Commuting on a Benly

[ByTheLake]

My morning destination was the General Motor Technical Center in Warren, MI. The weather was cool and clear, with no rain in the forecast, so a 2-wheeled commute was certain. My Triumph triple gets most of the motorbike miles, but today, with 540 miles on the clock since the restoration was completed 10 months ago, I selected the '65 Benly.

The Benly has been running great, and just had its chain lubed and tightened. At a red light, a rather toothless fellow in a rusty pickup truck found the Benly somewhat amusing, telling me that I looked like Elvis on the bike. Elvis? On a Benly 150? I must have missed that movie. A few miles later, an elderly gent on a massive electric orange Honda Goldwing 1800 gave me a smile and a nod.

Reaching my destination, I signaled my left turn by switching the right-hand turn signal switch down for left. It still takes a little concentration for me to operate the turn signals with my right hand, being much more accustomed to the Triumph's more standard left hand switch gear.

Once inside the tech center, I rode around for a few minutes, taking a few pictures before entering the office. The Benly can still provide a fun, comfortable commute.

http://www.forths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_20130726_082105_903.jpg
The Benly outside the GM Design Dome, where new vehicle designs are shown to executives and the media

http://www.forths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_20130726_082048_387.jpg
Along the water tower and lake across from the Design Center

http://www.forths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_20130726_080936_698.jpg
The Benly along side a fleet of new Chevy Sparks

http://www.forths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_20130726_081217_193.jpg
The Benly outside the Vehicle Engineering Center (VEC)

[Larzfromarz]

Awesome story...
The rest I should have kept to my self.
My apologies to the group if you read the deleted portion of this post.

[Spokes]

BTL, what a great ride & pics! I lived in the Grand Rapids area (Grandville) and later in downriver Detroit for years. I worked for a chemical supplier in technical service role(chemicals)for Ford, GM and a host of satellite suppliers building parts from hinges to manifolds for the automotive industry.

Larz. The death of our automotive industry came from the advances of globalization. Once our government allowed foreign products to be sold in our country at less cost then we could produce them at, we lost our edge. Then, when the wholesale selling of US companies to foreign investors was allowed we were screwed. Henry Ford is rolling in his grave knowing the Russians own the steel plant on the Ford Dearborn property. (The Rouge) Then the EPA government evolved and we crashed under their rule.

To the common observer, your observation is par. The truth of the matter is buried...except for a few of us.

Now back to bikes...

[ByTheLake]

A bit off topic, but today the '65 Honda Super Cub got its first miles in a few years. Last night I installed a new .50 mm oversize piston and rings, letting the machine shop handle the cylinder boring and honing. Compression had been on the low side, and the cylinder was measuring a bit out of spec, so I grabbed a NOS piston, rings, and did a valve lapping job while the head was apart.

The Cub starts and idles like a champ now. 50cc and a 3 speed transmission won't get you anyplace very quickly, but it's still fun. I decided to take a quick run to Butch's Marina, about a mile from the house. I heard a voice yell "hey, stop", so I did. A middle aged man approached me to talk about the Cub, and to tell me that he has 7 of them. 7? Who needs seven 50cc motorcycles? I'm quite content with having just one. He looked the bike over, being quite familiar with the machine, and we exchanged some small talk before I rode off.

http://www.forths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bf_IMG_20130728_160739_304.jpg

The Cub has that weird heel-toe shifter, and the odd "1-N-2-3" shift pattern, where neutral is a full click up from first, not just a half click. That means you have to up-shift twice to go from first to second gear. There's also no manual clutch to operate. There's a centrifugal clutch combined with regular clutch plates, so you simply shift the gears as you ride, letting off the throttle a bit as you shift.

http://www.forths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bf_IMG_20130728_161025_856.jpg

http://www.forths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bf_IMG_20130728_161108_003.jpg

[Larzfromarz]

Well done Kev...and more pics By The Lake.

[Sam Green]

Great write up and even better pictures Kev, you should be a photographer.:D

[ByTheLake]

Too funny, Sam. These are all pictures taken with my phone.

[Steverinomeiste]

I am an Oregonian so I live as far from the center of American Automotive Industry as possible but I have always been fascinated by it. Seeing these pictures, especially the Design Dome makes me feel as if I am looking into the future. What beautiful design! I've spent many hours listening to Michigan State Universities Oral Histories of the Fisher Body Plant compiled by the Fisher Body Historical Team. The team is made up of longtime employees of the now closed plant. Listening to these people talk about a place they spent their lives building Americas great cars is fascinating to me. My current car project is a 59 Buick Convertible that I believe was built in the Fisher Body Plant.

[Spokes]

I couldn't resist. My father, 1954, Ford Dearborn(The Rouge) marveling over the new overhead valve V8 with his engineering students...1954
http://www.fourwheelforum.com/picture.php?albumid=90&pictureid=1058

He's the guy with the hat.

[Steverinomeiste]

I am Standing Among Giants.

[Spokes]

No..at least not me. Just a "spoke" in the big wheel....

[ByTheLake]

I am Standing Among Giants.Yeah, giants are known to ride Benlys. :D

[Foamy]

The guy closest to the camera looks like he's having a good old day-dream :-)

[VegeKev]

Yeah...obviously a Chev guy...
:)

[ByTheLake]

Spokes, the picture of your dad and his students is awesome. Thanks for sharing it.