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Car S.O.S. Season 14 Episode 3
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TVTranscript
00:00MUSIC
00:20Don't we need the trailer?
00:22Not today, Timmy boy.
00:24Where are we?
00:24We're on a big bridge, we're going across a lot of water.
00:27So we're heading for South Wales.
00:29Make a note of where we are first,
00:31because what I'm about to say is going to go down in history.
00:34I'm going to make the biggest statement of my life.
00:37The vehicle we are picking up today
00:39is without a doubt, in my mind,
00:42the coolest vehicle we have ever, ever,
00:45since our creation, picked up.
00:47And that vehicle is not a car.
00:51It is a...
00:52Motorbike!
00:54You said it!
00:55You said it!
00:55Yes, I did!
00:56It is a...
00:57Trial!
00:58Bonneville!
00:59Oh, yes!
00:59We are finally, finally, after thousands of complaints,
01:03we are finally conceding and doing a motorbike.
01:07And, man, I have proved myself as a petrolhead.
01:09I've had more four-wheel vehicles, and I'm addicted to them,
01:12but I live in a world where it feels good to get it off my chest.
01:16I've said it.
01:17Bikes are cooler than cars!
01:19They are cool.
01:20And the Triumph Bonneville is a very, very cool machine.
01:24If there's a bit of you that just thinks,
01:25I'm a car guy, I'm a car girl,
01:27just try and reframe, just pause that for a moment,
01:30and just come on this journey with us
01:32to rebuild a Triumph Bonneville and get to the end of it,
01:35and tell me if you haven't fallen in love with bikes.
01:37Yes, in a nightmarish scenario for the Car SOS marketing team,
01:42for the first time ever,
01:44the boys are ditching four wheels for two.
01:47And what better way to pop their crotch rocket cherry
01:50than with the British motorcycle that symbolised 60s rebellious cool?
01:55Because not only was it the bike of choice for Britain's rockers,
01:59it was adorned by some of the coolest people on the planet.
02:02Even the king himself had one.
02:05No, not that one.
02:07Named after the legendary Bonneville salt flats
02:10where Triumph bikes had shattered speed records throughout the 50s,
02:14the Bonny proudly kept up the family tradition.
02:19650cc parallel twin engine, and not a lot else.
02:24It could push 110 miles an hour,
02:26making it one of the fastest production bikes on the market.
02:30So, for those who've ever ridden one,
02:33the Bonny is more than two wheels and an engine.
02:36They're freedom, rebellion, and downright petrol-powered cool.
02:46Can you ride a motorcycle?
02:48My first vehicle was a CM125.
02:51Oh!
02:52I was the only person in South Yorkshire
02:54to fall off my motorcycle on my actual test.
02:56He fell off and failed.
03:00Now, do you know who we're meeting today?
03:01Yes, so we're going to meet Jill.
03:03Yep.
03:03That's Ian's sister.
03:04Yep.
03:04And we're going to meet Stephen, who's Ian's cousin.
03:06Absolutely.
03:06Yep.
03:10Hello.
03:11Hello.
03:12Hello, you.
03:13I'm hoping you'll be Jill.
03:14I am Jill.
03:15That's me and Steve.
03:16Who are you?
03:16Who are you?
03:17Right.
03:18Now, Ian is nowhere to be seen, right?
03:20No, Ian's not here.
03:21When we see our first motorcycle ever since the beginning of Car SOS, we can let out a
03:27little squeak of excitement.
03:28We can.
03:28Absolutely.
03:29Okay.
03:29Brilliant.
03:30Where is she?
03:31She's up here by the garage.
03:32In the garage.
03:33Come on, then.
03:35Right, left or right, fellas?
03:36Which garage?
03:36You're going for the right.
03:37You're going for the right, Steve?
03:38Tell us which one is it in.
03:40It's here.
03:43There's a Triumph Bonneville under that.
03:45There is.
03:46Well, it's in bits.
03:48Let me show you.
03:51You're not messing.
03:53Look at the state of it.
03:56Dude!
03:57Look at that.
03:58Seriously.
04:00Let me ask you a question a minute.
04:02Have you ever rebuilt a bike from scratch?
04:03I'm total built.
04:04Have you?
04:04I'm total built.
04:05Ever?
04:05No.
04:06That's why it's called Car SOS.
04:08Yes.
04:09I wasn't quite expecting this.
04:13Right, let's go and talk about Ian, and we'll leave you to make friends with what's left
04:17of something that's just been honed out of a 10-hour.
04:24I'm going to come unstuck here a little bit because I have to admit that this will be the
04:29first time that I've rebuilt a complete motorbike.
04:33I've repaired them, and I've not built a whole one up from a kit of parts.
04:37I don't even know if we've got everything here.
04:41I might need a little bit of assistance.
04:45Look, here we go.
04:46We've got the tank here.
04:49I'd put a bet on it being a little bit like a sieve.
04:53Put petrol in, and it'll just leak out.
04:58And down here, here's our engine and gearbox.
05:01Let's just have a look.
05:04OK, well, not much action there.
05:08As I suspected, it is completely seized.
05:12This is going to need a total rebuild.
05:16This is, for me, a nightmarish scenario.
05:21How is it supposed to go back together?
05:26Let's talk about why the Bonneville is in Ian's life.
05:29When did it all start?
05:30He bought it back in 1979.
05:33Ian bought it when he was first starting to earn his own money.
05:38Right.
05:38My parents didn't approve of him buying it, but...
05:41But that's a reason to buy it, though, isn't it?
05:43He really loves the bike, yeah.
