The job goes on of sorting out all my bits and pieces before I get rid of much of it, so I have to decide what I might need in the future...I've had a few surprises finding things such as an A7 SS head, rockerbox and crankcases and a complete early B33 engine that I'd completely forgotten about, as well as lots of other smaller parts....Amongst it I find I have most of the bits to put a B29/30 based engine together..I don't have the rest of the bike, (apart from a virtually perfect gearbox) and I'm not about to embark on a long search for the rest, which I might never find...
So, I have two choices..I can turn what I have into a tuned 600cc version of the engine and use it to power a road special (as yet not totally defined) that I am planning to build later..(However, that is going to require fairly irreversable alterations to the cylinder head)...Or, I can sell it all to B29(or B30) owners looking for parts/spares, which are very hard to find...
So what do you think?...Don't worry about its rarity and just use it to make an interesting 'special'?...or be concerned about its rarity and seek to pass it on....?..Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Yes, I would agree with that. A shame to use a rare engine that someone may need and is worth good money. There are lots of other engine around for a special.
A Norton twin perhaps 
email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk
I thought of a twin, but have decided I want to make my penultimate special a single, as it is what I am most familiar with and best known for...and of course, it will be based on a BSA of one type or another... Money is not really a consideration and I try generally not to let it influence my decisions about what I want to do with my bikes...For a while I did begin to think like that but 'nipped it in the bud', as money isn't the reason I like, own, or build old bikes..I don't really think about it vis a vis my hobby, beyond the practicalities of whether I can afford something or not..
Consequently, the decision I am trying to make is one of principle, not a financial one, and whether I should consider these parts as just the 'clay' of another project and acknowledge the fact they will bring additional interest to it..or...whether all rare/unusual parts such as these should be preserved for thier intended application...
At the moment I am undecided...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Then I guess it depends on the objective or use of the special. I know you're known for your BSA single work, and you've rebuilt lots of them, but sometimes it good to do something different.
I was very surprised to see a Norton twin special while browsing George Cohen's website. He did it for a change and it was quite refreshing to see instead of another Norton single. So maybe an A10 or A65 based special..? Food for thought 
email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk
Hi Ian,
Here's a nice special you could build with that engine-
or-
We are still thinking about building the G3 version over here and I know you had toyed with the Enfield/B30 variant.
The Ariel/Matchless is geting lonely!
Cheers, Mick.
email (option): mick@motorbikemike.org.uk
Thanks for the input Horror..I've had all sorts in the past, from a Greeves Oulton through Panther, Square four, Bonnevilles, A10s, a Scott, Nortons, a Rocket 3, Enfields, Jap bikes, Bultaco etc. etc. etc..over 300 bikes in total...I pretty much satisfied my desire for something 'different' during that process...In fact I chose to stop and 'specialise' in one thing...Saying that though, I did tick a previously empty 'box' when I bought the Sportster a couple of years back.....Now I've concluded very light weight is a huge virtue that has been forgotten in motorcycle design but with it, only moderate power is required for an exciting ride...say 40-45BHP will provide a virtually perfect bike for the twisty Devon roads that predominate in my area... and is pretty hard to catch!...That rules out all high powered, high weight, multi cylinder bikes from my calculations...This gives a clue to roughly the way my mind works these days..It belongs to a friend of mine and as such it naturally has some features I would change..Also, it has also been changed a lot since this photo was taken. At this stage I had some input to the build, I made the distributor and was involved in determining the specs of the engine etc.. 40-42BHP at the engine and doing the maximum with the minimum..It's road registered but has done sprinting and track days as well as providing fun out on the road and an ongoing developement project in the workshop....Ian 
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Ah yes, your mate Tim contacted me about something else and sent me some pictures of that bike. As you know, it's got an OHC Jawa top end with the BSA bottom now and I'm sure it flies
I can see you've got your sights set on a BSA OHV sprinter of some sort then, just in case you don't get 50bhp from the M20 sprinter
Good luck with whatever you decide... and we'll wait to see the result
email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk
Hi Horror...I have no idea at all what I'll get powerwise from the M20, but I'm sure it won't be anywhere near 50BHP.. ...The next bike will be very different to that though...I'm meeting a chap at Stafford who makes 1 off lightweight frames for various applications. What I'm after is a light swinging arm frame which I can fit some quality rear shocks on and a good set of tele forks..Something period(ish) like Metal Profiles...Then plenty of home machined/fabricated 1 off parts.
