Thanks for the guidance guys.

I'm pleased to say that the (just arrived) new chain has WAY less side play than the one I took off !
Nev, you are certainly right about the gunge on the new chains - it was so thick that some of the links were virtually locked up. All ok now after a rinse in kero.
I ...

Thanks Gary,
I hadn't spotted it in my Waller book (3rd ed), but it is there on p123.
As best as I can measure with a dial gauge the end float is only 0.02" which is within spec. So, looks are deceiving - it seemed much more than that with the clutch in place. So I may leave well enough alone ...

Hi folks,
As you will see from the video I've linked below, there seems to be significant in and out play in the clutch, due to gearbox mainshaft end float.
Both clutch and gearbox work really well; I've not needed to dissemble the BA box since getting the bike so would appreciate guidance on what ...

I was a forum member before buying my VB and joining the AOMCC.
Cheers, Bevan.

I made videos of the Ariel rally mostly for my own benefit - I figured that I might enjoy watching them when the time comes that I am too decrepit to ride anymore.

Anyway, here's the full set in case anyone wants to watch bits of any of them:

Ride to the Rally from home:
https://youtu.be/XtKJwpavy ...

Thanks for the forks advice guys. I'll try Nev's suggestion first and see how things go. A lot of the bouncing on the videos was due to the single saddle springs of course.
Cheers,
Bevan

Nev: a very good question! I was pretty tired when I eventually got home.

What with the still too soft front forks, the undamped & non-contrawound single seat springs on a bumpy road, it was a very pogoing ride !

I replaced the fork springs with stiffer ones from. Drags which improved things a bit ...

I had a last minute issue with my gloves that i couldn't resolve until the evening. You'll see from the other clip which was part of the rally ride the next day that I was then well gloved !

Glad you liked it Vincent.

Here's part one of the Rally showing the ride from my home to the rally venue. Its 25 odd minutes of your life that you'll never get back if you are stubborn enough to watch the whole thing :).

https://youtu.be/XtKJwpavy-U?si=a0iDW8dGfcIMdMdW

When I get time to put it ...

Haha, perhaps.

However, it is geared up a bit, as I live on the Canterbury plains, and one of the guys on a SQ4 reckoned I was doing 50 mph at times. Who knows; on a bike like that on those roads it feels fast anyway !