05:45It's never going to go in those.
05:46Yeah, yeah.
05:46He's always going to keep it.
05:47So is it fair to assume that there's something wrong with it,
05:50and that's why it was taken to pieces?
05:51No, no, not at all.
05:52No, no, no idea, no.
05:54It could be perfectly good working order,
05:55and he would still take it apart just because he could.
05:58So is he an engineer?
06:00No, not really.
06:01Not trained, no, but he tinkered about with things.
06:06Boxing.
06:08These are our friends.
06:10Let's see what's in this little lot.
06:14Oh, here we go.
06:18Now, I do like a beer,
06:19but I also like a beer mug
06:22with original badges.
06:26Everything on this bike has seen better days.
06:30How much of it is actually salvageable
06:32is yet to be seen.
06:33But we've got to save the frame.
06:36We've got to try and save the engine and gearbox.
06:39We want this to be Ian's bike.
06:41If we just replace everything,
06:44we're taking everything away that he has salvaged.
06:47Right, sling it in the back of the car.
06:51What has happened in Ian's life to mean that,
06:54you know, the mechanical love of his life
06:56has been left in pieces?
06:58What's happened?
06:59Well, Ian was a sub-postmaster.
07:01Right.
07:02And subsequently became a victim
07:04of the Horizon post office scandal.
07:08He lost his post office,
07:10he lost his job,
07:11and he was prosecuted
07:12and found guilty of false accounting.
07:16So the post office scandal
07:17is where a piece of software
07:19called Horizon...
07:20..was adding up
07:22and crunching the numbers incorrectly,
07:23ultimately, wasn't it?
07:23Absolutely, yeah.
07:24What happens next?
07:25The sad thing was,
07:27they were literally
07:27just getting back on their feet.
07:29Yeah.
07:30So Ian had got back into employment,
07:32and in early 2011,
07:35Helen was diagnosed with breast cancer.
07:38So while Helen was battling breast cancer,
07:41Ian had quite a severe stroke.
07:44He's been left with
07:47a lot of speech and communication issues,
07:49some mobility issues.
07:50He's independently mobile,
07:51but sometimes a bit precarious.
07:53What do you think Ian would like
07:54to see happen with that bike?
07:56I think him just seeing it whole again
07:58would be enough.
07:59Yes.
08:00I mean, that'll probably mean the world to him,
08:03just seeing that.
08:05Well, it is going to happen.
08:09And here he is.
08:11Right.
08:13It's in.
08:13It's time for me to get that rotten old thing
08:15away from here.
08:17Ian's bike's in the car as well.
08:19Nice to meet you.
08:20Nice to meet you, Steve.
08:22Nice to meet you.
08:23Thanks very much.
08:24Good luck.
08:24Come on.
08:27It might only have two wheels,
08:30but this challenge is anything but half a job.
08:33Because judging by the state of it,
08:35the road to getting Ian back on his bike
08:37is going to be a bumpy one.
08:40Why are you looking so relaxed?
08:42Have you seen what we've just picked up?
08:44Have you seen it?
08:45It's in bits.
08:46Now, look, it's all very well getting a bike.
08:49What?
08:5120 seconds of your life, listen.
08:53I've made a phone call to a mate of mine
08:55who happens to work at a company
08:57that are 20 minutes away from our workshop
09:00in a place called Hinkley.
09:02Triumph.
09:03They are going to help us.
09:04We're going to the horse's mouth.
09:05We are going to triumph to build it
09:07with the people who created it
09:09or the fathers of the fathers of the fathers
09:11who created it in the first place.
09:12Yes, Fuzz can finally unclench his bottom
09:15because the boys are off
09:16to what many consider to be
09:18the home of British motorbikes.
09:20Triumph's Hinkley factory.
09:23The team there have kindly agreed
09:25to take our two seasoned apprentices
09:26under their wing.
09:28And to make sure that we all stay firmly
09:30on this restoration,
09:31Triumph guru Nick Wilson
09:33will be on hand at every corner
09:35to keep things rolling smoothly.
09:38This is the last of it then, Nick.
09:41This is it.
09:43Thanks very much.
09:44There is one other delivery.
09:46It's a verbal delivery
09:46and it's a massive apology from me
09:49and for Fuzz for you
09:50for delivering this turkey to you.
09:51Yeah, I mean,
09:53is it worse than you thought?
09:54Yes.
09:55Right, OK.
09:56How much worse?
09:59Significantly.
10:00So have you rebuilt a worse bike?
10:02No.
10:05No, you don't even have to think about it.
10:11In a car S.O.S. first...
10:14No, that's wrong.
10:17In a motorbike S.O.S. first...
10:19The boys have ditched four wheels for two.
10:22What we have is a bike that got put away...
10:26With all good intention.
10:27Yeah.
10:28And it's unfortunately got very corroded.
10:29Yeah.
10:30And taken on the monumental task
10:32of turning this Meccano set for sadists
10:35back into a 1973 Triumph Bonneville.
10:39This is Ian's beauty.
10:40This is his pride and joy.
10:41So we need to salvage what we can
10:43and from what we're looking at here,
10:44what looks good, what looks bad.
10:46There's a lot of corrosion on nearly everything.
10:48The fuel tank's particularly bad.
10:50Yeah, it looks like it's been in a very damp area, doesn't it?
10:53Yeah, yeah.
10:55What about our engine here?
10:57Pistons are seized in the bore.
10:59Yeah.
10:59It's going to be quite a job.
11:01So there's our head.
11:03So what are your thoughts there?
11:04I mean, that looks pretty bad.
