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Old Knobblies

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France
Tarbes
Old Knobblies

Old Knobblies is your Two-Stroke Off Road Centre. Our speciality is Rotax engined Iconic Enduro Machines. Bike from the 1970's & 80's - Vinduro Twin Shock

Since 1975 two parallels passions have been evolving and certainly been involving…
Cooking and motorcycles. One of them did upraise me to great standard and recognition from my peers… I cooked in fantastic places for fantastic people. The Motorcycle one was always there, but less continuous has for the reason of my Chef career, so racing enduros in late 70’s to 1983, quickly dropped to fewer and f

ewer events ...could not do both as wished. But…I never stopped messing about with the spanners and get my hand greasy
I can proudly say that even with my demanding job, I restored numerous superb European machines. Philippe is now a Motor Trader..basically try to do wonders from my little workshop! So, that was the opportunity to revive my motorcycle passion and what has been a hobby for years now will become my new business venture. Not a commercial exercise that will make me rich, but satisfying and I reassure you that I will apply the same philosophy as my previous trade, you get out only what you put in and only the best ingredient will suffice…
Equally I will be methodical and work in a tidy and pleasant workshop, all like running a good kitchen…and I proudly will strive to get 100% customer satisfaction

I can already hear the murmuring of some sceptical …”Philippe was a Chef, what does he knows about mechanic”

Well, JUST TRY ME! and look at my severals Rotax powered machine I restored with fully rebuild engines and rear shock and more…all in the details

Old knobblies listing:

• Engines rebuild
• Marzocchis and Corte Cosso Rear Shocks rebuild
• Vintage motorcycles restoration (To your budget)
• Bike maintenance and storage
• Exhausts & silencers handmade
• Bike cleaning, fully checked, great pictures taken, ready for sale
(by you or by Old Knobblies)
• Sourcing your dream/nostalgic machine mostly from the Continent
• And much more…. Bye for now and thanks for your support.

13/07/2025

Et voila!
la cinquante-et-unième et cinquante-deuxième SWM refaites.
+ 1 x 175cc de 79 qui arrive bientôt 😜
l'avant et après, peut être vous avez vu ces SWM sur un site Orange bien Français, moi j’achète en état vraiment très moyen, car presque 6-8 mois après vous voyez le résultat.
1 x 125 TF1 de 1979 et une de 1980, avant des modifications pour être utilisées.
Du travail laborieux car les deux avait était utilisée fortement en compétition, on voit encore les marques sur la 250 qui viens d'Espagne et la 125 un peu massacrée dans sa première vie 🤔
les deux passerons facilement le CT et nouvelle carte grises en progrès
Oui vous avez remarque un bras alu, sera utiliser prochainement sur une 370cc 👍
Bon, au travail, encore 5-6 a faire ...et ???? 😅
Here we go!
51st & 52nd SWM fully rebuild, bought very rough as you can see the Before and the result after 6-8 months
a 1979 125 TF1 & a 250 TF1 slightly modified for been used shortly!
Nothing simple as it seems when both bikes been either used in competition as te 250 with paint marks (come from Spain) and very unloved as the 125 in the previous life🤔
But that the way I like it, now ready to be used and both works perfectly, ready for MOT and new registration
Lets go, 5-6 more to do...and then??? 😅
Yes you noticed an alloy swing arm, will be used shortly on a 370cc MC. 👍
ciao, Philippe

14/01/2025

FOR SALE, a nice SWM 250cc TF2 model.
restored years ago and fully recomissioned the past 48 hours.
Lot of work as usual on these machine, engine completely rebuild, even new con-rod kit , new piston 72.45 rare Elko, new exhaust & silencer (home built silencer, very light and sound great!)
Fitted with a VM34 Mikuni.
Tuned and tried this afternoon and I was impress by the power (even if I ride the same as enduro, but with 13T and 46T sprocket at the rear, it was basically wheeling the first 4 gear just by opening the throttle, nothing to be shy against the Japaneses invasion) 😛
Fitted some rare 425mmMarzocchis MX580 at the rear.
Michelin MC tires, and except the rear mudguard, it retains all original plastics, even a rare front mudguard that was used in 1981 as option.
That bike is for sale £4500 or 4800 euros (contact: [email protected]) or +33 659 40 45 86
do not call or email me with silly offers...please!😜

09/10/2024

Gone wrong! 🤔
mal tourné! 😯

Few examples over years of building engines for Rotax motorcycles.

