Note all the interesting features on this ‘bitza’, more than your average speedsix though… Note the following-

-Export / S Deluxe type frame, note revised cable routing with single hole on drive side
-Airlite/ stainless or chromed?! Dunlop rim?? looks too shiny for alloy…
-Chrome plated front and rear forks, note spoke lock…
-I can put money on it that the rear carrier is chrome under that black paint?
-Notice the transfers have been applied much more centrally on the main beam, note this is often seen on works bikes.. S Speeds, Ken, has your Peter Lea not got transfers further down? The Marathon shows this too, and from memory was there a photo of your Lauterwasser Mk3 showing decals further down many years ago?
-Standard speedsix chainset,
-is there a damper on each side, or just on one?!
-Balilla levers etc etc..
-Balilla brake caliper on front

-and of course the front wheel looks straight from AM production… and of course the older gentleman he is talking about would have been the legendary JL himself.

Nice interesting bike, suspension looks smooth!

Tom

Hi Ken,

Ah yeah, I did notice that, forgot to mention it! Didn’t Pat’s bike have this originally? Good to see more of these bikes coming out of the woodwork… I will have more pics for you very soon… The export style frame seems to have been a fave for these specials, perhaps seen as a stronger bet?

Tom

These export type frames are very similar to moulton major frames and I noticed that Ken’s ex Peter Lea bike still has the dynamo cable hole on the short top tube and as Ken pointed out, the remains of a braze on underneath the L shaped lower rack mounting bracket.

The peter Lea bike is another of those delightful/quirky S unit/speedsix hybrids built around a Major frame….this was around 1970 and all the old speedsix frames had been used up?
Peter Lea wanted a swap for his S safari so the works had to adapt this frameset and paint it orange!

Notice this Benjamin bike is a ‘series 1′ S type seat tube, whereas the other sister bike was an edge brazed ‘series 2 ‘ style seat tube? My S stowaway is edge brazed series two, these frames are pretty damn strong, (the weak spot obviously being those dodgy stowaway joints!) I assume this Benjamin bike was his, and his son wanted one to match? Hence urging JL to build the bike Pat used to own?

Seems strange that most of the S bikes you see from 65 / 66 are all the ‘series 1′ style main frames; I guess left over tubing and possibly jigs if there were differences on that side of things meant that the S unit could have their own designated set up, whereas the factory in the grounds used the more up to date series 2 type tubing and edge brazing? Perhaps jigs and tools were sent down in 65 for the S unit to keep there?? Would this perhaps suggest why my S Stowaway is edge brazed and has a 6 digit number, just like Ian Wrights? Perhaps neat frames taken from mainstream production at that time??

Maybe I am talking garbage… the last 67 S brochure shows transverse seat tubes for both S stowaway and S safari… ties in nicely with JB’s S safari too?? I seem to recall that didn’t have a frame number, John?

Tom

Paste this in, should work OK!

Tom

Wow, that is interesting. There are a lot of unique features about that bike. I cant tell if the color is pale blue or pale gray!

Interesting what you say about packing crates, because I’ve thought the same thing! This is true. If you have ever tried to ship a Moulton with the long tail beam you will know, it’s almost impossible to get it packed in a box that will meet standard shipping dimensions without requiring over sized packaging fees. Some carriers won’t even handle it. I don’t know if this was the reason for the design… but I cant help to wonder if it played a part in the decision to use that frame style for export bikes.

Interesting how the cable routing holes on this bike both exit on the right. Must have GB Coureur rear brake?