Hitchcocks Forum

Hi, looking to buy the above bike,
are they very reliable?
What do I look out for that may be troublesome?
Tidy bike and it runs are parts and service manuals available ( I see there are some on the Hitchcocks download)

They are solidly built and can be reliable. Lots of things to get wrong with them if you have limited experience with the spanners, in which case look for a BSA C15.

Ok Thanks, I,m okay with spannering had lots of Matchless G3,s over many years and hopefully this will be similar to work on

It’s either go with the crusader or get a bullet, which is going to be the most reliable, and best sound ?

The Crusader will be much more of a challenge mechanically than the Bullet, but, unless it is a very early one, it will be more 'peppy'. Horrible gear change mechanism, which can spoil the rest of the bike unless set up properly, but doesn't feel nice compared with the gear change of a Cub or C15. Very heavy, well made engine components, nearly as many individual components as in a Trident of Rocket 3 engine. A good Crusader Sports should sniff 80 mph and leave a standard Indian bullet 350 or 500 for dead. The Crusader will have the more sporty sound.

Excellent I appreciate your comments the crusader is a 1960

Any idea what model crusader this is?

That looks like a Crusader sports to me.

Yep confirmed by Hitchcocks via engine and frame number it is a sports
£1500 good price?

Looks ok for the money, going by the pic.