1) Axe de kick, crushed and split that became ovale and will engage a gear when trying to kick the bike, that is common and often due to losen kick start (mostly on the 406 engine)
Remedy is to obviously change your kickstart before the above happen...and often to check the bolt, but equally too much tightness will result of the same.

2) Similar effect on the gear shaft as pictured is very cracked overtighten or often with very little splines left.

3) Clutch cam assembly, with the original 3 balls that with time incrust theyself into the casing, so not rolling and start to damage your system, that will make even harder to pull the clutch
Remedy is to fit a Teflon shim or machine/drill the 3 ball holes to 5.5mm as you have just enough space (with a ball end carbide bit)
This particular topic will be explain better later on.

4) Disk valve damaged and stuck to the casing....well mostly bacause your engine did swallow something (often a 6mm nut from the airbox) or far too much play before fitting your disck valve cover.
Remedy: time to time look at your airbox fittings, if any losen screws

5) As above, when it goes wrong, it may go very-very wrong as the primary driver gear may crack ....badly!

6) Piston skirt brocken or excess rubbing on one side.
Remedy: lessen to your engine, it will let you know by "knocking" when your piston or cranck have too much play . The seized picture is probably by a bad rebore or cylinder too oval.

7) remouval of the flywheel, normally an easy task, but I had to weld a spare puller to be able to take it out.
Remedy: buy a proper puller for Rotax and thread it to the end before triying to extrat by force the flywheel.

That is it for now, will find some more later on .... as many people should not hold a spanner or try to do mecanic without a bit of common sense and ready the Rotax manual 🧐

Cheers, Ph.

09/06/2024

Et voila,
First race meeting for me in France for few decade.😯
I was not participating as it was the 3rd championship race of 2024. But wanted to expose and that they know that Oldknobblies is now more present on site with lots of stuff for SWM and many other vinatge bikes.

Saturday setting up and delivering to a customer his 440 SWM TF1 with new ignition and VM36 Mikuni. brought as well a 250 TF1, real blue French model.
Did not sale even if lot of interest.🤔

So that was in Marciac, park ferme in the old arena, 153 vintage entries and as much with moder bikes.
Great organisation and even with a very menacing sky, little rain and talking to friend riders, it was a superb course.

Next will be in the middle of France (Villebret 03310)

Now the van to empty and lots to da next week, few engines on the bench.

Will try to be more communicative on FB or my website...hard to find spare time.
Cheers, Philippe.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year to all, friends and customers
End 2023 was a bit of a challenging one for me at “Old Knobblies”
A permanent move to South France near the Pyrenees and lots to do refurbishing the house and the new workshop
And…family loss just recently, but hey c’est la vie!

By the 5th of April, I will be reinstating and opening Old knobblies workshop, website and officially ready to restore, but more this time, to amend and maintain customers SWM or Puch Frigerio; and other like Bultacos etc.

So we will meet again, at least keep in touch nearer Spring.

Once again, best wishes to all, mostly health and my contact remains the same except the UK mobile is no more in use.
[email protected] and +33 659 40 45 86

14/02/2023

Philippe last Telford Dirt Classic Show

Yep, time to move along as already mentioned, Old knobblies will restart probably in September and in France.
Be reassured that a new website is on the way, in both languages and lot simplified.
Will be a strong emphasis on a "Seconds Parts" boutique

So was at Telford to try to sell few bikes and few parts….but mostly to say “Au revoir” to many friends and customers and obviously a big thanks to all.
It was slightly busier than last year, even Sunday until 01pm, and then it faded as usual.
What was not expected is one of my bike The 175cc Puch Frigerio F2 1978 won “best Enduro in show” that was nice to get an award mostly been my last venue at this well organise show.
Well did not sell any bike, I knew this year money is tight and all other stands I discuss with, said the same, a lot of talks, but not many clients puts money out of their pockets.
Once more, many thanks to customers and friends all over these years,
Catch up after spring with more details of my whereabouts and what’s new at Old Knobblies
Cheers, Philippe.

