speedsix – Moulton Bicycle Club

Embacher Collection – MOULTON Speed Six

I just received my copy of the Michael Embacher book Cyclepedia: A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs. As well as the ONE OFF Titanium Moulton Special, the book also features a lovely Moulton Speedsix.

At the end of the 1960s the 6-speed gear system was an unusual phenomenon, making the Moulton Speedsix twice as exotic. It was ahead of its time in its gear-shift technology, although in its design it was very contemporary. The Moultons from the first years of production were rather unexciting mass-market goods, but with the leap to high-end, small series production in the 1980s their street credentials went up.

The bicycle featured here is one of only 600 or so produced, and is number K65310046.

1965, GBR
Frame: Steel varnished
Bicycle gearing:
Brakes: Rim Side Pull / Rim Side Pull
Tyres: 17“ Wired Tyre / 17“ Wired Tyre
Weight: 29,32 lbs

Also in the collection, but not included in the book are a Mark 3, an AM-16, a New Series.

The book is published by Thames & Hudson and the ISBNs are 0500515581, 9780500515587.

The official launch of Cyclepedia: A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs is in London on Wednesday March 16th 2011 AT 18:30 at Look Mum No Hands! 49 Old Street, London ED1V9HX.

Jack Thurston, presenter of The Bike Show will be in conversation with Michael Embacher, looking and talking through their favourite bicycles in the collection. Given that Jack is a Moultoneer himself, you can expect the conversation will cover at least one of the Moultons.

From EMBACHER/COLLECTION - ALEX MOULTON Speed Six.

The Revolutionary Moulton MDev 90

On the occasion of his 90th birthday, Alex Moulton today revealed a revolutionary new bicycle design.

Codenamed "MDev 90", the new design comprises a frame of carbon rods radiating from a central hub and clamped to the head tube and seat tube.

The frame can be assembled by a dealer, in a matter of minutes, with the customer present.

Alex Moulton described the MDev 90 as his "ultimate innovation of more than 50 years of my aspiration to make riding more pleasurable than the 'classic'".

The bicycle will be available in the customer's choice of coloured anodized head tube and seat tube. The frontal aspect is described as "slimline", which presumably means narrower Flexitors, compared with the Pylon models.

There are no details yet regarding the MDev 90 going into production. The press release stated "what I do with it, licensing or whatever, is not yet decided."

While the MDev is revolutionary, it is instantly recognisable as a Moulton. It features all of the principle concepts that have marked Alex Moulton's bicycles since their first launch in 1962, and have been phenomenally successful commercially and competitively.

Small wheels with high pressure tyres ensure low rolling resistance, excellent aerodynamics and low inertia, which allows faster acceleration than a typical large bicycle wheel. Unique Moulton Flexitor rubber suspension ensures maximum comfort and efficiency, while being maintenance free and frictionless.

Moulton bicycles have been successful in track and road racing, broken road records, and still maintain a 25 year old HPV speed record.

They are also frequently used on long distance Audax rides, and world tours, where luggage carrying capacity is an integral part of the design.

BoA 2009 Concours

After the Saturday morning Bring & Buy sale, during which the club marquee overflowed with both buyers and sellers, Saturday afternoon was spent in typical fashion - sunshine, sitting in the courtyard, listening to Alex Moulton and others talk about the past, present and future of the Moulton bicycle, as well as looking at some superb F-Frames.
Some highlights included:
- an ex Reg Randall racing machine
- a newly built Moulton Mark 4
- Moulton Speedsix
- Moulton Automatic with Duomatic hub.
- Andy Forey's Milliken inspired, fully faired, racing deluxe.
- a Vic Nicholson inspired Mark 3 replica

As usual, some new models were shown
- TSR Tour SR, which is a high spec version of the TSR 30 with Brooks saddle and bar tape
- A high spec TSR 27, with Brooks bar grips, chromed front and rear forks, threaded headset and Nitto stem and flat handlebar.

It was also announced that German publisher Lit Verlag has re-published "The Spaceframe Moultons" by Tony Hadland in hardback, paperback and miniature paperback.

The bike that attracted a man from Japan

The bike that attracted a man from Japan >> South Devon Herald Express
Tuesday, September 09, 2008, 08:07

JAPANESE businessman Tetsuya Shiomi spent £2,000 travelling to Torbay to collect a rare but rusty British bike initially offered on eBay for £1.

The bill was for a 6,000 mile round trip for himself and his wife Atsuk including flights and hotels.

Original owner Bruce Symes, 75, of Galmpton couldn't believe the world-wide interest in the rusty Moulton Speedsix, especially from the Far East.

It was given to him by a friend and only put on the internet auction site at the last minute after being saved from a chuck-it trip to Yalberton tip.

Eventually the Japanese collector topped the bidding at £537 and decided to make it a personal collection trip to Europe — to add to his other six Moultons.

Mr Symes thought it was practically worthless, hence the low starting price on eBay.

The charity supporter says all the money is now going to the Dart Sailability scheme for the disabled, based at Kingswear.

Mr Shiomi revealed: "I have six Moulton bikes already and I saw this one and wanted to add it to my collection.

"It is not a businesses venture but a hobby of mine.

"I love the frames and the shape and they are very popular in my country. I also like Mini Coopers and have one of them too.

"I wanted to collect the bicycle myself and meet Mr Symes and thank him. It was a nice holiday for me and my wife."

Mr Symes said he was delighted to raise any money from it at all. "It was lovely to see it go to a good home.

''The bike was covered in rust and I nearly took it to the scrap heap but now it is travelling to the other side of the world.

''When I saw the winning bid was from Japan obviously I thought I'd be shipping it over there.

''I never thought for a second the new owner would come so far to pick it up." A bidding war developed when beady-eyed collectors had noticed the yellow bike was a rarity the first six-speed bike made in Britain in the 1960s.

Only 600 were ever manufactured.

Furniture dealer Mr Shiomi travelled from his home in Saku-Shi near Nagano to Bruce's house in Galmpton, turning it into a European holiday with his wife.

Experts say there is currently a boom in Japan and China in the trade of English antiques, curios and vehicles such as cars and bikes.

Built in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, the Speedsix was designed for both touring and competition and was billed as a 'lean, mean, speed machine'.

Rusty old bicycle!

From Times Online

A rusty old bicycle expected to raise just £1 for charity was sold on eBay for more than £500 to a collector in Japan who identified it as a rare British classic.

The yellow bicycle was given to Bruce Symes to raise money for Dart Sailability, a charity for disabled sailors. Mr Bruce, of Galmpton, Devon, gave it a guide price of £1 but bids were soon placed from the Far East – including Taiwan and Korea.

Collectors noticed that the bicycle was a Moulton Speedsix – the first six-speed bicycle made in Britain, with only 600 produced in the 1960s. It was sold for £537.