11:07I think we need to get it soda-blasted,
11:09get it clean and have a proper look.
11:11Right, OK.
11:12And see what we need to do from there.
11:13Yeah.
11:14It might not be much more than an engine and two wheels,
11:17but somehow the task ahead feels every bit as monumental as usual.
11:22For starters, there's the engine block.
11:25Unsurprisingly, two decades left out of the elements
11:28hasn't done much for its complexion.
11:30But what really matters is what condition it's in
11:33once the boys open it up.
11:35Next up, the cylinder head.
11:37Once again, all that weathering hasn't done it any favours.
11:41So once it's been cleaned up, can it be saved?
11:45Finally, the fuel tank.
11:46It's looking leakier than a second-hand tea bag.
11:50So can Tim recondition it?
11:52Or will this big lump of originality be lost forever?
11:56Then, after those battles are won,
11:58the Bonnie will still need new brakes and suspension,
12:01as well as a full respray in period-correct original paint
12:05before it can truly live up to its name.
12:09But before the teardown begins,
12:12it's time for the nation's oldest apprentice to ride pillion
12:15and soak up the master's knowledge.
12:17Because if he's going to help restore Ian's Bonnie,
12:20he'd better learn from the best.
12:23Can we go through some of the terminology here?
12:26So what some of these components are called?
12:28So we have our front fork assembly here.
12:30And that comprises of stanchions.
12:32Stanchions.
12:33So that's the bit at the top.
12:34Bottom parts are called the sliders.
12:35So the wheel goes up and down on these.
12:38Yep.
12:39This is the lower yoke.
12:40The lower yoke, OK.
12:42And then we've got our handlebars,
12:43but our handlebars go through these items here.
12:46What are those called?
12:46They're called risers.
12:47Those are risers, OK.
12:49Now, can we move along the frame?
12:50The engine and gearbox combined sits in the frame there.
12:54Finally, the seat sits on here.
12:56Yeah.
12:56And beneath the seat is all the electrics.
13:00Let's pull it apart.
13:03Now that Fuzz is a small step closer
13:05to becoming a certified motorbike expert,
13:09the Bonneville's frame can be stripped down
13:11and sent to the blasters
13:12to remove two decades' worth of rust and grime,
13:16leaving Fuzz to give the remaining smaller parts
13:19the once-over to see what's salvageable.
13:22Here's a brake rod, absolutely bent out of shape.
13:27One of the most appealing things about a motorcycle
13:30is that they are perhaps the most visceral
13:33road-going machine that you can experience
13:36because there's not a lot to them.
13:38There's a frame, a couple of wheels,
13:41an engine, a gearbox, and then it's all the rider.
13:44Once things wear out, they need to be replaced.
13:47So if we want Ian's bike to look as it should do,
13:51as it did, or as close to it as it did in 1973,
13:55we need to do some serious shopping.
13:57So, while Fuzz compiles a list,
14:01Tim is trying to keep Ian's original fuel tank off of it,
14:04with some help from Triumph's in-house clergy.
14:07Excuse me, I'm looking for a guy
14:09who's referred to as Father Fuel Tank.
14:12That'd be me.
14:15Is that you?
14:17What's your name, mate?
14:18It's Gary.
14:19Gary, nice one, Father Fuel Tank.
14:20Lovely to meet you.
14:21Yes, he might not be an actual man of the cloth,
14:24but Gary has devoted his life to one thing,
14:27and that's Triumph fuel tanks.
14:29So if anyone knows if Ian's is going to see the open road again,
14:33it's him.
14:34Right, what are we thinking?
14:35What's it off?
14:36It's off an old Bonneville.
14:38Yeah, early 70s.
14:39Early 70s, yeah.
14:40And what I'm really hoping is that you're going to assess this
14:42and go, we can keep that, we can mint it.
14:44Yeah, big ask.
14:46Let's have a look.
14:53Unfortunately, I think it's too far gone.
14:57We get all the rust off, the metal would be so thin,
15:00and we need to make sure this tank is going to be safe
15:02to put fuel in.
15:04And unfortunately, the state of this, I don't think it is.
15:13Next question, then.
15:14If we're going to replace it, it makes me think we've got to get
15:17the colour absolutely bang on.
15:19What colour would it have been when it came out of the factory?
15:21It would be a gold, but what particular gold, I don't know.
15:25But I know a guy called Dick Shepard.
15:26Right.
15:27He knows everything there is to know about Triumph motorcycles.
15:30Right, so go and see a guy called Dick.
15:31Dick Shepard, yeah.
15:32Right.
15:33So if Gary's father fuel tank, that must make Dick the Archbishop.
15:38So while Tim tracks his holiness down,
15:41the apprentice has entered the masters in a sanctum.
15:45All right, might just be Nick's shed,
15:47but there's not a lawnmower in sight.
15:50He's brought Ian's engine home with him
15:52so he can keep working on it day and night.
15:55And it's already paid off
15:57because somehow he's miraculously unseized the pistons.
16:01How did you get them off?
16:03Quite a bit of heat.
16:04Yeah.
16:04A good bit of WD-40 and a bit of diesel.
16:07Yeah.
16:08Mixed in, left it soaking for a couple of days.
16:10Yeah.
16:10Worked it backwards and forwards.
16:11And it eventually became free.
16:13So what's the situation now then?
16:15Now that we've unseized the pistons,
16:17I can see in the lower half of the crankcase
16:19there's not any water in there.
16:20Well, that's good news.
16:21But we don't know what other damage is done elsewhere.
16:23OK, so what's the first step now?
16:25What should we do?
