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First time Ton


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#1 OSW

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 11:54

Do you remember the first time you did a ton? I do, it was in 1969 and I had a t100ss and my mate had a Norton Dominator. We decided to swap bikes and I could not wait to get on the Norton. With only googles and whit silk scarfs as head protection we set off and my last words to my mate was don't thrash it and with that we set off. It was on the A539 Wrexham to Llangollen road with good long straights.

 

All went okay for the first few miles as we set of with a sedately pace with me in front but not for long as we hit the first long straight. Our speeds crept up to 70, then eighty which I held it for then my mate sped past me. By now my scarf had slipped down and I was gulping in air and my cheeks slapping; I can only guess I looked like a dog does when they stick their heads out of the window. Looking down at the speedo it was clocking 90,95 and soon after the magic ton. Then we had to quickly slow down for the corner. We drew alongside each other and give the thumbs up amidst a lot of whooping.

 

Arriving at Llangollen the euphoria was still there, what a feeling. By the way we were 16.



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#2 Paul Collins

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 15:37

I never had a big enough road bike to hit the ton, but I clearly remember the first time down Park Straight on my maiden practice day at Cadwell Park when I unleashed my TD1C and nearly filled my pants!!

I probably hit around 115mph, but after a year on my Malaguti moped it felt like I was strapped to a rocket.

#3 OSW

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 15:58

Hi Paul, very funny. You never forget moments like that.

:clap: :clap:



#4 tonyed

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 16:58

I had 650 T110 which was my first road bike capable of the ton - don't know really when I might have hit 100 mph because the handling at that sort of speed was not rock steady. However the Babraham Road down into Cambridge afforded a downhill run over the Gogs past the Grapes pub and was probably the first time I hit 100 mph.

 

I do remember after one IOM MGP we had been riding in we were all at Waterbeach where the Newmarket Club were holding a race meeting. We were chatting with a Sarf Effrican rider of some note, at the time, who inquired of us (in his Sarf Effrican drawl) 'Have any of you boys clocked the ton yet?'.Meaning of course a 100mph Manx lap.

 

I think this was late 1975 as I had my 250 TD2B at the time. Sadly not many of use, if fact to be precise, none of us could answer 'Yes'. :cry:

 

But to be fair a Manx ton on a TD2B was a rare event even in the TT of the time. :eek:

 

Anyway that's my ton-up story. :wave:



#5 kevins

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 17:37

I don't recall the exact date or where, but for me it would have been on my RD350 YPVS in about '84, having moved up from an RD125 LC (yes, a Yamaha fan!)



#6 OSW

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 18:01

I must admit that back in the sixties and seventies the speedos were never really reliable as they bounced and fluttered back and forth. We were also going downhill, lol.



#7 ERIC63

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 22:15

It was about 1969 for me as well.At the time I'd only ridden British 250's so I'd probably never done more than about 70-75mph.

Then a mate bought a Bonnie so we decided to give it a blast down the M6 from Preston.Although I was only on the back it was an experience I won't forget.



#8 Paul Collins

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Posted 01 December 2015 - 23:29

But to be fair a Manx ton on a TD2B was a rare event even in the TT of the time. :eek:


Probably not very many at all Tony, I just tried to do a quick bit of research but couldn't find much info, I did see that Read averaged 98 mph in 1971 so probably did a ton on one of his laps, but the TD2B was only around for a short time (one season?) before the top boys moved onto a TD3, so I'm guessing very few lapped at 100mph on one.

Off topic I know, but it Would be an interesting bit of research for someone who has the time to dig out the stats.

#9 khsuzukitr500

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Posted 03 December 2015 - 22:46

My first ton was on a AJS CSR 650 which was quite a fast bike which that equal to the Triumphs and B.S.A,. but not so popular due to the very delicate crankshafts and cam followers. On one particular occasion a non believer Triumph owner was on pillion with me carrying a bucket and spade which we were going to use for storing our fishing bait, eventually he had to concede that the bike was capable of the ton . At the time of showing in excess of the ton the bucket was scraping the road as we were taking a fast bend on Jersey Marine a notorious bike flat out area at the time. Mad Days Eh!   



#10 Russell Burrows

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Posted 04 December 2015 - 14:30

Head down, arse up, when downhill (approaching the Spit Bridge in Sydney) on a CB 350 Honda - at least that's what the speedo said.  



#11 exclubracer

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Posted 04 December 2015 - 21:39

Head down, arse up, when downhill (approaching the Spit Bridge in Sydney) on a CB 350 Honda - at least that's what the speedo said.  

