History of Bob Thomas’s SkootaMota

The SkootaMota at Milntown is currently being overhauled.It hasn’t run for many years.Amongst other needs,the fuel tank needed cleaning out :

An interesting profile about this particular bike, written by Bob Thomas many years ago, has recently come to light.
It gives detail about the little french grey Skootamota but adds some history unique to this little machine

very interesting and informative, appreciated
Ian

I can confirm that the front brake is particularly effective as that was the cause of my accident in 2017 when I ended up in a Paris hospital!
I liked the story of the machines being ridden to Brighton from the Kingston factory to test them. I think that would have only been true of the prototypes as production was at Whippingham near East Cowes on the Isle of Wight and I doubt they would have taken the ferry.
I have just realised that the Thomas machine is an early one as the oil tank is a separate cylindrical tank added to the fuel tank rather than a partition as in my machine. This puts the comment that it had a larger tank in context as it fuel partition would be larger.

The Skootamota is running again! Weds 20th April.
Largely down to work by Dylan and Steve.

Dylan sourced a new inner tube, but the tyres themselves are not in a condition for the public highway

Reading on Bob’s notes re these:


-The front brake is very effective.

- It that may explain the tyres - 1951? then they are as old as me…

Advice sought please - anyone regarding obtaining new tyres?

Andrew,
Do you still have the Vauxhall motorcycle in the collection?
regards
Ian

Ian,
The Vauxhall motorcycle is still in the Milntown Collection, and we had it out and running this week to show an interested party of visitors.