Of its time
It’s an unfortunate fact that financial constraints usually delayed the application of advantageous developments to the motorcycles most in need of them, and many of us remember riding weedy post-Second World War tiddlers struggling with two or three-speed gearboxes when much torquier four-strokes had the benefit of four ratios.
It was no different in the pioneer years and it would be a mistake to think the apparent simplicity of motorcycles like this little veteran James made them more user-friendly. On the contrary. The lack of features like a clutch and kickstart – already becoming available on more expensive heavyweights – makes riding them more of a challenge.
Why? Well, if you have no kickstart you have to push start, and when/if the engine fires, a clutch allows you to keep it going while you prepare for the off.