16:25I think we should get the pistons out of the way.
16:27They are scrapped.
16:29So we'll remove those
16:30and then we'll get on with the primary side.
16:31OK, fantastic.
16:37I guess it's important to point out the differences
16:40between the bike and a car
16:41because here we've got a 650cc two-cylinder engine
16:45from the 1970s.
16:46This would have powered the bike up to what sort of speed?
16:49110 miles an hour.
16:50When you compare it to the performance of a car of the time,
16:54to get a car to go 110 miles an hour easily
16:57would have taken something like a three,
17:00three-and-a-half-litre V6 or V8 engine.
17:04But at less than half the weight of a classic Mini,
17:08back in the day,
17:09even the mighty Porsche 911
17:10would have struggled to keep up off the lights.
17:14Right, OK, so off it comes.
17:18So, here...
17:19This is the alternator.
17:20Yep.
17:21And then here we've got clutch.
17:23Yep.
17:23And then the gearbox is further in there.
17:26It's thrown here.
17:27Since the boys have no idea
17:29when Ian's engine last saw a spanner,
17:31both it and the gearbox
17:33are in for a full internal rebuild.
17:36But if the blocks corroded beyond saving,
17:39the heart of this bonnie could be lost forever.
17:44We can see that water,
17:47which is the enemy of any mechanical item,
17:50certainly like this,
17:51has actually made its way in,
17:53but it's not been able to do...
17:54No, it's not done the damage we feared.
17:56So, with a full internal rebuild,
17:59Ian's engine is going to ride again.
18:01The problem is,
18:03it's not going to get far without a fuel tank.
18:05But to replace it,
18:07Tim still needs to track down Dick
18:08to find out what colour it needs to be sprayed.
18:11Which, in a factory this size,
18:13is easier said than done.
18:15Oh, my word.
18:16Look up at these.
18:18Right?
18:19So, every one of these,
18:21inside those pink wrappers,
18:22is a motorcycle.
18:24He might not have found the oracle Dick Shepherd just yet,
18:27but he has managed to sneak into a corner of the factory
18:30most Triumph fans would give their right handlebar to see.
18:35Apparently, the scale of this whole establishment
18:37is about the size of eight football pitches.
18:40Look at that thing.
18:41That is a sexy-ass Triumph up there.
18:43And it's owned by somebody called Mr David Beckham.
18:48No idea.
18:50Never heard of him.
18:51And if you thought that was cool,
18:53hold on to your helmets.
18:55That is a special thing to see.
18:57It topped out at around
18:58something like 274 miles an hour.
19:02And it just happens to be sitting there,
19:03chilling in a crate.
19:05And it was piloted by,
19:07look down the side of the window there,
19:09Mr G Martin.
19:10Mr Guy Martin himself.
19:12What a treat.
19:13And the motorcycle eye candy doesn't end there.
19:17Because inside Triumph's museum
19:19are bikes from every era of their history
19:21that have been made famous on the road,
19:24racetrack and silver screen.
19:25And they're not the only icons
19:28hiding out down here.
19:29Dick.
19:30Oh, hello, Tim.
19:31Hello, mate.
19:32It's an honour to meet you,
19:33Mr Triumph himself,
19:35the man that knows more about Triumphs
19:36than anyone on the planet.
19:38Tim's not wrong.
19:39Dick's been on two wheels
19:40since the age of nine.
19:42In the half-century since,
19:44he's owned, ridden and restored
19:46some of the most important Triumphs ever built.
19:49How many bikes have you got?
19:50I think last count nearly 500.
19:53What?
19:54What? Are you serious?
19:56500 bikes.
19:57So, if anyone knows
19:59what shade of gold
19:59Ian's replacement fuel tank needs to be,
20:02he's the man.
20:03I'm desperate to find
20:04the precise right colour
20:06for the painted components,
20:07as in the tank and the, you know,
20:09the two mudguards on the bike.
20:101972.
20:11Is yours in English, Beck?
20:13Yes.
20:13Well, that's Tiger Gold.
20:15Well, we've got all the paint chip cars,
20:16so we can match it.
20:17So, no problem at all.
20:18Can you hook me up?
20:19No problem at all.
20:19Right.
20:20What is in here,
20:21amongst all these bikes here,
20:23what is the most special bike?
20:26Um, I think it's got to be
20:27the Great Escape bike.
20:28Yes, this is the actual Triumph TR6,
20:32ridden by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen
20:35in the 1963 movie The Great Escape.
20:39So, how Bonneville is this?
20:41Virtually exactly the same as a Bonneville,
20:44except for a few performance parts.
20:46Whilst Ian's bike was built as a road racer,
20:49the TR6 was designed
20:50to be its off-road scrambler cousin.
20:52I mean, it's just the coolest thing ever to exist.
20:55Would you like to sit on it
20:56and have your picture taken?
20:58Yes, please.
20:59Is that all right?
21:00Oh, way you go.
21:06For me personally,
21:07this is a really emotional moment.
21:10Every single year,
21:11it's become a tradition
21:12to sit down,
21:14me and my brothers,
21:15sit down and watch
21:17The Great Escape with my dad.
21:20So, to be sitting on the bike,
21:22it's just a surreal moment.
21:27Yes, whilst Tim's living out
21:29his schoolboy fantasy,
21:30it turns out it's actually Fuzz
21:32who's in need of a great escape.
21:34A bit of bad news.
21:36We've decided
21:37against using the cylinder head
21:39off Ian's bike.
21:41A number of reasons.
21:42One is the valve seats
21:44are very, very badly corroded
21:46and dipped and pitted.
