.00
I am also looking for Sprite, Wassel,Dalesman and Saracen bikes. I have vintage electric guitars to trade for bikes as well. The book I mentioned in the above post has a full color photo of the Saracen trial team on the cover and the article is 15 pages long with lots of grat photo's in a hardback book format. I think the US distributor is Classic Motorbooks in St. Louis MO.
Hey Desmond have you seen that there is a wasell / penton for sale on e,bay ??
Thanks for the info but I just bought two Tyran MX bikes. The MX version of the Penton trials bike. My wife has started to put a limit on all the junk I buy.
Could use any help with some photos. thanks LG
What are you working on Larry? Here is a picture of the one I have, I also have a fair amount of literature on them. There were around 300 produced.
(http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab270/kanur/IMG_0744.jpg)
Dennis Jones
Nice, Dennis. You must have been hiding that one. It looks sweet.
Lew Mayer
Old thread back from the dead. I purchased a Saracen trials gas tank many years ago. About 4 years ago a near complete roller minus the tank was for sale on Ebay for $99. Needless to say I bought it and an just getting to restoring the bike. The serial number is 00T00969. It is an early bike with an iron barrel motor. I can tell by the exhaust pipe that came with the bike which fits the 5 speed iron barrel. I have the stock bars too. I was working on it today as a matter of fact.
Question What tapered bearings fit the triple clamps?
Thanks Dennis, a 70 - 72 MX or enduro.
I have some tricks on cleaning up the nickel plated frame. I should have some special abrasive cloth that works wonders available soon. Good for Sprite, Rickman, Saracen, Cheny, Trackmaster bikes. I thought I was going to have to replate my bike but it looks great and not too much work.
Larry, non of the articles I have mention an MX version, just trials and a few enduros. That doesn't mean they didn't though. PM me your address and I'll send you copies.
Dennis Jones
desmond if you are going to M-O I can bring you copies. I would like to hear about your nickel clean up method. The bike pictured has had the frame painted but I have a spare frame that looks pretty good.
Dennis Jones
The write up on the Saracen in the spring of 1971 edition of Peterson's Motorcycle Sport Quarterly shows a 100cc Hodaka powered trials machine as well as the Sachs 125cc powered enduro and trials machines. Their is no mention of a MX model.
It states that the trials machine has a 52 inch wheelbase verses the enduro with 54 inches. Not sure where they made that difference in the wheelbase, possibly with the swingarm, if it did indeed exist. It states that they had 15 dealers at the time and were hoping to produce 1500 machines yearly.
Hope this helps...
Paul
Not going to make it to MO. Could you guys post frame numbers. I should have more info on pricing after a couple more experiments.I will post some pics if I could figure out how.
Interesting Saracen tidbits straight from the man. http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/forum/83-saracen/
I also have a roller enduro Saracen that I can measure and see where the difference, if any is.
Dennis Jones
Dennis,
Thanks for that link, lots of good info right from the man who designed and build the bikes...That is awesome.
Paul
My Saracen trials serial # is 696067 with a 52 1/2" wheelbase and the enduro is #6960105 with a 53" wheelbase.
Dennis Jones
Thanks Dennis Do you know the numbers if the steering head bearings. Much appreciated if you can get to them with out too much trouble. My bike is missing them
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/BobWardlow/312567_280645271947903_100000072974511_1204634_1958163147_n.jpg)
I give up! What is it?
Got any more pictures.
Dennis Jones
Desmond,
I sent you an email asking for some details on the polishing cloth. There are a couple of advancing projects in the garage that could use something beyond Scotchbrite, steel wool, and Mothers chrome polish.
(http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae59/CheneySachs/9-25-11003.jpg)
Dale Fisher
POG Membership
74 Berkshire 100
70 Six-Days 125
72 Jackpiner 175
Probably a dumb question, but I like to know stuff.
Why is the nickel plated frame on the Sarecen lighter than a regular painted frame?
Paul Danik mentioned the nickel plated frame being light as a feather. Not disagreeing, just want to know why.
I was wondering if anyone happens to have an ad or an article on a bike I believe only sold in Canada and the U.S. called the Sprite Avenger in Canada but called the "Challenger" here in the U.S.
Terry Faust from Gemini distributing in Van Couver Canada was the importer of and distributor for these 125cc Hodaka powered bikes. I have a very very low hour bike but cannot locate any information on them other than what little I can find on the web.
Thanks
Paul
Paul,
Attached is a link to a forum down-under. Mark Firkin (Firko) has been assembling information and perhaps can help.
http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=8321.0
Dale Fisher
POG Membership
74 Berkshire 100
70 Six-Days 125
72 Jackpiner 175
Here is the trick to polishing nickel frames
Start at 400 or 600 and work your way up
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Special_tools_for:_Nuts_and_saddles/3M_Flexible_Polishing_Papers.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=23603