20/12/2022

For sale some of my SWM
And soon my Kramit 250cc

315 GTS heavily modified 🧐 now the perfect bike for shorts rider and the ones that want the power/traction of a trial bike with a bit more oomph
So, it has a 286cc engine with an enduro crank to allow enduro flywheel and electronic stator.

If you do not want exhaust noises, a wonderful torquey engine that start first kick, a relaxing ride and comfortable seat, if you are about 5”5 to 5”8, a good tank range, a fantastic steering angle, a bar mounted choke,….a kind of Beta Alp concept, without modern asset, obviously 2 strokes and very playful even if ride a reasonable 50pmh on the road.
Well it’s a lots of IF, but I loved this bike over many years and it was often a spare bike during my Wales Trail Challenges” and many riders did use it when having issues with their respective machines, it did not impress in terms of power and lifting the front wheel in acceleration, but everyone did agree to have discover how nice it was to ride slower and without any drama, the king of the hill she was.😅

So, will come as is (with a restored kick start missing in the picture) new front mudguard and other bits, serviced and ready to be used. UK registered (all electrics works)

SWM 315 GTS special £3000 🥲

SWM RS 175 GS TF1 of 1980
That one as well as above, been in Wales many times, never let me or any other rider down, a nice original machine, that retain original plastics (wonderful front mudguard) been restored 5 years ago, very little use in between and serviced every time after 4 days trail rides.

That is a very usable bike, ready for action and comes with a Mikuni carburettor, 3 large balls clutch conversion, revised top end 62.50mm Wosner piston, revised ignition and simplified loom, all electrics works. 390mm YSS rear shocks, so the bike is slightly lower than normal Proper GB bike on the frame and road registered, will come with few spare as well of side panels decals etc..

SWM RS 175 GS TF1 £ SOLD ..... SOLD 🤪

Puch Frigerio F2 175cc still for sale, reduced at £4950
SWM 250 TF2 still for sale, reduced at £4495

to all, friends and contact via this Facebook or other means, have a great festive season, best wishes for the coming year. 🥳

My workshop will seize to take any jobs or order from the 28th of this month.

it is time to move along to a new venture (more will be explain in mid January)

Cheers, Philippe.

30/11/2022

SOLD SOLD!

Yes my late 2018 Beta 300 X Trainer is for sale.🥲

Not a minter as I use my bikes, been in Wales several times.
I cannot know the exact usage as last time the clocks were working was 2550 miles...but theses Speedo clocks are rubbish with water, first the LED stopped and came-back to work, but now no more reading.
So I purchased a Trail Tech Endurance II at the cost of £120, far superior and a waterproof system, but no time to fit it (will be within the bike sale)
This Beta as about £1100 (I think even more) of after market parts
Radiator alloy covers, Acerbis hand-guards, Twin Air Air filter, Mini Mirror, new Lithium battery, Axle Wrench, special Decals, front mousse,Samco Silicone hoses, Fresco expansion chamber & muffler, new Spark plug BR7EIX, Beta K9 fork's kit, better shock spring, lower kit (KroozR) new seat cover, large foot rest, bar risers, and a rear alloy rack that was perfect to carry my extra 2lt of petrol for my long trails rides.

comes with the spare lock key, CD manual and many invoices.
if you are a shorty like me at 5.6 or so, that is a perfect bike.
just changed the oil and all works (except the clocks)
This X trainer is now slightly tuned, few mods and very lively 😉
£3700

This bike will be at kempton Off Road Show this Saturday.

Cheers, Philippe
0777 577 3477

Adresse

13 Rue De La Garounere
Tarbes
65000

Heures d'ouverture

Mardi	10:00 - 17:30
Mercredi	10:00 - 17:30
Jeudi	10:00 - 17:30
Vendredi	10:00 - 17:30
Samedi	10:00 - 17:30

Téléphone

+33659404586

Site Web

http://www.oldknobblies.com/

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