Advice needed on prospective buy…bought it!!

[Erik]

Hey all,

Currently I am in the proces of buying my second Scott. This time my mind is set on a nice two speeder. I have found this one and would appriciate your advice on it’s value.

Model: 1923 Squirrel
Frame: 1507
Motor: Y7088
First reg. 21.03.23

The engine is a 1924 600 instead of a 1923 500. The bike has been restored quite some time ago and has aged nicely again. Apart from the hideous red door straps and the home made rear chainguard. But I am sure these items can be found in the spare scheme or elsewere.

The bike belonged to a now disceased Irish guy.

So far as I can see only the advance/retard lever/mechanism of the magneto is missing as well as the lever on the handle bar to operate the half compression device (but who needs that anyway). The radiator looks new and is not of the honeycomb type.

As I do not see too much of these two speeders offered I would appriciate any comments on this bike. Especially on the value or things to watch for. As the bike is over 1000 km away any comment would be welcome!

Thanks!

Cheers,
Erik

[lewis onions]

Hi Erik

I can offer a couple of comparables:

The following is for sale in this month’s Old Bike Mart:

Scott two speeder, 1925, nice order and has rare combined fuel/oil tank, offers on £5,950. Tel. 01274 595229 no canvassing.

and Ron Farthing has a 1924 2 Speeder advertised on his site for £7500 at:

https://www.ronfarthing.co.uk/bikes

Hope this helps you decide!

Regards, Lewis

[lewis onions]

And if that isn’t enough to choose from try ebay item 170133849756 !

[Erik]

Thanks Lewis for your reply. I had already seen the bike in Old Bike Mart but it states “combined fuel/oil tank” So I guess this has the long tank, much like the later Flyers?!?. And that is not what I am looking for. And what does “no canvassing” mean??

The Ron Farthing bike looks very nice but a bit expensive I think. I will keep an eye on the ebay one.

Cheers,
Erik

[lewis onions]

Hello Again Erik – the combined oil/petrol tank is (I think) the Sports Squirrel type. If so it is the only difference from a “biscuit barrel” (as Ron Farthing calls it) and could be converted quite easily if you wanted to.

“No canvassing” is meant to stop other advertising agents telephoning offering to advertise the bike in other publications.

I agree that the Ron Farthing machine appears expensive. He also has a 3 speeder at £6000 which is a little more afforable but still (in my opinion) over-priced.

The ebay machine looks like a non-runner and will need a new radiator at least (and a tyre!).

Good luck in your search.

[Anonymous]

Hi Erik,

I know this bike well having watched it being built a few years ago by a very well respected “scott man” here in Northern Ireland. The original 532 engine is fitted to a “bitsa” owned by the same man and should you buy the bike I’m sure a deal could be done to reunite the frame and engine. The 1923 engine is of the flat head type in that it has no water dome.

The bike is mechanically sound and ran well every time I saw it out. As you identified it could do with a few cosmetic improvements but these are fairly minor. I think the bike has a nice patina and I particularly like the re-cored radiator which was done by a local firm here in Belfast many years ago – see their plate soldered to the underside of the radiator. Where could you get work like that done nowdays?

As to value, how long is a piece of string? How much is the seller asking and how much are you prepared to pay for it? The bike went to Ron Farthing when the owner died – he was offered £4500 for it before it left N. Ireland and wouldn’t accept it. Personally speaking I think it’s worth £4000-£4500 but perhaps I’m being naiive since the price of 2 speeders seems to be on the up.

Hope these ramblings are of some use. Good luck with the purchase.

If you need more details I could pass on the telephone number of the man who rebuilt it. He would be only too pleased to speak to you but is not on the internet.

Regards,

Peter

[Erik]

Thank you Peter for your reply. This makes clear once again that the Scott world is small!

I am still thinking on the bike. I is advertised for about 5300/5400 GBP and that is why I am asking around a bit. With the adv/ret. mechanism of the magneto and all the covers missing as well as the need for new tyres (as the seller says) I think the bike is too expensive. But somehow it strongly appeals to me.

But, with my FS engine blowing up (see other posting) at the moment the two speeder seems further away than ever…

But who knows…

Cheers,
Erik

[Erik]

Hello Peter,

Could you please send me the name and phone number of the builder of this scott please? My email is info@flyingsquirrel.nl

Thanks!

Cheers,
Erik

[Erik]

Well, after talking for a long time with the guy that previously owned this Scott I learned a lot about its condition. Summary was that it is a good, honest and quick bike. And after some serious thinking and discussion with my wife we decided to buy it!

So, in one single mouseclick I doubled my number of Scotts and emptied my bankaccount… Funny how things can go!

Now I am wondering how to fit in this Scott on my website…. But I am sure I will find a way so watch https://www.flyingsquirrel.nl for more pictures etc. on this Scott!

Cheers,
Erik

[Author]

Posts