Moulton bike restoration?

[911hillclimber]

Anyone know of any pitfalls restoring one, ie parts availability etc
Thanks

[KS]

I know that in the past there was about one specialist who makes the rubber suspension components, but that may have changed by now.

My mum had a Moulton DeLuxe, and I always lusted after a Moulton Speed Six but at just under £30, I couldn't afford one...

Go to www.moultonbuzz.com (be warned, it's an old website and very clunky...)

[8bit-ash]

Which one have you got? I had a space frame APB but it was immensely heavy and I didn't get on with it so sold it fairly quickly. This was probably the heaviest and lowest spec they did mind you. An ex work mate restored a standard(i think), It was a lovely bike to ride once finished.

[911hillclimber]

Thank you both.
With my little Honda CB175 just about on the button, I'm hungry for something to do, but different.
Never restored a push bike before but was a MAD keen cyclist when young, even rode cyclocross for the school team (once) until a fellow team mate had an awful tumble. We both went on to Lambrettas, and both had awful tumbles on those...

You can get an ebay starter in straight condition for £50 or so, but would like to modify one very much along the lines of the picture above but with handlebars to suit my ancient frame.

Pointless fighting a restoration as the values of those faithfully done are way below the costs, but if you deviate, things get cheaper.

Will check that web site out Keith.

[theorangeperil]

Wow what an interesting guy and someone I knew nothing about! 101 years old and still going strong. Every day's a school day! Thanks Keith.

Dr Alex Moulton
[flickr]http://www.flickr.com/photos/worksmoulton/3695070931/[/flickr]

Alex Moulton was born in 1920, and grew up primarily in Bradford on Avon.

After school at Marlborough, he studied Engineering at King's College, Cambridge.

His studies were interrupted by World War 2, during which he worked at Bristol Engines.

After the war, Alex Moulton joined the family rubber firm Spencer Moulton, before returning to Cambridge to finish his Engineering Degree.

He subsequently worked with Alex Issigonis at BMC (British Motor Company) where they collaborated on the production of the Mini and other cars.

In the late 1950s he regained an interest in bicycles, and began research and development work into how it's design could be improved.

This work resulted in the production of the Moulton Bicycle in 1962. The Moulton Bicycle was a radical new design, and it was critically acclaimed, and commercially succesful.

The success of the Moulton Bicycle resulted in some aggressive competition from Raleigh. Under financial pressure due to the competition, Alex Moulton sold the Moulton Bicycle business to Raleigh.

Dr Moulton continued to work as a consultant with Raleigh until Raleigh abandoned development of the Moulton Bicycle in 1974.

In 1983, Dr Moulton launched a new business producing high end, hand made bicycles in relatively low volumes.

In the early 1990s Dr Moulton licensed the production of the APB range of bicycles of lower cost spaceframe Moulton Bicycles to the Pashley bicycle company. This relationship continued until 2009 when the Moulton Bicycle Company was formed, by merging the Alex Moulton Bicycles business with the Moulton part of the Pashley business.

Dr Moulton continued to work on automotive suspensions from the 1950s until the early 21st century. His suspension designs, including Hydrolastic and Hydragas were fitted to over 7 million cars.

Throughout the years, Dr Moulton continually refined his bicycle designs. In 1998 he introduced a radical new suspension design called the New Series. On his 90th birthday in 2010, Dr Moulton briefly revealed another radical new design concept, called MDev 90, which is still in active development.

[911hillclimber]

That partly my interest, an engineers product
Might have to be patient to bag a cheap project base

[map]

That partly my interest, an engineers product
Might have to be patient to bag a cheap project base

What about doing the work for someone else?

Know a guy who’s got one waiting for restoration.

[911hillclimber]

Ah...
Rather not have the pressure tbh.
These side projects are to keep bordom at bay, fillingin time when I have it.

[map]

Ah...
Rather not have the pressure tbh.
These side projects are to keep bordom at bay, fillingin time when I have it.

It's been sitting in storage for a good while and is definitely an "as and when" project so no time pressures.

Offer's there if you change your mind.

[911hillclimber]

Thank you!
Wife was not enthusiastic when I broached the Moulton Restoration subject today, in the sun, with coffee and cake...
I thought my timing perfect too, but was mistaken.

[camperco]

One of my uncles got a job at Moulton in Bradford aged 16. He was small for his age and told me he became part-time test rider for a kids bike they were making or developing.

[Tosh]

I did a Mk3 in 2013. Lovely bike. Paid £50 for it on eBay and lost a shed load when I sold it. Might’ve over specced the rebuild... I replaced or restored everything from the the frame (which I had powder coated) up, effectively a restomod, SRAM gears with backpedal brake, Tektro front brakes, I used Moulton spoke nipples when I built the wheels, red Brooks B17 saddle.... About the only thing I didn’t replace was the bolt holding the rack to the frame (odd size, I did try!)

You can use Brompton wheels and crank. My rear squash ball was in decent shape but they were available. The only help I needed (and I am cack-handed) was a strip and rebuild of the front suspension/head tube. Used Moulton Preservation for that (bloke in his kitchen in a second floor flat near the houseboats at Chelsea). Decals and the like can be got through eBay/Moulton Bicycle Club







On the mk3 the Raleigh bottom bracket/shell is a very odd size/thread...not sure about earlier F frames.

Did my LEJoG on a Pashley spaceframe