Old Bike Australasia – July 21, 2019

OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA: 51

Around this time I had an opportunity to export a
motorcycle to New Zealand with a friends’ household
goods. I was married to a Kiwi and making annual
visits to New Zealand’s South Island with the
intention of retiring there. I needed an older
motorcycle in NZ to use during our annual visits. To
this day I cannot understand why I chose the Scott
over the other well tried machines in my collection,
the novelty factor perhaps. After registering the Scott
I started taking it on progressively longer runs to
build up confidence. The open roads of Southland
suited her down to the ground. However there were
always niggling little issues, she occasionally nipped
up but freed immediately, the engine seemed to be
labouring at times, gear changing became more
difficult on longer runs and one side of the Pilgrim
pump seemed to fill up.
Despite all these niggles, she was a joy to ride
when running well, the crisp acceleration and fine
handling added to the cheesy grin factor. Riding
around town became a bit easier but the 2 stroke’s
inherent dislike of small throttle openings and light
loads could make it challenging. I entered a couple

of local Vintage events with mixed results, one run

came to an abrupt stop when a piece of gravel broke

the very expensive German “Wiperman” Magneto

drive chain. On another run she won, Best Two

Stroke, Best Parallel Twin and Best British machine.

As the other issues were resolved gear changing

became an increasing frustration to smooth riding.

I finally took the gearbox apart to find the input

bush was spinning in the gearbox casing and the

bush was a close fit on the input shaft. The casing

hole was worn oval, so I skimmed it out to take an

oversize bush and gave the bush a good running

clearance on the input shaft. As soon as I had it back

together it felt so much better, the engine didn’t

seem to labour, it felt smoother and gear changing

improved. The next big run was the Southland

Arrowtown Rally; she was flying along until the

gear-change ratchet decided to come adrift

probably due to the previous gear

change difficulties.

I had always wanted to take

the Scott on the New Zealand

VCC National Motorcycle Rally

and signed up when it was announced it was being

held at Blenheim in 2019. The two day event had

4 different routes, of ascending complexity and

length, to match the needs of single speed pre WW1

machines through to the powerful machines from

the early ‘80s. I chose the medium route as it seemed

best suited to the Scott. The route included the

challenging 40-kilometre Queen Charlotte Drive to

Picton, a very winding scenic road fringed with native

bush. At the prize giving I was amazed to be awarded

the Glen Bull Memorial Trophy for best performance

by a 2 stroke.

So this is the story so far summing up all the

frustration and fun I have had with my Scott Flying

Squirrel, no doubt there will be further adventures

and challenges. Little did I think 45 years ago what

I was taking on and how my life would become

intertwined with the Scott. 

* Titch Allen founded the UK Vintage Motorcycle

Club in 1946. He wrote an excellent series of

Vintage Road Tests; he had a soft spot for

Scotts, OHV Nortons and Brough Superiors.

1946 SCOTT FLYING SQUIRREL