Ive always wanted a WLA and I recently got the chance to buy a bike that had been off the road since 1986. It needs a fair bit of work and recommissioning but its all there.
Its a 1942 ex Canadian Army WLC45 750cc, built in 1942 and shipped over for the war, used in Normandy in 1944 where it was damaged, but I don't know how or who by. It was shipped back to the UK in 1946 and sold to Warrs in London, where it had a new engine fitted and was 'civilianised' and sold on. I don't know what happened to it between 1946 and 1966. A guy bought it in April 1966, put best part of 50000 miles on it until he was knocked off it in 1986, he repaired it and put it away, as he hurt his leg in the accident and couldn't kick it over. I bought it off him through word of mouth 3 weeks ago.
The fuel tanks had rusted out and the Linkert carb was gunged up. I bought a pair of new tanks and had the carb rebuilt. After 31 years sitting in a garage, 10 minutes of kicking and she started!
I couldn't work out why every time I tried to start the bike the engine would run away, until I realised it had a 'push' throttle! This is the most difficult thing ive ever ridden. Push throttle, hand gear change, foot clutch and left hand advance and retard twistgrip! Ive ordered a pull throttle conversion kit as to be frank, the push throttle thing is terrifying. It also has very little in the way of brakes of any kind.... I changed the seat to a tractor style one as the sofa that was on it was weird, and stripped off all the extra lights, crash bars etc. Motorcycle storehouse still stock just about everything for WLAs as there are loads still on the road in Holland.
Its a great piece of kit, especially once I can learn how to ride the bloody thing..... Ill upload some better pics once I get it working properly.
Its a 1942 ex Canadian Army WLC45 750cc, built in 1942 and shipped over for the war, used in Normandy in 1944 where it was damaged, but I don't know how or who by. It was shipped back to the UK in 1946 and sold to Warrs in London, where it had a new engine fitted and was 'civilianised' and sold on. I don't know what happened to it between 1946 and 1966. A guy bought it in April 1966, put best part of 50000 miles on it until he was knocked off it in 1986, he repaired it and put it away, as he hurt his leg in the accident and couldn't kick it over. I bought it off him through word of mouth 3 weeks ago.
The fuel tanks had rusted out and the Linkert carb was gunged up. I bought a pair of new tanks and had the carb rebuilt. After 31 years sitting in a garage, 10 minutes of kicking and she started!
I couldn't work out why every time I tried to start the bike the engine would run away, until I realised it had a 'push' throttle! This is the most difficult thing ive ever ridden. Push throttle, hand gear change, foot clutch and left hand advance and retard twistgrip! Ive ordered a pull throttle conversion kit as to be frank, the push throttle thing is terrifying. It also has very little in the way of brakes of any kind.... I changed the seat to a tractor style one as the sofa that was on it was weird, and stripped off all the extra lights, crash bars etc. Motorcycle storehouse still stock just about everything for WLAs as there are loads still on the road in Holland.
Its a great piece of kit, especially once I can learn how to ride the bloody thing..... Ill upload some better pics once I get it working properly.