Son of P-11: This one starts easily!
1969 P-11A with the steel fuel and oil tank, came with AMAL concentric carbs and a battery and coil ignition as original equipment; while those might not be to the taste of some, they made an immense difference in startability and living with one from dayto day is a lot better program than those equipped with the weak-kneed Lucas magneto.
	This one arrived, as usual, with no original seat so it got one from a Yamaha TT-500 one lunger, and it by golly not only looks really a lot like the orig (particularly after you spray paint over the Yam logo across the rear) but it is also padded out somewhatbetter and gives a regular sized rider a much better riding position and seat to footpeg height than the orig, which seemed built to fit dimensionally challenged individuals (you know, runt motorcycle racers).

The oil spot beneath is from the pickup truck that generally occupied this parking space (honest). Two modifications make this P-11 stand out; it came with a non-stock Taurus front end and a Norton Atlas wheel and brake (possibly the worst post WWII British heavyweight front wheel and brake) having lost the much better Matchless items somewhere in Crunchville. The Taurus Triple clamps are retained but now mount a Marzocchi front end with dual Brembo disc brakes, salvaged off a Ducati 500 vertical twin of mid '70's vintage. It is real nice, particularly with the GriMeCa highpressure 13mm piston handlebar master cylinder.

Ignition is handled by an adapted automotive Infrared Photocel System which is fitted inside the stock points housing, located where the magneto was in earlier models; the battery box accomodates the "magic box" and the electrics have been converted to Motorola components and negative ground, excepting the Alternator which is, after all, AC.

This one sits parked for long periods; after draining the sump and refilling the oil tank, it generally starts on the first kick. It does not appear to have ever had the top end disassembled and has excellent compression.The clutch plates are either original or factory replacements!

In the background is a somewhat vin ordinaire MKIII whose main distinction is having a toothed belt primary drive and chopped off electric start aparatus. It now resides in New Zealand!

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