21:48So, that would take
21:49a lot more machining.
21:51And whether we get
21:53a really great finish
21:54at the end of it,
21:55well, it could be debatable.
21:56So, all in all,
21:58we've decided
21:59on a slightly better option.
22:01So, this is actually
22:03a cylinder head
22:03produced at the time,
22:05but it's never been used.
22:07Yes, an original replacement
22:09is the golden goose
22:10of the parts bin,
22:11but it does mean
22:12Fuzz will need to put
22:13in some hard graft.
22:15Because when Triumph
22:16built these heads
22:17back in the 60s,
22:18they left the factory
22:19as a blank
22:20so that dealers
22:21and race teams
22:22could tweak them
22:23for performance.
22:23What we need to do
22:25with this unused cylinder head
22:26is machine the valve seats.
22:29Now, what we've done
22:30is already completed three,
22:32but there's one more to do.
22:34And we actually do that by hand.
22:36Valve seats have
22:37hardened surfaces
22:38on the cylinder head
22:40where the intake
22:40and exhaust valves close,
22:42forming a gas-tight seal
22:44for combustion.
22:45And cutting them by hand
22:47allows Fuzz
22:48to operate
22:48with millimetre precision.
22:50So, in goes our mandrel.
22:52That makes
22:53a nice, solid post
22:55that we can work with.
22:57Here we go.
22:57We've got our cutting tool here.
23:00And then
23:02this tool here
23:03operates on this nut.
23:06So, we're just going
23:08360 degrees,
23:09pushing down
23:10as we do it
23:11and cutting away
23:14at the face
23:16of the valve seat.
23:18Next, Fuzz
23:20applies some grinding paste.
23:22This compound
23:23contains tiny
23:24abrasive particles
23:25which help
23:26wear in the seat
23:27and valve,
23:28improving the seal
23:29between the two surfaces.
23:33You hear the cutting paste.
23:38Let's see how we're doing.
23:40So, all the way
23:42around the valve
23:43we now have
23:44a lovely
23:45matte finish
23:46which means
23:49we have achieved
23:50a gas-tight seal.
23:56So, with the build
23:57well underway
23:58the receding
23:59hairline bikers
24:00are taking the opportunity
24:01to hit the road.
24:03Born to be free!
24:04To demonstrate
24:05what the fuss
24:06over two wheels
24:07is really all about.
24:17when you're on a bike
24:18you are part of the machine.
24:20It's a connection thing, isn't it?
24:22Yeah.
24:22They're a mechanical horse
24:24in many ways.
24:25Describe the feeling
24:26of riding
24:27that beautiful old bonnie, son.
24:30So, this
24:31is a 1977
24:32Silver Jubilee Edition
24:34Triumph Bonneville
24:35750cc.
24:37By today's standards
24:38doesn't put out
24:39that much power.
24:41But it's enough.
24:42It's enough to
24:43make you grip onto
24:44those bars
24:45when you're accelerating away.
24:48It's just a really
24:50great feeling.
24:51You can feel
24:52the vibration
24:53the throb of the engine.
24:54Just absolutely amazing.
24:58Open it up
25:00and off we go.
25:14So, this is
25:15the Triumph Bonneville
25:17scrambler.
25:18So, based on
25:19basically what
25:19Fuzz was riding there
25:21but this is the X.
25:22So, this is a
25:231200
25:24twin cylinder
25:25so it's got
25:25some serious
25:26go to it
25:27but mum and dad
25:27had a mini metro
25:28and that was like
25:29under one litre.
25:30So, this thing
25:31is a phenomenally
25:32big engine
25:33for a little bike
25:34but it is
25:35ultimately
25:36the great-grandchild
25:38of the Bonneville
25:39that we are
25:39doing for Ian.
25:43If you think about
25:44what it is
25:45you've got here
25:45you've got an engine
25:46and how many
25:47other spare bits
25:48other than an engine?
25:49Well, a couple of wheels
25:49and a few other bits
25:50with a car.
25:51You've got a load
25:52of other nonsense
25:52a load of tech
25:53you don't really need
25:54with a bike
25:54and it's just
25:55human being
25:56meets machine
25:57isn't it?
25:57Yeah.
26:02So, right
26:03so how does it work?
26:04Riding a bike then
26:05so your right hand
26:06does two things
26:06it does the accelerator
26:07by twisting
26:09and it does your front brake
26:11by squeezing the lever
26:12just the same
26:12as a push bike.
26:13Your right foot
26:14is your rear brake
26:15and your left foot
26:17is your gears
26:17and the gear
26:18is just one lever
26:19push down
26:20when you're in neutral
26:20to get to first
26:21and then go up to two
26:22up to three
26:23up to four
26:24up to five
26:24so that is why
26:25you see bikers
26:26click, click, click, click
26:27when they're at traffic lights
26:28because they've pulled up
26:29in fifth gear
26:29they've posted it up
26:30in fifth
26:30and then they put the clutch
26:31in and find neutral
26:33or find first again
26:33for pulling off.
26:35This bike is nearly
26:3650 years old
26:37but it feels great
26:39whether you choose
26:39an old bike
26:40or a new bike
26:41it's a superb way
26:43to have fun
26:44to get about
26:44and also
26:46to meet some great mates
26:48you'll never be alone
26:48when you're a biker
26:49that's for sure.
