THE PARAGON-VILLIERS

Ubiquitous is a word that has become … well, ubiquitous.

Defined as “seeming to be found everywhere,” the word is frequently misused. But it would be true to say that, in the British motorcycle industry, Villiers 2-strokes really were ubiquitous. Dozens of makers from Aberdale to Zenith used them to power mopeds, commuter bikes, sports bikes, trials and motocross machines, even racers and sidecar outfits. Just about every British bike builder except the majors (Ariel, BSA, Triumph, Matchless, Norton, Velocette, Vincent) made a Villiers-powered machine at some time. And while they were generally reliable by the standards of the day (even with minimal maintenance) they also had inherent problems — the flywheel magneto being one of them.

Case in point: in the 1960s, back in the Old Country, my uncle Ted rode an Ambassador motorcycle. At least, he did until the Villiers engine quit. I was 15 and motorcycle mad. And in a conversation that probably didn’t involve my parents, Uncle Ted told me I could have the bike, and see if I could get it running.

I knew nothing about engines and what made them work, but I started messing with the bits I could see. I do remember that there was a wire coming from the spark plug that didn’t seem to go anywhere. I had no idea