Hi all

Whilst i anxiously wait for delivery of my M20 i have been looking for military manuals or videos on how the military gave instruction for the operation and maintenance of the bikes. Can any one point me in the right direction please.

Thanks

Ant

email (option): antkenmare@gmail.com

Well you could start with the technical section of this web site.

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au

Hi Trevor

Yep, im working my way through that lot,i was just trying to find out what instruction / level of training your average ww2 dispatch rider was given before going into battle.

Cheers

Ant

email (option): antkenmare@gmail.com

There is a lengthy B&W training video that quite a lot us have got, after we copied a batch onto DVD. I don't know if anyone still has any for sale or could copy some more? (Horror?). It's fabulous stuff. From memory it's about 1 1/2 hours of motorcycle traning and maintenance and the same again on vehicles, and all narrated by Cholmondley-Warner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gou1cspUfdY

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

The typical army motorcyclist (the majority weren't Royal Signals despatch riders) varied through the conflict.

Initially, most were enthusiastic motorcyclists, used to doing their own maintenance. They were the 'clubmen' of the 1930s recruited via the schemes in 'Motor-Cycle' and 'Motor-Cycling' and this intake included many of the top road-racers and trials men who went on to form the basis of the instructors in the D&M Schools.

As the war went on, the new, younger recruits often had no previous experience and had to be taken from the basics but this was a major problem with all aspects of Motor Transport. Few had ever driven a car.

The training film that Ron mentions probably gives a good impression of how the courses were structured.

also see this youtube movie:

https://youtu.be/ZSb-K2LipRo

email (option): mr.bighealey@hotmail.com

Thanks very much guys - thats great 😎

This is the first part of the one and half hours of instructional DR second world war video, probably up at Catterick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z23hqSyOEi4
Since it exclusively shows Norton 16Hs, it's probable that no one on this BSA based forum could stomach giving you the direct link. Also some of the manoeuvres shown would be quite a lot more difficult on the M20...