26:59In a first
27:00for Car SOS
27:01the boys have taken on
27:02this 1973
27:03Triumph Bonneville
27:06but
27:06despite being half a car
27:08it hasn't been
27:09half the work
27:10after blasting
27:1120 years of rust
27:13back to bare metal
27:14the frame has now
27:15been powder coated
27:18Tim's managed to track
27:19down a replacement
27:20fuel tank
27:20which has been spray
27:21in a period correct
27:23Tiger Gold colour scheme
27:24but it's still missing
27:26an iconic detail.
27:28The new cylinder head
27:29still needs to be
27:30mated to the engine
27:31and then
27:32who knows
27:33if it'll actually run
27:35there's wheels
27:36and brakes to fit
27:37electronics to wire in
27:39and
27:39to spice things up
27:41Steve's just arrived
27:42to check in on progress
27:43because why make life easy?
27:45Buzz Mott?
27:46Yes?
27:46Steve-O is here
27:48come on
27:49come on
27:49get closer
27:50Wow
27:51how are you Steve?
27:52Wow
27:53look at that
27:53it's like new
27:54it is isn't it?
27:55we're keeping
27:55we're keeping the heart
27:56and soul of it
27:56so the frame
27:57we've got the engine
27:58the gearbox
27:59so really
28:00all the major units
28:02all the major parts
28:03of the bike
28:03are going to relive again
28:05question for you then Steve
28:07the reveal has to be
28:08in my mind
28:10and I'm sure you'll agree
28:10and Fuzz will agree
28:11we want to create
28:12an event for him
28:13that'll put a smile
28:14on his face
28:14if you could choose
28:16anybody on the planet
28:18who could be at that event
28:19who would that be?
28:21well I think the obvious one
28:22is Sir Alan Bates
28:24a post office scandal
28:26he brought it to light
28:27he's a guy who is
28:28not only very very hard
28:30to get hold of
28:31but beyond that
28:32he's suddenly been
28:33thrown into the spotlight
28:35yeah yeah
28:36and he just wants to
28:37disappear into obscurity
28:39okay
28:39yes but
28:40in order
28:41to make it
28:43that moment
28:44for Ian
28:44it's an absolute must
28:48how hard can it be?
28:50so before Tim
28:51attempts to deliver
28:52the nation's
28:53most famous
28:54former postmaster
28:56he's got to meet
28:57Triumph's most famous
28:58clergyman
28:58to baptise
28:59this mechanical baby
29:02right so this tank
29:03has been painted
29:04in the right colour
29:05the Tiger Gold
29:06yeah Tiger Gold
29:07okay
29:07the green tape
29:08represents where
29:09the infill will go
29:10so it'll be black
29:11across the front here
29:12yep
29:12and black
29:13along the bottom
29:14there's also going to be
29:15a line between the two
29:17yeah in white paint
29:18crisp white line
29:19okay
29:19how many tanks
29:21have you worked on
29:21since you started?
29:23thousands
29:24absolute thousands
29:25of them
29:25I started
29:27for Triumph
29:27back in 1976
29:29the bikes
29:30that have come
29:30through this factory
29:31how many of them
29:32have you done?
29:34all of them
29:34I pinstripe
29:36every single tank
29:36that comes through
29:37this factory
29:38all of them?
29:39all of them
29:39every single one
29:40assuming Gary's taken
29:42the odd holiday
29:43over the past half century
29:44he will have painted
29:45somewhere in the region
29:46of 400,000 tanks
29:48which equates to roughly
29:49a whopping 100 miles
29:51of pinstripe
29:52and remember
29:53Gary's not the only
29:54old pro on the job
29:56either
29:57Nick's been taking
29:58his work home again
29:59he's mated the rebuilt
30:01cylinder head
30:02with the engine
30:03and is well underway
30:04on a few other
30:05vital bits too
30:06so Nick
30:07things are finally
30:09coming along now
30:10and it's like
30:11the bike is taking
30:13on its form
30:14its life
30:14the forks in the front
30:16refurbished
30:17wiring harness in
30:18and I thought
30:20that we were going
30:21to go with the old
30:22clocks at the front
30:22they are the old
30:23clocks
30:23oh right
30:24ok
30:24I've just overhauled
30:26them
30:26put lenses
30:27bezels
30:28all the bits in
30:29and cleaned them all up
30:29fantastic
30:30well they look
30:31great at the front
30:32so
30:33are we going to
30:34fit the engine
30:34I think we will
30:35that
30:36is going to bring
30:37it way forward
30:38it will
30:39ok
30:39let's have a go
30:40Ian's original engine
30:42has had its barrels
30:43honed
30:44there's new pistons
30:46a full clutch
30:46replacement
30:47and a replacement
30:48cylinder head
30:49ok right
30:51now
30:52I think what we'll do
30:53is we'll pick it up
30:54ok
30:54and we'll swing
30:56the engine round
30:57right ok
30:57well you be Fred Astaire
30:59and I'll be Ginger Rogers
31:00there we go
31:02where we want to go
31:03so
31:04around the other side
31:05ok
31:05right
31:05I'll just hold here
31:09motorcycles
31:09might be a lot
31:11lighter than cars
31:12but they're still
31:14pretty heavy
31:17there we are
31:17look at that
31:20that's the engine
31:21in place
31:21and all of a sudden
31:22Ian's bike
31:24is on its return
31:25to the road
31:27I can't
31:27I could almost
31:28get on it
31:28and ride it
31:29but we're not
31:29quite there yet
31:31yes
31:32it's not going
31:33anywhere
31:33until Father
31:34Fuel Tank
31:34delivers his
31:35final blessing
31:37I'm fascinated
31:39already by what's
31:40going on here
31:40what are these
31:41things
31:41they're called
31:42dagger liners
31:43or pinstriping
31:44bushes
31:44so the bottom
31:45of the bush
31:46has short hairs
31:48the top of it
31:49longer
31:49they've got a
31:50little piece of
31:50wood on the
31:51left hand side
31:52that's the way
31:53you hold them
31:54the shorter
31:55bristles
31:55have to be on
31:56the bottom
31:57do you enjoy it
31:58love it
31:59I never get bored
32:01with doing this
