Newby with G5 1960

active997 · Post by **active997** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:17 pm

Hi Dean,
Thanks:)
The engine turns over easily with the kickstart. I didnt got it running yet because i need to clean the tank inside. Dean can you please confirm me if the frame is G5?
And NOT g2 with 350cc engine?

cbranni · Post by **cbranni** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:21 pm

Yes Ken there does seem to an abundance of lightweights of late, quite a few on ebay some quite tidy, some down right rubbish, and there is one that is so ugly that I can't look at it. Maybe the lightweights are trying to take over the world

itma · Post by **itma** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:35 pm

I reckon the bleddy chinese are making them.....

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 8:23 pm

quote:
I reckon the bleddy chinese are making them.....

Probably from all the nicked scrap.

RAY BOWMAN · Post by **RAY BOWMAN** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 8:48 pm

Why does the Lightweight get such a bad press
I have no problems with mine. Perhaps some
members just cannot handle them?.

G15 Roy · Post by **G15 Roy** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:14 pm

And changing hands for good money maybe now it the time to buy.

itma · Post by **itma** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:23 pm

we've been over lightweight bad press so many times.
They are like Staffordshire terriers, they get a bad name because of their owners.

They are not inherently bad, although much of them such as the frame and Francis Barnett bits are cost cutting mistakes.
They suffered from heavy handed ignorant owners; never designed for learners the 250's were just too delicate in some areas, let down by poor electrics.

When you could get a 'proper' 350 g3ls for under tenner no one wanted a G5 which suffered from the reputation of the 250.

They needed a mature owner, instead they got tearaways and later on cheapskates who coming in at the end of the brit bike era believed they could maintain them on pocket money and a tube of red hermetite.

I always thought the later CSR versions a good looking little bike, and I wish I had bought one instead of a 250 Royal Enfield but they came in too late; the 350 makes a sweet bike but who'd choose one over a heavyweight 350? there isn't much to chose weight wise, nor in starting ease.

They can also be a pig to work on, especuially the frame parts; at Matchles s I was shown a large spoon shaped object made from a lorry half shaft, that was used to spread the frames to get the back mudguard in; if those that assembled them regarded them as a joke, poor things don't stand a chance.

However lots have loved them, perhaps someone could send you the scans of "The Land beyond the Ridge" I gave out a couple years ago.?
Edited by - itma on 05 Jun 2012 8:57:55 PM

G15 Roy · Post by **G15 Roy** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:31 pm

quote: The Land beyond the Ridge" I gave out a couple years ago.?

The book is fetching £100.00 plus if you can find one.

itma · Post by **itma** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:57 pm

free copy fom itma, but I have to send one page at a time as its scanned not pdf.

which is a pain

and sometimes I just can't be arsed.

you have to get me on a good day

G15 Roy · Post by **G15 Roy** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:01 pm

No need I have one.