General Category => Introductions => Topic started by: KICKSTART on March 25, 2014, 09:13:45 AM
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Hello all, I am John and new to the board. I started riding my 1957 Simplex Automatic in December of 1956. I have ridden bikes all my life, on and off road. I still have my 57 and a 58 Sportsman that I got about a year ago. It is good to see so much interest in these old machines. Thanks for letting me join in the discussions.
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Welcome John . :)
Sweet Sportsman , for sure .
Pete . :)
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Thanks, I am very proud of this one. I have started on my original 1957 Auto but have not had much time to do so. It is solid black.
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You being the original owner , I'd be interested in reading your story and that of the '57 .
Pete . :)
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John, welcome aboard. What are the engine and frame numbers on the sportsman? We do not have many in the registry and we are trying to get closer on the years. I think your bike is likely a 1959 or 1960 Sportsman, as the 1958 had the earlier regular style fenders and wheels. I am currently restoring a 1960 Sportsman that has the chrome fenders, wheels and head light.
Here are pictures of a 1958 style sportsman.
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John, please post more photos of the sportsman! What size are the tires? What brand? Thanks!
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Thanks for the replies guys. The tires are 27 x 3.50 Simplex Ballon. The engine number is M24941B, not sure where the frame number is and the title is at home.
It is titled as a 1958 model. I shot a couple of pics as well and will post them shortly.
I received the 1957 Automatic for Christmas in 1956 from my grand father. I worked for him on his farm without pay of course. I was 11 years old. We went, and I picked it out at a Montgomery Wards store. I rode it almost 7 years until I was able to buy a used car. I still have the title and original sales slip. It stopped running when the small cam that opens the points broke. I have since lost the flywheel cover.
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Frame number is under the neck. I am guessing the frame number is around 17500.
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Thanks, will check out the neck for number.
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Yes, found it, 17952
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John ,
Pretty cool of your gramps to have bought you that Simplex .
If you went to a Nova 2 ignition box , you wouldn't have to have that point cam .
Something to consider ...
Pete . :)
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Thanks Pete, I will keep that in mind, although I am a long way from that part. I have 4 siblings and my folks just did not have money to spare for that kind of purchase. He was a great guy to all of us.
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Hi Kickstart,
Where in Texas are you?
Cheers
Stafford
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North of you along the Red River. I can smell Oklahoma from here. lol
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Had in-laws that lived in Hugo Ok. Just north of Paris Tx.
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I am about 100 miles west of there.
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Yes, found it, 17952
Wow, mine is 17956! I think both of ours are actually 1960 models, but I am not positive. Check out my build thread in the restoration section.
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Rick, please let me know what you find out on the frame numbers.
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We may never know. There is no factory documentation. The best we can do is narrow down the years by changes that people have observed over the years. The last model that has ever been documented was frame number 18186. We know that Simplex ceased production of these bikes in 1960 and they were only building a dozen or two a month at the end.
Since our numbers are within 250 of the last one built, that means very late 1959 or early 1960 to me. I will register mine as a 1960, unless someone can convince me otherwise.
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I will grab my title tonight and see what it says and post. Thanks, John
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Welcome Kickstart, lots of valuable info on this forum, keep us posted on the progress.
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I think it's disgusting that you still have that bike and the paperwork after all these years......I am so jealous!!!
Let us know the frame & motor number from the 56 bike too. Does it have the brake lite switch on the top of the rear lower bar, or on bottom?
That Sportsman is a knockout. I can't believe so many have come up on our site this past year.
Send me a PM with your last name & I'll get both bikes into the registry.
Mike Sal
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Will do Mike, and I have another frame, tank, and set of wheels. I will see what the frame number of that one is as well. I have this one and the 1957 in storage and will try to go by there this weekend and get those numbers.
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Is the flywheel cover on the sportsman a stamped piece or is it cast brass?
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stamped aluminum
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stamped aluminum
So, yours is just painted? I have an aluminum reproduction, but I also have a cast brass one. I am not sure if the Brass was factory or not?
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As memory serves, it was just aluminum without paint. The brass one I have only seen on a Sportsman. I could be wrong about all this.
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As memory serves, it was just aluminum without paint. The brass one I have only seen on a Sportsman. I could be wrong about all this.
I was asking about the one on the sportsman.
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Sorry, misunderstood the question. Brass on the Sportsman, at least when I got it.
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Sorry, misunderstood the question. Brass on the Sportsman, at least when I got it.
Is it a stamped piece or cast? I have a cast Brass one that was powder coated black, but I am not sure if it is original.
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Rick, I would say it is stamped.
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Rick, I would say it is stamped.
Thanks!
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I ment to get by the storage and see what the frame numbers were on the 1957 and the other frame but am doing a house remodel in my "SPARE" time so did not go. I will make an effort this week and post them.
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Well here's something for the Texas bunch if you got a few minutes this weekend. Its a antique motorcycle event in Smithville Tx. great little show to see some great bikes. I will not be able to go this year but went last year and wished I had more to show. Here's a link to the flyer I hope: http://www.cherokeeamca.org/images/events/smithville2014_final2_1374465108_5127.pdf
http://www.cherokeeamca.org/events.html
Also if you take a simplex you will hear tons of stories of people who had one back in the day. ::)