32:01job
32:03nothing I've done
32:05in my life
32:05nothing I've
32:06experienced
32:06comes close
32:07to the pressure
32:08drawing just
32:09one line
32:10that's your only
32:11job
32:11one line
32:12dead straight
32:13same thickness
32:14that's all
32:15you've got to do
32:36I cannot believe
32:38what I've just
32:38witnessed
32:40that's just
32:42comedy level
32:43of skill
32:43would you like
32:45to have a go
32:45on that
32:46no
32:46absolutely
32:47no
32:49but after some
32:50gentle cajoling
32:51from the crew
32:53I've changed my
32:54mind because I've
32:55got peer pressure
32:55from everyone here
32:56at Triumph
32:56and the camera
32:57people as well
32:58he's seen the
32:59light but there's
33:00no way he's
33:01getting near Ian's
33:01tank
33:02you know what
33:05I think I'm
33:06going to try it
33:07like this
33:11I can't deal
33:12with the stress
33:13of it
33:26I've started
33:27all right
33:28needs work
33:29but
33:30so from the start
33:32to here
33:35I felt that was
33:36all right
33:36I mean it would
33:37never make it
33:37onto a tank
33:38in this place
33:38I know
33:39in comparison
33:39to yours
33:40but from this
33:41bit here
33:42that was one
33:43breath
33:43and then
33:44by the time
33:45I took a breath
33:45here
33:46I was knackered
33:47so I was out of
33:48breath
33:49I was
33:50let's call it
33:51art Tim
33:51not a mistake
33:54and breathe
33:56the weight is over
33:58the panic is over
33:59you can relax now
34:00wow
34:01beauty
34:02the eagle
34:03has landed
34:03now that looks
34:04great
34:05looks lovely
34:05yeah
34:06there you go
34:06we'll put it
34:07over here for now
34:07okay
34:09wow
34:10I know
34:10it looks brilliant
34:11doesn't it
34:12we're getting there
34:13how can we hear it run
34:14no
34:14because
34:15we need a fuel tank
34:16on it
34:17right
34:17wheel
34:17wheel
34:18I'll do the wheel
34:19you can touch the tank
34:20it's beautiful
34:22unbelievable
34:22yep
34:23while Nick and Fuzz
34:25bolt the new tank
34:26into place
34:26can you hold
34:27hand about straight
34:28please
34:29thank you
34:32there we go
34:32Ian's original wheels
34:34have returned from being refurbished
34:36and are on the road to perfection
34:37anyway let's get this thing built up
34:40we've got new spokes on it
34:42a new rim
34:42and a new tyre
34:44as well as a new set of period correct drum brakes
34:51the boys have also saved his original handlebars
34:55badges and swinging arm
34:57which will now be riding alongside new indicators
34:59exhaust and mud guards
35:01I'm going to go up the back end
35:03please
35:03yeah
35:05your turn please
35:06yes
35:08right
35:10this feels like a moment
35:11regardless of whether or not it runs
35:13to stand back and admire the work that's been achieved here
35:16because for the first time it now looks like
35:18a motorbike
35:19a motorbike
35:22for the first time in over 30 years
35:25it's going on to its wheels isn't it
35:26yeah
35:26big moment
35:27big moment
35:30go on then Nick
35:31right here we go
35:32there he goes
35:39there is nothing sexier sounding as well is there than a twin 650 that is such a lovely
35:45can I
35:48come on you come on you're a rider
35:51it sounds like a triumph sugar
35:55fabulous
35:57right we've got a little bit of finishing off to do
35:59yeah
36:00a little bit of prep
36:01a little bit of testing
36:03but hopefully tomorrow we will see you down in South Wales
36:09so while the boys add the finishing touches to Ian's first class Bonneville
36:14has Tim been able to deliver Britain's most famous postmaster to go along with it
36:23after more than 700 hours of hard graft the boys have done it
36:27their first ever motorbike restoration is a triumph
36:32they've made their way to the Park Le Breos Hotel in Swansea for the big reveal
36:38the only question now
36:40has Tim lined up a first class guest to hand Ian's bike back to him
36:46hold on a minute
36:47the two together first
36:48excuse me please
36:50excuse me
36:51excuse me please
36:52what do you think you're doing
36:53touching the
36:54please meet Sir Alan Bates
36:56this is Fuzz Townsend
36:57hello
36:57I'm so sorry about his behaviour
36:59honestly he doesn't get out very often
37:01anyway
37:01lovely to meet you Sir Alan
37:03thank you so much for coming down today
37:04may I explain
37:05may I dig you out of a hole here Fuzzbox
37:07please do yeah
37:08today is all about giving Ian his bike back
37:10yes of course
37:11and can I just say
37:12wow
37:13it does look amazing doesn't it
37:15it's very nice isn't it
37:17super
37:17super bug
37:19now here's the plan
37:20so he's coming down here
37:22under the pretense of coming to meet Sir Alan Bates
37:26who's making a fictitious documentary
37:28he doesn't know it's fictitious
37:30which is all about basically talking to the victims of the Horizon scandal
37:33understood
37:34at which point
37:35sort of a couple of minutes into the interview
37:37you're going to turn up on the bike
37:38I'll come round the corner
37:40join the interview
37:41and we give Ian his bike back
37:43right
37:43shall we put you in position for the documentary
37:45sure
37:45do you want to get the bike out of here
37:46ok
37:47let's get this show on the road
37:48ok
37:48come on then
37:49off we go
37:50so while Fuzzy Knievel gets himself and the bike hidden
37:59Ian has just arrived with his family
38:03hi
38:04ok
38:05it's really good of you to do this
38:07thank you
38:08blissfully unaware he's about to get far more than just an interview with Sir Alan
38:12have a seat
38:13do have a seat over there
38:15move along
38:17so with Ian in position and mic'd up
38:20the stage is set
38:22ok
38:22is everyone happy?
