Description
I need to clear out some bikes, too many bikes/ not enough time to ride them all/ not enough space... So it is with heavy heart, I have decided to sell my S8 and my S7 Deluxe
I have advertised the S7 Deluxe separately.
HHO 104 was registered on 19th July 1949. It's the 126th Sunbeam S8 to role off the line, a very early example indeed. It retains all of its original features, having never ever been restored.
I am the 4th owner (I still have the buff logbook) and purchased the bike from Patrick Pottinger on 12th February 2015. There is a documented session on here whereby I stripped the bike, careful not to replace any parts except those that needed replacing of course. I fitted new piston rings (Standard pistons were still fitted), a new timing chain, clutch, valves, and various other parts. The bike retains its original engine and gearbox, which is a rare find nowadays. It also retains the original rear lamp, which is extremely rare, as they were actually hopeless and most changed them to the later and functionally much better WIPAC unit that was fitted to most British bikes of that era.
I also re-wired the bike, fitting a solid state regulator and a twin spark coil for easy starting. The kick start quadrant (which can be a weak point on these bikes) was also replaced when I stripped the gearbox as it was showing signs of wear.
The bike starts/ stops and rides well for a bike of this age, and the patina it has collected over the years is remarkable. My wife asked me when I first got the bike if I was going to re spray it, my reply was simple, no. It's taken 77 years to look this good, and it can only be original once. The furthest i've ever ridden it is about 30 miles, Andy Westlake did a piece on the bike for The Classic Motorcycle magazine a few years back.
If you are looking for a shiny show bike then scroll on, it isn't this one. It looks, in my opinion, fabulous, and I know people who have actually paid good money to try to emulate this look, this has that patinated look in bucket loads.
I also have lots of old paperwork that will go with the bike, including a very rare Sunbeam brochure.
I will accept offers but will not undersell it. Sure, you can pick these up for 2 grand, and sure they look lovely. So if that's what you want, then buy one. This is a very different bike with history, that can't be painted on.