18" alloy rims, track/road compound tyres etc...No lights or anything else that isn't really needed but would add weight.etc.
It's coming together gradually in my 'minds eye'..When the pictures complete I'll be building to that template....It will be some time before I actually get started but I am already starting to collect parts...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Hi Michiel..As it happens I am soon to reassemble the gearbox after overhauling it...I have no plans to use it in another WD bike or a special though, so it may well end up being thrown to the sharks on e bay....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I have had a similar problem to Ian, I have built up a welth of spare parts over the last 25 years of building old bikes. I have some very nice parts but now knowing I will never get the parts to build an original bike from them, so what do i do sell them or build a special. I have not built a special since my trials M20 so here it is so far. Not everbodys cup of tea but a lot better thought out than the Bristol! Its small and light all british but the only bits BSA are the wheels.
I welcome your coments.
Tim
email (option): t.j.walker@btinternet.com
Hi Tim...That looks great...With the frame construction as it is the two makes that spring to mind are 30's Francis Barnett or Cotton...
Dislikes?..I'm not keen on the flat strip headlamp brackets and I would use either a smaller headlamp, or pull it in closer to the forks.(perhaps one with the switch on top)...or is it a 'hieght thing'?..Anyway, to my eye that area doesn't look quite right.
You might need a 'two bolt' mounting at the forks for the front brake torque arm as you appear to have it under compression...they are generally under tension to ensure nothing can move...
Small things though...overall it looks good and I can see a lot of work (and thought) has gone into it. It's really interesting to look at in detail..even at this stage....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I love it What is the engine..?
email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk
Yes...Details please Tim..there's nothing worse than half a story...
...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
My best guess is a James engine.
Yes ian and Cycle Fred,
The frame is 1929 Francis Barnett and the engine is a 1925 James 500cc. had the engine and James box for around 10 years, never found a James frame for it, so what do you do. I like specials so this is it. Thanks for your coments on the headlight brackets Ian, they are 1/8' x 3/4" strip. When i started to build the special i was not going to fit lights but i had this Lucas H52 headlight. The H52 is only a small headlight so it shows how small the bike is, when i took it off the workbench for the first time i could not belive how small it is. I never work on a bike on the floor has to be on the bench! I may change the brackets to tube latter on.
I did not use the James box as it's too large and has a large clutch so i have used a late 20s Sturmey close box and clutch, much smaller and stronger! The wheel hubs are BSA D7 type hubs with a larger 5/8"x1/4" sprocket to suit the Sturmey drive and 19" rims, better brakes then the Francis Barnett. Toolboxes are from eBay they are only small but look big on the bike.. Seat is a stock Mansfield, never found what it would have fitted. I love building things like this they attract so much attention ( if they look right). Attached pic show what I did with the forks (butchered to some but it's mine so what!) They are based on the late 20s Brooklands track forks as fitted to some Norton's. Just spent 5hr in a frozen garage making a oil tank for it, but i think it's worth it, but as i said not everyones cup of tea!
Thanks for the comments.
Sorry not much M related.
Tim W
email (option): t.j.walker@btinternet.com
I had a 1944 WM20 that nobody wanted to buy off me and an Indian Military Scout engine. So the basis for a special. I do love the freedom of not having to chase any form of specification for once. Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Hi Tim...Those FBs are small..it should go along nicely. Personally I like specials...they make a refreshing change from the restrictions of building catalogue specification bikes and it's always interesting to see what gets built...
This type of bike is actually far more difficult to get right than a special like the BSA that I posted a pic. of...The challenge is to put together a miscellaneous collection of parts that look like they COULD have been built by a factory at some particular point in history. So, the parts have to blend naturally together and also have the styling cues/colours etc. from the chosen period with nothing blatantly out of place...quite a challenge...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com