38:24James you're going to be on a single of Sir Alan
38:25B
38:27and action
38:29so your office was where Ian exactly?
38:33I remember South Wales
38:34well West Cross
38:35West Cross
38:36that was it
38:37wasn't it?
38:37yeah
38:37yeah
38:37I mean it was a devastating time for so many people
38:41it really did change their lives
38:43and the trouble is you just don't get those years back do you unfortunately
38:47and a lot happens in the interim
38:49hold on guys can we go for two seconds there's a bike
38:52there's a little bit of a noise in the background there
38:54ok
38:56that's the cue
38:57Fuzz is on his way
38:59it's time for Tim to move in
39:05what are you doing?
39:06that was a nice one yeah
39:09cool
39:09hey
39:10how you doing?
39:11lovely to meet you
39:12do you recognise my face at all?
39:13oh yes
39:14where from?
39:15what is he been doing here?
39:17I'm from a television show called Car SOS
39:19and we decided we might make an exception
39:22despite the fact it's called Car SOS
39:24and consider rebuilding a motorcycle
39:27no
39:28and we thought we might do a beautiful early 70s Bonneville
39:32it's mine
39:33it is
39:34your bike
39:35oh
39:35oh
39:41come on
39:42come on
39:42come and have a look
39:44he he
39:45I know this is a bit much to take on
39:49oh
39:50so all of this with Sir Alan
39:52to get your bike back on the road for you
39:55so that is
39:57your Bonneville
39:58oh
39:58oh
39:59oh
40:01come
40:03come up
40:04come up here with me for a moment
40:07there are a few other people that we know quite well as well here
40:10can we bring out Ian's family please
40:13woohoo
40:16right
40:16come on
40:17come and say hello
40:18come on
40:19everyone's
40:22right Steve
40:23can you explain to Ian why you wrote to us and why you deserve the Car SOS treatment
40:26Ian
40:27everything that's ever happened to you
40:29all the hurdles you've jumped over over the last sort of 20 years
40:33some of the trials and tribulations mate
40:36we wanted to try and do something for you
40:38can we have a huge round of applause for Ian and his beautiful Bonneville please
40:50the last time Ian saw his beloved Bonne the nickname didn't quite match the machine
40:56in bits boxed up and stored under a tarpaulin for two decades it was slowly turning to dust
41:03but thanks to some first-class restoration work they've turned this disaster into a triumph
41:10the engine has been stripped cleaned and rebuilt with new pistons valves cylinder head and clutch
41:17the wheels have been refurbished respoked and fitted with new brakes
41:22the replacement fuel tank has been sprayed in period correct tiger gold colour scheme
41:28complete with the iconic white pinstripe applied by father fuel tank himself
41:33Ian's original dials and clocks have been lovingly refurbished
41:38his old seat has been cleaned up and refitted and those badges are back where they belong
41:44signed sealed and delivered this Bonnie's ready to turn back the clock
41:52with Ian unable to speak fully after his stroke
41:55his three daughters are helping him express just how important this bike truly is
42:01in terms of a good day today out of ten what number are we at
42:05what number are we at
42:05oh
42:06thousand
42:08am I right in thinking the bike was in bits in the back of a post office
42:12once upon a time
42:13yeah it actually was
42:14was it really?
42:15was it really?
42:16yeah
42:16this is the first time Katie and I have actually seen the bike in one piece
42:19like all of our lives it's been the bike is in pieces
42:22and if you've been aware of the importance of the bike
42:24I mean is it something in your mind is just like top of the list in terms of stuff
42:27oh yeah dad talks about the top bike all the time he loves his bike
42:31when you look at the bike Ian how does it make you feel?
42:35yeah it's spinning
42:37amazing
42:37yeah
42:38so what do you want for the future for your dad with the bike?
42:41what in your mind what is the perfect image for you girls?
42:46dad on the back of the bike
42:47yeah
42:47yes
42:49on the back of the bike
42:50being ridden down front of mumble's to go for a nice ice cream
42:55yeah
42:56okay
42:57sounds like a good idea Ian?
42:58oh yes
42:59it would be definitely good
43:01Ian you know the show don't you?
43:03yes
43:04so do you know what happens next?
43:05er yes
43:06I mean it's confusing for me because it says car SOS on it so I'll say
43:09you have been car SOS with a bike
43:13there we are
43:14there you go
43:15oh look at that
43:16amazing
43:25what a beautiful bike can you feel it?
43:28oh
43:29you know it's so good
43:31it's marvellous
43:36first bike eh?
43:37not the last son
43:38ha ha
43:38not the last
43:39yes
43:41oh
43:44beautiful
43:46it's got to be the coolest bike out
43:49yeah
43:50yeah
43:52oh
43:53oh
43:53oh
43:56oh
43:56oh
43:57oh
44:00oh
44:00oh
44:00oh
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