I had the same experience Russell, but on a Suzuki Super 6 in '68, they were heralded as the ultimate Brit bike beater and 100mph on the clock was achievable BUT the brain, such as it was, registered about 90 when it ran out of puff.

 

On another tack I had an RSV MIlle in '06 and decided to give it a maximum thrash down the M6 from Lancaster one (very early) fine summer Sunday a.m. and achieved a digital speedo reading of (ahem) past Forton services. When I took it to the Rocket Centre at Blackburn to sort a minor electrical issue the service manager told me that he'd erased the speedo memory 'so I wouldn't have any sh*t from the police if they downloaded it'. News to me that they could do that.


Edited by exclubracer, 09 December 2015 - 01:08.


#12 tonyed

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Posted 05 December 2015 - 05:56

When I took it to the Rocket Centre at Blackburn to sort a minor electrical issue the service manager told me that he'd erased the speedo memory 'so I wouldn't have any sh*t from the police if they downloaded it'. News to me that they could do that.

One great advantage my T110 had over the RSV Mille - the speedo had no memory - the marvels of chronometric unit  :smoking:



#13 billlawrence

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Posted 07 December 2015 - 04:51

lMY chance came up at Keppel Gate in 1965. I was spectating at a TT  practise just before roads close a Manx copper rode up on his Triumph (his own not a police bike ) complete with his police tunic and white wooden top  helmet I was on my new YDS 2 Yamaha 250 not too many around then so we got talking about the Yam so we agreed to swap bikes to ride down to the Craig after practice .This was my chance to do the ton as the Yamaha wouldn't do much more than 85 mph so off we went    I did see 100 on the speedo but I will never forget the sight of the copper tunic flapping white helmet bouncing flat on the tank we stoped at the Craig he was very keen to ride the Yam a bit more so we rode back to Douglas come to think about it the Yam did keep up with the Triumph so maybe I didn't do the ton that day . By the way I have just came back from a ride on my GSX Suzuki 1400 a ton is nothing on that  .   Bill Lawrence



#14 tonyed

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Posted 07 December 2015 - 06:09

lMY chance came up at Keppel Gate in 1965. I was spectating at a TT  practise just before roads close a Manx copper rode up on his Triumph (his own not a police bike ) complete with his police tunic and white wooden top  helmet I was on my new YDS 2 Yamaha 250 not too many around then so we got talking about the Yam so we agreed to swap bikes to ride down to the Craig after practice .This was my chance to do the ton as the Yamaha wouldn't do much more than 85 mph so off we went    I did see 100 on the speedo but I will never forget the sight of the copper tunic flapping white helmet bouncing flat on the tank we stoped at the Craig he was very keen to ride the Yam a bit more so we rode back to Douglas come to think about it the Yam did keep up with the Triumph so maybe I didn't do the ton that day . By the way I have just came back from a ride on my GSX Suzuki 1400 a ton is nothing on that  .   Bill Lawrence

Don't tell me me promptly booked you for speeding saying

 

'Who do you think you are sonny, bleedin' Mike Hailwood?' :cry:


Edited by tonyed, 07 December 2015 - 06:11.


#15 Stinky

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Posted 07 December 2015 - 06:41

Hey Russell;

There must have been a couple of big dents in the tank to attempt that on Spit Road!!! :rotfl:

What with the traffic it carries along there not counting the diesel spilt from the buses..

A VERY young lad I would expect with an above average set of Kahunas!! :clap:

Imagine the results of a miscue.

Straight through the Sixteen Footer Club and into Middle Harbour with the Noahs Arks. :p :p :eek:

Cheers.

Roger. :up:



#16 billlawrence

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Posted 07 December 2015 - 07:11

No Tony got transported to Australia still here in Perth   Bill Lawrence 



#17 Russell Burrows

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Posted 07 December 2015 - 17:47

Hey Russell;

There must have been a couple of big dents in the tank to attempt that on Spit Road!!! :rotfl:

What with the traffic it carries along there not counting the diesel spilt from the buses..

A VERY young lad I would expect with an above average set of Kahunas!! :clap:

Imagine the results of a miscue.

Straight through the Sixteen Footer Club and into Middle Harbour with the Noahs Arks. :p :p :eek:

Cheers.

Roger. :up:

Yeah, a spotty youth, probably helmetless too.   You've got me thinking - maybe it was the Roseville Bridge.  I know it was at night and I was thrashing the guts out of a Bennett Honda demonstrator.



#18 Pat Clarke

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Posted 09 December 2015 - 11:58

On a Kawasaki H1 triple at a secret location in Western Sydney (near where the Olympic Aquatics were held). I think it was over 100, but to be honest, I was too bloody busy to look !   ;)

 

Pat